Thinking of retraining? Share your ideas!

[Fraxinus]

I don't want to be negative about teaching on here, as I have found it a rewarding job and love working with all the different groups I have been lucky enough to have.

however I am considering retraining as a speech and language therapist. I am just looking into it at the moment, and waiting to hear back what preliminary qualifications I might need to get before applying to do the course.

I am just wondering if anyone else is considering retraining, and what direction you feel your teaching background would be useful in?

[Fraxinus]

Nobody thinking of retraining?

[deleted203]

I fancy re-training, but have no idea as what! What can you do as a 46 yo history teacher in a rural area with mass unemployment? (All ideas gratefully received).

[Fraxinus]

Hi sowornout.

Do you feel that your traing and education so far has satisfied you?

Is there any aspect you feel was missing?

[Fraxinus]

What is the best bit about your current job?

And the worst?

[deleted203]

I think I had good training and education. I've taught for the last 20 years or so, and love my horrid teenagers! I'm always very happy if you leave me alone for an hour with a bunch of teens and let me get on with it - but unfortunately that isn't the case now. I've watched teaching change so much over the last decade or so to the point where the AFL, constant data monitoring, target setting, admin, etc just depresses me. We are all being encouraged to teach in such a similar 'Ofsted required' format that there is no room for individuality, or encouraging students to think, or doing anything other than spoon-feeding for exams and targets. It isn't FUN anymore .

I've been thinking for a couple of years that I don't think I can stand another 20 years of this - and that now is the time to re-train before I'm too old to do so (if I'm not already).

[deleted203]

x post. Best bit is the teaching - actually being in a classroom. Worst bit is the constant AFL/data/figures we need to produce to demonstrate constant progress.

[Fraxinus]

Apart from the good trainng and education (on the job pgce and irrelevant degree), I could have written that, only I'm 10 years younger. I have been lucky to work in 'training' not education so have been spared much of the monitoring, standard format target setting crap, but they have recently been making up for lost time.

I would love to do a science - based training programme. I think my teacher training was fairly poor TBH.

[deleted203]

(Drags mind back to PGCE days...) I think I had reasonable training, TBH. I got a good History degree and then did a PGCE at teacher training college and got a decent enough 'theory' course in teaching I guess - it's difficult to remember now, but I always enjoyed teaching and didn't struggle too much with behaviour management, despite working in some 'challenging' schools.

After so many years on the job I don't really think about behaviour management much now, which is probably the hardest part for many (young) teachers. I have developed a 'death stare' over the years so that I can have fun with classes, generally have good rapport and they know exactly how far they can go before they cross the line.

My problem now is that every year more and more crap is piled on - it feels like we are constantly being given more assessment data that needs to be filled in - every piece of work needs to be assessed, self assessed, peer assessed, given 2 stars and a wish, a smiley face sticker, targets for improvement and a graded level...sigh...

It's the damn paperwork - most of it completely irrelevant - that is killing me!

[deleted203]

I think I could happily be a museum curator - if there were any museums nearby...

Or a genealogical researcher...

Or write historical novels...

I just feel a bit trapped in a job that is becoming less and less satisfying due to bureaucracy TBH.

[bigTillyMint]

That is really sad sowornout - you sound like a great teacher, ground down by all the accountability, etc.

Have you thought about going into Special Ed?

[deleted203]

Do you have less paperwork, Tilly? . I don't know much about it, TBH - but I know is that even my SIL who childminds now has ridiculous amounts of Osted required paperwork (even for babies!)...It seems to be the way of the world, but I don't actually believe it is benefitting pupils in any way.

I love teaching/daft teenagers/history. I LOATHE Ofsted/SMT/pointless data collection/producing powerpoints for every single lesson demonstrating Outcomes/Levels/AFL/Mini Plenaries/Plenaries, etc, etc.

There should be time to explore what pupils are interested in - to go off on a tangent if something grabs their attention - to switch topics or tasks or decide to tackle things in a different and more imaginative way.

I'm fed up with my hands being tied by a rigid timetable and scheme of work that doesn't want me to deviate in any way. It's a rubbish and boring way of teaching to my mind.

[Fraxinus]

Dialogic pedagogy.

[Fraxinus]

I am not such a great teacher. I had been working as an untrained teacher for several years before training, so a lot of the training seemed a bit old hat. I think it is hard to develop when you have been on a really steep learning curve already and developed coping strategies instead of developing 'best practise'. My behaviour management is less than it should be, but I get more work out of the teens than my colleagues do, and I have a good working relationship with them.

I mentioned dialogic pedagogy when it occurred to me that that is sort of when you are describing... Being able to deal with issues arising or go off on a tangent. I will see if I can find some links. The fact that it is a teaching methodology might give it more weight as a strategy for ofsted?

Being rural really does limits your choices. I suppose there is the OU.

[bringbackopalfruits]

Where do you live? In London there are not very many entry level SALT jobs around, many are working as SALT assistants or general health care assistants. Make source there are jobs out there before you start

[Fraxinus]

Hi bring back opal fruits. Thanks for the advice. I had thought that as the NHS paid fees, they asked you to commit to working in NHS for certain number of years, and helped you get a job on qualifying.

I need to look into that. I am finding the careers service useless, but have set up an interview for some volunteering, so hopefully will be able to liaise with SALTs then, and get the local picture off them. My local course is keen on psychology graduates, so I'm not sure they will like me. UCL seem to not mind. But I don't really want to relocate.

[Fraxinus]

Bring back opal fruits... Are you a SALT? What kind of clients have you got? How did you decide on that career?

[Fraxinus]

I see there are 2 SALT posts up locally right now. I Will keep looking to see what the ongoing prospects are.

[whyno]

I work as manager of a digital team for a not for profit company. Really want to retrain as something more family friendly that still makes use of my experience but no idea what!

[Fraxinus]

Hi why no,

We really need a proper careers adviser on here! What is the best aspect of the job you have now? Do you have management and other qualifications?

[whyno]

We definitely do! I don't have a specific management qual other than in house courses. I love project management and coordinating things generally. I'd love to find a niche I was passionate about. But my interests are annoyingly generic!

[Fraxinus]

And the trouble with project management, especially in the voluntary sector, is that you get 18 month or 2 year contracts and then have to start job hunting again.

[Fraxinus]

Did any of the in house courses inspire you?

What are your generic interests?

I'd love a niche I was passionate about too. I would also like some respect as a professional. I've drifted into what I do by necessity, so I feel prepared to retrain, as I would feel like I was choosing my career ( like I should have done 15 years ago sigh)

But too niche and then it's harder to find a job or change jobs if you need to move etc.

[Fraxinus]

Right have heard back from my local university who say they would not consider my application, and another university in another city with a very similarly structured course who say I definately meet the academic requirements for entry.

Hmmmmm