Teacher training (Scotland)

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

GlasweJen wrote: »

Im a guide leader so I know I can handle a room full of high school kids but I'm not sure. OH seems to think this would give me a measure of job security and flexibility if we have children but I've heard horror stories.

That is abolutely not the same thing. Your guides are kids who want to be there, doing things that interest them. Please don't think that this is any preparation for teaching.

GlasweJen

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

That is abolutely not the same thing. Your guides are kids who want to be there, doing things that interest them. Please don't think that this is any preparation for teaching.

You'd think! Some guides are with us because their parents are busy on Monday nights and the absolute last place the girls want to be is at guides.

We've got a family who foster kids and all the girls get sent our way, most love it but some don't and believe me we all know when one is struggling to settle.

We also have "overspill" issues from school, flossie is being bullied by Jane at school and now all the guides are turning against her but actually flossie started the bullying because janes dad is transitioning and her parents are getting divorced.

I have other experiences, led an open science day at college for kids going through their standard grade options, helped at the uni summer school, did lab in a lorry for a few months. I can teach but I'm not sure if this is the path for me. Is it worthwhile seeing if I survive the PGDE and the probation year? I've never felt called to anything from a career point of view and found my current career by sheer accident.

missbiggles1

beecher2 wrote: »

Doesn't apply in Scotland I'm afraid. Not aware of anything like this here, but may be wrong.

That's a shame, you seem to need to arrange it yourself.

http://www.teachinscotland.org/doihavewhatittakes/knowledgeandskills/findoutmore/index.asp

beecher2

GlasweJen wrote: »

You'd think! Some guides are with us because their parents are busy on Monday nights and the absolute last place the girls want to be is at guides.

We've got a family who foster kids and all the girls get sent our way, most love it but some don't and believe me we all know when one is struggling to settle.

We also have "overspill" issues from school, flossie is being bullied by Jane at school and now all the guides are turning against her but actually flossie started the bullying because janes dad is transitioning and her parents are getting divorced.

I have other experiences, led an open science day at college for kids going through their standard grade options, helped at the uni summer school, did lab in a lorry for a few months. I can teach but I'm not sure if this is the path for me. Is it worthwhile seeing if I survive the PGDE and the probation year? I've never felt called to anything from a career point of view and found my current career by sheer accident.

You[ve probably dealt with young people on the autistic spectrum too, which to me is the most challenging aspect of working in schools.

It is hard to know what you'd make of teaching, I wonder if you could contact the school the guides attend and do something (can't think what though) in collaboration with them. Maybe talk at an assembly on what the Girl Guides can offer? Co-ordinate a funding challenge with the school, or with their DofE group? Schools are very keen to have links with community groups as this is what HMI are looking for.

Did you see this?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-38156366

GlasweJen

beecher2 wrote: »

You[ve probably dealt with young people on the autistic spectrum too, which to me is the most challenging aspect of working in schools.

It is hard to know what you'd make of teaching, I wonder if you could contact the school the guides attend and do something (can't think what though) in collaboration with them. Maybe talk at an assembly on what the Girl Guides can offer? Co-ordinate a funding challenge with the school, or with their DofE group? Schools are very keen to have links with community groups as this is what HMI are looking for.

Did you see this?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-38156366

We've done assemblies before as a recruitment tool when our numbers thinned down. We also run the DofE along with the scouts in the area as the local school don't have a DofE co-ordinator at the moment. Looks like I have more experience than I initially thought. I might phone a few schools and see if I can get in shadowing a teacher. I have a PVG for adults and children because my job involves working with vulnerable groups (sight impaired).

We have a few guides with autism, couple of "you'd never know" and one who is quite severe and has a support worker.