To desperately ask for your help sorting out my life!! PGCE related

[toomuchmashaandthebear]

Ok I am currently studying my PGCE. I am doing a part time SCITT course and have just started my second term. I am studying just outside of London (don't know if that's relevant or not?)
I am on the verge of tears tonight because I just feel so overwhelmed and like I should just quit. It's completely my own fault. I have let childcare/busy family life take over my life recently and haven't focused as much on my studies as I should have done. We got our first assignment back just before Christmas and I only marginally passed it. I desperately need to kick my butt in to gear and catch up before I fail completely and waste all the money spent on the course so far!!

Even though I know I need to do this, I just don't know where to start. I feel like I am drowning in how much I need to be catching up with/doing. So I'm hoping an outside perspective will help me get in to some kind of order and I can get cracking!

Areas that I desperately need to work on:

Admin work (complete mountains of paperwork that I have written out but need to type)

Subject knowledge (I know this is a big area I need to improve but I really don't even know where to start, can anyone recommend any good books/websites ect that I can use to help me)

Timetable to keep myself on track with uni work, school work, and general family life.

Any help/advice or tips would be massively appreciated!!

@toomuchmashaandthebear this is a useful maths book which helps explain concepts, as well as ideas of how to teach/ introduce topics and common misconceptions.
Mathematics Explained for Primary Teachers www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1526455846/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_PWJV89ZBJVKNC49SCD5B?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Having a running to do list is fine, but identify your top 3 priority jobs for each day and ensure that those get done. Then identify another 3 the next day…don’t plan to do too much in one day.

I have been teaching for 3 years now and still feel overwhelmed loads, and need to teach myself new stuff all the time. As a pp says, just focus on being a little bit ahead of what you are teaching, not too far.

I'm currently studying part-time distance with 3 days a week work and have 2 primary aged kids. I've found the only way to balance everything and do my studies justice is to lower my standards in other areas of my life.

On my days off (kids both at school) my absolute priority is studying, whereas I used to do lots of housework, chores, tidying up, marking and planning for my teaching job. I don't do any of that now - 90% of my planning and marking is done on my school days, free periods and before and after school. I have housework tasks schedule that involves the whole family to keep everything under control (Saturday morning the kids tidy their toys, bedrooms, while I change beds and hoover. Washing gets done almost everyday and kitchen always left today at night). I am super organised with batch cooking (done at weekends) so freezer is well-stocked and meals planned out. DH and I share cooking, bedtimes, pick-ups and drop-offs for school/childcare and he does the food shop. Sunday afternoon is also set in stone as my study time.

At the beginning of a module I work backwards from summative date, formative date, how much material do I have to get through, so I know I have enough time to do the assignment justice.

One of my favourite sayings is, "You can do anything but not everything." While I'm studying I cannot do a million other hobbies, train for a marathon, plant a garden/allotment etc. There'll be time for other interests when I'm done with this. Like you, I really don't want to waste my studying experience and hard-earned fees by getting a lower levee than I'm capable of.

PS No one has ever asked to see my PGCE transcript; it was pass or fail!

I battled through mine and then got a normal job. I’d never ever teach. Ever.

Are you me?! Seriously though OP, I'd decided about halfway through my PGCE that teaching wasn't for me and it was hellish finishing it, I wanted to quit every day and I didn't have children at the time! I'm so proud of myself for sticking it out though and getting the qualification but it's truly a ridiculously hard time of your life. You can do this though, you'll look back someday soon and be so proud.

Is it possible to defer any assignments or take a break in learning while you get back on track?

I’m a primary HT. Don’t worry about assignments, most are waste of time. Just develop your classroom skills, that’s all that matters, as long as you pass assignments that’s fine. No one will ever care or ask. Get good at behaviour, routines, having a calm demeanour, the rest will come. You can skill up subject knowledge as you go, though if you need to prioritise then Spag and number are the best to get really confident in. Try the CGP books for primary…the children’s ones…cheap and cover what you need to know. When I over a few people into different year groups they used them to quickly get up to speed with stuff and they’ve been fine.

And don’t give up! Get it done, even if you never use it. January definitely the hardest bit. But spring and early summer you’ll be flying along.

For grammar, this is great for both subject knowledge and teaching ideas. blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9781138182783?gC=5a105e8b&gclid=Cj0KCQiAw9qOBhC-ARIsAG-rdn4kE7daOxjf6EbbrvuC_XIRIs7ctEOULnE8GZufcP04D68lKSvm0qQaAj1cEALw_wcB
Teaching is the best job in the world and it will get easier.

1. ask your tutor for help
2. Instead of posting to MN, buy a timetable., RATION YOUR TIME.
3. surely your course comes with a list of suggested textbooks or links to useful websites?

Also you are not alone…. Is very traditional for student teachers at my school to come and talk to me about how they are going to give up, right about now. Unis have no idea of the workload they impose, they really don’t.

Thank you so much again for all the comments. I following all of the advice given and will definitely be getting the book's recommended! I have sat down whilst reading through these and written myself a big a3 mind map/ calendar of what needs to get done and when and I am going to stick to it to get myself back on track x

Right. Don't judge me, but this is the favourite book for my (secondary) English dept. We have to know the same grammar stuff as primary teachers, but mostly have English literature degrees. It was a real shock a few years ago when the primary curriculum changed and Year 7s started coming in with grammar words we didn't know. This book was the easiest for us to understand quickly! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Carol-Vorderman-Books-Collection-English/dp/9526542304/ref=mpssa112?crid=3DLOQ3QCSNYDI&keywords=carol+vorderman+english&qid=1641495252&sprefix=carol+v%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-2

Good luck OP. PGCE year is super hard.

You've got this. The PGCE is the hardest year and to add family life on top of it is incredibly tough. I found being an NQT with a newborn hard enough let alone doing a PGCE. You need to prioritise and know that the list will never end.

Subject Knowledge- changes depending on year group so don't get too caught up in it. Just focus on what you need to know at the moment. I got so caught up learning all these subjects and in all honesty, I remember nothing from the PGCE relating to subject content. You learn it as you go along.

Admin- do it whenever you can. Don't leave it to pile up- I'd you have a coffee break then see if there's something small that can be done.

Make sure you have time for you and your family so you don't resent study. Good luc! I have a young family and have been teaching for a while now and still love it. It is worth it.

Apologies for the errors. Currently typing one handed whilst juggling a small child 🤣

I found the PGCE and NQT years so hard and overwhelming - I don’t think anyone doesn’t so don’t feel like it’s just you!

I was secondary so I don’t know how different it is but at one point I was i was doing 5 days in school - lesson planning in lots of detail for my mentor, having mentor meetings, CPD training and having to attend every meeting, parents evening etc as well as having my assignments and uni training on top.

I ended up catching a stomach bug that was going round and had two days off.
I felt so ill but I used that time to get a load of my assignment done and then used the weekend to finish it. I’m a single parent so I got up early and took my DD for a long walk and then she had lots more screen time than she should but having one thing done and out of the way was such a massive relief.

If possible I would set aside an entire day to just get things done and catch up on yourself.
Lots of people say you shouldn’t work on the weekends but I found this easier than doing it in the evenings after work.

The PGCE work is not something that you can leave and say you’ll come back to as it continues to pile up.

Teaching is a lot of work but right now you are planning all of your lessons from scratch so once you start building up your resources the lesson planning gets easier.

Remember your PGCE will be the worst year of your teaching career in terms of workload (followed by your first year of teaching ).
Learning to teach is a marathon not a sprint and in reality you’ll be learning for the first few years as you progress. The best teachers continue to learn throughout their career. You’re not going to be the best teacher ever by the end of your PGCE. It’s too intensive. It’s extremely challenging and lots of people drop out. Just get through it.
On my first placement I got ‘satisfactory’ as it was then. On my second I got ‘good’ but still with elements of ‘satisfactory’. Obviously I was slightly disappointed with the first placement and how I did but I shouldn’t have been.
I have stuck with teaching (for twenty plus years!) and teach outstanding lessons and get great results. I still love many aspects of my job - the ones that really matter anyway. (Not interested in being a manager).
So don’t expect too much of yourself this year. That ‘just passed’ mark is fine. Just get through it.
I have also learned to do things more efficiently and when not to do things. For example, your paperwork. Can you read your handwriting okay? Then why does it need to be typed out?

As far as improving your subject knowledge goes, you can’t improve all your subject knowledge at the same time with primary. You’re teaching everything! You can’t learn all of history, all of science, all of RE, etc. You must already have a good all round knowledge from your GCSEs, your A Levels and just because you’re an intelligent adult who is interested in stuff.
Wait until you’re on placement. Then you’ll know which topics the children will be learning while you are there. Then you can read around those topics in order to prepare (your teacher/ school mentor should be able to help you with anything you’re weaker on).
You will pick up a lot of subject knowledge on things like phonics from working in school on your placement, asking questions of you teacher, etc.

For PGCE Assignments you only need a pass, on your certificate it will just identify pass or fail not the pass marks. I use these books, First Illustrated Grammar and Punctuation and the Junior Illustrated Grammar and Punctuation by Usborne.
Do your notes need typing or can you scan and upload your typed work? If you can then I recommend a free app called Genius scan to all my trainees you can scan multiple pages into one document save as jpeg or pdf and email, its easy to use.
Another vote for white rose maths
Speak to your SITT mentor or course lead, they may be able to help you prioritise your subject knowledge reading and research.
Use a planner or diary and ruthlessly plan each day of the week blocking out time for reading, planning and marking.
This is a challenging time and a PGCE is a very full on training course, the very best of luck.

You passed your assignment so I wouldn't worry about that. Remember that the PGCE isn't to teach you everything you need to know about teaching (that would be impossible), but to give you the backbone of knowledge and the tools to know where to look etc- so don't be so hard on yourself. Get organised, ask for help if needed and try and take a step back and take it week by week.

You are doing an amazing job. Teaching regularly feels overwhelming- even for those of us who have been doing it for ages.
The to- do list never goes away. Try to just focus on being ready for the next day.
Day at a time. All the best.

I'm on a primary SCITT, but full time. it is so full-on.

Just one thing - for the admin work you mentioned. Wherever possible, don't bother typing hand written notes. That's a waste of time. Scan/take a photo and upload.
And definitely talk to your mentor/tutor about how you are feeling so they can give you support. There is always a way to take the pressure off a little so oyu can get back on track.

Dont panic you will get there. I felt the same during my PGCE. My tips would be firstly don’t type anything up for goodness sake! Also whether you pass with top marks or a low score will not matter as long as you pass. Someone told me this when I was studying. PGCE is pass or fail so concentrate on the passing not scoring top marks and you’ll be fine. The essays are not an indication of how good a teacher you will or won’t be! Best of luck!

Not sure I have anything to add to the great advice you already have OP.

I just wanted to add that my PGCE nearly killed me. I am sure every single person I know who has done it has ended up in floods of tears at least once.

So you are not alone, and I suspect many on your course feel the same way. Good luck

Another person here to cheer you on. I did mine (secondary) at 52 with one Y4 child, and the winter/spring was gruesome. It is as many have said, the toughest year of your life but I understand NQT year is close... I was so old no school wanted me!