I am two weeks into my final placement and things are going an awful lot better than my first!
There are still a couple of things to work on - obviously - but teaching 80% of the timetable is much better. The children know I am the teacher, rather than me ducking in to take this lesson and that lesson etc. Plus, I have a great relationship with my class teacher - she is incredibly supportive and knows how to give you feedback in a postive way. The class has some real characters and, I won't lie, some days they can feel a little too excentic but, on the whole, they are a good bunch. :D
I'm also taking part in the year 3 tennis club after school - as my class teacher needed help running it - and I am in the midst of planning a school trip [getting simple things like confirmation letters from companies is a bit of a struggle, but I'll get there in the end]! I've even managed to get the hang of the IWB - despite not having used one before this placement. :)
It is hard work - there is no denying that. I am in at 7am each day. I usually leave at around 5pm, although some nights I've been there until 6pm. Then, once home, I have to sort out my planning, flipcharts and resources for the lessons the following day. Sleep is a dream in itself lol... Whilst I am pretty sure that I don't want to do my NQT next year - I need to do something different! - I am feeling really positive about my pgce for the first time since it began. :D
Five weeks on placement. One week that is uni based. Another week on placement. Two weeks at school on 'enhancement' [I want to go into EYFS or at least KS1 lol]. Three days in university and then it is all over. And I plan on making the best of it - after all, I think I have proved to myself that I have the staying power to get this far, so now I am just going to enjoy being the teacher and exploring the area around Durham.
Life is pretty good. :D
