Notes from a PGCE #2: Classroom Management

The second of a series of posts which may be of interest to those who are completing their PGCE this year (or completed it in other years). 

This will be a post to provoke comment I'm sure.

The second session was on Classroom management.

I think the advice generally came from my tutor Vincent Tidswell, who had been a HoD in Peterborough earlier in his career.

1986 was before many of the influential "edutwitter" folk were out and about, although we did have Ted Wragg. In the session, we heard some advice on managing the classrooms which we would soon find ourselves in. Michael Marland's 'The Craft of the Classroom' was mentioned. 

Marland was a teacher and Headteacher and much respected. He often wore a bow tie and developed a school that was very much a community. 

His book first came out in 1975. He died in 2008. 

He said of teaching:

"The craft won't work without a spirit compounded of the salesman, the music-hall performer, the parent, the clown, the intellectual, the lover and the organiser, but the spirit won't win through on its own either. Method matters. The more 'organised' you are, the more sympathetic you can be. The better your classroom management, the more help you can be to your pupils."

Geography PGCE 1986 by GeoBlogs on Scribd

I'd love to see other people sharing some highlights from their own PGCE courses - whether they were last year or even earlier than mine.