PGCE - Current Students Thread

Hurray! I finish tomorrow too. Got to get all of my planning signed off before then though which is stressful to say the least one more day! We can do it!

Yeah ive come home and had a total crash, feel absolutely rubbish this evening, sick and everything. Think my body is wierded out by me actually winding down!

I know the feeling paradoxsocks - I don't know if I want to be a teacher anymore, I know this has been a valuable experience but I really would like to go back into an office and sit quietly doing my job, I did have the odd presentation here and there but it wasn't 6 periods a day 5 days a week - heck even if it's admin hand me it - not teaching though, I feel exhausted all the time no matter how much I rest, at the back of my mind I still know I have lesson plans pending, lesson resources to make, that pesky little student who just will not listen nor respond to any form of discipline, marking to do, assessment levels to figure out... holidays, what holidays? All gone on planning your term. Sighs.

I know I'm organised and I can do it - but do I want to exhaust myself in my early 20s?

I must have aged atleast 5 years in the short amount of time I have worked, hair falling out in clumps, refusal to eat because of sheer stress and lack of appetite, anxiety, physical health taken a toll - worth it? No. I love my kids, I really do, but I need to love myself first. Have decided I'm either going part time or not doing it at all.

Yeah ive come home and had a total crash, feel absolutely rubbish this evening, sick and everything. Think my body is wierded out by me actually winding down!

There are just so many boxes that repeat themselves in different ways that I don't feel any kind of positivity towards the lesson plan at all.

I'd rather make my own template with all of the bits I need and go with that so I think that is my plan. If I can make that work then I'll feel so much better.

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I completely feel you about lesson planning. My university plan is full of so much that's not really useful for me to think about but is time consuming. I can see the point of every box for the start of the course, but a lot of it just feels needless.

I've started rough-sketching my lessons on a scrap of paper - giving timings and activities - and then typing them up and I've found it way easier. I'm glad you're more positive today, I guess it wouldn't be the PGCE without those "I'll never be able to do this" moments XD

Yeah ive come home and had a total crash, feel absolutely rubbish this evening, sick and everything. Think my body is wierded out by me actually winding down!

This is a teaching phenomenon. Adrenalin keeps you going to the end of term, then the crash hits you all over the holidays.

Tell me about it. The only bit of my lesson plan I actually use is the script where I write down the order of activities. Everything else is useless and the uni lesson plan is dire. My mentor told me to change it, even though we were told not to, but I did anyway cos if uni complain I'll just say it was my mentor's suggestion.

I see what you mean about the adrenalin! I have been ill all week but when I'm in the classroom I can battle through just fine. It's when I get home that I crash. Currently laid in bed right now trying to plan my last few lessons before tomorrow but my brain feels like it's full of sludge!

Looking forward to the holidays but very aware that I have an essay and all my teaching standards to evidence

I'm afraid that really is just how it is. The summer holidays are great, but the rest of the year's holidays are often spent with the first week ill in bed, until you've built up an immunity to the local germs.

Can you talk to someone at uni about this? When my uni mentor came in to observe me, she found out I had been creating my own lesson plans in addition to the uni format. She wasn't very happy because it was just a waste of my time. Instead, she showed me a way to plan that incorporated everything I needed without wasting words.

Can't wait to build up some immunity! Thought I had a good immune system til this Luckily it's worth it, I've just found myself getting all excited about lines of longitude and latitude because I'm planning right now! Seems daft but I love all the activities you can do in primary.

There are just so many boxes that repeat themselves in different ways that I don't feel any kind of positivity towards the lesson plan at all.

I'd rather make my own template with all of the bits I need and go with that so I think that is my plan. If I can make that work then I'll feel so much better.

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Hi, i'm planning to apply for a pgce in citizenship early May for the year 2015-2016, i was wandering whether universities still accept late applications and what chances i have of actually getting offered a place? I only hav two weeks of work experience and a few hours of mentoring. Thank you.

Thank you. would primary school work experience be ok?

I feel that way sometimes too, I am in my 20s and often think do I want the rest of my working life to be like this? I knew it would be a tough choice of career with a lot of work but it is never ending. I like the idea of part time too if only to gain a work/life balance. I am looking for a supportive school but have not applied for any jobs recently. People go on about the holidays but I have been ill since mine began - not really enjoying it!!

Ahh PGCE planning! I remember when my uni tutor came and literally looked into each and every single word - it was a scrutiny I had never experienced. He even picked up on the language used and wrote on it 'do not use slang in plans'. I had written kids as opposed to children. Of course it wasn't good enough and I was put on for CfC.


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Thank you. would primary school work experience be ok?