I Need To Vent!

[Guest]

Hello everyone,

 

I feel like I need to let off some steam! Ok....

I've just started my final placement in my BA QTS, but it is my first placement in a KS1 class- I have always had FS placements. Since I told my school that that was the case it hasn't been the same and now I feel like I'm being treated as an inexperienced Yr1 student when I'm a Yr4. Maybe I'm wrong, but thats how I feel.

I have only taught 2 lessons since I have been there (10 days), and as a Yr4 student, that isn't enough, i should be teaching 50% a day. I feel the teacher doesn't trust me to be alone with the children, why, I don't know. Maybe I'm being silly and have high expectations as my last placement was fantastic, but I was hoping to get stuck in straight away, I just feel completely alone there, and that noone trusts me to do anything!

I know I dont want to work in KS1 when I qualify, as I'm an AEY specialist, but I was really looking forward to this placement and to experience KS1, and now feel really down about it, I just hope things will get better.

 

Thanks for listening!!!

[beth1]

Oh dear, rant away!

 

Anyway have you told your personal tutor how you feel? Maybe they could give you some useful advice.

 

Hope it gets better soon.

 

 

Beth

[HappyMaz]

Oh dear you do sound fed up - and I can understand why.

 

I don't really understand how it all works - but I know there are lots of teachers on here who will rally to your aid with words of wisdom and support.

 

I just wanted to say that if you want a rant you've come to the right place. I hope you find a way to get this resolved and that soon your placement will be much more fulfilling and useful.

 

Chin up!

 

Maz

[Guest]

Oh dear you do sound fed up - and I can understand why.

 

I don't really understand how it all works - but I know there are lots of teachers on here who will rally to your aid with words of wisdom and support.

 

I just wanted to say that if you want a rant you've come to the right place. I hope you find a way to get this resolved and that soon your placement will be much more fulfilling and useful.

 

Chin up!

 

Maz

 

Hi, Can understand your feelings totally. I think talking to your college would be a good starting point and maybe seeing if they can talk supportively to the school about how much you appreciate their support but that in your 4th year they need to let you be more in control and take responsibility for more of your teaching time. Hope this helps, keep smiling and let us know how you get on.

Nicky Sussex

[hali]

oh dear that is sad i would certainly talk to your tutor

[Guest]

that is sad to hear that you feel that way this early in your placement surely they have seen your previous placement reports and stuff. I would talk to your tutor like others have vsuggested maybe they can put an official slant on things in terms of how much time you need to be spending teaching . do you have school based mentor As i am trained as one of those but maybe only some colleges have those , they could be able to help you

keep going and try to look on the bright side

[Guest]

Hi, thanks for all your replies. yes i do have a mentor, i found out yesterday that my assigned tutor has left the uni and has been replaced with a new one, which is why i have had no contact with her.... and i will not be meeting my tutor until November!! i taught a literacy lesson yesterday (i know, wow!) and it went really well, but i just dont think im getting the support needed from the uni. im going in today to do some planning so ill find someone to harass there!!!

[mundia]

Hi there. I would certainly speak to someone at college about you concerns, but as jowilliams said, you should have a school contact. I was also school based tutor for the local colleges and religiously met every week with my students to see how things were, and to iron out any difficulties with the class teacher/their experience. I guess everyone isnt so lucky? You should also have an entitlent to so many visits from the college tutor and if you are not getting this, you d probabaly need to speak up a bit.

 

It is possible that your class teacher is anxious about handing over the class so early in the year and possibly doesn't know about what is expected of you. Are you 2 weeks into a block placement or are you still doing odd days in preparation for a block? I would ask your CT if you can meet after school and explain what the expectation is for you in final year and see how she repsonds..she may then give you reasons why she isnt letting go just yet.

 

I do have to say that I find it strange that youve got to your final year without anything outside of FS experience, we always insisted that you got across the range of experience by the second year.

[Guest]

Hi mundia, my school tutor is the CT, which is awkward, but i think you are right in saying she is anxious in letting go of her class so early in the year (especially to someone who hasnt experienced KS1), the thing is I dont feel nervous about teaching, but her actions are knocking my confidence a bit, and making me think twice about my capability to be a ks1 teacher. I just feel that as a yr4 student the training wheels should have come off and i can at least be trusted to teach a class!!

 

Yes I am on block serial days, leading up to the block assessed placement which starts after half-term, but i am still required to teach 50% of the day, as well as plan assess etc.

 

In reply to your last point - I totally agree - most of my friends have had the same problem - being in the same year group 3 times in a row etc, we obviously have to have exp in the full age range, but placements in sussex are hard to find as the uni recruit so many students, and we basically get placed where there is a space. I am lucky though, being in FS 3 out of 4 when im an AEY specialist, compared to a friend who has just entered her first EY placement.