Author Topic: The Teachers' Thread (Read 180973 times)

Downsy · « **Reply #240 on:** June 16, 2010, 08:01:52 pm »

Didn't know this thread existed. Hello teachers, my year 11's went today, that unfortunately means I have 6 extra frees for the nasty SLTs to torture me with primary transition. Boooo

TheKid. · « **Reply #241 on:** June 16, 2010, 08:55:25 pm »

My elevens went last week, tho they finished their exam before half term so I spent 3 lessons babysitting them in the meantime, not sure why they made them come in for 'lessons' the week after halfterm then finish on the friday

Still, got me some extra frees, and with my year 13s going and year tens on work experience next week I may as well not even bother going in

this time of the year tho really makes me appreciate 'rarely cover'

Downsy · « **Reply #242 on:** June 16, 2010, 10:48:45 pm »

It is the best time of the year. I've been babysitting the 11's since before half term. It's utterly pointless. Couldn't agree more about the rarely cover. Only 29 get ups then it's all good.

hooded claw · « **Reply #243 on:** June 17, 2010, 08:54:24 am »

Article here on Gove's proposals to get Niall Ferguson involved in a redesign of the History Curriculum.

underscore · « **Reply #244 on:** June 17, 2010, 04:48:32 pm »

5th week into my placement. Going pretty well. Not too pleased with my tutor though - not replying to my emails!!!!

Going to start teaching Holocaust History (not my specialist subject) to a horrible year nine next week. Anyone have good websites that I could use?

PaulV · « **Reply #245 on:** June 17, 2010, 05:23:27 pm »

Quote from: underscore on June 17, 2010, 04:48:32 pm

Going to start teaching Holocaust History (not my specialist subject) to a horrible year nine next week. Anyone have good websites that I could use?

http://www.het.org.uk/

TheKid. · « **Reply #246 on:** June 17, 2010, 05:42:56 pm »

How come you've just started your placement?

Corkboy · « **Reply #247 on:** June 17, 2010, 09:34:47 pm »

My wife's last day today. She says she hates the first and last days of every year with equal passion.

G a r y · « **Reply #248 on:** June 17, 2010, 09:52:02 pm »

My week goes like this now:
Monday - Year 12 ICT
Tuesday - Nothing
Wednesday - Yr 7 Maths, Yr 8 Maths, Year 10 ICT
Thursday - Yr 7 Maths
Friday - Yr 8 Maths

Love it!

TheKid. · « **Reply #249 on:** June 17, 2010, 09:58:26 pm »

We're you year eleven heavy? I've got a nice few frees now (teaching one lesson tomorrow!) but you're taking the piss there

bez · « **Reply #250 on:** June 17, 2010, 10:05:57 pm »

My week

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wed:
Thurs:Year 10 job skills 1 hour
Friday:Y10 job skills 1 hour.

This gravy train stops in 18 days though. Gutted

underscore · « **Reply #251 on:** June 18, 2010, 04:58:30 pm »

Quote from: PaulV on June 17, 2010, 05:23:27 pm

http://www.het.org.uk/

Thanks for that. Had a quick browse through it, looks good

Quote from: TheKid. on June 17, 2010, 05:42:56 pm

How come you've just started your placement?

The school that I was supposed to go to pulled out last minute. Rang around all over NorthWest trying to find second placement - found one last minute. My placement finishes one week before school ends - going to be a nightmare that last week

TheKid. · « **Reply #252 on:** June 18, 2010, 08:31:40 pm »

Ah i see, obviously training providers (like my one edge hill) are just as helpful as ever eh

feel for you a bit, wouldn't like to be having my last weeks and any observations at this time of year when I'd say pretty much all students are switching off their brains already

swoopy · « **Reply #253 on:** July 26, 2010, 06:20:38 pm »

Here's my future life plan:

Starting at Edge Hill doing a degree in Computing in Septermber (really hope I've made the right decision with that)
Then following the 3 years I hope to do a PGCE for Primary Schools over here on the Isle of Man (amazingly you can do that...) which takes a year
Then hope to be teaching primary school children on the Island following that additional year.

I've been doing voluntary work experience at a Primary School on the Isle for the past 3 years while I've been doing A Level's and during my gap year I did longer hours at school.
Mrs Ashton who I was with in year 3 has told me I can go back during Univeristy holidays to continue experience should they be in term time (unfortunately, this won't be until June because my University holidays fit exactly with school holidays).

I never realised how attached to kids you can get, on my final day of my 3 years on Friday just gone, I got so many cards and presents off both staff and children who all wished me luck and the staff have all told me they think I'll be great! Tears were flowing on both sides but I've promised them I'll be back to see them

Just thought I'd give you my hopes for the future

the good half · « **Reply #254 on:** December 2, 2010, 07:13:15 pm »

RAWK Teachers...

Im just finished the first part of my PGDE in UCD.
Its the Teaching Dip.

Im interested in doing a little stint in the USA.
Now I know you must do a state by state cert, but has anyone on here ever done it, or know someone who has?

TGH

TheKid. · « **Reply #255 on:** December 2, 2010, 07:56:09 pm »

Quote from: swoopy on July 26, 2010, 06:20:38 pm

Here's my future life plan:

Starting at Edge Hill doing a degree in Computing in Septermber (really hope I've made the right decision with that)
Then following the 3 years I hope to do a PGCE for Primary Schools over here on the Isle of Man (amazingly you can do that...) which takes a year
Then hope to be teaching primary school children on the Island following that additional year.

I've been doing voluntary work experience at a Primary School on the Isle for the past 3 years while I've been doing A Level's and during my gap year I did longer hours at school.
Mrs Ashton who I was with in year 3 has told me I can go back during Univeristy holidays to continue experience should they be in term time (unfortunately, this won't be until June because my University holidays fit exactly with school holidays).

I never realised how attached to kids you can get, on my final day of my 3 years on Friday just gone, I got so many cards and presents off both staff and children who all wished me luck and the staff have all told me they think I'll be great! Tears were flowing on both sides but I've promised them I'll be back to see them

Just thought I'd give you my hopes for the future

Best of luck with it. Check out the government's recent white paper on teacher training tho, lots of talk off cutting right down on the likes of PGCE's and going more towards the in school training (like a GTP I guess).

PILLSBURY069 · « **Reply #256 on:** December 2, 2010, 08:41:37 pm »

Can this humble governor join this thread?

TheKid. · « **Reply #257 on:** December 2, 2010, 09:49:59 pm »

Hmmm then we'd have to let in teaching assistants, cover supervisors, all sorts

rakey_lfc · « **Reply #258 on:** December 2, 2010, 09:57:39 pm »

Interesting times at the moments with the ongoing arguements over the sports partnerships. Main reason I'm gutted England didn't get the WC is because that would have put more pressure on to keep them!

RigBon1892 · « **Reply #259 on:** December 2, 2010, 10:02:26 pm »

Quote from: TheKid. on December 2, 2010, 09:49:59 pm

Hmmm then we'd have to let in teaching assistants, cover supervisors, all sorts

What about me, am I still allowed in?

RigBon1892 · « **Reply #260 on:** December 2, 2010, 10:57:10 pm »

No, the essay was originally intended to be done after I'd finished repeating my final placement. But I never did finish my final placement so the essay was resubmitted a little earlier than originally intended. (Or later if you look at the fact that I missed the summer deadline)

I'm still teaching at the moment, just in a different country.

RigBon1892 · « **Reply #261 on:** December 2, 2010, 11:03:41 pm »

Quote from: Elli on December 2, 2010, 10:58:18 pm

Yes but surely a second assistantship, teaching naff all to Frenchies for 12 hours a week, can't count towards a PGCE?

How come you never repeated the placement?

This is only my first assistantship, I was a student in Lyon. I DID repeat the placement but gave up halfway through the repeat as I just felt it wasn't for me anymore. I'm not sure I'll go back and repeat it.

And I'm pretty much full time teaching in my 12 hours, I plan the entire scheme and lessons myself and take classes of 20 odd pupils.

blurred · « **Reply #262 on:** December 2, 2010, 11:07:38 pm »

Quote from: jeffiner1892 on December 2, 2010, 11:03:41 pm

This is only my first assistantship, I was a student in Lyon. I DID repeat the placement but gave up halfway through the repeat as I just felt it wasn't for me anymore. I'm not sure I'll go back and repeat it.

Why are you teaching in France, if teaching 'isn't for you'?

And was it you who decided that it wasn't for you, or the University that gave you a failing grade and asked you to repeat that decided it wasn't for you?

RigBon1892 · « **Reply #263 on:** December 2, 2010, 11:11:50 pm »

I repeated when the university gave me a failing grade but halfway through that repeat I decided enough was enough. I've posted about it earlier in this thread.

And considering I applied for this early on last year I thought I'd give it a go and see what happened.

TheKid. · « **Reply #264 on:** December 3, 2010, 07:46:07 am »

Not a real teacher tho are you

Are you teaching English to French people or just general stuff?

SMD · « **Reply #265 on:** December 3, 2010, 09:47:21 am »

Quote from: blurred on December 2, 2010, 11:07:38 pm

Why are you teaching in France, if teaching 'isn't for you'?

Find out in the first installment of the groundbreaking biopic Jennifer's Travails, based on the true stories of a plucky young Irish woman who struggles to find herself -- and her bag --through different trials and journeys. Learn about her forays in the North East, including her opinions on football and Irish minority sports from afar. Discover how she found early stardom eating crisps on a train! And endure the tension as she struggles in defining whether or not her car can make it through fog.

It's the film Harry Potter wasn't.

Oscarmac · « **Reply #266 on:** December 3, 2010, 12:20:58 pm »

teaching seems great when your school has been closed all week due to snow.

RigBon1892 · « **Reply #267 on:** December 3, 2010, 02:03:53 pm »

Quote from: SMD on December 3, 2010, 09:47:21 am

. Discover how she found early stardom eating crisps on a train!.

WTF?

I'm teaching them English TheKid.

wacko · « **Reply #268 on:** December 4, 2010, 01:45:35 pm »

I'm in the process of applying for a job as a school teacher. Any CV/interview tips?

TheKid. · « **Reply #269 on:** December 4, 2010, 03:48:07 pm »

What is your qualification in? Primary or secondary? Have a look on the TES for some good stuff on cv and interview tips

wacko · « **Reply #270 on:** December 4, 2010, 04:03:53 pm »

No teaching qualifications. I'm applying as an English teacher in Germany under special provisions for native speakers with a language degree (I have a BA in German and French). I've been teaching for 12 years, though, just not in state schools (companies mostly).

What's the TES?

rakey_lfc · « **Reply #271 on:** December 4, 2010, 04:08:31 pm »

Quote from: wacko on December 4, 2010, 04:03:53 pm

No teaching qualifications. I'm applying as an English teacher in Germany under special provisions for native speakers with a language degree (I have a BA in German and French). I've been teaching for 12 years, though, just not in state schools (companies mostly).

What's the TES?

Go on google type TES Jobs, its a website to help find jobs in teaching!

wacko · « **Reply #272 on:** December 4, 2010, 04:11:27 pm »

Quote from: rakey_lfc on December 4, 2010, 04:08:31 pm

Go on google type TES Jobs, its a website to help find jobs in teaching!

Right. I have found the job I want (which, like me, is in Germany, so the TES is useless anyway). I was just after some tips for the application/interview process.

TheKid. · « **Reply #273 on:** December 4, 2010, 04:36:44 pm »

Yeah but the TES is full of info on stuff like applying and plussing CVs.
Don't you need a teaching qualification to teach in Germany then?

rakey_lfc · « **Reply #274 on:** December 4, 2010, 04:57:06 pm »

Quote from: wacko on December 4, 2010, 04:11:27 pm

Right. I have found the job I want (which, like me, is in Germany, so the TES is useless anyway). I was just after some tips for the application/interview process.

Can't help you there mate as I'm still doing a PGCE

TheKid. · « **Reply #275 on:** December 4, 2010, 05:03:32 pm »

Started applying for jobs yet rakey? A few people from my course had gotten jobs by Christmas!!

rakey_lfc · « **Reply #276 on:** December 4, 2010, 05:40:31 pm »

Been browsing mate, nothing out there yet! Our course tutor said most jobs in pe don't come up until march at the earliest, but June is the best month for applying for jobs, as notices have to be in by end of may!

wacko · « **Reply #277 on:** December 4, 2010, 05:49:24 pm »

Quote from: TheKid. on December 4, 2010, 04:36:44 pm

Yeah but the TES is full of info on stuff like applying and plussing CVs.
Don't you need a teaching qualification to teach in Germany then?

Normally, yes. In fact, being Germany, it's massively complicated and ridiculously bureaucratic. You can't just do a postgrad teaching qualification, but have to do a special kind of degree as a teacher from the get-go. And you need two subjects as well.

But they're absolutely desperate for English teachers at the moment (they've massively expanded the amount of English taught and there are always either too many or too few teachers in some important subject or another), so they've created a way for native speakers with language degrees to apply for some jobs.

The job in question is at a vocational college as opposed to a traditional school, and I've been teaching business English for over a decade. I've worked with everyone from schoolkids to the unemployed to board members of large international companies and in every field from IT to ergonomics to finance to nuclear power to law, so I know I've got the skills they need in spades and more. Hell, I just spent the last week training a qualified English teacher.

Provided I can work out a compelling application, the only problem I can see is their preferring some recent graduate with the right qualifications because Germans are frankly obsessed with qualifications (hey, if you hire someone qualified, it won't be your fault if they fuck up).

Red Power · « **Reply #278 on:** December 5, 2010, 11:36:16 pm »

We just had A WEEK OFF due to the bad weather.

Lady_brandybuck · « **Reply #279 on:** January 28, 2011, 12:18:18 pm »

Hey Teachers!

I'm at least trying to teach english, but the thing is that this is the first time I'm working with small kids (4-8 Years old) and as I always have worked with teenagers and adults I tend to be a mess explaining it to them.

If anyone out there could help me? is very much appreciated.

Cheers!