Getting back to Basics...

Now for a Business/Computing teacher who uses computers to teach on a daily basis, I thought it would be impossible to go back to teaching accounts the old fashioned way...Chalk and talk...no fancy powerpoints!!! It was hard...and it is harder to become imaginative without all the interactive software,websites etc etc around....but I quite enjoyed going back to basics. I actually found that I CAN teach....that I am not hiding behind computers.

I think the use of computers is a good thing, but also using the traditional methods of chalk and talk are sometimes overlooked. That's my words of wisdom for today.

I played Hide and seek at the weekend with some of my friends....it was in the dark and it was sooooooo much fun.!!!! Imagine telling my pupils that I was playing hide and seek at the weekend!!!!

The Calm after the storm...

In Glasgow and the West Coast...we had major thunder and lightening storms last night. It surprisingly has had quite a calming effect on all the pupils. Weird huh?

Anyway...I am back in teaching my 1st subject...and I am enjoying it. I have a lot less classes this time but it is mostly due to the fact that senior pupils are off on study leave for their exams. So I have plenty free time in order to develop resources etc etc..

What I have found challenging today...is how to cope with pupils who have major learning difficulties...I find it difficult to know how to allocated my time between those who have learning diffiulties and those who are stuck on various things. I am teaching Spreadsheets at the moment...and its very difficult when they are at different levels. I try to encourage peer learning...this will help.

When I go fall....I fall laughing.

Back again.

A great start to my 3rd and final teaching placement ....whilst the S.E class that I was taking were about to get a talk from a Policeman on the dangers of alchohol misuse....what did I do....sit on a wonky chair and fall flat on my bum!!!!!! Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
The kids were roaring with laughter...how could I possibly recover from this embarrassing situation!!!! Well....I laughed as only a person with a sense of humour would....this went down well. If you can't laugh at yourself...then who can you laugh at.

I am now known as Miss "I fell off her chair Kettles". Good Stuff

Only another 3 weeks and I'll nearly be able to say...that I am a teacher!!!!

I am teaching Accounts (my favourite subject) and administration.
It's all good man.

To camp or not to camp?????

To keep my blog readers happy(meaning Mum) I have decided to write again.

I am faced with the dilema of whether or not to go and work for a couple of weeks in the summer at my friends Summer camp in New Hampshire (USA). He has just started his Summer Camp, and this will be his first summer therefore he has asked me to be part of his experience. Although he really wants me to come over, he understands my situation at the moment (not knowing where I will be come August)/starting a new job etc etc. The camp runs from the 21st of July till the 21st of August, and I know that I won't be able to stay the whole time, but even if its for a couple of weeks he is egar to have me there.

Is it a good idea to work with Kids in my summer break???? Should I have a break altogether?? These are the questions on my mind.

As I was saying to my Mummy the other day, being at Summer camp is hard work...( I have spent two summers at an American Summer camp a couple of years ago) BUT its fun also. Plus I really really want to be part of this whole experience for my friend. I don't like missing out.

Ahhhhh.....I actually should be concentrating on my essay before I think about the summer...which is what I am going to do now...(after Neighbours).

Funny thing happened to me this morning. I somehow, got locked in my flat and for a moment I was thinking I would have to get the firemen to rescue me....BUT I got a ladder and managed to climb out of the window...falling on the grass at the bottom. Then I managed to open the door from the outside....

It was funny...for someone watching anyway.

For those down days.....there is always an up!!!!

Tuesday...I had two awful lessons. As a teacher I sucked BIG time ...and the kids were running rings around me. My classroom management and assertiveness was rubbish. That got me really depressed and thinking...will it be like this always??? BUT.....

the next day...I went in to the classes KNOWING that I needed to work on these things...which I did....and the lesson went really well. I have now come to realise that second year pupils DO not follow instructions very well, nor can they work through a work booklet very well either. Therefore I have come to the conclusion that you need to demonstrate what you want the kids to do...and have work booklets to reinforce it. I felt much more in control of the class...and as a result the kiddywinkles got much more work done and the lesson was more of a success.

After today....only 5 more days of my second placement...I can hardly believe it. It is a pity...because I have just began to feel comfortable in the school and I am building up a rapport with my classes. It is a real shame...I won't be at this school for my probation year, because it is a fantastic department..

Red wine night tonight with my friends!!! Can't wait

One crit over.....2 more to go.....

Phewwwww Glad that is over. I had my first crit yesterday and it went surprisingly well. Although I would have liked to get a video camera in to record me teaching - so I could see and hear what I sounded like. Poor kids who have to listen to my voice!!!!!!!!!! I annoy myself sometimes. I am glad it went well and I am relieved that the first one is over.

I was so tired last night that I collapsed on the sofa.....that was after doing power aerobics!!!!

I am always scared when a tutor comes to visit me.....but they are not as scary as you think.

Till the next one!!!!! Second years --- doing Publisher.....trying to think of an exciting thing I can make them do.

Right, my LTS article is out along with my top ten tips!!!! Check it out if you want....

Good things happen to those who...........

Blog!!!!

When I got a phonecall from David Muir at school, I thought "what have I done?". Blogging thats what I did, anyway to cut a long story short, David recommended me to Learning Teaching Scotland to write a new article for the website/email bulletin. So I did, and the article is ready for publication. So I have blogging to thank (and David Muir) for making me a published article writer person, which I will be able to include in my personal Portfolio!!!!!!!!! Now, I am heading for a TV documentary!!!!!!!! Would the makers of Teacher Teacher (a documentary following Student Teachers which was on in November) like to do another series following the life of a probation Student??????? I think it is an excellent idea.

ANYHOO..

My first "crit" is on Tuesday,...and I don't think I have been more prepared for one yet. I just need to remember my timings and not talk for too long. It is not the most exciting of lessons - but it was appropriate for the stage and level of the class. As all my pupils are at different stages I decided do to a lesson which everyone could complete. Here's hoping that the computers are working, because what do you do in computing if the computers don't work??????????

I must start thinking of a back-up plan!!!!!!!

Only 3 more weeks, that's 14 days ( we miss out one friday) till I finish my second placement. TO think...I was dreading my computing placement (and Doing Programming) BUT programming is turning out to be a great subject to teach. The funny thing is that I actually understand it, which I did not have a scoobie doo (clue) when I was studying it last year. I never understood what a Variable was until I had to explain it to the kids!!!!!

If only every week had 2 extra days holiday!!!!!

Trying to get pupils motivated into doing work after they have had a 3 day break is very difficult - trying to get myself motivated is an even bigger job!!!!! That is not strictly true, the 2 day holiday I had was spent preparing for my crit, doing research for my essay and some cleaning. Therefore I was productive.

Seriously, Life as a student is very busy indeed. They expect you to prepare for your classess, make presentations up, complete a portfolio AND write an essay all in such a short space of time. Its crazy.


Yesterday was Valentine's day, and I hate valentines day. When is there going to be a student teachers' day?????? Where all the pupils bring in gifts to their student teachers.


I nominate..........21st January.

Rule No 1.....When writing on the Whiteboard...

DO NOT USE PERMANENT MARKERS..

That is what I learned today. Luckily....I did not highlight this to my pupils or there would have been much abuse and slagging. My nails and hands are black from attemping to wipe it off from the board. Thankfully, all I had to write was a line!!!!!!!!

Despite that little accident things are going well, I feel a little more confident taking the classes now as I get to know the pupils. However, I do feel less confident about teaching the actual subject compared to my previous placement - but this is understandable as Bus Ed is my first subject. Now that I am on my computing placement - I am glad.

I have taken on board what my teacher has been saying to me regarding discipline and classroom management - which shows that I am willing to progress and improve.

First lesson

TOday I had my first lesson on my own today, and I crashed and burned. Well not really, but I felt I did. I even had it written down what I was going to say,,,but I did'nt come over well. My class teacher was in the class with me, and she said I was fine.....but I dunno I got some blank looking faces at me. The thing I am finding difficult, is the fact that because I am teaching programming - the kids are moving at all different paces, so delivering a lesson to the whole class is rather difficult. I am starting doing progress checks so that I know what stage everyone is at.

I don't really have much to talk about because nothing really interesting happened today,, good or bad.

I'm Lovin it........MCDonald's that is.

Only kidding, I am actually really enjoying myself on placement. And yes, teaching programming is rather fun. I am learning it along with the kids, so I am more likely to experience the same type of problems as they will encounter. I am also liking this whole thing of 'peer learning', If I don't know what has gone wrong, I say "Has anyone done this part?....maybe you could explain it to x" IT's Great.

I really like my department too, everyone is really nice and the P.T is especially nice. All in all, its a really happy department. A happy department, makes happy kids!!!!! The only thing that I would change about the placement, is the fact that I have not met any of the other students at the school. Last placement, we all met up at lunch time in the staff room - and we chatted about our difficulties, talked about our assignments etc. I feel that I would benefit from maybe a weekly meeting with the other students.

Not enjoying the early mornings though, and the 1 hour travel time! Its playing havick with my bodyclock.

Mid- course Blues!!!!

The word on the street is, that everyone of my friends and people on my course are really de-motivated about going on their second placement. (I know I am anyway). Maybe this is because we are not looking forward to the amount of work that will be coming our way in the next few weeks. I am really struggling to find the motivation to get organised for my next placement; which I know that I should be...but I am not. I am sure that once I get in school I will be fine. It's funny though, because we have to remind ourselves that come August we will be doing this full time, and their won't be little breaks at Uni for us to go to.

It is only 6 weeks, it will go past really quickly.

On the postive front, I feel slightly more confident about teaching programming now. I may not know all about the subject, and be the best programmer ever...but I am going to give it a go.

1 Day down.......6 weeks to go.

Right ok, today I had an initial visit to my new School for my 2nd placement of my teachers' training course. I thought that my last school was good; but from first impressions my new school seems great. First of all, the PT and staff appear to be really supportive - which is fantastic news for a student teacher as we need all the help and support that we can get. Secondly, the school ethos and behavioural system seems excellent and as a result the pupils seem to be very well behaved. I hope that I will be happy there!!!! Fingers crossed.

BUT...........my worst nightmare came true. Ok, not my worst nightmare - (that would be Westlife Splitting up or they stopped filming neighbours) but I have to teaching Programming in Computing, which is probably my weakest subject THAT I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. Ok, that is an exaggeration but I am not confident at all about teaching it. Maybe....Ill use the techniques of Peer learning etc etc......so other kids can teach the class..RESULT
Please let this NOT be the bain of my life.

Think positive thoughts.
I can program.
I LOVE programming





Over and out.

Good bye 23.......!!!!

Tomorrow is my birthday and I will be 24. Maybe, this will be a good thing, and because I am older....I will actually feel like a teacher. In my first placement, I was having this whole issue about AGE, because my pupils thought that I looked about 17!!!!!!!!!!! This did not give me a lot of confidence; and nor did I feel old enough to be teaching 14 year old kids. NOW, I think I am moving in the right direction.....I may look like I am 17....(Oil of Olay does wonders) but I need to get into the teacher frame of mind from now on. We shall see.

After the lecture this morning at Jordanhill, I have become inspired and have loads of ideas of how to tackle my next teaching placement. It was all about thinking outside the black box; in terms of assessment and learning, and how that pupils do not benefit from getting graded. They should be provided with more feedback and comments to encourage learning. Two Stars and a wish was talked about, but I am going to turn that into "Two assets and a liabilitiy"...meaning two great things about a pupil's work and something they can work on.

So we go out for a days visit to our schools on Monday.....and I am looking forward to getting in again. I still need to work on my confidence.....so any ideas....to make me super confident...then HELP me...

Typical............

One of the first times...I miss a lecture (honestly).....and my blog gets a shout out!!!!! The moral of the story is....never get the flu. To be honest, I would have gone completely red and hid under my massive long scarf (that I got for christmas), if I was asked to stand up and identify myself. I would like to apologise to David Muir for letting the blogging and Computing side down!!!!!!!!! I will be there at the next one. Just so you know, "this morning" was not up to much.

For those who are visiting my blog for the first time (as a result of the ICT lecture or whatever) I would totally recommend blogging..... It is just like keeping a diary....but its not secret and people can reply to you. A great idea.... By keeping a blog throughout my placement enabled me to be a "reflective practicioner" and allowed me to put things into perspective (about my teaching and what not). I have also had some great advice from teachers and other people too; and what is good is that non of these people know you, so they are honest. What would be good, is that if load of students started blogging - we could all help each other through the busiest most difficult year of our academic lives ( Well it is for me).

Anyway, time for bed for me....I still have the plague.....and I don't want to miss my lectures tomorrow.

Only two weeks to go!!!!

I am enjoying being at university for 3 weeks, because I know that soon Ill be flat out teaching, and have no life again for 6 weeks.

Firstly, I am complaining about having to travel about 1 1/4 hrs to school AND BACK!!!!! I know that because I am studying two subjects that it is difficult to place me, but I was hoping that I would be a little closer. On the positive side, I have heard good reports about the school, so I am beginning to pep myself up.

Secondly, I am seriously worried about my next placement. My first subject is Business and I feel really confident with teaching that subject, however COMPUTING on the other side is a different ball game. My qualification in computing was a Diploma in I.T, so it was basically like a crash course in the subject, so I am VERY scared that I am out of my depth. What if they ask me to take Higher Computing classess?????? I am not strong enough. I kinda half thought about seeing if I can go back onto a single subject program. but I am not sure if it is too late. What if I do suck at it, that will have serious implications on my career.

Thirdly, I was watching This Morning today (a tv programme) and they were talking about Friday the 13th. A specialist on the programme said that if you believe that negative things are going to happen, then they more often than not will. Therefore, I have decided to convince myself that I am a confident teacher, and I can be assertive. Lets hope that this works.

Fourthly, I think that I have the flu. There is nothing much I can do about this apart from bed rest and drink plently of fluids. There is definitely something wrong with me, when I have lost my appetite. I am not sure why I am sharing this, with you all....but everyone else is at work...so I have no one to moan too.

Goodbye 2005!!!!!! Hello the busiest year to come.

I am back and I must say that I have missed writing in my blog. I have not really had anything exciting to talk about in the past few, weeks seeing as I am on a break!!!!!! Not for long though.
I have an essay to do for University, and I have almost forgot how to write - but I am getting through.

Can I just thank David for my bar of Dairy Milk, that is the first thing I have won for a long time. For those of you not in my class, I won a bar of dairy milk for my continuing efforts with my blog writing, I was delighted!!!!! But would not have won it without all of your comments.

Seeing as its Hogmanny (New Year's eve to those not scottish) I am going to write a list of new year's resolutions.

1) Be more organised in my school work
2) Be more assertive both in the classroom and out (watch out people here I come).
3) Don't be affraid assert my authority, remember IAM THE TEACHER.
4) Work on my confidence in the classroom, I think part of the reason that I have difficulty in the classroom is that I don't seem confident, and the pupils pick up on this. Even if I am not, work on my acting skills.
5) Ease up a bit on myself. I give myself a tough time, and I should learn that I can only do the best I can.
6) Go to the gym more.
7) Eat less crap.
8) Talk to my friends more, and make more friends.
9) Enjoy Teaching.
8) Be more creative.
10) Enjoy being 24.
11) Stop day dreaming

Anyway, that's all for now folks. Lets see if I can keep up with these new years resolutions.

I'm a student teacher.......get me out of here.

Today is my last day of my first placement!!!! And boy I am tired. If any of my friends (who are not teachers ) comment that teachers have an easy life, what with all those holidays. I will have SOMETHING to say to them. Teacher's work really really hard, and I salute them for that.

Overall, I have enjoyed my placement at the school. I have had a really supportive department which was a huge asset to me. I know my areas that I need to work on, and I know what my strengths are. Hopefully I will be able to turn my weaknesses into strengths and my strengths into stronger ones. But, I still need to go back to university in order to learn more and prepare myself for my next placement (wherever that may be). I just hope that next placement will be good, if not better than the first.

I have accepted that sometimes kids just behave badly, and if you have a bad class - it is not necessarily your fault. You can help them in the best way that you can. I still need to work on 'being the boss', which I am finding it hard to do. My parents seem to think that this should be easy for me because apparently I am very bossy at home. What I have realised that I am only bossy when I am comfortable in a place, but as time goes on I will have more confidence in the classroom, so being 'the boss' should come eventually.

Anyway, I am about to have my last class here at this school. I am taking another teacher's class who is absen, so that should be fun. I intend not to shout, because I have developed that sore throat and cold that teachers seem to get this time of year.

I am off to London on Monday for a well deserved break with one of my friends (who is also doing her PGCE). We got a really good mini-break deal - and are going to see NOT 1 musical, but 2.(we are musical buffs). Billy Elliot on the Monday and Guys and Dolls (starring Nigel Harman) on Tuesday night.

Dairy Milk is the better option!!!

In response to David's last comment, I believe that Dairy Milk is more of a safe option. Opinion polls show that Dairy Milk is the favourite, and seeing as I am allergic to egg (and Mars Bars have egg in it) I would not give eggy sweets to the kids. This is more of a selfish reason really, because if they refuse to take a prize, I can eat it instead.

It is my last week of school this week, and just when you start to feel comfortable in a place it is time to leave. I have enjoyed myself in school, but I need a break. I also need to go back to uni to learn more. I have been to 97% of the lectures at uni, but this experiences has taught me that I should go to ALL of them. Did anyone see Teacher Teacher on BBC 1 last week? Well, one of the students said that he did not feel that he needed to go to lectures because they were all s**T . I totally disagree, I am not sure what Aberdeen University is like, but the majority of the lectures at Jordanhill are really interesting. Sure, some of the lectures are a bit dry sometime - but the majority of the lectures are very interesting and worthwhile. Saying that lectures are a big pile of horse crap is nonsense, and it's a rude really. For once in my life - I do not fall asleep at lectures!!!!!

I was really embarrassed today too. My text message alert tone is of one of my friends saying "Two steps back man, two steps back" in a really deep American accent. (A Summer camp thing from two years ago -featuring a New York Police Man and a traffic cone)!!!! Anyhoo. It went off infront of all the staff when we were having coffee!!!!!! The think I am very strange now.....it was funny.

Speaking of Summer Camp that is a whole different topic, I actually might start a blog for that too...

What a different.

Ok, so those pesky kids who were really hard to control wednesday last period (for my crit) - were really well behaved today!!!!! Typical. Three of the kids were missing today, so why could they have not been missing from my crit? It was not really the behaviour of the kids that made my crit go bad ( it never really went bad) - it was more of my content, but it would have still been a little easier had them behaved. But what a different in the class, without those three kids!!!!!!

and where did the children's manners disappear to????????

I gave out 3 top prizes (Dairy Milks) to the winners of my competition, and (through the inspiration from a certain Computing Teacher at Jordanhill) gave out Fredos to everyone else!!!!! Only maybe 5 said thank-you. I have a real thing about manners - seeing as I was brought up with them - so I said to them (as they did NOT say thank-you) "Your welcome". Do they think that teachers get a budget for prizes or something????? They did not appreciate the time it took me to decide what prizes to get!!!!!!! I orginally thought that I would do individual prizes, so last week I went and bought: 1 big bar of Dairy Milk, 1 big bar of Sainsbury's own chocolate, and 1 bar of Sainsbury's value chocolate for prizes. But, the caring person inside of me said that it would be fairer to give everyone something, so I had to decide all over what to give them. Now, coming from the MOST indecisive person EVER, this was a rather lengthy task.

I felt really happy after my class today. I actually got them working in silence for 10 minutes. I told them I was giving them out a worksheet, but I mentioned the word "Sort of a test", and then were quiet. I think I may use "Sort of tests" a wee bit more. One pupil asked me if there was a prize for it!!!!!!!


Anyway, I must go and get my face on, because I have a well deserved Christmas get-together with all the other Business Ed students. This should be good. :)


Miss Kettles

P.S I have changed my preferences so that anyone can reply to my blog!!!!!!!