Following on from a previous thread there seem to be a few of us embarking upon a PGCE as lone parents.
I am scared shitless about it. I have been told to take as much support as I can....so we van hold hands, cry together, rant together, sit up til 1am together completing last minute dissertations cos DCs wouldn't go to bed...and anything else that occurs between now and gaining QTS...
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Lone parents tbinking about/emarking on teacher training
99 replies
HauntedLittleLunatic · 14/08/2011 19:27
OP posts:
signothetimes ·
21/08/2011 22:11
Blimey pinot, I had no idea that was the sort of numbers that I'll be facing when I do apply. 
Well done on being successful! I've not looked into the teaching assistance thing, I tried to get some advice from career scotland but they were pretty useless. Will see if I can get some info on that. I was told about 2 years ago that getting work as a teaching assistance is another way into teaching, but I've not been able to get any info on that i.e. career scotland brushed over that when I asked them. I've got highers from many moons ago, so have physics, maths and english (crap grades though) and I've done 120 points level 1 with OU as well (maths and social science), so I'm hoping qualification wise I'll be OK. It's just the classroom experience I'm lacking in. I'm giving myself the 2 years 'til my job is possibly going to be made redundant to get that under my belt and then hope for the best when I apply.
I'm really interested in the timetable once you start, how much time you spend in lectures, with tutors and the practical side of things in the classroom. Would be really interesting to find out what your timetable looks like once you know 
Again, good luck!
missmogwi ·
21/08/2011 22:22
Good luck tomorrow Pinot. I was so nervous when I started especially with all the 'young uns'.
But it was fine, within a few weeks had a little group that would meet for coffee etc. Helped support each other with work etc.
Best of luck! 
makemineapinot ·
23/08/2011 22:15
phew!! 2 days in and I'm shattered!! Yesterday was quite easy - tours around, enrolment etc but today was straight in with lectures and homework!! Lots of reflective learning and I've realised that studying when the kids are still up is an impossibility!! The endless "muu-uuum" calls are a huge distraction so going to have to do something about that - move the kids to the shed??!!! 
It's gonna be tough going and the lecturers aren't pulling any punches. I work part time - 8 hours over 2 evenings and was basically told that I won't be able to continue with the job as I'll have so much to do 
. Will they pay the mortgage/buy winter shoes etc??!!
We're out on placement in 2.5 weeks in nursery but don't get an assessed visit - just marked satisfactory or not by nursery. then a 6 week early primary placement in Oct, 5 weeks mid primary in Feb and another 5 week late primary in April - then finish end of May!! Got a maths test next week and pre workshop wortk to do before it so really is straight into it all. Strange thing was (aprt from using your brain again) the thing I found hard was the writing/note taking as I've not written lots for ages!! Just had to read chapter 4.1 of "Learning to teach in the primary school" tonight and reflect on it all and do the tasks.
I have to say already the fact that I've had classroom experience has helped - just knowing what the lecturers are on about and where they're coming from helps!!
Sign - you may find that in 2 years it's not as competitive - lots of changes etc but everyone on our course has had some classrom experience - even if it was just in a few hours a week as a volunteer. Think that's what they're looking for. You'll definately need a degree though - is that what you've got from OU? They did say today that no-one gets on without a degree.
Anyway, off to bed now.. shattered!!
HauntedLittleLunatic ·
23/08/2011 23:05
Indeed. Glad its going well.
Virtual kick for newbaby.
I am doing secondly. I have a dissertation on primary placement to do or first week in Uni.
I don't know whether to prioritize subject knowledge, reading primary placement reading list or secondly subject reading list...I have lots of books from Uni library but don't know where to start 
OP posts:
signothetimes ·
23/08/2011 23:16
Pinot, thanks for the update. I'm actually excited and apprehensive for you, reading all that! I don't have a degree, only 1 3rd of one! I've got 120 of 360 points I need to complete my degree, hence me wanting to get some more OU under my belt while also getting classroom experience. But my stumbling block at the moment is picking a course that would benefit my long term goal of becoming a teacher. No point picking something random that makes the people who will interview me go I might not have a complete degree by the time my job is made redundant, but not much I can do about that because of the timing. But, at your suggestion, I've been googling for classroom assistance courses, and found one at Reid Kerr in Paisley. It would be a 20 min drive, and I'm hoping that I can fit it around my work at present but it's something else to look at and see if it'll help with my application in a couple of years. I emailed them 5 mins ago so will see if there are any spaces left and take it from there.
The course sounds 'full on' as I expected but it's really good hearing all about it from someone going through it. Hope it goes well. Also hope you'll have the time to drop in now and again with updates course work/time allowing of course!
changeforthebetter ·
24/08/2011 14:03
That sounds terrifying Pinot but pretty much what I am expecting. I wish I could have a break between paid work and starting the course but can't afford to do without the salary/tax credits for even a week 
A friend (?) commented the other day that I will soon be leaving the "real world" for a cozy student existence I'm not sure she gets what PGCEs involve! We will get home at 6. I have to feed us and get the kids to bed and then start on the books. I want to set one day of the weekend aside for them (and for my sanity) and not do any work on that day.
Oi Newbaby
makemineapinot ·
26/08/2011 20:12
Ninah - I'm worrying about that too - being lovely and professional with other people's children while bellowing at mine my pt job involves me being in a county town (think semi rural community) at 5pm 2 evenings a week - not great if my placement is an hour or more away but hey, my children need food so I could argue that I am putting their needs as children first and showing my commitment to their well being but don't think it will wash!! Anyway - end of week 1 and had a great day - got put in mixed groups with secondary students to do a Curriculum for Excellence task (CfE is like Key skills in England - tipic based child led approach) which started off like a mad house - primary couldn't see secondary POV and vice cersa but it was amazing seeing things from their POV and how it all links in together and is very simliar. Our presentation got an "amazing" comment so think we did OK!! Going to get some 
now as I think I deserve it!!
Saggy - you will manage - somehow - like the rest of us. Think my epitaph wil be "flew by the seat of her pants but got there - most of the time "
Thing that's Pee-ing me off though is that i applied for bursaries and loans and I have to repay ALL of mine (me a lone parent 2 DC) while fellow students at home with parents are getting some fo their loan paid for them as a bursary!!! Why??? I got advice on applying and applied for EVERYTHING!! not fair (tantrum, sulk!!)
changeforthebetter ·
27/08/2011 08:32
Just been to the Students Union to see if they can help me out with the spectactuarly unhelpful Student Finance 
. I am wondering what the hell we are going to live on in September as SFE won't pay my Childcare Grant until they have written confirmation that my WTC has ceased. Umm, how do they think I would be able to work 20 hours a week and do a PGCE? I have to work up to the last minute before starting because I am on really low income and just can't afford to do without the WTC for even a week (I did the sums and just couldn't do it) I am sure it will all come right in the end but it is soooo stressful right now.
Thanks for the encouragement Ilythia. Doing as much work as possible away from home is my ideal. My kids are way too small to enable me to work when they are up. I hope this run of crummy nights stops (one or other waking up) is just a summer holiday/lack of routine thing )
That's rubbish Pinot - my English uni offer extra support to LPs (which I might need if SFE don't pull their finger out). Is it worth going back again to your Students' Union?
ballstoit ·
27/08/2011 20:54
I'm finishing my degree this year, and starting to apply for PGCE in next couple of weeks. Am marking my place in the hope that I get some support with applications/nterviews (from you fab lot who've done it successfully ). Although maybe I wont want to read the thread in a few weeks....
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