will I do this or am I being too optimistic?

[HonoriaGlossop]

I have been wanting to get into primary teaching for a good while and I think I feel finally ready to do something about it and also have found a course that seems possible for me.

This is the way my life would have to go if I pursue this dream of mine, will you wise people have a read and tell me if you think I am crazy or not?

Sept 08 - July 09 Do evening classes in GCSE Maths and Science (needed for teaching and I have never got these!)
WORK: Monday - Thursday 9.00 - 6.00 = 34 hrs per week

Sept 09 - July 11: Do QTS Degree PT, so would be
Monday: UNI all day
Tuesday: Work all day, UNI evening
Wednesday: Work
Thursday: Work
Friday: Volunteering day at a local school (DS's school and in his class if they'll let me)

So, working 25.5 hrs per week; shortfall in salary to be made up via student loan/grant.

I should add that I have a DS (6) and a very supportive DH who works full time. However I also have a thyroid condition and can get ill with viruses - but then if I let that stop me I'll never do anything, will I.

Is this programme absolute madness or do you think it is do-able?

TIA.

I think you should give it a try. Obviously, the thyroid condition you have won't make it easier, but hopefully you'll be able to cope.

What sort of A Levels or equivalent do you have? According to a friend of mine who did a B.Ed. you can specialise to some extent within your degree program.

Sorry I can't offer any more advice, but good luck with whatever you decide

Thanks Sub - I have very Arty A Levels, along with English and I've got a DipSW (social work diploma). I don't know if this course is as flexible as a B.Ed then; what seems so perfect is that it's a TWO year part time degree aimed at people with DipHE level qualifications like I have; so after just two years part time I'd have QTS. I can't find another way of doing it that's so flexible, which is why I thought I might really go for it.

Glad the first response wasn't "oh don't be ridiculous woman"

hi honoria - although i am not a teacher or training to be one, i expect this is do-able if you really put your mind to it but have you factored in the time you will need to spend studying, doing assignments etc for your degree..?
I assume you will have that kind of work to do if i remember what friends of mine had to do when they did that course..
If so, that could well be the thing that is the greatest burden - after a long day a work/uni and having made the dinner etc (if you are cooking!) will you still be motivated enough to sit down and work perhaps well into the night??
I am doing a law conversion course at the moment and it is very very hard work - pretty much from october-june i spent every evening and weekend doing "homework" - and i am only a exaggerating a bit there - at christmas and easter i took a few days off but really it was relentless and exhausting and not much fun for my family! tbh i was sure i would fail my exams but have just had the results from my first year and got excellent marks, so i know it IS possible but it was really through a lot of sweat and tears! Hope i don't sound negative - just wanting to be realistic for you. You just have to put your mind to it!
All the very best

thanks fairy - and well done for the results!!

You make a very good point actually; of course I knew I would be doing assignments etc but I had not actually faced it I don't think, as in

Tuesday: Drop DS at school, work till 6, come home do bed bath etc, then work all evening.........

I will have to be a bit more realistic about it I guess. I think at the back of my mind is a feeling that it's now or never really. I've got to at least give it a go.

i think that as long as you are prepared for life to be basically unhealthily "full" during term time, then you should be OK.
Of course it is better to give something a go - you can always drop out if it all gets too much and maybe do it later on - I know thats what I was saying to myself this time last year, and actually all year it kind of helped me to keep saying to myself "i can give this up if i want to.." - in a funny kind of way it kept me going!
And now that I have passed the first year so well I feel really motivated to keep going and endure more of the same come october.
Really hope it works out well for you - keep us posted
ps at least your ds might be sleeping pretty well by now - the worst thing about this past year has been a teething baby/toddler who always seemed to wake up just as I had gone to bed shattered at 2am!

Good points made by Fairylights. Can I just add that once you've made it through the first year, it will then seem a little easier, in that you know what's expected of you, if that makes sense.

I have seriously considered giving up my part time (modern languages) degree, just because of the workload, but I know if I don't stick with it now I'll never get a degree.

HG, I forgot to say in my earlier post that having a supportive dh makes a hell of a difference. Go for it, it sounds like you've got the determination to succeed!

aw thanks Sub. I hope you do stick with it and get that degree - I'm sure you will. As you say you end up feeling like you'll never do it if you give up; and I definitely have that feeling. I'm 40 now and I feel there's no more time left for havering about (not if I want a teacher's pension )

I am pretty terrified though, of letting people know I'm doing it - in case I fail! How humiliating it would be Maybe I'll try to get through that first year in secret

HG, I'm sure you won't fail. All the best

Go for it - I am doing pretty much the same but in different subject. Got a research project to hand in 2 weeks today but as fairy says it is pretty much relentless work - homework ! I work every evening and some weekend days ( Depending on what's happening etc). But you get into the swing of it and blimey oh riley the time just flies by ! Good luck and give it a go !

thank you again Sub, and that GPAC!!It is heartening to hear from people who are already doing this - it makes me feel less mad At least there are others of you who are equally mad

I am as of today booked on for the GCSE's so from September I'll be taking steps towards it at least. I shall be working mon - thur and volunteering in ds' school on a Friday - am looking forward to it already SO much, I love being in the school environment and can't wait to get there.

Then Easter time 09 the application for the degree course goes in..........ulp

good luck with the research project GPAC!

If this is something you want (and it really sounds like it is), then go for it! It will be hard, but with some planning and determination, you will be able to do it, especially if you have a supportive DH.

I studied part time (without a child though) and worked full time at the same time for my first degree. All I can say is that you must utilise your uni time to the max.

I notice that you have 'Monday' as an all day uni day. I wouldn't have thought that you would actually have classes all day, and that you would have some breaks. Why not make this the day that your DH gets your DS ready for school, and does the cooking etc. Go into Uni early, and go to the library and spend some time doing your work (not last minute things for tutorials that day, mind!) and stay a little bit later to do some extra work in the library, coming home for dinner prepared by your DH (even if it's something reheated that you prepared earlier!!)

You will be astounded at how much you can actually get done in that time, especially as your brain will be in uni mode. If you have a laptop, then use it to type up your lecture/tutorial notes straight away, while they're fresh in your mind and that will really solidify the information. (But don't type during the lecture, a small but v important point is that you need practice handwriting at maniac speed to actually make it through your exams - assuming you have written exams of course!!!)

You will still need to allocate some other time during the week, but it will make it all so much easier if you make the most of your uni day.

chitchat - thank you, that is such a good idea. From doing the social work diploma I remember that 'all day' means lectures from 10 - 12 and 2 - 4, or similar! And yes, getting in early and staying late to do stuff might well be a lifeline to me in making the rest of the week cope-able with....

thanks!

another thought following on from what chitchat says..and probably something that every other MN-student will tell you:
when you have to fit your studies into really small windows of time because you have other commitments you will be AMAZED at how much you can get done when your mind is so concentrated! I often think back to my first degree (with an average of 8 hours teaching time a week..) and wonder what on earth i did with my time (well i guess i can remember ) but
the course i am doing now is MUCH more challenging than my degree in content and amount of work expected, and yet i manage to fit it in with looking after a toddler and all the other household stuff...
just saying that to encourage you!

thanks fairy

tis true, if you want something done, ask a busy person!

Never forget a student friend - this was years ago when Richard and Judy were doing the morning show, when it came on she said "ooh haven't seen this since last term!"
'Last term?'
"Yes I don't catch it in the holidays, I'm too busy"