Waking up before the sun

It’s only been just over two weeks since my last post however it feels like forever ago.

A new time of the day for me, one I wish was still a mystery

 Three weeks in, the course is already rather intense! I realised today that since I started I haven’t actually had an entire day work free, and I think I really need it, so I’ve worked super hard today to get tomorrows tasks done too so I can

have a day off. I’m going to my grandma’s 70^th birthday party and I’m really looking forward to spending some time with the family whilst I still have time!

I now need Rocket Fuel to get me through the day!

On to the exciting stuff… I found out my placement!! I’m going to be working with Year 2 at a ‘good’ infant school. I did a dummy run to see how long it will take to get there, it was about a 15 minute walk and a 15 minute bus ride, which I’m sure will be fine in dry weather, but I don’t imagine it’ll be too pleasant when it’s raining and I have folders, books to mark and resources to carry!

A bit of scenery on the way to get my bus to school!

The long and winding road...

Wow, it feels like this week has lasted forever.

Since my last update I’ve definitely been busy! And I’m still feeling rather overwhelmed. Tuesday was pretty laid back. We had a tour around the university library and I was SO impressed. The selection of books on primary education is staggering, I want to read them all!! I managed to control myself though and just got a book on teaching phonics (Teaching Systematic Synthetic Phonics in Primary School by Wendy Jolliffe and David Waugh) and a few children’s books. We also had an ICT session and went over our training plans. 

Wednesday’s focus was on Subject Knowledge, we had a lead lecture first thing about the meaning of subject knowledge, and it wasn’t like the lectures I was used to. They had us working in pairs, sharing ideas on the visualizer and whiteboards at the front of the room. We also got the chance to go to the Derbyshire Library Services, or Aladdin’s Cave as it’s otherwise known. And it really was! I got carried away playing with puppets, and tried on a ridiculously heavy helmet, it was rather claustrophobic. It definitely made me realise the power of actually being able to touch and hold real objects as opposed to pictures in books.

 

Today we had audits for Maths, English and Science. I wasn’t too worried about them, and decided not to revise beforehand as I wanted a true reflection of what I know. I got over 80% in all three, which I know should make me feel more confident, but I’m still terrified about actually having to teach anything! 

Tomorrow we’re off to Carsington Waters. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for no rain!

I survived...

the first day at least.

Since my last update I've moved into my new room, met lots of new people and survived the first day of my course! 

I arrived in Derby on Saturday, and with the help of my lovely mother, got my room all set up. I really like my new room and it feels homey already. I'm a big fan of nick-nacks (not quite sure how that's spelt) so my room is already full of little bits! 

Saturday night I met up with people from my course, there were six of us, and we went for a few drinks to get to know to each other. We went to some really nice bars with lovely outdoor areas. My favourite was called The Greyhound and they had this guy singing on an acoustic guitar. I'm a sucker for live music! 

Making the most of freedom

Today has been the most gloriously wasted day. I woke up this morning and realised that today will probably be the last full day where I have no plans, no assignments, no lesson plans, absolutely nothing of importance I needed to do or anywhere I needed to go, for the next 9 months at least. Tomorrow I go out and get my hair done, Friday will involve lots of packing and shopping, the weekend will be spent moving and then on Monday the course begins. And if the stories are to be believed, free time will be something of a distant memory.

Today, instead of reading one of my many sparkly new teaching books, or gathering materials, or exercising, or cleaning, I sat and watched a few movies, read my book, listened to some music, did a bit of washing and packed a couple of bags (not that you’d believe me if you saw how much stuff I still have in my room). Part of me feels a bit guilty as there’s still so much more subject knowledge I should be gaining, skills tests I should be practising for and teaching theories I should be learning about, but the other part of me thinks that I really should just step back and enjoy these last 2 days before things change so drastically.

Oh, the suspense

With less than a week to go before I start the course, nervous doesn’t even begin to describe how I’m feeling. I’ve never been so full of anticipation, well, I think I felt pretty similar when I was moving to Korea, but here I’m worried about different things. I guess the positives are that I’m only moving 45 minutes down the road, I can speak the language and I’ve already met some of the people I’ll be spending the next year with. But this just feels more serious, more grown up, than any decisions I’ve made in my life. 

Miss Lee Prepares for the PGCE

This time in four weeks I will have just finished my first day at university. I'm incredibly excited, nervous, anxious and ready to start! So far my preparation has involved browsing Pinterest for pretty teaching ideas and buying books I've yet to open, let alone read.

We were given a nine page booklet with books and reports to read, and pre-course activities to complete. Needless to say, what I've done so far just won't cut the mustard. With a month to go time is running out and whilst I know it's important to make the most of my last month of freedom I also want to start my PGCE feeling prepared and ready for action.

Wish me luck people x  

Summer Roundup

It’s been a while since I last blogged, but I have good reasons, I promise! For one, as this is a PGCE blog, and I haven’t actually started my PGCE yet, I’ve not really got much to say. 

I went to my pre-induction day at university at the end of June. It was really interesting and great to meet people. We found out our groups (I’m group B) and our timetables. We have a special timetable for the first two weeks and then after that I’m in university Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday morning and Thursday morning. I got quite excited at the prospect of having Thursday afternoon and Friday off, however I know in reality I’ll have such a heavy workload I’m likely to be spending that time, and the majority of my weekends, working anyway! 

We had a lecture on writing at m-level. It scared me. The lecturer was great, really funny and passionate, but it still made me super nervous. I’ve just ordered some books on Amazon, one being “Doing your PGCE at M-level: A Guide for Students” by Keira Sewell, I really hope it’ll help me understand what’s expected a little more.

Afterwards we filled out our CRB forms and then went for a drink in the union. I couldn’t stay for long as I had to get home and pack for my month away. But I think I’m going to make some great PGCE friends!