11.11.12: Today we remember.

It has been a long time since I last blogged.... and today I fear I will not make up for that fact, but I will try to update all that has happened in the last month or so....

Placement, classes, assignment prep week and skills tests.

1) Placement 1a part 1.
One week in a year 6 class. 34 rather rowdy children, all individuals (very much so) rather tough to break through to, and a school trip - where no one fell into the river, so at least it was a success in that respect, although I'm not entirely convinced the class learnt anything.... I go back there for two weeks starting tomorrow, and we go armed with a weeks worth of English lessons (we only have to teach one lesson). Hopeing it will go a lot more smoothly that I anticipate, but if not, it's a good learning experience right?

2) Classes. A million of them.
So much information is being shot at us for so many different subjects that my head is not given enough time absorb it all. I find it amazing that we are given 3 classes - 4.5hrs - for each subject (aside from Maths, English, Science and PE, which thankfully we have slightly more of) but from this we are next year supposed to be able to take a years worth of lessons.... I'm sure we probably could take the lessons now without any classes, however, there is currently a call for a higher quality of Primary School teaching, and thus teachers, so logically I would assume the more classes we have for each individual subject the better we will be able to teach them?

3) Assignment Prep Week.
I failed miserably at the whole notion of 'assignment preparation'. I have had 4 books from the library for the past 4 weeks and failed to get beyond the first page of the first book... It would be a motivation and time management thing. But mainly the motivation thing. The assignment is on formative assessment (not the curriculum as the assignment title would have you believe.... it being called 'the curriculum assignment' and all) Despite what it is about, and the importance of it in the classroom - of which I completely understand - the books are so dry that I cannot force myself to read them right at this moment. By next week however, I promise I will be able to report that I have read at least two, hopefully 3.

4) Skills Tests.
This, is one thing at which I have actually, completely and utterly succeeded at during the last month. I recommend to everyone to attempt the practice tests, and to purchase the 'Achieving QTS: Passing the Literacy/Numeracy Skills Test' books, in order to give confidence (even if you are brilliant at one subject) and in order to better understand the format of the tests and working under the time constraints. As I said, I have, very proudly, passed both, first time. I found the actual tests to be easier than the practice tests, which was a very pleasant surprise, however the testing room is not the nicest of places - if you have completed your driving theory, then you know exactly what it is like as it is literally the same testing room. With the same flickery/old computers.

Right, wish me luck with Part 2 of my placement, hopefully the class will be calmer and less argumentative than during part 1....

S x

14.10.2012: One day till Placement 1a

Tomorrow begins placement 1a, and today I find myself wishing my printer was working.... As it is not, I have a lot of documents on my computer that should be in paper format. Guess I will be taking my laptop along with me tomorrow! Despite the lack of printed documentation, I am pretty much organised (for the first day at least!)

I am also in need of buying several hundred books... I could borrow them from the library, however all the copies seem to be constantly out. I know I can reserve them for when I get back into classes (odd system where by if someone else wishes to borrow a book your lease on it drops from one week to two days, and as I live so far from the university and my placement is ridiculously far away, any recalls will have to be patient!) but I would feel bad because I know if I want to take out a book for a week, it means I usually will take a week to read it, and I guess others would too?!?

So, Tip of the week.... I guess I have two:

• Make sure your printer works (at all times throughout the course)
• Save up a lot of money for books, or learn to read dry textbooks at high speed!

Wishing you all a lovely week, mine will be spent on placement with a 'difficult' class. What fun!

S x

29.09.2012: Essay Writing

Essay writing. All day. Now, at half 12 in the morning, I have finally finished my essay! It is, basically not what I want to have written, I'm not even sure it answers the question, but it is done. And ultimately, this essay is not assessed, just a requirement.

Really short post as I have done nothing but type all day!

Have a nice weekend, I shall head to bed to sleep until noon.

S x

23.09.2012: Grey Day, Grey Mood

Today, is Sunday. Today it is raining. Today I feel down (and possibly a bit ill)

Basically I had the worst nights sleep. I think I clocked up about two, maybe as much as three hours. So I am generally feeling a bit tired, both physically and mentally. I'm trying to do my background reading for my first essay, but nothing is going in. Literally nothing at all.

This happens to everyone right?!? I assume so, but I didn't think this early on! Maybe it's my body rebelling at the early mornings, or just my body releasing the stress of the past few months. It is going to be an early night - possibly as early as 4pm if I carry on feeling like this. Its not even 3pm and I'm wrapped up in PJs and a blanket, with woolly socks and a hot chocolate.

Right, so tip of the week: Keep on top of everything. Make sure your notes are kept in order and get things done as soon as you can - because if you leave it and can't download it later you will kick yourself.

S x

22.09.2012: No rest for the wicked. Or trainee teachers.

It is the weekend, and I get no time to rest. 18 things on the to do list, I hope for at least 10 to be completed by tonight... But lets all hope for more!

English subject knowledge test and Audit. Nothing will ever fill me with more dread in my entire life than those words. I actually feel physically panicked at the thought of having to complete them again!

So, after a day of sitting and typing, I have achieved nothing at all on my essay, but I have done a lot of other things! There are 10 things left on my list, so I achieved my goal, but I could have done more.... If the links I needed had worked (connected to the right thing or actually allowed me to download my documents!) For the rest of the night I shall be doing my background reading for my essay in the hope that I will digest it all in my sleep and be more than prepared to write it all tomorrow. It is a short essay - only 2000 words, which is good in some ways - I should be able to write it in a day (like tomorrow) but such a short essay does mean I am likely to spend a long time chopping bits out....

Today I have also invested in some books - some being the operative word as I can't afford them all!! Student loans wrote to me today to say I need to send back another form and then they will think about sending me my money, so fingers crossed that gets sorted for next week! I would recommend buying your books prior to the start of your course unlike me, because its amazing how quick the essay has come along (that is our first essay was given to us on day two of the course...) I think my library card will take a beating this year as I have to create a reading journal for English also - full of children's books for all ages. I hope to have at least 100 books read and reviewed for their learning potential by the end of the year.

I'm off to carry on with my reading... well if CamTools lets me log back in so I can link to the articles...

Have a nice evening - I am celebrating this long, tiring, exciting week (plus getting my degree results) with a Chinese Takeaway :)

S x

16.09.2012: Enrolment

Today, was enrolment day. I went along at the appointed 10am and joined the queue of 100 or so people - possibly half the course as another load appeared after me. I stood in a line, and then another line and then I received my shiny new student ID and was told to join another line...

After that I was done. I'm not exactly sure what I expected, as I had the days timetable (and it was just enrolment) but I think I wanted a welcome lecture or something before I left. But all in all, I was in Cambridge for less than an hour and achieved pretty much nothing!

TOMORROW is when the lectures start, and when I lose my life to work!

Wish me luck,

S x

15.09.2012: My day to sleep!

So, today is the last day of no longer being a student. That being a peculiar way of saying I enrol at Cambridge tomorrow. 10am start, so I get a little lay in and then I enrol and I'm sure more but I can't find the  timetable so I'm planning on going and just following someone who seems to know what they are doing.

Note to self: Organisation is key.

S x