Feeling slightly stressed with a virtual placement

[hello129]

So, I’m not moaning. I just find it harder than a normal placement which I had last semester. Things are so much more difficult to understand and I feel like I don’t even know the team. I just get all these emails in my mailbox of all sorts of training and targets. I can barely keep up.

I don’t want to give up but this year with lockdowns and covid has made a PGCE a real tough slog. I’m just constantly feeling nervous.

Are any others feeling like this? Or mentors, how are you all feeling? I imagine the pressure is tough for you guys too

I am Schools Direct, so in school on placement, albeit with fewer children. Had a difficult placement last term and feel so much lighter this term, despite my own children being home and my long-suffering wfh DH dealing with them. I think I am trying to say that it is a very tough year to be doing this and sending solidarity. A friend who's an NQT this year messaged me this week to basically say hang in in there and that they were where we are last year and it has all worked out.

What age/subject are you?

Hi @hello129 sorry you're finding things hard -it is certainly very strange at the moment and I can imagine it must be even harder as a trainee.

I am mentoring an NQT this year but have had trainees in the past. I am secondary so some of the suggestions may be different for primary.

Firstly, have you met your mentor? Even if you can't meet them face to face, you should at least be meeting them on zoom/teams. If you haven't, send them an email and ask. Explain that you understand they are busy but you would very much like to meet them, albeit virtually!

Are you able to go into school at all? At my school, it is optional but we have suggested our trainees work from school at least part of the week. Ideally, you could do with being in a day or two just so that you see a few people and ideally your mentor. I am in school full time and my NQT is coming in 4 days pw. This means I can still have face to face meetings with him and just check in to make sure he is ok.

Have you been given any guidance on evidencing the standards remotely? I have a document for NQTs - ask your mentor or google 'meeting the teaching standards remotely'. You may not have started teaching yet but again, the mentor or class teacher should still be in on those lessons and offer advice/feedback. I am observing my NQT this week within the context in which he is working so that we can evidence standards and I can give him some positive feedback.

It's tough at the moment but hang in there - you can do this! Please speak to your mentor though - it is hard for us all but they should still be supporting you

@PumpkinPie2016 hello. Thank you for your reply. I’ve met my mentor only via email. I’ve been ill with covid so I needed a week out. I’m hoping for some guidance about what I am to do and what’s expected of me tomorrow and no I haven’t had any guidance about meeting the standards remotely.

I do have a question though. As I suffer from anxiety. I have no idea how to handle things online in terms of after online lessons. Do I stay in the zoom classroom until all the kids go and chat with my mentor after each lesson? What are the general expectations..