Back to school soon!

Many months ago, towards the end of my second teaching practice, I vowed to get my paperwork in order during the summer holidays. My study (which I’m so glad I have!) resembled a bombsite – it got the the point where I had to relocate to the dining room because I couldn’t even see my desk! Gone were the days of inviting people over – the dining table housed my laptop and printer and was strewn with lesson plans. But the first two weeks of the holidays were spent religiously tidying and sorting. All the paperwork I doubted I’ll need was thrown into a big box marked “PGCE stuff” and was (loving) placed in the attic, all my paper resources were filed by both subject (i.e. Biology, Chemistry and Physics) and Key Stage and my laptop and printer finally moved back home. I had indeed forgotten my study has a desk in it!

Now that I have well and truly finished my teacher training, I can safely say it was the toughest year of my life so far. I thought my Master’s was difficult – it didn’t compare to a PGCE! I honestly didn’t find the assignments the difficult part, nor the fact I didn’t see friends during the week. The way I thought about it was that I didn’t go out after school when I was a pupil, so it wasn’t much different – socialising was left until the weekend. Planning lessons was a chore but it wasn’t too painful. What made my PGCE difficult was the relentless bullying I faced at School 2. In hindsight, I honestly think that’s what it was. I think they didn’t like the fact that I was going to leave. I was the only person under 40 in the department as well, which didn’t help me. But what got to me was the constant “We don’t agree with the PGCE – the only way to train is training on the job” attitude. I mean, why sign up to be a link school if you don’t agree with the programme? When I started at School 1 my managing mentor said to all the PGCE students: “The departments you’re in really want you – we haven’t just done this for the money because we don’t actually get that much!” I didn’t realise the significance of her words until I started at School 2.

But things have brightened up since I started at Penguin High. The department’s younger, more relaxed and open to new ideas. Its science specialism is great as well because it makes you feel important. And Science departments should feel important! I really feel like I’m part of something great there and I’m so glad to be part of the team. I know my NQT year will be tough and I’ll face even more challenges (although I think the jury’s out as to whether the NQT year is tougher than the PGCE year) but I’m ready for it – bring it on!

P.S. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank my ever-supportive parents, family and boyfriend for the love and advice over the last year – I simply couldn’t have done it without them. Back in 2007 when I was applying for the PGCE, a friend who had just started it told my boyfriend he’d only see me at weekends. I felt bad about this but he said he didn’t mind as he was so proud of me for following my dream. That’s the kind of guy he is.

And now the end is near…

… And so I face the final curtain.

As my time at my first placement school comes to a close, I am actually typing this with a tear in my eye. But, surprisingly, just the one. For I have come to realise that that’s life – you have to move on. It’s only a placement and I was only ever meant to be there for twelve weeks: it’s not like I’ve worked there for years and have had to come through really tough times. (Maybe I’ve spoken to soon – there are a few dsays to go!) But, having worked at School 1 for the grand total of  54 days, I’ve built relationships with my colleagues and peers and I’ve finally developed a rapport with some of my classes. In the last three or four months, I’ve spent more time with my colleagues than my boyfriend, which is weird if you think about it! And I’ve only really seen my friends on about three separate occasions. So I guess that’s why I’ll miss School 1. I don’t think I’m dreading it too much as I’m secretly hoping I’ll get a job there for July! Just think, I’ll have initials on the school timetable!

I’ll stop being silly now. Well, too silly. I haven’t found it half as stressful as I thought I would at School 1. Having said that, my paperwork and teaching files are practically non-existent – maybe I;d be more stressed if I’d been doing all the paperwork properly! Granted, there’s been tough moments, and I’ll freely admit I’ve had moments when I’ve been thinking: “Why on Earth am I doing this?! I DON’T WANT TO BE A TEACHER!!!” But for every one of those moments, I’ve had a thousand good ones. Here’s to all the other trainee teachers out there, especially the scientists at my ITT university. Best of luck for your second placement.

Round 1 – fight!

First of all, sorry for not blogging for a while. As a trainee teacher, I’ve had to plan lessons! And I’m absolutely shattered by 3:00pm and just want to sleep when I get home. Instead, I watch telly for a couple of hours and then plan lessons before going to bed. Then I have a nice chat with my boyfriend before falling asleep. Speaking of the boyfriend, he’s an absolute gem. He’s so supportive and doesn’t mind the fact he only sees me at the weekends now, and even then I’m at my laptop planning lessons. David told me to dump him because he’s not a teacher and doesn’t get the long holidays, but I couldn’t do that. I may sound flippant here, but I didn’t realise how supportive partners have to be for trainee teachers. I mean, I’d heard roumours, but it can’t be easy for a couple to be passing ships so to speak.

Yesterday’s lesson to the biscuit. It was a mixed but lower-end ability year 9 group. This was my second lesson with them, the first being last week. Having taken their books in, I’d decided, with David, that those who hadn’t finished their classwork last week could stay in at break this week to complete it. I thought that was fair. I planned a brilliant lesson for year 9. A “card sort” starter reminding them about electromagnetic radiation, a little bit of theory about heating using infrared and microwave radiation, and the age-old practical about absorption of infrared radiation (“Does the black can or the siler can absorb more heat?”) I was a bit worried about the trouble-makers that had presented themselves last week and the practical was fairly safe, maybe except for the infrared lamp being misused. But other than that, I was pretty confident. And rightly so. The lesson went swimmingly, even if I say so myself. (Actually, David was observing and said it was faultless!) The practical went without a hitch, all the theory was understood.

So at the end of the lesson I told a select few they would be staying behind. They’re only year 9, I knew they’d give me grief about it so I stood by the door so that I could dismiss individuals. I was caught up in a discussion with one pupil when, out of the courner of my eye, I could see David on the other side of the classroom pulling two boys apart. I couldn’t believe that, at the end of a perfect lesson, a fight had broken out. And worse still, I hadn’t even noticed and another member of staff had to interene.

I couldn’t believe how much I screwed up. This time next year I’ll be on my own. Who’ll spot the fights then?