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Original poster

Help with finding a children's song with a story for PGCE interview

119 replies

josh751 · 28/11/2013 19:36

I have an interview for a PGCE in primary and as part of it I need to tell the lecturers a story as if they're children using props, it must be geared towards 4-8 and I want to get them to participate. I plan on using a guitar as my prop and telling them a story through song. so does anyone have any ideas?

much appreciated
josh

OP posts:
Original poster
josh751 · 01/12/2013 20:54

And I gig in a function band 4-5 nights a week so learning lyrics is no problem ;)

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lougle · 01/12/2013 21:02

You are missing so many points it's almost like you're in a different reality.

Original poster
josh751 · 01/12/2013 21:08

Could you share the many points I am missing? The story is about a cat coming into someones house and that someone keeps trying to give it away but he keeps coming back and then finally a little girl finds the cat and loves it so the cat doesn't want to go back,

I found this Story/Song on the THE LEARNING STATION which is a multi-award-winning children's group. With combined backgrounds and degrees in early childhood education, child development and music, this trio, has achieved international stature as leaders in the children's educational music industry. They presently have a collection of 30 award-winning audio and video releases and they have published over 350 children's songs that are part of educational curriculums world-wide.

They say:

"The Cat Came Back" is a popular children's story and camp song. Our version is child friendly, humorous and has a happy ending that children will enjoy. This is also a great song to share during story time for preschoolers and kindergarten age children.

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ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 01/12/2013 21:11

Head. Table. Ouch.

Original poster
josh751 · 01/12/2013 21:12

Great response.. Very informative... whats wrong with it?

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indyandlara · 01/12/2013 21:21

PGCE is a tough year. You will not always be right. You will not always get your own way.

Teaching is tough. You will not always be right. You will not always get your own way.

If almost everyone saying that you are barking up the wrong tree is not setting off alarm bells for you I am not sure what will. Teachers need to be able to take criticism, constructive and otherwise.

lougle · 01/12/2013 21:25

What's the story telling the children? It's a great tune, I'm sure. But what is it telling the children? What are they going to learn?

If you try and get rid of a cat it will try and come home until it finds someone nicer???

diddlediddledumpling · 01/12/2013 21:27

Are you in the UK? The context of the song is a bit odd, if you are, and it just doesn't feel like a story.
It seems like you're trying to shoehorn the guitar into the interview and the choice of story is suffering.
Why not choose a story first, a good one, then use your talents to add in some music/singing?

Also, you're not great at taking criticism....

Original poster
josh751 · 01/12/2013 21:29

That's fair enough and I totally understand! But can't I have a say in what I'd like to do? after all it is my interview. I have took a lot of your comments on board, At first I was going to do "She'll be coming round the mountain" and you were right.. its not really a story. But "The Cat Came Back" does have a story about a person trying to get a cat out of their home and it keeps coming back but eventually the story concludes when a Girl keeps the cats and loves him.. Again I will be using props, cards, pictures and words.. so I cover the Auditory, Visual and Kinesthetics, and at the end of the day the story doesn't matter to them.. Its to see if you sweat alot, don't speak clearly and come up with a few creative ideas for telling a story :)

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Original poster
josh751 · 01/12/2013 21:34

What are they going to learn from "There was a Princess", you should go around kissing girls hands to make you feel happy? :P

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diddlediddledumpling · 01/12/2013 21:38

Of course you get a say, its entirely up to you what you do! And of course your demeanour probably matters much more than your choice of story, but I assume they will still take account of it. And people here were suggesting ways you could choose a really good one.

I suppose it's the manner in which you told so many experienced teachers that they were wrong and you were right. I just think you could have been a bit more gracious. It's quite tiresome when student teachers come into schools and talk to us like we know nothing and they have it all sussed.

lougle · 01/12/2013 21:41

But Josh....it's a rubbish story!

We're in the UK.

The trucker was going to Mexico
Children wouldn't have any idea what a 'Trucker stop & go' is
A real nice plane is terrible grammar
A lot of children wouldn't know where New England was
Most children wouldn't know where Bangor Maine was
The last chorus is completely unnecessary because at that point the cat hasn't left because he loves the girl, so there's no reason for him to go, yet you're singing that he came back!

There is no meaning to the story, at all. There really isn't. The only possible meaning is that if you waste your time trying to get rid of a cat then eventually someone will see it and fall in love with it!

I see your point completely that it's 'not really about the story' but then if you view it like that, at what point do you stop? Do you decide not to even do a story and just do something that demonstrates your 'calm, cool delivery'?

You need to show not only that you are calm and collected but also that you can teach to demand. That you can tailor your lesson to a brief. That you understand what children need.

lougle · 01/12/2013 21:45

"There was a princess" is the story of Sleeping Beauty, a timeless classic.

diddlediddledumpling · 01/12/2013 21:46

Also, I assume it's reasonably competitive to get on to a PGCE course where you are. It's a bit short sighted to assume they'll give all the places to those who keep their cool best. I'd like to think they're also looking for people who have a grasp of the process of learning. And i'm sick of people thinking they can throw in the VAK theory and that's a lesson sorted.

Shallishanti · 01/12/2013 21:52

please....just do we're going on a bear hunt!

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 01/12/2013 21:53

The head- table comment was because you're not listening to any of the advice. Why the hell did you bother posting if you know it all anyway?

Iwaswatchingthat · 01/12/2013 21:57

Thanks lougle at least someone is listening to me!!

blueemerald · 01/12/2013 21:57

You need to tell them a story. Start there and then bring an musical element in.

Iwaswatchingthat · 01/12/2013 21:59

Oh and josh if you really have to ask what young children are going to learn from a traditional tale then I give up.

Original poster
josh751 · 01/12/2013 22:00

OKay.. Lets hold up a second! I get what you mean about that verse and I will be changing the lyrics to make it more UK-Friendly!

I have looked up your songs as well and tried a few.

Everyone does "The Hungry Caterpillar" which far enough you can talk about it changing to a butterfly but do any of you think you could tell that story to the children and then have a full discussion about life cycles in the space of 5 minutes? and lets be honest it is a bit of a crap story.. A caterpillar eating cake, chocolate and all that..

The interview process up there is to see how you are in those situations, You get marks for Eye Contact, Speaking Clearly, Engaging etc. I was chatting to someone up in the Uni who is doing her masters up there and she said even "She'll be coming round the mountain" would be 100% as long as you are overly enthusiastic, pleasant...

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Iwaswatchingthat · 01/12/2013 22:03

Hmmmm Eric Carle has done ok out of it.

lougle · 01/12/2013 22:03

As I say, they're cheesy but Debbie and Friends do song animations of Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks, Cinderella, Three Little Pigs, Pinnochio, Jack and the Beanstalk....

They are all good, solid stories that can be adapted to the level of children of most ages.

lougle · 01/12/2013 22:05

Ok, well enjoy that, Josh. I sincerely hope that this thread helps you to reflect on your learning style. I worry for you if this is how you will approach a PGCE. I worry for teaching if this is the sort of candidate they get as a 'dead cert'.

Original poster
josh751 · 01/12/2013 22:08

The Bear Hunt one.. what do you learn from that? do go hunting for bears? aww I Don't know whats wrong with the Cat Came Back :/ surely if the learning station (who also do that bear hunt) do it.. then it should be okay

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Iwaswatchingthat · 01/12/2013 22:11

It isn't about learning from the story itself or you could question any story ever written:

"What do you learn from Jane Eyre? Don't fall in love with a man with a wife locked in the attic?"

You're missing the point that young children need to learn about story structure, traditional language, vocabulary, repetitive language and how it is used in stories, that stories have a beginning, middle and ending etc. etc. etc.

I wanted to give up, but I just couldn't.