Jennifer McLean

Panbride Primary School, Carnoustie (2006)

Hi - I'm Jennifer McLean and I did the Student Tutoring last year (2006) in Panbride Primary School in Carnoustie. I was studying for my undergraduate History and American Studies degree and was applying to do postgraduate primary teaching and when I heard about the scheme I knew I needed it for recent teaching experience for the course. I was with a composite Primary 1/2/3 and I absolutely loved it. I had done experience before in primary schools but really enjoyed this more up-to-date look into the primary classroom.

My teacher was lovely and both her and the children made me feel very comfortable in the classroom. I mainly watched her teaching lessons, then went around helping the children, talking to them etc. I was there for one morning a week, and as the weeks went by I felt more confident with being in the classroom and my teacher began giving me responsibility. It was not huge activities I was doing, just taking small groups for maths or language - and I realised just how much I had to learn about teaching techniques - especially when it came to trying to do a revision of the concept of time!!

I would definitely recommend doing the Student Tutoring Programme - it gave me such a fantastic insight into the daily workings of the classroom and in talking to the teacher, what the workload was like! Additionally, there was a postgraduate student on her upper stages placement whilst I was there - so I got to see her teaching file and she gave me loads of information about the course...which was very helpful! Finally, whilst the benefits for you are great, - the children love having another adult in their classroom and you are such