HDip in Education 2006/7

browneyedgirl

Hi.

Im beginning the HDip in Education at the end of AUgust. I have always wanted to teach but have absolutely no classroom experience. nerves are starting to kick in now. is there anyone else in the same position as me?

My subjects are History and CSPE which in itself I am worried about in regards to gettin a job after?

When you're doing the HDIp, do you only get Junior cycle classes?

Finally I have yet to get a straight answer to the following question from anyone - I did English in 1st year of my degree - Can I teach this? I will not be doing this as part of my Dip so how will I be qualified to teach this???

spurious

There is no reason why you would only get Junior Cert classes. Dippers often get whatever the timetable needs.

In terms of difficulty teaching, usually the older the better, so don't necessarily be praying for juniors.

The first thing to do in your school is find out their discipline procedures and get to know a few names. The kids will soon pick up that you don't know anyone in the school, so don't leave yourself open to that.

Unless they are told, they won't necessarily know you're a student either. Your mentor teacher should go into the first of your classes with you.

Have you been timetabled hours for English? You can technically teach any non-practical or language subject if you have good methodology, but in terms of getting a job I'm not sure you could say you were an English teacher.

There is great scope in CSPE for using non-traditional methods. Throw out the text books and let a little active learning take place.

zippybaby

First of all best of luck!

I did my H.Dip in Galway last year and I had 3rd years and 6th years.

You can teach the subject you did in first year in college to Junior Cert. level.

Hope that helps!

browneyedgirl

thanks for the help lads. zippy baby,for the subject you did in 1st year, do you just tell the principal of the school about doing it and they will accomodate with you in hours for that subject if they're available?? I will not be doing any methodology subject in English so how will I even know how best to teach it?

browneyedgirl

one more question...the school have offered supervision and substitution hours, i think this would be a good opportunity for more experience but do you get paid for this???

sully-gormo

As far as I know you have to get paid for supervision, where supervision is patrolling the playground at lunch time etc..
But if youre full time and theres a teacher out you wouldnt get paid if u had to supervise that class when u'd have a free period

zippybaby

I wouldn't worry about your third subject until you are going for a job. I only actually taught one of my subjects for my teaching practice. Best of luck! Don't worry!

RealJohn

browneyedgirl wrote:

...the school have offered supervision and substitution hours, i think this would be a good opportunity for more experience but do you get paid for this???

It is a good opportunity for more experience and you should get paid for most if not all of it, yes.

browneyedgirl

only a few days to go now before i launch myself in the hdip and while its a bit late to worry about it now, i was wondering am i alone in having no previous teaching experience??? I know I want to teach and am aware that the reality will be different to how i've imagined it. but recently ive become aware that many others doing the hdip have teaching experience, is this true or is their others like me who are going in pretty innocent?

spurious

No experience at all?
Have you stood in front of a group before? Have you worked with children in any capacity?

I didn't do the Dip. as I did a teaching degree with concurrent teaching practice (four years of teaching practice - starting in the December following Leaving Cert.), but I'm sure you'll be fine.

A lot depends on the school you're going to and their attitude to 'Dippers' - have they arranged some sort of orientation for you and other new teachers or will you just be let fly?

CSPE should be interesting. I taught it a million years ago during the pilot project. I teach ESS now and most of the newer Junior Cert. subjects allow for interesting and exciting methodologies, often without the use of text books, which is great.

Kazbah

Another 2006/2007 Dip here who had NO experience at all in a class room since I left it myself!

Has anyone found any good resources to use for active learning ideas, worksheets, games etc for maths?

Dictionary

Hi , its good to hear yo ugot into the H.dip without any class experience at all. Can i ask where you did it. Does anyone know if it is common for people to get into the H.Dip for post primary without any class teaching experience. I am going to go for the H.Dip in January to teach science( & is there really no teaching posts for science teachers!!!!!) anyway I thought i would get an automatic knockback for not having any classroom experience , do I have a chance!!! Anybody know how often people get in without the classroom experience?

browneyedgirl wrote:

Hi.

Im beginning the HDip in Education at the end of AUgust. I have always wanted to teach but have absolutely no classroom experience. nerves are starting to kick in now. is there anyone else in the same position as me?

My subjects are History and CSPE which in itself I am worried about in regards to gettin a job after?

When you're doing the HDIp, do you only get Junior cycle classes?

Finally I have yet to get a straight answer to the following question from anyone - I did English in 1st year of my degree - Can I teach this? I will not be doing this as part of my Dip so how will I be qualified to teach this???

Rosita

I am at a bit of a loss reading people who speak of concern of having no experience in the class-room prior to staring the H Dip.

Surely for the vast majority of H Dip students who go straight from their under-graduate degree into the H Dip this is normal? I would have assumed that the very high majority of the average H Dip class would have no teaching experience whatsoever.

funktastic

You can gain extra points on the CAO entry levels for having classroom experience. You get extra for having a Masters.

Trinity ask for prior classroom experience.

I did my PGDE in UCD last year. I had previous classroom experience but plenty of people on the course didn't. UCD will accept TEFL teaching as long as it can be accounted for -ie a signed letter from the TEFL school director detailing the number of hours you worked. Again, you get more points for the amount of teaching hours you have completed.

Regarding getting in without teaching experience, it's just about getting into the PGDE (formerly HDip) by having a high enough grade in your Degree. At the moment this is a high 2.1 - I think it's about 66/67 - although I'm not 100%.

Kazbah

I did the Dip last year in UCC and I had no classroom experience.

cokemon

Hey, I'm just wondering if anyone can give me a little advice on the HDip in secondary teaching?
I am wondering does work experience in a primary school count as teaching experience when applying for the HDip? As in, can I use it as points towards my HDip in secondary teaching?
I am also wondering if doing your PostGrad in UK is recognised here? You only specialise in one subject & I believe you need two to work in Ireland. Is that true?
Finally, if you have a ACELS recognised TEFL cert does this count as any points in your application? Also, does teaching in a ACELS TEFL school in a class count as teaching experience as far as the HDip application?
Apologies about all the questions but I'm actually finding it difficult to clarify.
Thanks in advance.

niamhchick

hey zippybaby what school were you in when you were doing the dip in galway? doing it this year and dont really fancy teaching leaving certs

baglady

I'm starting the dip in September and I have no teaching experience whatsoever, so yes you can get into the dip without it