How to survive a PGCE....

I am currently doing my PGCE year in secondary science, and i thought it would be helpful for others to give just a little bit of advice. It has also given me a small break from my planning and marking! 

If you have any questions at all about a PGCE, teaching or anything else please feel free to ask! 

1. Make sure you make great course mates! 

Having that network of support is a massive help, it truly is! Whether it is just knowing that someone else is going through the same situation, same types of stress and that huge workload. Or whether it is having them there to ask questions, or to get resources and feedback from, they really do help. So make sure you create that very important support blanket. 

2. Remember that you are not superwoman, you cannot do absolutely everything (although I'm sure you will try). 

There is always something else that needs doing, but you need to remember to take that bit of time off to relax, and importantly to recuperate. If you don't then you will surely run yourself into the ground. Make sure you are taking a day off a week, whether it is Friday night and part of Saturday or all Saturday, just make sure you are taking that bit of time to relax, see friends or family, spend some time with your partner, or simply just to watch some rubbish tv and chill. So remember that you will really be working hard but it is so important not to burn out. A lot of people on their PGCE forget this important part of advice but it really is very important, and it was actually one of the first pieces of advice that my course leader gave us, and she was definitely not wrong!  

3. Collect resources! 

From each placement make sure you are taking all the resources that you can, even if it isn't a topic you teach, you never know when it may come in handy. Also if someone offers you any resources or advice, take it!! I cannot stress that enough either. All resources are helpful, and when it comes to planning later on you will really be grateful that you have those resources. 

4. Enjoy it! 

Remember the reasons why you decided to do the PGCE in the first place, so whenever times get tough you can remember why you started the torture in the first place! 

I hope my little bit of advice has been helpful for you, again, if you have any questions please do ask! 

Hello March!

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So March has begun, I know always say this but I really cannot believe how fast this year is going! For example I'm over halfway through my PGCE year (such a scary thought!!!), with only a few months to go till I'll be a qualified teacher.  I also start my new placement next week so I definitely need to prepare myself for that too, as I will be in school every day of the week and will have to teach a lot more. Especially seeing as the last school I was in was a EBD school so I had to focus more on behaviour management and acting as support in a classroom rather than the lead teacher, so it will be a massive step up and a change/challenge going into this new school. 

I'm also seeing Placebo at the end of the week which I cannot wait for, I have wanted to see this band for so many years and I'm finally going to get the chance! I have been a fan for years and have never really got the chance to see them, so getting to see them at a venue near where I live is fantastic. 

I also cannot wait for Easter either, hopefully I will get the chance to go see my university friends, or at least a holiday because I'm sure I will be ready for the break again! However I know I will also have lots of university work and planning to be getting on with also. Its ridiculous much university work you get whilst on a PGCE year, I think it should be more focused on just the actually teaching. 

I would say I'm excited for the 'Spring' weather, but as I'm typing this it is snowing outside, hardly spring weather! Hopefully because it's getting lighter earlier in the morning, and staying lighter for longer it will make it easier to get up in the morning and to make it easier to set off early for work. Also it may mean that I'll be able to watch my pooch in the evening in some daylight too! 

I hope you all have a wonderful March! 

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