Mentor discussion has left me hugely nervous about this year

[Waterbottle76]

I did a virtual meeting today with my lead mentor. She was having a general chat around what I want to gain etc etc. She proposed that I wouldn’t be able to teach till may once online learning hopefully ends. I said most of my placement would be gone by then so I would rather not wait that long.

She then said that’s fine and we can arrange something sooner and it’s my role to be proactive etc. I said that’s fine.

She then asked how much school experience I have. I have none other than last placement. But I have loads of transferable skills from other roles.
She then started to discuss the fact extensions are being proposed by unis. She said what do you think about them. I’ve heard your uni are proposing them soon as I had a meeting with them. I said yeah I think it’s a scenario where it’s a tough one to call. This years a tough year and I think if there’s no other option then it has to be done. But if it’s avoidable that would be good. Ideally I don’t want to do that and I hope I’ll be competent enough. But if I have to carry on and upskill then so be it.

She said yes sometimes I’ll pass people sometimes I won’t. If I think you need longer then we’ll that’s just the way it is.

I’m hoping and praying she passes me for this because I really feel ready to start.

If anyone can give me some advice on how to aim for a pass. Im trying to be proactive and get really involved now and say I want to do lessons online and I want to teach pshe if I can to the kids on rota to come into school.

What more can I do because this school really intimidates me. And I feel nervous after the convo of extensions. Help

Can you speak to your uni about evidencing standards while working remotely? I am mentoring an NQT this year and we have a document of suggestions for demonstrating the standards remotely.

Definitely push to teach some remote lessons- I observed one of my NQTs remote lessons and we got loads of evidence from it. Plus, it will give you vital experience of planning and delivering (albeit in strange circumstances) which will provide evidence of meeting the standards.

Ultimately, it's not a case of her saying 'sometimes I pass people, sometimes I don't' as if it's an arbitrary decision she makes If you have demonstrated that you have met the standards, you pass.

Do speak to your Uni tutor for advice.

Don't feel like you have to pass by July, if you need an extension it's the circumstances and doesn't reflect badly on you. What you need to feel really is safe, confidentish and well informed about teaching whole classes for about one hour on your own. It would be better to get an extension than have a difficult nqt year. On the other hand, you may be someone who already has real life classroom experience in which case you could fulfil the standards teaching online.

Your pshe idea sounds great because it's another string to your bow to talk about at interview too. Have you considered doing a loom short video for exam technique master classes and that sort of thing?

So I guess the answer is only you know what to do . Your mentor doesn't sound so nice though!

We are going to let our ITTs teach remotely, they need the practice and the evidence

@Loshad we are doing the same. It's not their fault they can't teach 'live'.

It always saddens/angers me when schools take on trainees/NQTs and then can't be bothered to give them the time of day to help them through.

As I say, I have an NQT this year and due to the pandemic, he probably does need more of my time than he might have done, but it's my job to help and support him and I can see it paying off because he's fab!

Can you ask to be involved tasks such as planning and marking, so that you can evidence this against TS’s?

I have a student teacher joining me for live lessons- they are co-presenting at the moment, but we are going to work up to full lessons.

I'd be pushing to do this with your placement school. Talk to your uni mentor too- it's not really acceptable for you to spend potentially a whole term with very limited chances to get any evidence!

@LadyRoughDiamond can you explain that?

TSs are Teaching Standards, so ladyroughdiamond is suggesting you get involved in planning and marking so you have evidence to pass the year. You should have a timetable and the teachers you're with should give you some responsibility, building up to letting you teach a lesson. If you don't have a timetable, you should talk to your university mentor.