e-Learning Assignment

This was an interesting assignment to put together a self contained e-learning package for a unit of work that could be used by pupils and teachers. The package contained all resources for both teachers and pupils as well as assessment and monitoring sheets.

Cricket with Y7

I really enjoyed my first taste of doing activities outside the classroom. I took ¾ boys who had problems with their bowling action and coached them for about half an hour before rejoining the rest of the team for a game. I was impressed by the way the lads listened to what I had to say and were able to improve their actions tremendously.

Good Lesson, Not so Good Lesson

A day of contrasts today. I took my second lesson with my BTeC Y10 class on spreadsheets to day. I put in to practice all that I had learnt from my first lesson with them and seeing the teacher teach them. It went smoothly although there were a couple of technical hitches. Mice not working(reboot cured) and a network drive not appearing for one lad. All pupils completed the 2 tasks I had set and there were no behaviour issues. They are a nice class but not a top set.

My year 8 group on the other hand. Their behaviour was not really a problem. I had never taken a class where there was lots of equipment, although I had watched the teacher deal with. Oh for some experience. I kind of got a bit muddled, should I start while some kids were out of the class collecting equipment, should I get the rest of the equipment out and then wait for the others to come back. In hindsight, once the kids got the equipment they very much wanted to play with it and I had trouble getting them to focue on what I wanted to say. However my Guide technique of holding my hand up and waiting for silence worked well and I used it 2/3 times throught the lesson to good effect. I forgot my watch so I ran out of time at the end to such an extent that all the equipment was not put back. Note to self – always have a watch. You might say what about the clocks on the computers; but they were not in sync with the actual time; they read about 10 minutes slow. Lesson learnt. More time to setup and put away equipment. Get any teaching/instructing out of the way before going to collect equipment. I was observed as well!!!!!

Synoptic Placement – First Week

First week at synoptic placement and is all is well. The school is large and includes a 6th form. I am looking forward to teaching the 6th form and after observing some lessons I am looking forward to teaching all the children at this school. Class sizes range depending on room size and the ability of the children. The school as a whole has low literacy levels; functional readers account for 30% of the children. As it is reading week next week there is additional emphasis being put on literacy.

I have been assigned to a year 7 form. They meet every day for 20 minutes so there will be plenty of opportunity to get to know the kids and do some work with them; which will be centered around literacy. Good job there are 2 english students at the school. The last school I was at was all women bar one male and the reverse is true at this school. All men bar one female teacher and now myself. The curriculum mentor is very helpful and had planned for my arrival. In fact all the teachers appear helpful and supportive.

INSET – Behaviour Management

 First day at Synoptic placement school and we are having an inset day, looking at behaviour in the school. General discussion in groups. I contributed to discussion in the group.

Gifted & Talented Day

 I worked with colleagues from other subject areas to put together a 1 hour session on revision techniques based around mnemonics and sounds. I then delivered this with another colleague to several groups of gifted and talented girls over the course of a single day.

Finished Hurrah!

Yep mde it through. Finished my developmental phase of the PGCE and it feels good. Had to spend another week at school to try and make up some of the time I lost whilst I was off with Glandular Fever. Any way glad it is over now.

Developmental Tutor Observation

What a nerve racking experience. I was formally observed today and although it went OK I was so nervous. Thank goodness there is, hopefully, only one more formal observation to go. The Year 8 class I was teaching were really good and responded well to the Q&A sessions I had with them. Not sure independant learning is something the kids at this school are particularly familiar with. I will have to change my style as my tendency is to give them theory and demonstration and let them get on with the tasks. However thinking for themselves is not necessarily something that comes easily to them. I think I need to break things down in to smaller chunks and a topic which they can relate to even more than a zoo.

I was fairly happy overall with the way it went so I cannot complain after all the time off I have had.

Year 8 Parents Evening

I teach 2 classes of Year 8 pupils. For this parents evening I sat with Miss L for class 8e.

This is a top set class with no real issues for any of the pupils. A couple of the boys are easily distracted and distract the other pupils nearby; mostly by talking. Parents were told this information and were told the approximate level that the kids were working at and towards.

I found the experience enjoyable although a bit tedious because I did not know the children well enough as individuals to provide too much feedback. I did provide feedback from my point of view for a couple of the children to re-emphasise what Miss L had said. Any issues that we spoke of the parents were only to happy to support us in any actions that may be required.

The only down side for me was that the parents of most of the challenging pupils were not present at parents evening.

The Germ Incubators Got Me!

I have not posted in a while because the second week after Christmas I was ill with Glandular Fever. I was off school for 3 weeks. Then back for a week, did not feel like I had been away, and now it is half term. An opportunity for me to catch up on assignments and lesson planning.