Things are about to change...

...and I'm getting nervous!

A good year or so ago, I wrote on here that I was sitting my int.2 maths exam, and asked for some advice. A while later I again asked for advice - this time for my interview. The response I got was fantastic, the advice second to none and I wonder if I could use your support again? (I got an A ifor my maths btw!)

I go back to work as a learning support assistant at a secondary school on Monday, and a week later, start my primary teacher training!!! The course is a 2 year part time PGDE (my degree is in art) the other part of the time I will be working at the secondary.

Any general advice is welcome, though my main area of worries are in getting over the initial self doubt and confidence - my nerves really hold me back. Time management is my other main concern. How on earth am I going to manage study/lesson prep etc and work and parenting and housework/gardening etc whilst allowing myself a bit of time off (I see this as absolutely essential!)?

All advice/ideas appreciated!

 

Jarbax, I see by your list that you don`t plan to do any sleeping. Is this wise?:D Seriously though, Just sit down and relax, and get the priorities in order. :thumb: Once you`ve done that you will see there isn`t a problem.:thumb:

 

Set a daily time frame for unpaid prep work and keep to it.

My old man has been a teacher 37 years, enjoys the job and has always done this.

My mother on the other hand went back into teaching 8 years ago after a long absence, sadly she couldnt switch off from it and made her part time job into a fulltime one working every evening etc and stressing over things, so mutch so that she is now signed off and unlikely to return to employment.

Imo its a damned hard and undervalued job but you need the right personality and mind frame otherwise youll get dragged down.

 

Jarbax, Experience breeds confidence. But always hold a bit of me time for yourself. 02

 

Good advice, thanks!

David - always was a list-writer, I like that I have permission to sit and relax and work out what comes top! Thanks!

Paul, sorry to hear about your mum, but thankyou for the grounding. Having worked nearly four years at secondary now with the 'most difficult' kids, I know how difficult it can be to switch off - but also how important it is. The job i do now is hard, undervalued, and certainly underpaid. I am aware that there is so much to do - but will heed your advice and dad's experience - to set a time frame and keep to it is wise indeed. Thankyou too!

Cheers 02! I think I'll be fine with a bit of experience, and you're absolutely right! I think what's worse is not knowing what it's going to be like yet - not knowing what schools I'll be at, never mind what year etc. My imaginiation goes into overdrive wondering all the what ifs! It is the managing my nerves beforehand that's bothering me now - don't imagine I'll have the luxury of time to worry about it later!

Worry, worry, worry

 

I think that stressing that prep work is unpaid is very sound advice - don't let it take over your life.
As a physiotherapist I see a lot of patients who have stress or work related problems because they refuse to acknowledge this fact and just keep on and on........enjoy your work but my thoughts are that work is something that you do to earn the money to enjoy the rest of your time:thumb:

 

I start tomorrow - AAAEEERRRKKK!!!

I will keep in mind your words of wisdom, probably keep coming back to remind myself of them!

Don't imagine I'll beable to be around as much on here, or in the garden - though I have always found it a place I can go to clear my head and it does feel like a different place altogether. even if I end up sitting on the wee seat I made hidden behind my lilac, squeezed in beside the compost, under my brolly, it is an escape for a few moments! Even the shed can be quite pleasant with the rain battering down outside!

Best wishes all!

Here goes...

 

:thumb:Good Luck - You'll be fine as long as you Remember To Keep 'ME' Time - Go And Sit By Your Lilac, Or In The Shed, Or Even In The Loo But Make That Time!!!!:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:

 

Sound advice Clem.
I believe that if you enjoy your work you will find the right balance in your life to manage every day chores too. Go for it and good luck J-B!:thumb:

 

Thankyou!!!

 

A quick update...

The first three days of the course were pretty horrendous. I was soo nervous, but met some lovely folk! We left Dumfries at 7am, and didn't get home til 7pm the first day. We missed the start of all the morning lectures due to traffic (it was a 2 hour + drive up to Jordanhill in Glasgow). Thank goodness that's over.

I have been in my placement school for 4 days. It is a small rural school with 90 pupils. 'My' class has 21 in it, and they're pretty good (compared to the classes I work in at secondary!) Th class teacher was off ill for the first two days, but is back now. She is absolutely lovely!

There is a lot of work to do too. As feared, it is time consuming, to put it mildly. I am trying to get ahead of the board, and doing things which don't need to be in for a while, but I'd rather get done what I can now, so that I can get on with other stuff as it comes up, without having this initial stuff hanging over me too.

Haven't yet stood up infront of the class to teach - that'll be in 10 days time! We have two tutorials before then and I sincerely hope we'll feel a little more knowledgable by then! Mind you sometimes it's better to be flung in at the deep end, and sink - or swim!

I feel so much better now that it's started, a lot of the 'what ifs' have gone! Thanks again for your support - I might still be calling upon it!!!

 

:cl-p:Head up!!...go get 'em....and enjoy

 

go for it, you can do it good luck

 

Thankyou, thankyou!

Language tutorial lecture today, though nothing about 'how to' teach this time next week! YIKES MA CRIKES!!!!!