The NUT

Got a late start today so was grateful for the lie in. First thing today was a small introduction to the course and the expectations of us as student teachers. This was followed by a longer talk from the head of the NUT regarding laws applicable to teachers while children are in our care. This was mainly focussing on physical contact for reassurance or restraint. Interesting, but a lot of it I'd seen before thanks to my previous job experience. I am also now a member of the NUT, couldn't say no to free membership for a year. :)

The afternoon session was based on identifying methods of teaching physics and ways of dealing with the obvious gender bias in the subject. part of the exercise involved grouping off and brainstorming ways of addressing the demands of physics teaching, such as through relevance, breaking down, balanced practical work, etc. However, this was after Alex had played a rather cruel trick on us. When we walked in, she asked us if we all had our shapes with us. Of course we had no idea what she was talking about. She then asked us what we were meant to be doing every day before attending talks. Then it hit us. The notice board. She'd pinned a pouch on the board containing some cutout shapes with a note asking us to bring them to the session. Cruel, but I'll definitely be checking it from now on! ;)