Throwing Chalk: diary of a trainee teacher

Ooooh. No one ever told me I was gonna have to do all these essays. Did they? yeah, well, they probably did. I just wasn't listening. And anyway, it's fun at the beginning. It's a novelty & you're proving you can do it. That you've still got it - if you ever had it in the first place that is.

I signed up for an M.A. about 3 years ago in my first foray back into the world of proper learning (Spanish Level 2 Conversation at the local college doesn't really count, does it?) - and when I did sent in my application with all the - I'm great, here's what I've done - stuff on my application form - and they said, yeah, but can you write an 'academic' essay. And I thought, yeah. Well pseudo-academic. And as I was just wittering about books it wasn't that difficult. It's an English/Creative Writing MA - I know, I know what you're thinking... those oh so witty graffitios you get in the toilet at Universities above the bog roll holder: "English degree - please take one."

But while the initial 'essay' was easy enough (if time consuming) it did lead to me having to do lots of research projects, and practical creative writing teaching projects bla de bla bla bla. So there was a lot of work - although obviously it isn't nuclear fission studies.

So, redigressing back to education - and the PGCE - which I - like a fool - decided to do part-time the year before last. Coz, of course, if I'd done it full-time I would have got myself a generous grant, but no, part-timer, that's me. Poverty stricken, that's me.

And so last Easter I had the mother & father of competing assignments with my PGCE & my MA and there was a lack of sleep and a wish that I had been better organised...

But again, I knuckled down and did it. I read the books. I surfed the web and read the articles on education. I downloaded the government Pdfs (Oh how I loath reading pdfs....)

But 3 weeks ago, I think I just hit the wall. I wasn't well and I needed to write an essay that had the most detailed title ever. In fact - it wasn't really a title - it was just a list of demands: the learners' journey including these 13 stages and considerations; Quality Assurance and how it impacts on you and your college; Quality Improvement and ...... oh dear.

I read so much. I cared so little. OfSted by the bedsted. And yes, I know it's important but boy was it dull.

So that was that. I did it. It took me a long, long time. It wasn't the most entertaining thing I've ever written and I kept being distracted by everything and anything while I was trying to write it. "I'll just check my email..... Oh, I wonder what the news is....... I think I'll make a cup of tea, make a quick phone call then re-read my notes.... Is it 2am already?" I was worse than a 14 year old.

How I yearned to write some Schemes of Work, some Lesson Plans; please no more Quality Assurance.....

But it's done. And now I feel bereft. The night after I completed it I just didn't know what to do with myself. "What do I normally do with my time?"

I've got one more project/assignment to go for my PGCE (well apart from the hell of my personal portfolio of evidence - but I'm trying not to think about that - that's what Easter's for....).

One more then I can retire from academia....... or do a Phd. Cos as much as I hate it, I think I might be slightly addicted. A Phd in blogging? My assignment is going to be about the uses of Web 2.0 applications in the classroom.

Anyone using Twitter to teach?

Posted by Stipey Sullivan at 13:58 Comments