Teacher training: Teach First?

[spanglechick]

Drama is a phenomenally important subject, but it should be taught by trained specialists, in dedicated spaces, and taught intelligently. It should not be about jazz hands, nor about “get into groups and make a play about bullying”.

(Good) Drama teachers have absolutely stonking classroom management skills.

 

[kenny g]

Haven't heard of teach first but I know people who are very happy doing schools direct which sounds like the same thing.

2 factors to consider:

1. Money. What's your major? Music? There won't be a bursary attached to most subjects next year so if you've got rent to pay a salaried scheme may be a good idea.

2. PGCE. It's an actual post graduate qualification, particularly useful if you ever want to work abroad. Gives you a theoretical agle on your practice. But the college work side of it is a massive ballache.

PGCE is a bastard of a course. Take my hat off to anyone who gets through it. Massive amounts of coursework combined with having to go into a school environment and deal with the madness of being a trainee teacher. I dropped out but learnt stacks in the four months I stayed the course. This was over twenty years ago so the profession has obviously improved enormously. What killed it for me was the dynamics and insane homophobia in the school I was having to teach in. Best of luck to all who take the plunge.

 

[kenny g]

Just to add. As someone who had come from a dry extremely academic degree then lived a few years taking full advantage of what the 90s had to offer followed by the PGCE it was extremely intense to come to terms with having to practice the theory being studied during the course. If I went to it now I am sure my life experience would do me the world of favours. There is nothing better than teaching a class on a Friday afternoon who you have managed to get genuinely interested in the topic..

 

[rutabowa]

So a few things in hindsight.
I think in my specific position the teach first route was 100% right, and actually the only possible way wrt money.

There are several teach first and several schools direct in my year at my school, and there is no "type" for either route; definitely the idea that teach first is posh young graduates is not true at all here. There is no difference or distinction we are all just in the same boat with more or less the same experiences.

Although schools direct did a little less teaching hours in that first year they also had 1 day week out so it was not really that different workload wise. And teach first have quite a few days out training over the year too.

I reckon with both courses by far the biggest thing that would make or break it is the specific school.

I found the training and academic side really good and well organized. Tbh the fact that most of it (including all the 6 week summer course) was online last year made it much more possible for me; going away for 6 weeks would not have been possible.

At this point after 1 year IF I just stopped doing the teach first side I would already have QTS and a PGCE from the assignments I've already done. This is not what you're meant to do, and I'll finish the university side and get the PGDE credits because I like it, but it is possible to just decide to leave it.

 

[rutabowa]

last PGDE assignment went in.... feels a bit of anticlimax tbh, the teaching side is much harder but great in lots of ways still. I like most of the kids, pretty much all really tho some it is more of an effort. got a few good unofficial mentors that seems to be the key. if I get the school funding (and do it) I'll be getting a master's for about £500 in total fees so it is pretty good deal

 

[Nikkormat]

last PGDE assignment went in.... feels a bit of anticlimax tbh, the teaching side is much harder but great in lots of ways still. I like most of the kids, pretty much all really tho some it is more of an effort. got a few good unofficial mentors that seems to be the key. if I get the school funding (and do it) I'll be getting a master's for about £500 in total fees so it is pretty good deal

Well done and good luck! Finding a few people you can turn to for advice is super important.

 

[philosophical]

Well done.
My experience was
First year hell
Second year starting to manage the job.
Third year you think you have it all sussed.
Fourth year you wonder why you’re not in charge and running everything in the institution.
By year six (if you get that far) you realise you actually know SFA, learn a bit of humility and at that point you begin to become a proper teacher because up to then all you have learned is how to survive.

I also learned that Ofsted is utter chite and should and can be completely ignored.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

last PGDE assignment went in.... feels a bit of anticlimax tbh, the teaching side is much harder but great in lots of ways still. I like most of the kids, pretty much all really tho some it is more of an effort. got a few good unofficial mentors that seems to be the key. if I get the school funding (and do it) I'll be getting a master's for about £500 in total fees so it is pretty good deal

That sounds amazing.
. . . and in general you seem to be having a better experience than any other of my teaching friends.

 

[rutabowa]

That sounds amazing.
. . . and in general you seem to be having a better experience than any other of my teaching friends.

right time and place so luck mainly... and no ambition to climb pole means I dont take on too much extra stuff (excepting gardening club which is fully pleasurable). and maths probably helps workload in some ways tho increases pressure on results.

 

[SpookyFrank]

That sounds amazing.
. . . and in general you seem to be having a better experience than any other of my teaching friends.

Where you get placed makes a huge difference. My final placement was in a crap school but my department was good and I had three or four different teachers chipping in to support me.

 

[maomao]

Where you get placed makes a huge difference. My final placement was in a crap school but my department was good and I had three or four different teachers chipping in to support me.

I've been in four schools now and most of them are like that with a lot of mutual help and looking out for new teachers. The only exception was a Harris Academy where everyone was too overworked to be able to deal with anything except their own work. Only school without an active union too.

 

[philosophical]

My tip for any teacher given any unreasonable, unrelated, or time consuming task is to respond by saying or intimating ‘I’ll put it on my list of things to do’ then ignoring it.

 

[rutabowa]

I've been in four schools now and most of them are like that with a lot of mutual help and looking out for new teachers. The only exception was a Harris Academy where everyone was too overworked to be able to deal with anything except their own work. Only school without an active union too.

the school I'm in (and so far choose to stay at) happens to be harris... and there are union reps. not defending, just for information. been v lucky with the 2 principals I've experienced so far I think.... and actually the federation-wide maths curriculum stuff has been pretty good too, again down to individuals involved.

 

[maomao]

the school I'm in (and so far choose to stay at) happens to be harris... and there are union reps. not defending, just for information

If I'd known, we could have run away from the autumn conference together (I escaped through the car park after the conference bit).

I worked at a particularly odd Harris Academy (which I don't really want to identify here) which was very unpleasant to work at and now work at a local school where I am treated well. However, I'd much rather send my kids to the Harris than the shithole I work in now, it was far better for kids both academically and pastorally. The thing that almost made me stay was the quality but it was killing me.

 

[rutabowa]

PASSED i have a PGDE now! I wasn't that keen on the "leadership" part of the question.

XXXXX, this assignment was a pleasure to read! It addresses the important area of problem solving and the necessity of improving a student's ability to complete AO2 and AO3 questions. Your literature review is detailed and synthesises between the research in a sophisticated matter. As such you present a nuanced discussion on the differences between the typical lesson flow and the way problem solving activities can be sequenced so as to develop students holistically. You compare and contrast researchers’ views and use this research as a critical lens to analyse your context. To further strengthen this assignment you would need to focus on the leadership element and how this specific piece of action research has developed your practice. What was your leadership style and what was the impact of this? This was meant to be a key thread of this assignment.

This assignment is a ‘strong’ which indicates the following: A well written essay, which draws on a substantial range of relevant literature and classroom practice, and demonstrates excellent skills of reflection and critical analysis.


Feed forward

In future assignment, focus on:

Reflect on how you develop as a practitioner when carrying out your interventions and engaging with the research. How has your leadership developed and how could this impact your practice and students?


Grade: Pass


Level of Pass: Strong Pass

First Marker: XXXXXXXXX


Date: July 4th 2023

 

[philosophical]

PASSED i have a PGDE now! I wasn't that keen on the "leadership" part of the question.

Many congratulations.

The challenge now is to get through the first five or six years, especially after the bewildering novelty wears off.

I wonder if the ‘leadership’ comment is about activity and interaction in the ‘classroom’. From where you are positioned as a teacher, movement, voice, the timing and quality of questioning, spotting where an intervention is needed, assisting with time management for the kids…in short how a teacher shows ‘presence’ when teaching.
I have seen a lot of teachers who are brilliant in their theory and preparation but then hand out carefully planned tasks and ‘worksheets’ (I suspect technology is at play here) and then disappear behind a screen whilst the class is left to get on with it.
The question is, is that teaching?

 

[maomao]

The question is, is that teaching?

Must all classroom activity involve explicit teaching? Kids need time to read, write and think alone sometimes.

 

[philosophical]

Must all classroom activity involve explicit teaching? Kids need time to read, write and think alone sometimes.

Yes. And interact with the other kids too.

 

[SpookyFrank]

PASSED i have a PGDE now! I wasn't that keen on the "leadership" part of the question.

Congrats.

I am however appalled that 'feed forward' is apparently now a thing.

 

[rutabowa]

Congrats.

I am however appalled that 'feed forward' is apparently now a thing.

i dont understand what would the opposite of feedback could even be
.

 

[SpookyFrank]

i dont understand what would the opposite of feedback could even be
.

It's still feedback, clearly. But feedback you use to inform what you do in future, rather than somehow going back in time to change what you've already done.

 

[maomao]

Congrats.

I am however appalled that 'feed forward' is apparently now a thing.

After a fifteen second Google this appears to be target setting. Is this a new buzzword? We have a shit marking policy in my dept, a buzzword always helps, mlt hate being behind on a buzzword.

 

[rutabowa]

feed forward is "feedback that obeys the laws of space and time"

 

[rutabowa]

I get the point though... I guess feedback is easy to ignore/forget about when you do the next essay... whereas calling it "fees forward" with a space you have go copy it into on the cover sheet of next essay means you def have to reread it. still silly though.

 

[chilango]

If you feedforward it's easier for managers to action cascading best practice.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

Is it a new name for flipped learning?

aka read chapter 2 before coming to class as that's what we will be discussing.

aka ok so who actually did read chapter 2? well I guess I'll do a quick recap...

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

Also