PGCE worries again - any mentors around?

[namechangedyetagain]

Is it common to feel completely out of your depth and like you'll never make it at this early stage? I know I'm 'consciously incompetent' but i just can't get the hang of planning. I thought i could do the course and i would managet. But I'm not sure now. I think if I gave I'd honestly hate myself but I also don't want to be the 'uselss student' .
How do you know when to call time? As a mentor what would you be seeing after 3 weeks in school that would suggest your student won't make it?

Your mentor should definitely be giving you more support - I’d expect to be planning with a trainee at this point in the year, at the least discussing ideas before expecting you to put anything down on paper / put finishing touches in place.

No scheme is perfect but you could look at Twinkl or Hamilton trust for ideas.

I would try Hamilton for science.

Use the NC then link to the Hamilton lessons.

At 3 weeks in, I plan with my students. I talk through the whole lesson with them and then they go away and type up in to their formal planning sheet. I normally leave them with one small area to develop independently. E.g. we've sorted the main lesson now I want you to think of a challenge you could give to the higher attainers to stretch them, check back with me if you're not sure etc

If they can't do ppa to start with then I always arrange a regular after school time slot to work with them. You are going to have to try to get this set up. Has your class teacher had a student before?

Yes they've mentored lots of students. Also part time so the only days we're both in after school taken up with weekly and staff meeting.
I will try and put my positive pants on today and have another go at planning.
We were told not to compare but everyone else in my group are sailing though so far. I must be really stupid to have thought I could ever do this.

I would have a word with your SCITT tutor. They will be able to support you and offer your mentor some gentle 'guidance'. No one should be planning to the word light 3 weeks in.
Then rest for today if you can.

That was just an example, but yes I have the title/ area of the lesson from the timetable. I'm going to have a proper dig around this morning to make sure i haven't got some vital info in an email somewhere.

I must be really stupid to have thought I could ever do this.
Stop. Just because other people look like they know what they're doing doesn't mean they do.
Everyone here is agreed that no one can plan from a title like that. On this thread alone you've probably got over 150 years of teaching experience - and we're telling you it's not enough info. Please don't blame yourself for not being good enough. It's such early days, for a start.
And you do need to talk to your tutor. I'd have been upset if I thought you'd been fretting and not come to me.

Have you told your training provider? A friend of mine runs a SCITT and she really would rather know early on if there’s an issue as she can then help get it sorted before it becomes a big problem.

Yes. They know I'm struggling with planning. Mentor also knows because I keep banging on about it and I've asked for more guidance.

I had a placement school like that and my tutor had to step in and remind them that I was just learning and couldn't be expected to plan with nothing. Even now if I want to redo something at least I have last year's plans as a guide. What Year group are you teaching on your course?

Best thing I did during teacher training was watch an ast (back when they existed) talk out loud while she planned a lesson. Strongly advise joint planning every once in awhile.

Planning is an art form. It will take time.

Agree with others, it's not enough guidance. You need a lesson plan template (I'm an NQT and still using my University one as found it great) and you need to know precisely what you want the pupils to know by the end of the lesson.

Have people told you that you need to be better at planning, or have you decided that you struggle with it, because you've been given a vague title and don't know what to do?

If timing was an issue last time, then do build timings into you plan- think realistically about how long each section of what you're delivering will take and write this on your plan so you know you're not trying to cram in too much, or that your pacing will be too slow.

I definitely think you need to ask to be given a learning outcome or something like that. "Light" is far too broad and could be anything.

If you can't get this before you're due to teach, I would go with an LO either of something like "Understanding which objects reflect light". You could then plan a mini investigation with torches or other light sources and squares of card, tin foil and maybe clear plastic or something like that?