Hons degree (1st week )

Well i made it through my very first week of hons degree ! blimey ,who`d have thought id be here

So far Ive had Childhood,lit and reading (i love this already !!) re reading a favourite book from childhood is such a great idea -loving it !
Dissertation -not so enthusiastic about this just yet but maybe it will grow on me when i decide on my essay title etc
Teaching and professionalism - only had the introductory lecture so far, shed loads of work to complete for this plus a placement.
Today (Fri) im having my 1st The dyslexia friendly classroom lecture .

We work on a fortnightly time table so havent had Maths yet .
But so far Im loving the whole atmosphere -I know 5 ladies from my FD group but they are not with me at all in any of my seminars.I dont really mind as I want to make some new friends .

There is loads of walking as the campus is very long (in very beautiful grounds ) the car parks are miles away from everything so no worries about lack of exercise !!

Im in for just 1hr today (the only down side to not stipulating preferred days is im in every day but just little bits ).

Im not the eldest -not that it worries me lol I have an " ive as much right to be here as anyone else and ive earned my place " attitude so will confidently walk around no probs

wow linda glad you are enjoying it

So pleased you have enjoyed your first week - I love the idea of re-reading a favourite childhood book - would it be the Chalet School, Little House on the Prairie, an Enid Blyton - too many to choose from. Hope it continues to go well x

Gracie -the book I have chosen to re read is a 1970 (yes im that old !)
book called `snowed up`,its something I remember really losing myself in all those years ago.I found a copy on Amazon so ive been re reading it and re visiting all those feelings .Its a brilliant thing to do -do I feel the same reading it now as when i was 7 ??
Our tutor isnt an Enid Blyton fan -her reason ,Enid Blyton wrote a lot of her stories during the war but never included this in any of them.
Had a lecture today for the Dyslexia friendly classroom - which was also brilliant,the tutor has written a few books on the subject so knows what she is on about

I'm not surprised your tutor isn't an Enid Blyton fan - no one is these days! I understand exactly what they are objecting too, and I share those views - but personally, I don't think that makes the stories any less fun to read. We don't have any in school (and I think that's right), but very often KS2 children will bring in a book they are reading from home or the library - and the good old Famous Five and Secret Seven figure highly. Should we be saying these are 'not appropriate choices' - especially if they are kids who don't normally read for pleasure and they are obviously enjoying them? Personally, I'm happy to let them enjoy the books and then try to get them to widen their author choices when I get the opportunity.

mrsp - you are definitely NOT old!!! A mere child as my HT would say ......................... (she's 60 and I'm 58). Glad you enjoyed the dyslexia lecture - what are your plans when all the study is done and you have that hons degree in your hand? x

Gracie -I was brought up on enid Blyton books and so were my own children (just my tutor who doesnt like them lol) my favs were The magic Faraway tree/The wishing chair/The famous five stories and Mallory Towers .
I read the faraway tree to my own children when they were younger and bought a copy for the class so i could read it to them as well lol.
As for my plans when I get this degree (being positive here cos usually say if lol) I would love to go into teaching BUT I dont have my maths /science yet so cant do pgce (have to admit im not too keen on the whole pgce thing anyway) I want to be in a school not in a uni classroom learning about everything Ive already covered in my 12 years as a TA .I think pgce is great if you have a degree in anything and have never been in a classroom .But I just wish there was a different less prescriptive way (thinkim just a rebel really!) So -the answer is I dont know,my maths will take a miracle HATE hate hate -loath entirely (as grinch would say lol) but you never know,I may suddenly decide i actually enjoy maths as i being my learning in mathematics module next week (lol cant believe i actually said enjoy & maths in the same sentence )

what about the registered teacher programme Linda?

Or the Graduate Teacher Programme? I agree, you definitely don't need to do a pgce, you have more than enough years of classroom experience! And I'm sure you'll get the Maths this year. Good luck x

caffeine needed wrote:what about the registered teacher programme Linda?

Tell me more Helen !!! dont know anything about it ! xxxxx

bleedin hell just looked at the link and the bloomin gvt have stopped it as from this year!!!!!!!!!!! drat will have to think again now

caffeine needed wrote:bleedin hell just looked at the link and the bloomin gvt have stopped it as from this year!!!!!!!!!!! drat will have to think again now

lol sounds about right ! lol
Thanks Helen xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I'm going to check other ways into teaching have you thought of the gtp?

oops thats going as well!
there is SCITT school centred inititail teacher training
but I think I'll explore
School Direct

see here for infor

[Only admins are allowed to see this link]

Well Its now my 9th week of the Hons degree and Im still smiling (just !)
The pressure is defo on big time now and thank heavens Im not working as well !!
We are due to hear about our dissertation proposals and Im hoping mine will be accepted as I feel it could be a good one to get my teeth into !!
Im also enjoying my placement (as part of my teaching and professionalism module) its a day per week at a school 5 mins from my house.Its a first school (yrs R - yr 4 ) Lovely children,including the gorgeous Archie who was very puzzled as to how his name was the only one I remember (didnt have the heart to explain its because its the only name i keep hearing teachers call out cos he cant sit still ) bless him !
The staff our very welcoming and I have had several email/phone numbers given if I need help etc .
The teachers treat me as a trainee teacher which I love!
The workload for uni is massive and I am juggling 5 modules with home work and submission dates before Christmas .
BUT I dont regret giving up my job at all which shows it must have been the right time for me to go .
Thoughts about the future -well im not sure that teaching will be an option as the gov are moving the goalposts again so will have to wait and see .
xxxxx

in what way are they moving the goal posts Linda
you sound as if you are really enjoying yourself

Sorry for the delay,have been having problems with my password but Cindy has fixed me xxxx
Ok by `moving the goalposts` it just seems that the Gov are upping all the requirements again so just as I think i might get there it moves again (gcse grades needed now a minimum of a B )
So begining to think its all beyond me,I still need my maths and to retake my science (next year ) before thinking about the pgce the year after .
Or maybe head for something different -an advisory role perhaps ?
Oh and I had my dissertation proposal mark today =50% a pass is still 40%
so i passed -need to really pull my socks up this year though

why do you need to pull your socks up a pass is a pass

To get on any further they expect a 2.1 minimum at the end of the year, not hopeful .
My mark need a big improvement to be accepted for another year .

oh god suppose I will have to look ino this I'm not going through all his rubbisdh if need something else at the end