I've no more lectures today, 2 1/2 hours until Ben gets home... so can I get any work done?! I've been feeling really ill today, so I'm not sure how much of a fit state I'm in to get any work done, but I've at least switched the laptop on, which is a start!

Today we all had a chat about how our assignments are going... one person's finished (!!!), 2 are on around 2,000 words and the other 3 have done quite a bit of research but haven't started writing yet. We all work in quite different ways... some people just dive in and write, some do all the research then write it all... and I just seem to do it randomly! Some reading, a bit of writing, a bit mroe reading, a bit of writing... Ah well, hoepfully I'll have something in the end. I'm on about 2,800 words now (almost half way!!) but to be honest it's not that great.... it seems very disjointed, so I'm going to have to put in quite a bit of effort to work out how to make it 'flow'.

Back in school tomorrow for a day - yay! It'll be interesting to see how many names I can remember from 2 weeks ago...!

1,800 words done, 4,200 to go! Granted, they're 1,800 not very good words, but it's better than none at all, and at least it's got me started. And I'm actually getting pretty 'into' the topic I'm writing my assignment on! I'm focusing on the benefits of active learning for lower attainers in maths, an area that's pretty close to my heart.

Everything else PGCE-wise is going really well - I can honestly say I'm still really enjoying the course. We've all felt quite refreshed these past 2 days as we've started our foundation programme - history, PSHE and Geography over the past 2 days. A nice change from English, Maths, ICT and Science every Wednesday and Thursday for 6 weeks!! Our history lecture yesterday (given by the secondary PGCE history guy) was the best lecture I've had since starting the course, the type where you come out feeling super-fired up, and raring to get into the classroom and make use of the ideas you've picked up. I'm really looking forward to teaching history - it's a real pity I'm only supposed to do core subjects in my first placement. :(

Another good thing about the course has been meeting new people - I've got a really nice lunch of friends, and I really enjoy spending time with them. Yesterday Luci, Andrea, Mel and I went to the Staff Club to eat lunch at midday, started talking... and didn't stop til we had to run off to our lecture at 2.45pm! It was nice to have a 'chill' with everyone - most lunchtimes we gobble down our packed lunches and head off to the library!

I spent Monday and Tuesday this week in the school where I'll be doing my first block placement after Christmas... and I had a great time! It's a huge school - 5 classes in each year - which takes some getting used to, but I had a really good time. I'm with a year 3 class of 27, and they're really great kids. The ability range is pretty wide, and they're set for English and Maths, so in effect I have 3 classes... but I'm gradually learning names. I haven't taught any 'proper' lessons yet, but I've done 2 guided reading sessions, read a book to the class and supported groups in varous lessons. I've been getting really 'involved' as opposed to observing/taking notes, and have just been writing up the things I need to write up at lunch and in the evenings. I'm proud to say I know the names of the whole of 'my' class, and a good proportion of 'my' maths set as well. They have Literacy in their classes until half term, so when I next go back I'll have about 25 new names to learn as well.

Overall, all things PGCE are going well (except for the damn masters assignment... don't even mention that...) and I absolutely definitely still want to be a teacher. :)

Today I met the teacher I'll be with for my 10 'serial days' and 6 week block placement. She was really nice, and told me loads of useful stuff about the school. My first day in is Monday, and I'm really looking forward to it. I'll be based in one class, but teaching top set Literacy and bottom set Numeracy, as well as having random pupils from other classes in when some children are having music lessons... a little confusing! And Ofsted may well be in whilst I'm there... what fun!

I also found out I'm being observed by my Uni tutor on the FIRST DAY of my block placement... that'll be fun! It all seems very real now... and very exciting.....

About half an hour ago I found out where I'll be for my first school placement (7 weeks in total). I'm pretty pleased with it.... the school is about a mile and a half from our house, and has a stunning website - LOADS of information!

It's also got FIVE classes in each year! I've never come across a school that large... should be an interesting experience. It's a Junior school, with a relatively good mix of male/female teachers (1/3 male)... I'm really looking forward to going there.

Fingers crossed it turns out well!

I just had to write an entry... because I'm currently in an ICT session on 'blogging' and have actually been given a task to "set up a blog account and write about your decision to become a teacher and your experiences as a student".

How appropriate!