I'm coming towards the end of my PGCE now (5 weeks to go); I really enjoy teaching and have job lined up in which I start before the summer hols. However, I can't help get the feeling I'm doing something wrong, I've had two observations from staff (in this placement) which are never awful; but never fantastic. If I was doing something really wrong would someone say something? Or am I just craving some praise?

Anonymous
25/5/2010

Answers

You will find in teaching that the bar is constantly raised. I suspect that you doing well. The funny thing about teachers is that they forget that finding fault, criticising is actually very easy when you are sittimg at the back looking at someone. Being objective and remembering that it isn't just children that need praise as well as targets to improve. Trainee teachers, NQTs, middle managers and even senior managers need this as well.

I tell my trainees (and will do so when I see them on Friday) that they should look back at some of their early work/lessons and just see how far they have come from first being in the class teaching. Why don't you do this and reflect on your journey - where you started and what you are doing now that you couldn't have done last September.

Answered by: James_Williams