In over my head?!

cailindana

Hi, i just stared teaching in a VEC. I have a degree but no dip done. I thought i would be ok but the more Im there the worse I feel. I am just covering for another teacher who is out for unavoidable reasons and I cant wait for her to get back! Im stressed trying to deal with preparing classes for students who acually dont want to be taught until their 'real teacher' gets back.
Is anybody else teaching this year with no dip? Any advice? Does teaching get easier?

loveroflight

yes it absolutely gets better. It will always be challenging but sure thats what makes it interesting. But you are in the very worst 'deep end' at the moment. Students who have no particular respect for a teacher suddenly acquire a 'loyalty' to their teacher when any sub comes in. Don't take it personally.
Try keep records of the preparations you are making. They can be very valuable in the following years. Make things as easy as you can for the students. You'd be surprised how difficult they find some subjects. Give yourself time to relax so you can keep yourself in better form. A bad humoured teacher unfortunately attracts rows in the classroom.
Most of all, if you intend to take teaching seriously get that Hdip. You need it to get a job. Schools are quite happy to employ you endlessly on a temporary basis . You need to get some security eventually, and you'll only do that with the right qualifications.

Good Luck|| I've been there.

trebormurf

You shouldn't be teaching. End of.

loveroflight

don't take any notice of Trebormurf!!!!

peanuthead

trebormurf wrote: »

You shouldn't be teaching. End of.

While I appreciate what you are saying, you have to understand that it is next to impossible to get a place on a PGDE course without some teaching experience. That is of course unless you have a first class honours degree and a postgrad.

Also, there is a huge section on the application form for you to fill out teaching experience and it is actually encouraged that you have some experience prior to starting the course.

There are a number of reasons for this. First of all, the course is expensive. Its close to 6500euro this year. And extremely intense. Not the kind of course to be taken on a whim.

Another reason for this is the competition for places. It is unfair on those who actually want to do the PGDE if you take up a place and decide 2 months in that you don't want to do it.

Plus, the whole PGDE (New name for DIP ) experience is far more meaningful if you have some experience behind you.


OP - It does get easier but you do have to give it time. If you want to PM me and explain to me your exact problems (discipline etc..) I'm not an expert but I may be able to help.

spartan1

peanuthead wrote: »

While I appreciate what you are saying, you have to understand that it is next to impossible to get a place on a PGDE course without some teaching experience. That is of course unless you have a first class honours degree and a postgrad.

Also, there is a huge section on the application form for you to fill out teaching experience and it is actually encouraged that you have some experience prior to starting the course.

1. Why has she got a job and I dont, I have a dip and am fully qualified to teach but cannot get a teaching position, after leaving a 40k plus benefits job to train to be one

2. Reason for experience is to show people that it isnt a half day, half year job, which you find out pretty quick, so to get experience you can make an educated decision

3. Id like to ask the parents if they're happy with unqualified teachers


There are a number of reasons for this. First of all, the course is expensive. Its close to 6500euro this year. And extremely intense. Not the kind of course to be taken on a whim.

agreed, submitted circa 60-70000 words for assessment during my dip
Another reason for this is the competition for places. It is unfair on those who actually want to do the PGDE if you take up a place and decide 2 months in that you don't want to do it.
Plus, the whole PGDE (New name for DIP ) experience is far more meaningful if you have some experience behind you.

Im just flippin jealous op has a job, I dont, I am qualified to go in , and teach those kids well and with confidence, but I cant because of the over influx of teachers, banks inexperience, Unqualified substitutes, retired teachers.bla bla bla

The reason the dip is so competitive is that so many people want to do it ( a lot cos their bank, auctioneer, developer has let them go) , It has to be competive !, although I dont agree a 1st class honour in anything make you more able to teach.

argh, I just wanna teach !, Im going to end up going back to the corporate world, and those VEC kids will continue to get substandard education

op I just want to say Im not saying you dont have what it takes to be a teacher , go for it, but get trained. I jus reckin I could be doing a better job than you at the moment , but instead I spend my days printing CV's. The issues that are making it hard for you to teach, hence not actually educate in the 40 mins you have , all disappear once you know what your doing.

The Dip year will open your eyes , I thought I even half knew what I was at before hand. Dont ask me how your going to get it though.

spurious

The fact that the kids are in a VEC is neither here nor there. Kids are kids.
You're preparing inappropriate classes if you are not engaging them.

Get rid of the book, use other ways of teaching them.

Ask colleagues for guidance.

peewee18988

Gotta agree with TREBORMURF, there are teachers from the PGDE class of 2009 that have excellent CVs and have no jobs.

glad to see that teaching experience will not count towards PGDE application after this year! Then only people who put the work in during their degrees can become teachers.

This is a good step in making teaching a reputable proferssion.

cailindana's students are suffering because of the shortcomings

dory

spartan1 wrote: »

1. Why has she got a job and I dont, I have a dip and am fully qualified to teach but cannot get a teaching position, after leaving a 40k plus benefits job to train to be one

That's a good question. Have you really asked yourself that? Maybe she has more in demand subjects. Maybe you need to make yourself more employable, voluntary work, extra training, anything!
I know it's no ones fault for being unemployed these days but there are some subjects like English and computers that have just never been in demand.

Toto Wolfcastle

Whether or not the OP has a PGDE or not is irrelevant. She is working as a teacher and is having some trouble. She came her for advice. If you wish to discuss teaching without a PGDE then start a new thread.

Back on topic please.

implausible

Guys, taking the head off someone who came on looking for advice is not going to get you a job! And for the umpteenth time, a person does not have to have a H.Dip in order to teach in a VEC at present.

OP, every teacher feels in over his/her head at some stage. It can be overwhelming facing a class for the first time. Ignore the comments about their other teacher, kids will always pull that one, say 'well I'm not Miss X so...."

Make sure you are aware of the discipline structure in the school e.g who is their form teacher/year head. How do you make a complaint about a student? If they know that you know, it should settle them a bit. You're not going to engage all the students all the time, but if you're doing something new and interesting with them, it might work. If we knew what subject it is, you would get more help.

hazeler

spartan1 wrote: »

argh, I just wanna teach !, Im going to end up going back to the corporate world, and those VEC kids will continue to get substandard education.

I would just like to refer you to this spartan..

deemark wrote: »

And for the umpteenth time, a person does not have to have a H.Dip in order to teach in a VEC at present.

I have no dip and work in the VEC and give my students my 100% and a very HIGH standard of education. I am registered with the Teaching Council Of Ireland to teach in VEC secondary schools and further education. My experience and qualifications have led me to my current position. Just because I (or the many others like me) dont have the dip does not mean that our "VEC kids" get a "substandard education". We work just as hard as every other teacher in the school.

Bitterness does not excuse your ignorant comments.

Toto Wolfcastle

hazeler wrote: »

spartan1 wrote: »

argh, I just wanna teach !, Im going to end up going back to the corporate world, and those VEC kids will continue to get substandard education.

I would just like to refer you to this spartan..

deemark wrote: »

And for the umpteenth time, a person does not have to have a H.Dip in order to teach in a VEC at present.

I have no dip and work in the VEC and give my students my 100% and a very HIGH standard of education. I am registered with the Teaching Council Of Ireland to teach in VEC secondary schools and further education. My experience and qualifications have led me to my current position. Just because I (or the many others like me) dont have the dip does not mean that our "VEC kids" get a "substandard education". We work just as hard as every other teacher in the school.

Bitterness does not excuse your ignorant comments.

When I said back on topic I meant back on topic.

Unless you have advice for the OP please do not post in this thread again.

LilMsss

Cailindana, I was in the same position as you last year. I have a degree and an MA and had done some part-time lecturing.

Believe me, it does get easier. It's really difficult to get to grips with the VEC system, and then the subjects you're teaching, assessment procedures, staff room politics, before you even begin to think about discipline, classroom management or even learning outcomes.

I felt like I was barely scraping by last year if I'm being honest. I put myself under so much pressure to get it right, but I learned so much in the process. This is the biggest learning experience you'll have and it's either sink or swim. My principal and management were delighted with my progress last year, and even though I thought I was barely managing, my principle assured me I was exactly where I needed to be workwise.

I'm teaching in Further Ed. and am registered with the Teaching Council. Even though you're subbing, definitely look into being registered, although it's a timely process. If it's Further Ed. you're in, you can PM me for any tips on breaking down the FETAC module descriptors, cos they can take a bit of getting used to. This year I have double the hours and am run ragged, but feel I am so much more capable of doing my job to a high standard because I was thrown in at the deep end last year.

Sorry for the long post - you're not alone, and you're probably doing far better than you think (",)

eager tortoise

LilMsss wrote: »

This is the biggest learning experience you'll have and it's either sink or swim.

Amen to that!!!

I found myself in a similar position the school year before last. It was before I did my PGDE and meant to be a 4 wk stint that turned into several months. Looking back it was one of the best experiences of my life. At the time I felt miserable - felt the kids did not respect me, felt nothing was getting done etc - I know exactly how you're feeling, your self esteem takes an awful hit because you're doing your best yet meeting so much resistance! To make you feel less alone I will share with you the fact that I once broke down and cried in a class!!!:( Mortifying to look back on it but I remember just feeling so under pressure and ineffective.

Anyway, on top of all this I also had some really great successes - they do come, with time.

Perseverance is the name of the game. Definitely seek advice from other teachers, esp with regard to discipline. Have lots of work ready for the classes, and make sure it's pitched at the right level. Make sure to settle the class as best you can the minute they come in - take roll/check homework - keep the routine consistent. Another tip I picked up from a supervisor on my dip is that if a class is particularly giddy set them a short, simple 5-10 min written task right at the beginning in order to quieten them somewhat.

Just remember you're in a situation whereby you are going to learn what to by trial and error.Few teachers except those perhaps with several years experience will be able to say hand on heart that everything they do in the classroom goes according to plan! Not having the dip does not mean you cannot have functional classes. Continue to give it your all and try and come up with ways to get the kids interested. Seriously, having them engaged with what they're doing is half the battle.

Keep trying and don't be too hard on yourself!

Powerhouse

hazeler wrote: »

I have no dip and work in the VEC and give my students my 100% and a very HIGH standard of education.

How was this "very HIGH" standard objectively measured?

Holders of the Dip, for all the whinging that goes on about it, are assessed a number of times in a classroom environment and are graded on their performance.

Who assesses those without a Dip in a classroom environement? Who assessed you and allowed you to make such a remarkably haughty claim?

Powerhouse

janeybabe wrote: »

Whether or not the OP has a PGDE or not is irrelevant. She is working as a teacher and is having some trouble. She came her for advice. If you wish to discuss teaching without a PGDE then start a new thread.

Back on topic please.

It was the OP who raised the issue of not having a PGDE. You should have objected to this obviously personally sore point at that stage.

spurious

Since no-one (Dip. or not) seems to be able to follow the mod's instructions on this thread, I'm locking it until further notice.