PGCE Mums

[SleepymummyZzz]

I have just received (and accepted!) an offer for PGCE primary starting this September.

Teaching has been something I have wanted to do since a child and I am 110% sure this is what I want to do despite all the horror stories from my two best friends who happen to be teachers!

I currently work in a managerial position 7-6 most weekdays with occasional weekend and evening work. Very stressful, lots of impossible targets and needy employees so am used to a certain amount of pressure. I also have a DS (5) who is used to nursery/after school club/range of family members picking him up etc and DH is very supportive, with housework and childcare.

My plan is on top of Uni hours (9-5) to work on the commute (1 hour) plus weekday evenings after son is in bed (apart from yoga night!) and 6-12 Saturday mornings when hubby takes son to football. Does this seem realistic most of the time if I am stupidly organised? Or I am being completely optimistic?

Does anyone have any tips they can share for surviving as a Mum during your PGCE (and beyond)?

Also any thing I can do to start to prepare now, good books to read etc?

Well done. I'm sure you will have a great time as you seem realistic and organised. I did my PGCE 30 years ago while faced with similar doom and gloom stories and huge changes in education. It is a stimulating environment to be in, it is a privilege to work with young people and the job is what you make it. A PGCE is a good introduction to teaching because you get a network of people in a similar situation and a break from being in the classroom. Only tip is to stay on top of the workload and remember that being 'good enough' can save a lot of time. Have a great time.

Well done. Please don't think that you have to plan everything from scratch and make all your own resources - there are lots of excellent websites full of resources which can be adapted (and may need to be for new curriculum). So much more help out there than when I did my PGCE 30 years ago.

congrats. pls report back and let us know how you get on.

Thanks everyone for your encouraging words . Glad to hear you don't think I'm crazy for entering profession at this time. So excited for September now! Will update again when the mayhem starts!

PS Angels, have just checked out twinkl and love it, thanks for the tip.
I have managed to negotiate a half day finish once a week (making up the hours on other days ) so I spend every Friday afternoon in my local primary, without a doubt best part of my week!

When I did my PGCE 11 years ago, I ended up having 1 long evening in university a week (when I wasn't on teaching practice). I found it worked really well for me to go to the library at 5pm for 2 or 3 hours and then drive home after the rush hour (when the journey took half the time). You might find it useful to do something like that - I got through loads on my late Wednesdays.

Hey Sleepy I start my PGCE Primary in September too :) Currently waiting for my duplicate GCSE certificates to come back - it's 27 years since I sat them and they went walkabout in the meantime.

I've been working as a 1-1 SEN assistant in a primary for the last couple of years so have a pretty good idea how ghastly the time demands can be!

With the course the work doesn't worry me, the logistics may be hellish... 4 dcs (15, 13, 11 and 7) at 4 different schools and a husband away a lot may be tricky at times but if I don't do it now I never will.

Another website to look at is Teacher's Pet.

I found the PGCE ebbs and flows. At times you work until midnight for a week and then all weekend, but at others it is calm and relatively 8 to 5. These crunches are predictable and you can plan for them. You sound like you have good support and you should be fine.

I start my PGCE Primary this September too!

I am doing the 2 year PGCE so it should be a bit easier, I hope! I must be of a similar age to MrsMot as, I too, sat GCSE's 27 years ago! Now I feel old! We were the first year to sit them (no text books, no past exam papers, very stressed teachers). I had just returned to school after 5 months off (meningococcal meningitis) before sitting the exams!

My background is NHS (science) but due to a forced relocation of job and a massive increase in crazy 'out of hours' work I want a change.
I really enjoy my time in school (I have volunteered for the last 5 years). Love maths/science!

My eldest (boy) starts secondary this September and my youngest will be a junior girl. The time is right :-)

Oh, and CONGRATULATIONS on your offer (and acceptance)!

It is manageable but you have to be organised! I started my PGCE in September, I'm a single parent with one ds at school. If I can do it anyone can!