Starting out in teacher territory

Now I've got to grips with blog-basics (a big learning curve but seems fairly straightforward) I can share my thoughts and experiences as I delve into new territory - Teacher-land!! Three weeks ago ended a 10 year stint with the NHS, left the world of sexual health, and embarked upon a new career in teaching Secondary English.

I've now done three weeks on the PGDE course in Glasgow. It has been amazing. The lectures have been really interesting and thought-provoking. I have seen some excellent teaching from my lecturers and tutors - really interactive with loads of good tips for us to use in class. I also think that they have a very sound value base: they are very committed to using collaborative teaching, both with the students and with other teachers; lots of whole school focus and lots of consideration for inclusivity. Our tutors highlighted how much things had changed since they trained - they showed us the belts they used right up until the 1980's, and talked about how we can wound children even more by horrible things that are said in sarcasm, really highlighting the power we have and urging us to use it well. We had another brilliant lecture yesterday about enterprising learning. Motivating words from someone who LOVES teaching. We've yet to have a lecture from here that isn't funny, entertaining, interesting and passionate about teaching.

The programme of lectures looks great with topics such as bilingual learners, challenging behaviour, voice protection, looked after children, differentiation etc. Lots of reading so far about different theories of learning, lots of Curriculum for Excellence already, and discussion about talking for learning. Good stuff. About half of my classes are with all subjects and Primary students too , so I am getting a good feel for education more broadly. Two of the three tutorial groups will be will students from other disciplines and sectors.

My first placement begins on Monday. I've been given a largish school in a small town with a rural catchment area in the commuter belt for the nearest city. Quite wealthy area, no pockets of deprivation, got a great HMiE report. English department looks pretty cool and has a good website, is obviously using IT and active learning. I think it will be a good place to start.

The workload is completely bonkers!!! I have spent HOURS writing to-do lists, creating online diaries with task lists, planning my work, and re-planning, keeping ahead of the reading for lectures, tutorial tasks, marked assignments, self-study tasks etc. That is on top of getting used to the travel, new faces and buildings. This is going to be a huge amount of work - just like everyone said.

So, now I've spent a WHOLE MORNING working out how to blog, I'd better go and chain myself to some textbooks while the house is quiet.