paddywack

Thanx everyone for the ideas we will definately be trying some of them. Peggy I paticulary like the shredded paper idea!!!!!

Hi can anyone help .Iam looking for inspiration for anything on materials . I need 6 weeks and the 40 year old brain has gone to mush!!!!!! Any ideas would be gratefully recieved.

sorry not 2007 I ment 2009!!!

I am just starting my third year of being in charge of a room. I have an nvq3 qualification an assesor came in for a member of staff today and we were talking about level 4-- I said that I wasnt keen to do it as I didnt think I was capable of doing this level she said that by 2007 anyone in charge of a room must be level 4 qualified. Is this true? we are a private nursery/pre-prep schoolbut are still ofsteded and have the childcare vouchers. Feeling a little dispondent about it all as I had to work really hard for my nvq3 and had to complete it by 6 months. Help!!!

Excellant ideas everyone your all life saviours sometimes you know you have an idea but just cant quite get your head round it!!! Oh by the way peggy I have 3 to 4 year olds some of my 3s have only just turned 3 and seem really little

What a lovely idea unfortunately no sycamores near us but such a lovely idea thanks xx

Thanks marion good suggestions and I have ordered the book hope it comes before next week!!! Feeling a little better about it all I have worked with children for 17 years but always as someones assistant so it is such a big step actually being in charge of a room quite scary in fact I think Iam enjoying it still finding my way.!!! Paddywack xx

Thanks for kind words everyone your right I do need to chill out my confidence or lack of always gets the better of me!! The children are happy and all my parents tell me there children really enjoy nursery and I think I implement everything into the day. I have just found out that the first 3 days we go back which is a wednesday we are doing "my day at school" but only for those 3 days and then we go into Transport for 4 weeks road,sea,air and emergency. I have just done the first week of transport not sure if it is right and as for only three days of "my day at school" Iam a little stumped!!!! My boss says she will always give support but she is not always the most easiest person to approach

Can anyone help me my head is spinning.I took over a nursery class last september having completed my Nvq3 and I just about understand all the foundation stage stuff but I work in a term time only nursery and my boss tends to have a meeting 2 days before we go back and says this is what we are doing Iam making these if you want to that you can. I asked her about planning and she said she did this way I could do it this way or make my own up. We have 3 classes of 3 to 4 year olds and she likes us all to follow the same theme which is fair enough but the other teacher has been doing it longer and is old school so doesnt do her planning. Me personnally as a newbie at all this want to be able to do my planning and know what Iam talking about. My boss has told me my room looks great better than it had done before and that Iam doing fine but this is no comfort to me I want to get it right . Does anyone understand what Iam rabbling on about and can anyone help me out I feel out of my depth at the mo and a tint tad stressed!!!!!!!!!! Paddywack xx

Congratulations Paddywack,

 

Enjoy your promotion position and enjoy the empowerment of gaining level 3, which I know is no easy task, ( especially understanding the jargon!!)

 

How long did you have to wait between handing your portfolio in and getting your certificate???

 

One of my staff handed her level 2 in, in February, and we haven't heard anything yet 

 

Peggy

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I handed my portfolio in beginning of august I hadnt heard anything last week and because I needed to know before I go back after the hols I rang the training people and asked they then rang the internal verifier who confirmed that I had passed but all paperwork is with someone who is on holiday so I have to wait for my certificate. If I were you I would phone your trianing centre they should be able to find out for you. paddywack

Hi everyone paddywack here, I have just heard I have officially passed my nvq3 Iam so relieved I didnt ever think I was going to do it but I did and it is worth all the tears and stress.I can start the new term with my promotion relaxed and happy. Thankyou to everyone who gave me help and support now maybe I can do the same although I am still waiting for my portfolio to come back. It is such a great feeling to know I have passed. paddywack xxxxx

My assessor says I can x-ref most of M8 pc.s from M7 but I have a brain block.  Anyone done this or have any ideas.  Many thanks

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Hi Mrs B , your assesor is right I did this with my m8 but without my portfolio at the mo as Iam still waiting for it to come back from the internal verifyer and hopefully I will have passed, so I will be able to help more when it comes back Paddywack

Hi Paddywack/Sue

 

Don't know what happened to my replies.  Computer won't let me send so will try again.  Glad to hear I'm not the only one finding it tough.  I would like to hear more when you get your portfolio back.  I've put off looking at these units for the time being as I was getting too stressed.  I hoping to meet with my assessor soon so will have a chat to her about it.  I think it is the tasks that I am finding daunting at the moment.

 

And Sue, I work in a pre-school nursery with children starting at the age of 2.  I feel I have done ok so far and feel like a failure if I don't stick to these units which I feel I should do if I am in a deputy manager role.  I have found out that it may be a possibility to use my neighbour's baby to do the baby units.  I'll decide when I have spoken with my assessor. 

 

Thanks to you both.  I feel a bit happier (for the time being anyway)

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I will get back to you both when I have my portfolio back and bilkis dont feel alone or get down I did before I foond this site and everyone is so helpful and they explain things in a way that is more understandable than some of the nvq I found the wording of some modules quite alien at times ,I just hope it is all worth it which Iam sure it will be if you need anymore help just ask I will try my best .paddywack xx

Hi Bilkis, paddywack here I have just completed my nvq3 and Iam just waiting to hear if I have passed. I did the 2 optional units you have mentioned and also found them quite tough I hvent got my portfolio with me at the mo but can have a look when I get it back. I collected lots of witness testimonies for mc1/c4 and my assesor set some questions and assignments ,for mc1/c1 I wrote quite a few reflectives on how I work within my team and setting, how I have mamaged my nvq around homelife,what my objectives were and how I went about them, I cant remember quite what else I did but will check for you, hope some of this might help.

Well done, Paddywack 

You must be SO pleased. 

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pleased and relieved oh and less stressed!!

Hi evaryone,paddywack here at last I have completed my nvq my assesor signed off my last module yesterday , what a relief, I just have to wait now and hope everything is ok with the verifior which my assesor assures me it will be,fingers crossed.I can safely say its been hard work and my family are glad I have now finished!!!!! I want to thank anyone who helped and guided me through it much appreciated xxxxxxxxx

Hi, are you looking at recognising number symbols? We have used playdough to make and bake diffeent number symbols but I guess that would be a bit boring week after week. Candles on the cake,childrem make + decorate playdough cakes, take a number symbol/throw dice to select correct number of candles.Have also got large sewing card number symbols, (made of ply wood they are very old) but personally I don't use them very often as sewing cards, use them to order and play 'What's missing/in the wrong place'

Threading, choose 1 of everything - cotton reel, bead, button, pasta etc. (Although I would tend to use this with my children as a CI task once they were settled into nursery)

Books '9 Ducks 9' is good and also 'One Bear at Bedtime has been popular.

The V Hungry Caterpillar,

Using the nursery environment is my favourite way of introducing and re inforcing number recognition, for example,

Display- we have a display with numbers in English, Russian, Gujerati etc.made from different textures, sandpaper, foil good old collage. + pictures 'how many balloons/buckets?',+ introduce more/less language. Use children's own portraits with captions'I've got 1 nose, two eyes' etc. Number line such as '1 elephant went out to play' pictures, symbols number as word plus questions 'how many elephants?' 'and 1 more makes?'

Pictures of children at activities, '1 boy on a bike, 2 girls on the climbing frame, 3 children in the sandpit' etc (though I thought this year I'd photograph the same activity and just keep adding another child)

We display numbers accompanied by stick people, all round the nursery area, '4 children can use the sand' and encourage children to count and see if there's a space for them at activity.

Involve children in counting cups etc for snacks set the table at tidy up time, count pencild etc into container, arrange containers in correct order, numbers correspond to number line/stick people.

Hope this makes sense and is helpful, don't expect there's anything new for you.Barb

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Thanks everyone for the ideas they sound great. It is not a totally new nursery class just a few new ones and no I didnt have much choice in the theme maybe next time I will. thanks again paddywack

hi everyone paddywack here,can anyone help.Iam taking over anew classroom in sept .our theme for the first half of term is numbers 1-10 I work with 3-4year olds,I basically have to do one number a week on each day !!! I have a few ideas does anyone have any good activities to do or ideas for a display board.thanks paddywack

Similar to Carol, (Beau), I haven't actually done this, but am very pleased to help anyone on their (and mine) learning journey - I have the standards for it and MC1/C1 and will give it all some thought    + what should be a 'thumbs-up' smiley

 

Sue 

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thankyou all thought greatfully recieved everyone is so helpful,its nice to know we are not alone. paddywack

Hi everyone paddywack back once more.Have been doing quite well since I last spoke,Iam not going to finish by 15th july!!!! I have done most of the work but I had to change my assesor so my new assesor has had to plough her way through lots of work Iam seeing her next week and fingers crossed I might get it all done then. Anyway has anyone done mc1/c4 I thought I could cross ref with mc1/c1 but I am a bit confused with it, any suggestions???? paddywack

Hi Paddywack,

 

Hope that you have better luck with the new assessor and get more support. 

 

I can't remember if you have told us where you work but am I right in assuming that you haven't carried out any observations before?  If you have no experience of this and can't go on any training then I would suggest you buy a good book on observing children.  I have Observing Children, A Practical Guide by Carole Sharman, Wendy Cross and Diana Vennis but others may know of better ones.    This will give you a much better insight into why it is important to observe children and take you through the different types of observations step by step.  This is something you will also be able to refer back to in the future.  It is such an important aspect of working with children that you would do well to gain a good understanding of it as that will stand you in good stead in the future.  If you're still having problems come back and let us know what it is you are specifically struggling with. 

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Hi Beau,I have done a few obs at my last nursery but not many,I have just ordered a book from nursery world so I hope this will steer me in the right direction .Thanks paddywack

Hi Paddywack back I am slowly getting there I think , having changed my assesor which I feel really bad about but she kept cancelling on me and I was getting really stressed out anyway I am reallt struggling on keq for c16 havnt done a course on observations told the funding has run out for it!! Has anyone done these questions and can give me some help. ever grateful paddywack.

thanks I think I can incoperate all this into some assignments I hope!!!! paddywack

Hi everyone paddywack here, life is just as stressed close to tears some nights now .Not seeing how I can finish by 15 July!!!! I need some help on some assignments for unit c5 -- Develop mutual understanding and respect of different social and cultral backgrounds would this be done by role play themed topics or something else? how are concepts concerning the rights of other people introduced ? welcoming new children helping them adjust when 1-they have been to many settings . 2-first time in setting. 3-backgrounds and cultures. also how to give assistance to children without undermining their self-esteem.. I know this sounds alot but I would be eternally gratful for some help. I think Iam close to going mad, my assesor comes out twice a week for me and Iam knackered and really fed up of nvq work but Iam determined to do it I need some freindly words from kind souls!!!!!