Simone's Blog

Three weeks at the City Academy

2009-11-22T16:38:00Z

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Well it’s now been three weeks at placement and the whole process has had ups and downs really. The staff and students are great and I am really enjoying my time at the school. The only part that I am struggling with at the moment is the amount of hours 8.30am until 5.00pm is a long day, that’s without coming home an preparing lessons and paperwork for following day I am busy until 10/11pm.

I have to say I am exhausted at the moment, but on the good side have learned so much already. if anyone would have siad I would stand in front of different students and teach them a month ago well I think I would of cried. However this I am finding enjoyable (plenty water though for dry mouth syndrome). I have learnt about Web quests, preparing for exams with 'Steve' (not a person an aid for the students, the syllabus and what is needed for the students at both As and A2 oh and lots of other stuff all crammed in my head.

So I am really progressing in the school my feedback has been really positive for both teaching and preparing lessons which is fantastic. I am just so tired and wish that I was not in school as much when I could be applying myself to university work (which is so far behind). I think because I am worrying about that I am losing concentration and a bit of passion for the placement which is not want I want in the long term.

Anyways another week ahead now, maybe it will be better and in the long breaks when I am not required for anything I may just hide in a cupboard to try and catch up with the next assignment.

I will keep you informed next week and good luck to everyone who is out in the big bad placement world! I hope you are all doing great!

Simone

Overview of my first two weeks in my placement

2009-11-14T17:53:00Z

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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 :)

Placement visit

2009-10-22T11:29:00Z

Is very happy after the dreaded micro-teach and having the fear of god put into me. My placement in bristol is great the staff are excellent and are involving me in a mixture of subjects which is going to interesting!!!! I am also going to try Post 16 tutor group to gain extra experience who would of thought I would be this positive hey???... Well im looking forward to it now and feel confident after the meeting at the school aparently I have two really lovely classes one is A level and the other As/A2 so a nice mixture.

Anyways this is my first attempt at bloging so not really sure what to write really?? So if its boring tough!!!!

Dont know what im doing yet lol lol