Taste Testing......

First of all today, I felt really good about one of my classes. They were really focused and I never had to raise my voice once.

My taste test on the other-hand was not so well done. As it was 5th period (after lunch) and a Friday, the kids were very chatty and I had a hard time settling them and getting them to do work. What part of stop talking do kids not understand. I did try the whole positve behaviour thing, wherby I commented that the left side of the room were working extremely hard- and they know the meaning of the words "productive working". This seemed to work for 5 minutes or so. Then I did my blind taste test, which kinda back-fired.

I wanted to see if they could taste the different between Walkers Dorritos and Sainbury's own Cool Flavoured Crisps and was hoping that there would be mixed opinions. But they all voted for Doritos!!!!!!!! I was still able to generate some good answers from it though.

But, I am starting to get worried. This class is the class which I will have my next crit with, and they are a really difficult bunch to control. Hopefully having a tutor in the class, will make them be quiet.

Ahhhhh time for a glass of wine I think.

Thankyou for all the help

Thanks for all the comments people have posted on my blog, I really really appreciate any help and advice anyone can give me. I shall keep on posting my events on.

Tomorrow I am attempting to do a "taste test "with my business management class.

Now that should be interesting

Never discuss AGE infront of the kids.

Ok, second mistake. NEVER mention age infront of the kids. I was talking about Governments doing a census every 10 years, and one boy asked me how old you have to be to be to do one. I said over 18, then I said later on that I did one in 2001. Another boy asked me if I was 18 then, and I said that I was much older (even although I was only 19). They preceeded on telling me that I look really young, "Like 17 Miss".

I am coming up for 24, and so I am still quite young. But how do I give appear older to the kids? Or should my age be an issue. If they see me as being young, does this mean that they will have less respect for me. I don't want my age to become an issue, but apart from wearing bulky cardigans and nora Batty tights, I dont know how I can appear older. Or should I?????

OMG I am finding teaching a tough job, and I have only been in it less than 4 weeks!!!!! But I am enjoying it nontheless.

One of the kids asked me "what id santa bringing you" (A third year boy - trying to be smart) I told him that I wanted a break...........

a break...maybe for a week or so.

Never say the word sex infront of 3rd year boys!!!!!

That is my lesson for today!! When describing "Market Segment" I made the mistake of saying that a market could be separated by sex...... Mental note " MUST USE GENDER INSTEAD OF SEX. This must have generated some thought in some of the other 3rd year boys, as one of them (when we were looking at types of markets - came up with the market for Prostitutes).

As I don't really get embarased easily, I just shook my head, and said "not in the classroom". As the whole prostitute thing was a valid answer I just moved on.

Moving on......I really enjoyed myself in classess today. I had three lessons in a row and they were quite tought classess....but I enjoyed it non-the less. But DO YOU EVER GET TIRED OF THE SOUND OF YOUR OWN VOICE?????? Cause I am starting to annoy myself.

another 2 1/2 weeks to go.

Driven to quality Cava.

I decided that when I started teaching, that I would become T-total. I lasted until this weekend...I felt the need to consume a couple of glasses of quality Cava, and boy was it good.

After the week I had, I think I deserved a little treat. Still, I did not completely let my hair done, it was consumed whilst typing away at my laptop preparing PowerPoint presentations for First Years..

Thats all I have to say today.

More tomorrow

Star???? OR DisaSTAR???

Pheww!!!! Glad that one is over.

I had my crit yesterday, and I am so relieved that the first one is over. It went well, but I know that I could have done better. I think in the first 15 minutes I was really nervous, and that kinda impacted on my mind, cause I forgot what I was suppose to be doing (questioning the pupils etc) so I felt that what came out of my mouth was just garbage, and at one point I think the kids were thinking I was on something!!!!!!!!

I was doing group work with the pupils, which was something they have not done before. For once, they were given the opportunity to talk and I have never seen them so quiet. The pace of the lesson was a bit slow, even I was boring myself at one point!!!!!

There was no major problems, I felt that I was more ascertive than usual- but then at other points I was not. That is one of the areas I need to work on, being them very excplicit. Other than that, I got quite a good report. My strengths were identified as:

-My creativity.
-My rapport and interaction with the pupils.
-My hardworking attitude and enthusiasm.

I have decided that the classroom management will eventually come, if I just work at it.

As Patch Adams said last night

"Never focus on the problem.........always focus on the solution"

Thanks for all the comments on my last entry. It is much appreciated.

Lesley

I don't think I can do this.

I am starting to think that I am not cut out for teaching, because I am really stuggling to cope with classroom management. I know what I have to do, but I am still unsure of my boundaries and proceedures. Should these skills be automatically be there from the word GO, or do you learning about managing behaviour as time goes on. I love the whole teaching side, but I am really let down by my inability to manage the little bratz!!!!! Am I a lost cause, or do you think that I can be helped. I have my crit on Friday, and I am seriously worried about it. I have been wanting to do this course for 3 years, and now that I am finally on it am I failing?

OMG. "I get knocked down....but I get up again".

Whilst I was typing this blog, my teacher came in (she said some positive comments to me, and what did I do, I burst into tears. But she has picked me up again, and has faith in me.....all I need to do is get ontop of things....and be positive. I just don't like to fail!!!!

More later

Under pressure......pressing down on me pushing down you.

Ok so I might have got the Queen words right, but the fundamentals are the same. I met with my friends from Jordanhill today, and we all feel "Stressed out" man. Although I am saying that we are stressed out, I don't think we really mean it. This is because we are all enjoying what we are doing, and I believe that is a really positve sign. We certainly are under pressure, but if we come up with the results - surely we are doing something right.

Anyway, yet another Saturday, and I find myself infront of the computer for the duration of the day. Thank goodness for Starbucks, that was my bit of relaxation for the day.

I bumped into a friend from Inverness funnily enough in there too, that cheered me up.

I aslo predicted that tonight on X-factor that somebody would sing a "Take That Song, seeing as Take that has been in the media for the past week. And Shayne sang it!!!!!!! How good am I????????

A sign of weakness??????

Ok, today I went and asked my PT if I could have a couple of extra periods free. I was asking this simply because I believe that I am falling behind on preparing my port-folio (for non-jordanhillers this is a file that we have to fill out, making observations and documenting our personal experiences). I know that come next year I will have about 17 classes to teach and prepare for, however we won't have the continual portfolio work to complete. I am working 100% already, and their is simply not enough time.

My PT was very understandable and allowed me the extra hours to take off, but what I am wondering is, will he see this as a sign that I am not coping???? Or will he appreciate that I asked for help?? I wish I had never asked now, because it seemed like I thought I was being hard done by., when I don't.

By the way, I recommend anyone doing a post graduate course in something else prior to completing a teaching PGCE. This time last year, I was totally busy doing my PG Dip in IT- and I thought I would never see my friends or get my life back again. The amount of work I had to do for that, is similar to the amount of work for this. Although I feel that this is more rewarding personally - that getting a program to work!!!!! Although that can also be satisfying.

Since Harry Potter is SOLD out, my friends and I are going to see something else at the cinema to De-stress.

Can't wait for a lie in (till 9am)/ Yippeeee

Feeling under pressure :(

I have 20 periods a week(53 hour periods). Is this too much for a student teacher?

According to all my other friends who are student teachers, who only have 16 periods a week then yes. At the moment, I am not getting to do any work on my port-folio because I am in class. Ok, I don't need to prepare for every class as some of them are observational, but I believe that my time would be better utilised planning and doing my port folio.

Does anybody think that I am complaining over nothing?

As Yazz sang "The only way is up..."...

Yesterday I felt really deflated after my lesson, and thought I was a hopeless case. Today, my lesson went well, I felt a lot more in control of the children sorry pupils (still obviously to work on lots of things). Part of the reason that the lesson went better was the fact I was more prepared. I stayed up till 12.30am to make sure I had everything organised. I feel that my confidence is growing each day and I am enjoying it a lot more. I suppose in teaching, you will have your good days and bad days- but what I like about it, is that every day is different.

Today in class I was able to experience what the teacher does in case of pupils being under the influence of alcohol. There was no big scene or eruption in the class, the teacher discretely took the pupil out of class and then delt with the matter. I am starting to believe that shouting at the kids and ranting and raving does no good, it makes things worse.

Does anyone out their have any suggestions for me to silence the class or make them work silently, without raising my voice.

The only way is up,baby for you and me now.

How do I NOT be nice?????

Ok, I am not a person who likes to shout, nor do I like confrontation, which is why I am finding it difficult to control the class. I am in control when I am talking to them, and getting them to copy down slides into their jotters- but at what level of noise is acceptable? In my class today, the teacher came in towards the end of the lesson and had to shout at them. I am not trying to be nice to them, but I am just feeling it challenging to tell them off and make them listen to my directions. They say that a teacher should really not need to raise her voice, but how can I get this to work for me. Part of the reason that I feel, is that it is not really my class. I kinda feel under pressure to be totally strict with them, because the class teacher is really firm with them.

Any suggestions to getting over the fear of being a voice of authority in the classroom? My 'crit' is coming up soon, and I don't want them to walk all over me.

Although my lesson did not go to plan, I still enjoyed the 'teaching' part of it.

Thank goodness for the.......student teacher.

I had my first experience of a 'please take' this morning, or rather 'take', when the teacher in my class that I was only observing had to go an deal with an important issue. It was Standard Grade administration and all I had to do was go over a sheet of office duties. The blank faces that sat infront of me either did not have a scoobie about what I was talking about, or they were bored stiff. I reckon it was a mixture of the two. Anyway I battled my way through the sheet trying to come up with examples etc to try and make it a wee bit more interesting. It just shows you that if you are not prepared for a class, things can be dreadfully tedious - for you and the pupils.

I am learning to paddle in the shallow end now!!!!!!

Teaching is a 9am-3.30pm job.....yeah right!!!!

Saturdays should be spent out with your friends, shopping, or socialising shouldn't it???? You would think. From 9-4pm yesterday, I was working on my computer preparing worksheets for spreadsheets, and I still have more work to do on Sunday, and marking that my class teacher gave me to do. Don't get me wrong, I signed up for this...but I am just wondering how much it will get worse before it gets better??????

Will I get my Saturdays back?

I hope so.

Dancing Queen......

Today, I decided to join the senior Choir.. extra brownie points for ME....We sang "Dancing Queen" and westlife's new song "You raise me up", it was great fun. I definitely recommend a student to join a club or take part in extra curricular activities, does wonders for taking your mind off marking.

I had first years today, did I really look that young when I was in First year? I thought that I was really old1!! They actually listen to what I was telling them.....won't last for long I don't think.

Thank goodness it's friday that is all I can say.

I survive my first week of teaching!!!!! Yipeeee. Bring on my salary

Senior pupils...a little scary!!

Today, was more of an observation day but I did have experience of being in a Higher Accounts class. My PT said "how do you fancy taking a couple of lessons soon". Again, I felt the nerves from head to foot and I said that I would see how things go. He then gave me the opportunity to go around the class and help them with questions, and I surprisingly did good (in my opinion). This was the first day that I really felt like a teacher, and I totally enjoyed being in with senior pupils. I was able to explain the concepts to them, without even thinking. Since it had been almost 3 years since I have done any accounting, I was amazed how much I actually remembered from my degree!!!!!!! The senior pupils were more focused to their work, and in general I felt it was a nice atmosphere to work in, and I look forward to being involved in more Higher classes.

I also shared the concept of Blogging today with another student in my department, and maybe she will be the next blogger.

My fiirst lesson....arrrghhh.

First week of my placement

When the class teacher told me yesterday that I should start a new topic with the class, I felt the nerves travel from my head to my foot. A day to prepare. Yikes!!!!! My previous preparations involved a couple of days. That was the gym out for me last night.....

I was nervous about doing it, but I had to realise, that was what I was there for, and the sooner I get in their the better. When I said to my Dad when I told him I thought that I was being thrown in at the deep end, he told me that "I would just have to get in the water and swim", and he told me "you are a pretty good swimmer". That gave me the confidence that I needed for today.

I got on fine (I think). I appeared confident in my lesson, however my classroom management needs a lot of work. But, I have only been in charge for 1 hour, so I know that I can improve on this.....

To Probation year......and beyond.