Lone parents tbinking about/emarking on teacher training

[HauntedLittleLunatic]

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...

Are you both looking forward to the weekend haunted and ninah?? Your placement sounds great ninah.

I think I am going to demand about 10 credits from uni just for sorting out a myriad of childcare arrangements and forecasting the exact cost, bearing in mind variations in hours and price increases ..... awake at 5 after dreaming about a placement which didn't go well.......................... Need to chill out a bit. I am hoping it will be less daunting when I am actually up and running on the course.

I've survived my first week at college! Huzzah!

the weekend, yay! you're not wrong change
and yes, actually doing it is much less daunting than the days before when you are anticipating it
well done saggy. I have a week at college next week, but tbh it's still the travelling and childcare that preys on my mind. So far, so good!

Sounds like it's going well people! I've actually done some of my pre-PGCE work! So that's good!

Next week will be spent settling my DD into nursery (she's only 1 ... I can't begin to describe how much I'll miss spending everyday with her - it feels like I'm cutting off an arm).

Then on the 19th fulltime PGCE until christmas! Argghhh!

By the way - Haunted - if I were u I'd tell ur DD's school the name/contact number of the school that you're observing/teaching at for emergencies.

That's what I plan to do for my DD's nursery - just incase.

that's a good idea newbaby - it did cross my mind the other day when i was out on placement! First week in of a 4 week placement in nursery -really nice school and I'm back in their for my Primary 1 placement too ! It was good fun but absolutely exhausting - and I spent 3 1/2 hours today typing up learning experinces records, doing planning etc. good news on the bursary front though - I'm getting £3000 from the uni!!! so gonna actually be better off as student!!!

Have got a great primary placement. The teaching staff are really helpful and positive and the kids are sooo sweet - however, it does make me glad that I have gone for secondary as a career

Primary placement over.

Knackered.

I just have to write it up now...

Hi everyone - one week of primary placement finished. Most teachers have been lovely but a couple are a bit wary and defensive including the main teacher I am shadowing . Am being extra nice and will take in some biscuits next week in the hope it will curry favour. I am actually am rather in awe of people who can get 25 small kids into order. I struggle to marshal my two at home

I had a bit of the same.

I spent a week with 1 teacher. He was recently qualified and very very happy to help cos he had been in our position recently. Didn't want to know me the second week tho when I was shadowing someone else.

The second week I was with a very experienced teacher. She was happy for me to watch the first bit of the lesson and would then send me out to sort displays or read with individuals. Thought it was only worth me seeing the bit where she was stood in front of the class talking, and not watching how the children worked.

Third teacher was on long term supply for the same class. She was excellent. She took my ideas on board. Gave me a group to work with on my own (for a sesssion in my specialist subject). We were very much working as a team and almost made me feel equal to her. I was allowed to check children's work and 'sign' it off as complete.

Complete contrast between the 3 attitudes. At the end of the day look upon it as a box ticking excercise. as long as I get 50% in my essay I am happy...which is masters pass mark.

Just an update, I missed a day of college last week as it was DS2's first day at school and then he picked up D & V so I missed another day this week! Its to be expected as he has just started school but I am mildly panicing about getting behind from the get go.

On a positive, I missed chemistry last week, had a test this week and got 100%!

Eeek Haunted I don't have an essay to write and uni have been vague about what we are getting out of this. I am writing copious notes on each day and have drawn together some overall observations. I have also bought wine as a thank you for the Y6 teacher whose class I am shadowing - teachers seem to like wine I had to get it today as no time for the rest of the week so if the week is truly dreadful, I can drink it myself I'm sure it will be fine as I am good at judicious crawling winning people round.

Sorry to hear that Saggy but well done on the Chemistry test

change I think that one of the QTS standards relates to being aware of the key stage either side of the one you qualify in...so that's why we do it.

What are you teaching savvy?. I am doing science (physics)?

i'm debating applying for a pgce. I have a history BA (hons) 2:1 and a PgDip in socio-cultural history. Anybody got any advice for me?what kind of experience do i need to have before applying?i really want to do it, it was my plan before I had dd and i feel ready to go for it!

The TDA website gives lots of info. You need some voluntary classroom experience - 2 weeks secondary, I think it's much more for primary.

Did a bit of teaching today with the teacher's say-so - I was utterly crap which has dented my confidence a bit. Still, I was only in for half an hour, at short notice etc. I wish it had gone better but I suppose the only way is up, eh?

thanks, I will check out the tda site. I am a bit scared about it though as the nearest uni is ages away so would prob have to relocate to do it!hope not x

Hello trainee teachers!
I haven't read the thread all the way through yet, but just wanted to offer any support I can. I am an experienced teacher who's worked in a variety of areas, head of PE, NASUWT rep, governor and Eco leader.
If anyone has any questions whatsover to do with training, lessons, plans, workloads, teaching or general school issues, please feel free to PM me and I will happily reply as soon as I can.
Good luck all of you!
xx

Hi everyone - I met a couple of fellow PGCE-students last night, very nice people but they were about 12................ Oh god, I feel rather old!!

Oh God!! Nightmare stressy night from hell kidsacting up and I exploded -3rd week into nursery (3-5) placement and gottecher from HELL - Curriculum for Excellence is all a load of crap apparently... she man handles children and is horrific. she is awful and has to do my crit next week!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... sorry x

Is it worth making a note of her comments (dates, what seemed to prompt them) and then approaching your uni tutor in another couple of weeks? Something along the lines of "I have some concerns that I would like to share with you". That way it won't seem as if you are just making a snap judgment. How long do you have to stay with her? Poor you and poor kids . Any way you can wangle out of other staff what they think of her?

I got a rather frosty reception on my primary placement from the teacher I was assigned to. However, she was great with the kids so it was presumably just me who was a useless lump of lard

Evening all (no time for a llong post...I suspect we will all be succinct on here)...an essay to write, subject knowedge audit to do and 3 lesson plans in outline, 1 detailed by Tues...

A few words from me after a week....

EXHAUSTED
Snowed under
Too much paper
Hell of a lot of work
Panicking
Too many acronyms, and not sure how they all fit together

Find out my placement on Monday...

How is everyone else?

aaargggghhhh!!! 1 placement downa nd teh next one in 3 weeks - total overload - my brain can't cope!! Loved the placement but not enjoying the theory! How's everyone else getting on?

Sounds like you are all doing brilliantly! So pleased you are having positive experiences in schools - reading the thread has been a fantastic reminder of how it feels to be just starting out and I have been resolving to be much more helpful and available to NQT's (so hard to remember when you feel snowed under all the time!)

Makemineapinot there's always one - even if you are only learning how NOT to do it, it is all valuable experience. Good Luck for the rest of the placement.

First placement starts Monday. People are loving telling me how awful the school is (a bit like when you are about to have your first baby and you get the birth horror tales )

My DCs are misbehaving a lot when I actually see them and I am so tired. DD2 sleeping badly and I am doing a lot of middle-of-the-night worrying . I have planned a long bath, some herbal sleeping tablets and milky drink for tonight (pretty exciting Saturday night, eh?! ) so that at least when I don't sleep tomorrow night, I will have sleep in the bank. Am quietly sniggering to myself about all my fellow 20-something singleton fellow students who are complaining about "how tired" they are and "how much work there is to do" . It is great to hear from other LPs who did the training and survived.