Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

I have now completed two weeks at the City Academy School in Bristol. I am working in the post 16 department teaching As/A2 Psychology and Health and Social care. The first week was a whirlwind and the complexity of what I was undertaking became apparent in my panic. I had the realisation that I would be in placement full time in between university days which started to make me wonder how I would manage my time appropriately. This week however I have organised to be in school from 8.30-5pm everyday when I do not attend university. My logic is that I attempt to use all my spare time whilst not teaching to prepare and plan lessons, help out with duties in the school and write my assignments for my course.

I have been treated like a real member of the team within the school and have already made really positive connections with alot of the staff around the school. I am finding that advice is plentiful once I get the courage to ask others for help. I am amazed that I have already taught 2 lessons and have helped team teach other sessions as I didn’t think I would be able to move into the teaching role very fast. I have just finished preparing three lessons ready for next week of which one will be observed! I am slowly beginning to understand the complexity of teaching and am now after a shaky start really enjoying learning new skills.

The pupils are really friendly and have responded to me really well, there are a few that are not quite as committed as the others yet I am hoping that variety in my lessons will help to enthuse them more. I am learning how to use web quests and pod casts and a huge range of resources within a lesson which has been hard but fun. I really like the fact that the school is hot on bringing lessons to life and up to date as well as a lot of student involvement (which gives me time to collect my thoughts on the subject during this new period). I am looking forward to spending my PGCE in the school until May 2010 and hope that all my effort and hard work will be reflected with the work that I produce and the quality of my teaching.

I am now signing off ready to write my assignment planning and assessment learning and to brainwash myself with vast amounts of knowledge from three different topics for next week!

Wish me luck for week three :)