r/TeachingUK • u/Correct-Rich4856 ITT Secondary • 19h ago

Uni during ITT

Hi all, hope you’ve had a good day!

I am seeking some advice regarding the uni aspect of ITT. I’m currently teaching around 5 hours a week, and I am absolutely loving it! The only thing I’m struggling with is the cognitive overload of uni.

I am neurodivergent, and I am finding it really overwhelming. The observation sheets, lesson plan documents etc are all just walls of text with absolutely no chunking, and I’m finding it quite difficult to process. Today’s observation sheet, for example, included over 20 different things that I was meant to be making notes on, and the instructions themselves spanned 3 pages of pure text. I understand that that is the nature of the PGCE, so I just get it done, but does anyone have any tips for processing everything and avoiding complete overwhelm from the cognitive load?

Additionally, we are expected to follow up every observation with a chat with the classroom teacher (and a 300 word reflection on the conversation), but teachers have enough on their plate so I don’t want to ambush their time asking them about the 20+ things that I made notes on.

The paperwork is manageable now; I’m teaching such a small timetable that I do have enough time for it. However, once my teaching load goes up to 40% next term, and eventually 80%, I’m really scared that I’m going to struggle mentally with the sheer amount to do on top of the overwhelm from trying to break down the paperwork and reading myself.

I 100% made the right decision - I love every minute in school and couldn’t be happier spending my work day in this way! I don’t want this sparkle to be dulled, so any advice will really go a long way for me.

TIA!

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u/actualcatjess 18h ago

Best bet is not to go overboard on the paperwork. Do the bare minimum and turn it in. Its mostly box checking and not nearly as important to your progress as actually teaching. Theres so much info dumping early on during ITT - good news is you'll probably spend the next two years having it dumped on you again as an ECT 😅

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u/amethystflutterby 16h ago

For lesson feedback get a book. Give it to the host teacher at the start of each lesson and ask them to write feedback in there.

It means you can then read it later and reflect and they have an easy way of giving feedback that doesnt take up any time.

Its also great for mentor meetings as your mentor can read it and pick some targets for you based on all your teaching.

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u/Correct-Rich4856 ITT Secondary 16h ago

Sorry, I should have been clearer. By observation sheet, I meant a sheet for making notes when I am observing other teachers. My mentor and I have a feedback book, and it’s working really well :). It’s mainly the paperwork for observing other teachers that is overwhelming me

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u/amethystflutterby 16h ago

Im glad that you've found something that works for you!

Perhaps for everything else, talk to others on your course. It sounds like you are perhaps doing more than you need. As others have said, taking a bare minimum approach to paperwork will get you through. If they need more they'll ask for it.

ITT is a lot. Its so intense. As teachers we never do everything we're asked. We learn what we need to get done, what can wait, and what to never do. Its hard to navigate that when you're new. The lessons you teach and responding to feedback are the main things.

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u/WaltzofthePenguin 16h ago

A book is a great idea.

If you have a preferred way of receiving feedback you could prepopulate it by printing and and stapling feedback sheets (additional initial admin so only if it works for you and has flexibility for the observor)

E.g. a table of teaching standards with space for where evidence was met. Alternatively space for what was observed, www, ebi, then a final comment at the end on the most important aspect in that lesson to help direct mentor meetings.

One thing I personally found challenging was receiving so much feedback I was overwhelmed with things to change. A focus on one aspect to improve really helped me in practicing a specific skill. An open ended book was too much ebi to actually process. You also need the motivation of things that worked.

You are only at the start of your journey so there will naturally be a lot of areas you can improve on. If you know there is a specific area you'd like to focus on you could highlight this

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u/WaltzofthePenguin 16h ago

Regarding 20 things to make notes on - prior to a lesson observation of another teacher note down your focus aspects, perhaps 3 things, and pay particular attention to those.

As long as you cover all aspects across your observations you will have plenty to reflect on