PGCE 2014 Applications (NOT FOR SPECIFIC INTERVIEW TASK DISCUSSIONS)

Personally I'd go for a book. Can't go wrong with a book! Books are awesome and so good for learning.

Go to a bookshop with a good stock of picture books and look through them, and find something you really like that they might not have seen before. Of course, them having seen it before is not an automatic fail or even close, but it's always nice to see something new and it shows that you have put some thought and time in to the choice, rather than grabbing the first Julia Donaldson book off the shelf.

Personally, I would expect them to be looking for more general 'potential' over specific ideas (especially since they have been so vague about it). So for example... in an interview for a school I took the book 'Big' about a boy growing up, the first thing was just to read and discuss the book with them, and I 'brainstormed' how I would use it for discussing growth and change (making timelines, sequencing, comparing to others), family, measurement, different kinds of activities (like measuring people in popcorn, making measuring charts), talking about different places in the book etc etc, other books I might read with it like that one which has animal body parts to scale...

Basically, choose a book and read it, start scribbling down ideas for things it might lead to and you'll soon find you have a nice list of activities that you could do or interesting discussions you could have/things the children might want to explore more based on the book.

Of course, all this is from what I've seen. I know every uni is different so it's possible some may want more structure/more detail about one activity. So I'd recommend at least thinking through one or two of the ideas in more detail so you can expand on those if needed. It might be worth chatting to someone on the admissions team to find out more detail on exactly what they are looking for/would prefer. Explain that you have several ideas, but weren't sure if they were looking for a more general overview or a single idea explained in detail (to show you have thought about it).

Good luck and remember, what they'll really want to see is your passion and commitment!

xxx

Thank you so much for this! I think probs end up going for a book and finding ways I can link into the curriculums.

My other idea is a bit abstract but I thought about taking in a plain cardboard box or empty bottles to talk about the enabling environment and allowing them to engage in free play through exploring their imaginations. So they can do whatever they want with the boxes etc.. And I could talk about the cognitive benefits of this.. But I don't know if this is too basic lol.. Just my friend suggested it and it is something we've talked about on our course so I don't know what it would be like in practice

Thank you!!xx


Posted from TSR Mobile

Fingers crossed the numeracy seems harder than the literacy purely cos of the mental bit...under pressure my mind will go blank hahaha

Remember you can afford to get a few wrong in the mental arithmetic and pick up the marks in the second section. I was convinced I had failed mine but somehow managed to get a pass!!

Congratulations Samus2, brilliant news!! How did you hear, by email or through UCAS?? I'm still waiting and sooo nervous!

Hi all,
Currently in my first year of a Geography degree, and really want to get into teaching (secondary). I've looked into Teach First but am also planning on applying for a PGCE too.
So far I have some work experience...

Teaching course during sixth form (obviously won't be relevant by the time I'd be applying for the actual PGCE but hopefully could demonstrate that it's something I've wanted to do for a while)

2 months teaching English to children ages 11+ at a summer school in Romania

Assistant - teaching English to refugees and asylum seekers at a support centre, includes working with vulnerable children

1 week of observation at a primary school

Planning on getting a minimum of 2 weeks at a PRU this summer, then another 2 weeks at a high school, plus a long term high school placement throughout my second year of uni.

I was wondering if any of you think I could be doing more? I know no one can say for sure, but do you think, given what experience I have and am planning to get, I stand a realistic chance?

Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance!


Posted from TSR Mobile

Just got two interview invites! One for secondary history at ioe and the other for secondary history at Leeds trinity! Very very nervous! Anyone else got an interview with either of these?

That sounds like a lovely idea. There is a lot you can link to boxes! Some nice books as well, and for more structured stuff or for older ones you could do some shared writing about what the box is, they could design their own boxes. The imagination stuff works right up through the age groups too with child-led topics... What is the box, what could be in it... See where they go!

At the end of the day I'd go with something you're passionate about as it will show through

Xxx

Posted from TSR Mobile

I just got accepted into a pgce course in Newcastle for sept 2014. I am just wondering do you know if you have to do the year after that too where they place you in the school to get your qts?

I just got accepted into a pgce course in Newcastle for sept 2014. I am just wondering do you know if you have to do the year after that too where they place you in the school to get your qts?

Remember you can afford to get a few wrong in the mental arithmetic and pick up the marks in the second section. I was convinced I had failed mine but somehow managed to get a pass!!

Did you have to put any units in on your test...cos on the practice ones you dont seem to ever have too!! :s