Any primary school teachers/mature students out there?

[Mopsy]

Hello, I'm new to mumsnet and wonder if any of you can help me out. I've been at home for several years caring for ds and dd, both now at school, and have decided I'd like to do a teacher training degree.

There are some good courses available at my local uni so logistically I think things are workable, but I'm terrified of going 'back to school'!

I'd love any advice from others who are studying, and also any useful information at all (eg websites? books? tips?) from teachers/ student teachers. What was it like stepping into a classroom as the teacher for the first time? What has been the most difficult/ funny/ embarrassing thing that has happened to you?

Looking forward to hearing from you
Mopsy

it's a very personal thing teaching... and i think it's very hard to talk about it on a general basis... i've beeen a primary school teacher for 8 years now (taken a year out for baby and am going back after this half term!!! argh! how can a year go by so quickly!), in an inner city school and i must admit it is very hard work... working full time as a teacher and having children will be quite tough but many teachers manage it and cope well enough. I think the secret is to be very organised and disciplined, as i'm awful for wanting to chat with other teachers at the end of the day... thus the marking fails to get done... thus i have to take it home... plus i then have to do extrawork at hoime (something which you will always have to get used to!)

it's very hard to try and not put a downer on teaching as i then am in danger of becoming a whinging teacher but you've got to be aware of all the s**y side of teaching as opposed to the lovely images of well behaved children, praise and thanks from parents, long holidays with nothing but relaxing to do! etc etc... there are some interesting and realistic outlines of life as a teacher on the 'huge school fees increase'thread on the education board - just be prepared to wade through lots of huge debate on private vs state education!!!

i think although you'll be taking a teacher training degree, where you most learn to become a teacher is during the first couple of years, here's were you pick up your style of teaching, you learn form other teachers examples, you meet lots of different children and build up your own strategy for dealing with them, be fair but very firm, don't come down too hard (i think people think they have to be a tough teacher straight away and this can sometimes most often work against you!).... but then again don't be too friendly (many a student i've come across who was having a hard time thought the best way to get the children to behave was to buy them sweets and promise them goodies!)... remember you are the teacher... you are in charge!

there's a hundred more things i can write but it would take far too long... but it is a good job, with many rewards... it's just a hard slog getting there!

good luck!

Bea thanks so much for taking the time to post, it's encouraging that after a year away you are still going back....

mopsy, there was a big discussion on parents training to be a teachers. Sorry I can't remember the thread, but look through the education topic and you should find it. HTH

cheers tigermoth

Mopsy,

I've been teaching for 9 years and still love my job, but it is emotionally draining and since having ds I find it even harder to find the energy to 'give' all the time. There are solutions though - lots of teachers job share now so they only work part time, leaving themselves a couple of days a week for other things.

I havent got any good tips on books etc. as I expect things have changed a bit since I trained but I wouldn't worry about studying again - a large proportion of the course will either be practical workshops or teaching practise in schools in your area.

I couldn't think of anything really funny that had happened to me offhand but a colleague once smelt a funny smell in her class and after much hunting around discovered that one of her little boys had pooed, it had slid down his trouser leg and not wanting to be found out he had picked it up and hidden it in his drawer!

Good luck anyway if you decide to go for it!

Thanks Art! ROFL at secret poo story

Mopsy
Why not ask a local school if you can do a few days observation? We often have people that are thinking of teaching as a career in to get a feel for the job.

Mopsy, I'm not a teacher (I'm an architect), but I did go "back to school" at 30 to get my masters in architecture. It was great! It's so amazing how much more studying you can get done when you're not worrying about your social life and enjoying your new found freedom from your parents. I also found that I was far more organized and effecient than the younger students as I had been in the work world and had a household to run. I got a lot more out of the masters than I did out of my undergraduate degree because I was older and more mature. Good luck, I'm sure you will find the experience rewarding.

I would recommend using the prospects website www.prospects.ac.uk and following links to teaching. Definitely spend some time in a local school if you do apply they will want to see evidence of this.
helen