trainee teacher to be

[bluebloom]

I'm about to start a PGDE in primary education. What do I need to know? If you've done the course is there anything in particular you'd recommend I do beforehand? I have been reading core texts & taking notes but is there anything more generally I could prepare in advance?Any tips for placements? Any info gratefully received.

Read lots and lots of children's books and keep a note of them! In the summer before I started I used to choose books I'd never heard of from the children's section of the library, by author surname. So I started with books by authors with surnames starting with A, B, C, D and so on. I discovered all sorts of fantastic new authors. I also made sure that I covered a range of genres, styles and target age groups.

In your situation I would also register with www.ncetm.org.uk and start working through the self evaluation tools. It will enable you to identify and then fill any gaps in your Maths knowledge before you start. Once you're happy your subject knowledge is up to speed then you can have a look at the pedagogy section - there's a huge difference between being able to do Maths yourself and being able to teach it. You'll cover the pedagogy on your course, but if you want to spend time now getting ahead then I reckon this is an excellent way to do it.

Thanks icecream that's really helpful, I hadn't thought about reading children's literature at all, that's great advice. Will definitely brush up my maths skills too, they could do with it! Have been reading the two core text books & taking notes on pedagogy etc. Anyone else got any other ideas?

I would look up behaviour management strategies

Any school you go into will have a behaviour management policy but it's helpful to get an idea of softer behaviour strategies you are comfortable using

I'm presuming you've been in school (s) volunteering / shadowing?

Thanks emochild I have read a bit about behaviour management but not much, will put that on the list.

BackforGood yep I have been in schools quite a bit, worked with a range of age groups, really loved it, confirmed that I would like to get into teaching

Then I'd have thought the teachers you've worked alongside would have favourite websites, etc. (for resources for you)

I was a school SENCo for many years and always fairly horrified how little information teaching prac students had had about either the SEN Code of Practice, or, strategies to try with children with special needs. I might be biased, but that might be a good place to start. Rather than reading 272 pages of legislation though, all the big SEN/D charities have 'Guide to the CofPrac for Parents' on their websites (SCOPE, MENCAP, NDCS, NAS, etc., or more general ones like NASEN or Contact a Family). Would certainly be worth a read, IMO.

Thanks BackforGood I'm in Scotland (hence PGDE rather than PGCE) so no SENCOs here but will check out these websites, thanks.

Just finished my PGCE this year. I would say familiarise yourself with the National Curriculum.

Get some nice stickers as they'll be very handy when you start your teaching practice.

Tips for placement, always listen to constructive advice and don't take anything personal. Always show that you are eager to help, even in your first weeks before you start teaching, ask for the teacher if they need anything done. Get involved with getting to know the children straight away and knowing all their when you start teaching them will definitely help.

Good luck, it'll be a difficult year but if you are sure that you want to go into teaching it'll also be amazing year.

It's worth getting a Twitter account (just for teaching) and follow some other teachers - they share resources. Also if you have Facebook, there are some FB teacher groups that it would be good to join and read through as it gives you a good idea of how things are. One big one is Primary Teachers - resources, ideas, stress relief! Also think Twinkl have big ones. Twinkl is a handy website.