Anyone doing/considering PGCE secondary science?

[syrup]

I have been accepted for a PGCE starting next year ( I deferred a year to allow me to do the chemistry enhancement first as I graduated 18 years ago!!!!!)
Is anyone doing it? If so any hints, or considering it? I am really looking forward to it but almost everyone thinks I've lost the plot!

You need martianbishop, she's our resident scientist teacher person - and top mn'er to boot!

Will keep an eye out and then blitz with questions! Thanks

I did it a few years ago.

I love it, best job I have ever had.

what do you want to know?

Loads, I must just read a bedtime story and then be back thanks!!!!!!!!

And as a Chemist you'll have few problems getting a job!

Would hardly descibe myself as a chemist (3 yrs to get an e at a level!!!!!!!) my degree is biological sciences and as its the best part of 20 yrs out of date and I know i am going to have to tackle all the sciences (and the lack of chemistry specialists!) I thought the enhancement would be a good idea.
the advise I could really do with is what would you suggest i could do to get a "head start" on my pgce year as I have to say i am totally expecting it to be really heavy going (and the nqt yr) so anything I can do to help would be good. Which are the favoured text books etc? any really helpful web sites?
I am SO very glad to hear that you love it I had a couple of days in a local school recently (my only school experience) and loved it, a real buzz so fingers crossed.

I wouldn't spend a fortune getting different school text books. Every school seems to have its own favored books, depending on what exam boards they use. Regarding your PGCE books it might be worth asking if you could see the sugested reading list.

Someone that is very good to read regarding science teaching is Rosalind Driver....she did loads of research on common misconceptions in science....very interesting and very useful.

Three general books that I found useful are the ASE teaching secondary Chemistry, Biology and physics series (three different books)

Don't worry about your science being 'out of date', you will get up to speed, so fast. This was something I worried about, but you will have no problem.

I'd keep poping into schools to get experience.

Good sites would be the national curriculum website....will give you a good idea of what is taught and when.

Useful sites, bbc bitesize, most of the major museums have good stuff.have a google, you'll find loads of stuff.

Also (with a caveat that some of the people are very rude and/or barking mad) it is worth popping into the Times Education website. They have a section for prospective students, PGCE students NQTs and a science area. The Opinion site is wild on times!

Thanks so much for all that, I will chase up the universities reading list (i luckily have the phone number of a girl I meet at interview who didn't defer).

If I can ever help, just give me a shout.

It is a great job and I love it. I'm in a very average school, most of the kids are fab, some are not, but the job is never the same two days running. And you never get over the buzz you get when an idea really 'clicks' with a kid. Magic!

Grotty looking teen age Goths shouting 'Hi Miss' on a Saterday and waving. They are fab!

Can't wait! I think!!!!