The Journey Continues...

A lot of stuff has been going on recently, including some fairly significant changes. Due to this, I've decided to move this blog.

You can now find me over here

This is where I'll continue the journey as an NQT; and post updates about my writing, which is something I've regrettably let slip during this PGCE year.

I had considered deleting this blog, but, instead, I'm going to leave it- after all it was designed for me to reflect on my year and to provide an insight for potential PGCE-ers.

Thank you for your support during this year, and I hope you'll join me on the new blog.

Lotte x

The End/ Tips

The PGCE is finished!!

Our last couple of days back in uni were odd. It was strange yet lovely to see people from the course, and great to compare stories. We wrote letters to ourselves at the beginning of the course which were returned to us on the last day. It was nice to re-read what I'd said to myself, but the university was its usual disorganised self and so the final day didn't really feel special.


Then we had the end of course party. It was a lovely night.

Despite the title of this post though, it really isn't the end. It's just the beginning.

Since finishing, I've been into my new school to sign paperwork and to find out what I'll be teaching next year. I'm getting quite a bit of freedom over the texts I choose. This was my first big shock, and when the weight of responsibility hit me properly.

I'm really excited about starting as an NQT, but I know that this summer is going to require a lot of reading up on and around texts I'll be teaching, and getting to grips with yet another new way of doing things: different planning styles etc.

Until then, I've been reflecting on my year.
More tips:

1. File as you go, especially in terms of providing evidence for the standards

2. Take a day off- I tried to take Saturday away from the PGCE. I did some baking or shopping or meeting people. It wasn't always possible, but I felt much better on the weeks when I did.

3. Ask for help. Ask other people on the course. Ask teachers. Ask friends who aren't doing the course. Ask the internet- Twitter's been excellent for me this year. No matter what's going on though, there are always people who'll help.

4. Be adaptable.

5. GTPs are amazing. So the GTP is being scrapped, but for me the GTP students at my placement schools have been amazing. They're in the same position as PGCE trainees, but have the experience of having spent most of their time in the school.

6. Do the essays as soon as you can. The PGCE does not offer the freedom of an undergrad degree where you can pull an all-nighter for the assignments, because they'll be due when you're in school.

7. See your friends who aren't on the course. Use the holidays or weekends to visit friends/have them over. I've needed the connection with the outside world.

8. Remember you're a trainee. You are not expected to know or do everything.






That's about all for now, although I may add to this later. Feel free to add your own tips in the comments.
I'm also looking for NQT year tips.

via i make things up

Would you recommend this school as a training school?

This was the question I was asked this week by the University tutor.

This is a question I hadn't expected to be asked.

This week was official observation week.
I'd spent so long frantically organising folders and planning (what I thought was) a safe observation lesson (too safe, as it turned out) and ensuring all the resources were ready and that I was ready and could provide evidence for anything, that a question about the suitability of the school kind of threw me.

I know I'm training in the school. I know I'm expected to be trained by members of staff in that school, but at the same time, I've been in the school. I know what's going on. I see the stress they're under every day. And more than that, I want to do things for myself and then call on help/tips when it's not quite working.

Does this put me in a good position for judging if it's a decent training school?

There are elements of my school which are brilliant (and by 'elements of', I mean 'people in'). My mentor, for example, is rushed off her feet but always finds time to check that I'm ok. I have three of her classes- she always checks that I know what I'm doing with them. One of my other host teachers is fantastic. Always on hand to offer tips and advice, suggestions of how she would do things; but ultimately, let's me try things for myself.

However, there are other times when I feel that I have no support and that the school is treating me as a cover teacher, rather than a trainee. There are some classes where I feel that I've been completely abandoned. And these are difficult classes. One of these classes was picked for the observation lesson.

I "laid foundations" before his arrival, and they were on their best behaviour. It was a pleasure to teach them. This was the first time in 7 weeks where I've actually enjoyed teaching them. The tutor cannot understand why I've been given this class, because all I've done is spend 7 weeks battling poor behaviour with little effect.

At other times, I'm told to do one thing, then it changes, so I edit my approach to accommodate the changes, then when it's assessed, suddenly the original criteria are back in place. And I don't find out about important meetings etc, unless I overhear someone talking about it.

So, I do feel a bit like a spare part. I'm torn on the 'am I being trained' question, because I'm not quite sure how much I'm supposed to being doing by myself.

This is all the stuff that ran through my head, and which I tried to express in my answer when suddenly asked 'Would you recommend this school as a training school?'

3 Weeks

I have started a countdown- mostly it's in terms of "number of lessons left with worst class"- after Wednesday we'll be down to single figures!! I think like that, but I'm still trying approaches to get them to behave and do some work/learning, especially as I'm being observed with them.

That is why I can't quite see the end of the tunnel: The Uni Observation.

I've not actually met the tutor doing the observation, but apparently he's lovely. I am worried about the class though. I take the advice I'm given. I apply it exactly as suggested, but the students still completely ignore me. I'm still really shocked at their behaviour- and the school's lack of support. 

I'm sensing another issue arising, and I had a bit of moan about it earlier; but as it's still unfolding, and I'm still in the school, I guess I'll keep my blogger mouth closed for a bit to see how it unfolds...

Anyway, on a cheerier note. I got all of my marking done over the holiday, and I'm pleased with the observation lesson which I've planned- let's just hope it works out on the day. But I do need to sort my folders.

Top Tip for budding trainees: File as you go.I did this during TP1 and it made life so much easier, but it's something which I've let slip in my second school. So, a busy few days of printing and evidencing lay ahead!

Once this observation's out of the way, the end will be in sight. This year has absolutely flown by, particularly this second placement. Need to get a wriggle on with sorting things for my new job in September, such as somewhere to live!

Holiday Time!

Wow! This past week's been a bit crazy busy.

I had two interviews and an observation lesson to prepare! But...I now have a job lined up for September. Phew! One less thing to worry about.

Next stop: driving license.

Very pleased that it's the holidays though. A chance to catch up with some friends, and properly prepare for the official uni observation lesson which is the first week back :/ (I'm very worried about this one), and mark all the assessments.

Cannot believe I have only three weeks left in school. It is flying by.

Busy

On any other uni course this would be the time of year to be worrying about exams/ beginning the wind down for summer. Not this one.

It's been a very busy fortnight and the next four weeks look like much of the same.

In the last two weeks I've bumbled across to the West Coast for an interview (didn't get the job, but it was a good experience), completed my final university essay, fixed a date for my formal observation from the university, passed both skills tests, applied for more jobs, and did lots of teaching. I cannot believe how quickly this placement is going. Only four weeks left in school! Eeek.

Before the end of the course, I need to organise my folders, book driving lessons, get a job, sort a quick trip to London, make some big leaps in teaching- prove to myself that I can do this, produce a cracking observation lesson for the university mentor, produce a different observation lesson for the ITT coordinator, and finally, finally, finally make some headway with y9

But tonight, I stop worrying about all of that and watch Eurovision!