Student parents support thread

[Lenni]

I used to come on this topic a year or so ago and post on the general hand holding support thread but it seems to have gone so I'm hoping there might be enough of us to start a new one.

I'm in my final leg of a M.Ed in Education and am currently writing my thesis which is going very slowly okay but am struggling to find time, motivation or energy to study. It would be nice to know others are in the same boat and have a place to handhold, moan, swap tips and motivate each other.

Congrats Mia! That's fantastic.

Thank you. I need to get through the PGCE next.

It seems never ending though, first was the Access course, then the degree, next the PGCE and at some point I would like to do a Masters and PhD.

only just found this thread again- MIA that is fantastic well done! You look to be planning a similar path to my own!

well come to all other newbies

Thanks dylsmum. Any news on your results yet?

no still waiting here, starting to feel impatient now.

wooo hoooo
just got my transcript I have got a first!!!

Yay! Well done dylsmum. Feels good doesn't it?

It does, it has given me such a boost- I now believe I can do my PGCE and PHD

Just found out I won The Wragg Prize for Education 'in recognition of excellent academic achievement'

I'm over the moon, plus the £50 book token I get for winning the award will contribute nicely to all the expensive PGCE books

Mia that is fantastic!! well done

ps check out local charity shops for books. I have been lucky as locally we have an OXFAM shop which has a large book selection and they have a lot of books handed in, also thehusband of teacher, who I have been working with this past year voluntarily, works one day a week in said oxfam shop. She gave him my book list for PGCE and so far he found me 3 of the books. Some others she had on her book shelf at home and has leant me some for the duration of the course, other she just gave me . So worth asking any teachers you know as well to see what they have

oh good tip. I have a local OXFAM book shop, I will check there.

Got a bargain off the TES website the other day. Bought a load of QTS books which saved me about fifty pound and they are all like new.

It is shocking the cost of the PGCE books. One of the girls on my degree course bought all the essential books from our reading list, new off amazon, and it cost her over £400

Have you started doing any prep work yet dylsmum?

Not done any reading etc yet.

I have been on my pre-pgce placement, just one day left to go. I have a booklet I need to fill out while I am there which I have pretty much finished, just need to do the faffy bits like how many children in school etc.

have completed the observations I need to do.
Once I have finished the booklet I need to write an essay and then actually start reading the books I have been collecting. Will check out the TES website too. Was advised by a couple of the teachers I spoke to today who did their PGCE at the uni where I am doing mine, not to get alll the books on the list as many are similar and can be borrowed from the library. So will aim for one or two off each subject area and see how I get on.

wow sounds like you have been busy. I've got my pre-pgce placement in September so got a while to go yet.

I've been trying to prep for my QTS tests. Can't believe how much I've forgotten since leaving school.

I have chosen to do my pre-pgce placement now as my daughter starts school in September so I will be able to spend the first couple of weeks getting her settled before lectures start.

I haven't looked at the QTS tests yet, I must because I have forgotten loads as well since school, am feeling a bit nervous about those tests

Wow, I have just found this section for students and feel a bit emotional! I felt like I was the only one! I'm in my final weeks of PhD in history of art. Finding it very difficult to get energy and motivation to finish. But just tying loose ends now. Under a lot of pressure from my dm to finish sooner rather than later so she can go on holiday, she looks after my dd two days a week.

Fear of failure Lenni- yes I know about that one. Some days I couldn't even put pen to paper. My supervisor said 'you have to find your own voice' it was something of a mantra. I did find my own voice but it took a while Good luck to all. I am so inspired by everyone here.

HUGE congratulations Mia, you've done amazingly well, you should be so proud of yourself!

Only my first year but very pleased that I have passed my exams, two modules I received a first and in the other one I got a high 2:1 so really happy

Promised myself I would get ahead with reading over the summer but as yet I've been utterly useless, I am going to start tomorrow by trying to find some bargains on amazon or ebay!

Good luck finishing your PhD charlie, and to those of you commencing PGCEs, writing essays etc.

Thank you Ewe. Sounds like you've been doing really well yourself. I've been trying to get a head start with work over the summer but it's just not happening.

Good luck in your last few weeks charlie.

Hello again! And a huge congraulations to those of you who have had results - well done! Hope you had fab celebrations!

Well the kids have just broken up for their summer hols and I am taking this coming week off study to help at a big community kids' summer club and boy do I need a berak from the library! . I am working on my undergrad dissertation (not due in until next Easter) for which I had set myself an unfeasibly tight deadline (we are going away for 2 weeks in Aug and had wanted to finish by then)- so I'm facing up to the fact that it is going to take longer than I had thought. I am now hoping to have finished the first half by our holiday. (No academic books coming with!) I have done so much thinking, note-taking, argument-formulating...so pretty much it is the writing-up now. Thing is, I'm a bit sick of the sight of it by now, so I need a good enthusaiam injection!

And then in Sept I have a week of mock exams to revise for...

I'm also wondering whether I am going to take the study further than the BA. I used to teach secondary English, and have been chatting informally to postgrads and academics here who all say 'oooh you're a natural, you must'. If I want to apply, I know that I need to start taking about it properly this coming academic year. Hmm...life decisions, eh?

I think studying can become addictive clockface.

Everytime I'm stressing over an essay or an exam I can't wait for it to be over. Yet I'm constantly looking at different postgrad courses and getting excited about the next challenge.

Yes I agree mia it's very addictive

Thanks Prolesworth.

Stick in there, it will be over before you know it.

Hello all, and thank you to Prolesworth for directing me to this thread.
My DC1 is due in November, I'm going to apply for an OU post-grad certificate in Development Management, to start in May 2011 - may take it all the way through to MSc, but thought I would start with the certificate. Has anyone else studied with OU as a post-grad? Grateful for any feedback.
Also, good luck to all who have exams and deadlines! Getting very excited about studying again, completed my BA in 2008 as a mature student.

Hi may I join you? I have just completed a Foundation course in Health Professions and passed so in September I will be starting my BSc in Midwifery. Am very excited, although somewhat apprehensive as to how I'm going to manage with 3 kids, and helping DH with his gardening business too. Already feel as if there's not enough hours in the day, and I've not even started yet! I would welcome any tips and strategies for coping when the inevitable hit the fan!!! Many thanks in advance....