Chances of getting Math Teaching Practice for H-Dip

jingletree

Hi,

Im due to start a H-Dip in Trinity come Sept and am looking for work placement in a Dublin school.

My degree is in Maths + Computing so will it be hard to find teaching practice? Do I apply directly to schools by ringing or writing or is there another method of sorting it out? Is there a list of schools that take on H-Dip students?

Im not from Dublin so i dont really know the area...

MathsManiac

Don't know if this is any use to you, but there's a list of all postprimary schools by county on the DES website. Direct link here:
http://www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/ppschools_epl.xls

Addresses in Dublin City Centre (and therefore probably within walking distances of TCD) will be in Dublin 1 or Dublin 2.

Going further out, odd numbered postcodes are on the north side and even numbered on the south side, and, generally speaking, the higher the number, the farther away from the city centre.

It might be worth ringing the teacher ed department in TCD and ask them for advice on the matter. And anyway, you'll need to know what the timetabling arrangements for lectures are, so you can tell the school what you're constraints are when you're talking to them.

jingletree

hey thanks that link was great im gonna start ringing around next week see if i can get comething central.

One other question, I know this counds crazy but do you need two subjects when applying? With the course I have done im sure il be fine for maths and applied maths but there probably isnt a big demand for applied maths. Is computers a subject thought in school? Could I put that down?

spurious

'Computers' is taught to examination in the IT Specialism in the Applied Leaving Certificate.
Not all schools offer the Applied Leaving Certificate and of those that do, not all do the IT Specialism, though all do the Introductory IT course.

MathsManiac

My guess is that the school will probably be able to facilitate you either with maths classes only, or maths classes and computer classes (e.g., if they don't do LCA, they might give you a TY computer class). However, in my day in TCD, you had to do two subjects for teaching methods, and computers wasn't available as one of them (maybe this has changed). So, you may need to check with the teacher ed department as to whether they're ok with you doing a methods course without doing any teaching practice in that subject.

peewee18988

Heya buddy, I'm startin the PGDE in trinity in Sept too. Luckily enough, I graduated with my BSc in 2007 and have been working in a school for the year.

My advice is to print off a pile of CVs and send them to every school within 10 miles of Trin. There will definately be a school wanting a maths dip and you will get some computers, CSPE, religion, etc so make up your hours.

jingletree

hey peewee thanks yup il send off a pile of them today so hopefully something will come up. did u just do maths for ur degree too? the prospect of teaching religion after doin a maths degree seems a little crazy!!

peewee18988

My degree was chemistry and maths so I do a bit of science and maths. Also have ESL classes to make up my hours. Ya will be mad busy doin up lesson plans, etc for the dip so a few religion classes to make up yours hours would be great. Just sit the lads down and lash on a DVD. Ya also get extra money for these classes. Anyway, best of luck and I'll see ya for the induction day in June

jingletree

Thanx for the help see u in june!

spurious

peewee18988 wrote: »

Just sit the lads down and lash on a DVD.

If you did that in my school it would be the last substitute class you'd get.

rainbowtrout

peewee18988 wrote: »

Just sit the lads down and lash on a DVD. Ya also get extra money for these classes.

That's possibly the worst advice you could give a Dip student. You are paid to teach, not to show DVDs. I don't think any principal is going to look favourably on a Dip student showing films in class.

And not all schools pay dip students for substitution classes. A lot take advantage of the free labour.

peewee18988

Ok, I think I was misunderstood. My reference to showing films during class was in a situation where teachers are absent and one is required to simply keep the class quiet for an hour. I would never recommend this behaviour if one is expected to actually teach the class. Apologies

spurious

I can only speak for the VEC system, but in my school if a teacher is out and a substitute is given a class, they are supposed to teach them something or do some revision or study with them, not just keep them quiet.

An educational documentary DVD would be OK.

rainbowtrout

spurious wrote: »

I can only speak for the VEC system, but in my school if a teacher is out and a substitute is given a class, they are supposed to teach them something or do some revision or study with them, not just keep them quiet.

An educational documentary DVD would be OK.

+1

I work for the VEC too, and subs are expected to teach. And if they are there to supervise, at the very least they would be expected to supervise students doing their homework or some other form of study. My deputy principal was none too happy to find a sub reading the paper at the top of the classroom a while back when she was supposed to be supervising a class. That was the last substitution class she got.

clartharlear

Do you simply send CV and cover letter on spec to what ever schools are in your area?
I was offered the hdip (also maths) in Cork this year, but until August, I'm in a country far, far away.
I was surprised to see how early we are expected to have a school placement sorted.