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Parenting

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Original poster

Anyone beginning their PGCE this September?

115 replies

Louise12 · 15/08/2009 19:57

Hi ,

Just thought I would say hello and ask if there is anyone beginning a PGCE this September. I have two teenagers and am starting my PGCE in a few weeks time. Feeling extremely nervous but excited. I just hope I can cope with what I know to be a very intense course.

Best wishes to anyone beginning their studies at the same time and juggling family life alongside!

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DEMifnotwhynot · 07/09/2009 21:42

Nogoodnicknamesleft : i am very very fortunate to have family help. But Ds has issues which mean i could use any other child care arrangements. His dad (exP) has halfterms off due to his job so he will have him then as during training i dont get half terms. I have no idea what i am going to do next year though as i would have lovely helpful family about and am going to have to find childcare that is able to handle ds and all that comes with him.

First day today and i feel like some one has hit me over the head with a brick. And have homework for submission tomorrow.
Best get my sorry bum finishing that off so i can grab and early night. I feel my brain needs the rest. Hope all coping well.

NoGoodNicknamesLeft · 08/09/2009 00:13

tx DEM. good luck all you brave people, have heard it's absolutely manic. enjoy teaching!

saadia · 08/09/2009 06:36

sherezade, I know what you mean. In the long-run it is for the dcs but I'm still a bit anxious about them - probably worrying too much - they seem happy and I know kids are pretty resilient and it's good for them to be a bit more independent.

The other thing is that we kept being told today about the importance of attendance and I was wondering what would happen if the dcs get ill. Probably best not to worry till it happens.

Nogoodnickamesleft I will be using a CM for the dcs after chool and dh has some flexibility in his work to drop them off in the morning. I know people on the FT course though who get a lot of help from family. I wouldn't have been able to do this if dcs were pre-school age.

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KateF · 09/09/2009 22:20

My dds are dropped at breakfast club by dh and childminder collects from school. I leave at 6.45am and get back between 5.30 and 6.30, collect kids, do tea, bath, reading etc, make lunches for next day and sit down to study - I am shattered . I do grab any spare moments during the day at Uni to do bits of work and there are a lot of parents on my course so we all help each other.

saadia · 13/09/2009 22:17

Completed the first week - is anyone else wondering what the heck they've signed up for? I can't get my head round the course itself and all its requirements.

DidEinsteinsMum · 13/09/2009 22:31

I think i have got my head around the basics. Its this weeks peer group teaching lesson that is causing me a headache. Then again the course is easy compared to my home life. I am looking forward to going back after this weekend.

sherazade · 16/09/2009 20:22

completed nearly two weeks. phew...
saadia, its alot to take in at this stage, although out tutors have repeatedly told us that the pieces will all come together and soon make sense. one can only hope...

in the meanwhile, i've been audited and analysed to death.

DidEinsteinsMum · 16/09/2009 22:31

If it makes you feel any better I crash and burned teaching a lesson to my fellow PGCE students. it was tough but i have learnt so much and tomo i am going to ask some awkward questions of my tutor. I now know how i like to teach. I have to now learn the skills to teach so that i can pull off the style i like. Wing and a prayer method is a good descriptor of my style. Doable when experienced and disaster in the hands of a novice.

Live learn move on.

At least it wasnt in front of proper kids. Now that would have been a disaster.

Superduperloopthelooper · 20/09/2009 17:45

DEM , am sorry. Did you make any progress when you spoke to your tutor?

It has gone worryingly quiet on here, is everyone okay?!

I start tomorrow, have spent so long building up to it that I will just be glad to make it there and survive the day!

DidEinsteinsMum · 20/09/2009 20:27

Yep. STICK TO YOUR LESSON PLAN I have submit my lesson slides nxt week and he is going to learn i ditched the plan only 15mins in issh. He thinks it was ditched about 30/35mins in that should be interesting.
Got my fist day in school tomo. Nice early start too. hey ho and off we go...

KateF · 21/09/2009 17:43

I'm still around just got so much work I havn't had time to post! Have to write at least 600 words of reflective journal each week which means much reading in order to have something to reference, plus have an essay and a practical demo to do on Friday. Start first placement next week so looking forward to that. Glad everyone is hanging in there!

saadia · 21/09/2009 20:36

yes I thought it was worryingly quiet too... I actually had the whole of last week off but had to do a science assignment which was due in today. We had an ICT lecture today which was great - I do like the lecturers, and ICT workshop tomorrow then free for the week. I am trying to do reading and swotting up on weaker subjects (maths and science)and just getting to grips with the National Curruculum.

saadia · 21/09/2009 20:37

DEM I'm sure we will all have moments like that after all we're not teachers yet.

MyBoysHaveDogsNames · 22/09/2009 17:47

Hello, I am hoping to do a PGCE in Primary in September 2010 and will be applying soon. Could anyone recommend a useful, up-to-date book on the National Curriculum and teaching methods, maybe something that you use on your course?

I have had a look on Amazon and saw a book called Reflective Teaching, which looked interesting, but would be grateful for any other suggestions.

And good luck to everyone on their courses.

KateF · 22/09/2009 21:57

I don't know that particular book but "reflective" is a big buzzword on my course. Our main assessment is via our reflective journal and there are numerous lectures on The Reflective Practitioner so it sounds like a good bet!

MyBoysHaveDogsNames · 22/09/2009 22:46

Thanks KateF, I have bought it and will let you know if it's any good! Just wanted something to give me an idea of current teaching practice and ideas and to prepare me a bit for next year. Got to finish my degree yet though!

DidEinsteinsMum · 22/09/2009 23:17

Interestingly there is a book on my reading list with that title. Compulsory reading list. susan davies has a good one called 'the essential guide to teaching' which is quite good and an easy read. The other one is pretty tough going hence why i havent gotten past page 1 yet.

MyBoysHaveDogsNames · 23/09/2009 10:36

Thanks DEM. I've just looked for The Essential Guide to Teaching and it has great reviews so may get that one after/if I can wade through the other one. Sounds a bit challenging now....

DidEinsteinsMum · 23/09/2009 17:27

I guess it depends on whether you have the one by GIllie Bolton and not adverse to lots of text per page. Unfortunately i like white space so that's why i have been daunted by it. Need it for an assignment so will have to read soon. hey ho hum.

Superduperloopthelooper · 23/09/2009 22:01

Hi all

Am over-halfway through my induction week, agghhh my brain!! So much information...am shattered .

We are all torn between wishing we were on the campus-based PGCE from a support / community point of view and also being grateful that as of next week we will be at home again.

How is everyone?

Superduperloopthelooper · 23/09/2009 22:02

Appalling post, excuse lack of grammar / punctuation, brain melting!

sherazade · 27/09/2009 16:32

did someone say reflective teaching?
i had to do an oral presentation on that lasting a whopping 25 minutes- had to make it interactive etc, did use readings form the relfective teaching book. Found the whole thing unrewarding and irrelevent but maybe thats just me.

on the bright side of things, i've learnt lots about teaching maths and science in fun and creative ways. ECM sessions was daunting, hammered home that teaching is only a small part of being a teacher. does that make sense? probably not. i just go round with my brain fried most of the time..

sherazade · 27/09/2009 16:33

superdoopr, i thought your grammar was fantastic , didn't notice a single flaw

ConstantlyCooking · 02/10/2009 09:43

Enjoying course - but no time for MN these days!

saadia · 02/10/2009 21:12

ConstantlyCooking I know that feeling, had a science assignment to submit today which was supposed to take 1 hour but took me about three days and also had a maths audit - but so far am really enjoying learning new things.

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