PGCE - teaching practice observation

[Bella43]

Hello,

My PGCE course is part time over 2 years. I've spent 8 hours observing other teachers on placement so no actual teaching experience of my own as yet. However, the TPO is looming! I know I'll have to book a date for this visit soon. Would you recommend I complete my observation hours of other teachers first before taking the reins myself? How long did you teach for before booking a TPO? Would you suggest having this visit sooner rather than later?

Thanks in advance

When did you start? Could
You suggest that you start taking some aspects of the lesson? Perhaps a starter:plenary. Have you discussed when you will be taking over?

Do it sooner. Gets it out the way and gives you fodder to work on earlier before bad teaching habits get ingrained and harder to stop! Take the reins before you've done all your observations of other teachers as you can use this time to see, try, reflect and perfect before your TPO.

And take the reins gradually before building up to a full lesson.

I’ve worked with many PGCE students and I would say get it out the way sooner rather than later. The more you dwell and think about it, the bigger ‘thing’ it will become. However, I would also echo what others have said about doing some team teaching with your mentor (planning and teaching together) or doing some plenaries or starters or just one activity in a lesson.

Thank you. I've already been involved in some classroom discussions. Tomorrow my mentor will be involving me in even more activities which will help build up my confidence for when it comes to taking the class myself. The students are great. I've built up a lovely rapport with them. I was thinking of teaching 3 lessons and booking the TPO for lesson number 4. I've already created and polished quite a few lesson plans, the TPO one being the best and most detailed of those.

My peer teach has given me a great insight into timings and best use of resources. Watching my peers was also a fantastic learning curve. We've learned a lot from each other