Comments for Acting to Improve

Comment on Training TAs NCFE 2 - My new job. by Elaine Dunn

Elaine Dunn — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:33:22 +0000

I did my NCFE 2 in 2001 at Shelfield Comprehensive Shoolin Walsall but I wasn’t able to collect my certifcate so I was woundering if there was any way I could get my certifcate.

Comment on Training TAs NCFE 2 - My new job. by Jennie Harston

Jennie Harston — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:24:02 +0000

Hi there, I have completed a NCFE Classroom Assistants Level 2 and I am just finishing NCFE Developing Skills for Working with Children and Young People Level 2. I have my exam tommorrow , Monday 7th of July. I have really enjoyed it and would recommend them to anyone who is intrested in working with children. I was helping in my daughters class and thought I would like to get a qualification, so I could get paid for it. The school where I have done my placement(my daughters class) as asked me to work a few days as relief and they have paid me, so all that hard work is paying off. I hope to do my TA Level 3 in September , ( fingers crossed)

Comment on Oh we do like to be beside the seaside…. by Eve

Eve — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:15:23 +0000

Made me smile Perhaps he’s locked himself out and waiting for other half to come home - had the chair in the boot of the car perhaps LOL!

Comment on Reflections on the blog. What? So what? Now what? by Teacher Girl

Teacher Girl — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:24:52 +0000

Hi Linda,

It’s good to read you and I particularly empathize with this post. I too have been struggling with the whole blogging question and the way I have decided to resolve it is to remember that I came to the blogging table, first and foremost, to please myself. So that’s what I am trying to do.

Best wishes with your re-focus!

I recommend the following blogs for good writing…
Cooking:
Chocolate and Zucchini: http://chocolateandzucchini.com/
Orangette: http://orangette.blogspot.com/

Travel:
Nerd’s Eye View: http://www.nerdseyeview.com/blog/

Lives Less Ordinary you already know. I realized as I was looking at my Google Reader list that many of the blogs I love are also photoblogs. Funny!

Comment on Testing Three Wordpress Themes by Linda

Linda — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:26:14 +0000

Thanks everyone - I decided to stick with Regulus and figure out ways of dealing with the problems

Comment on Testing Three Wordpress Themes by PSP

PSP — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:03:20 +0000

I say the Regulus theme is the best out of all of them, It has a better vibe.

Comment on Look and listen by amypalko

amypalko — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:13:30 +0000

Oh, I’m so glad, Linda I really do think it’ll make a difference to how you view your immediate environment. Can’t wait to hear how you get on with it!

Comment on Three things I’ve learned about blog commenting by Linda

Linda — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:26:49 +0000

Hi Kim
Funny - I must have been reading and commenting on your blog as you were reading mine
You are spot on about ‘grazing’ not learning!It’s just that sort of skimming I sometimes do where I end up with a jumble of ideas and no clear notion of where I got them. Not good!
It’s hard to cut back on feeds but it seems worth it so far. I am starting to feel slightly more involved in a blogging community again, rather than sitting watching from the edge.

Comment on Three things I’ve learned about blog commenting by Kim Cofino

Kim Cofino — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:54:30 +0000

Wow! I am so impressed by all you’ve learned in such a short amount of time!

I also noticed that I need to cull my RSS feeds in order to more effectively engage in conversations. I have this crazy need to want to read everything, but in doing so, I end up leaving commenting out. After making an effort to do more regular commenting, I’m realizing that the commenting is the most critical part of the learning process - if I read too much and comment too little, I’m not learning, I’m just grazing. I need to read what’s really relevant and comment more to deepen the learning.

Thanks for helping me clarify my thinking!

Comment on Training TAs NCFE 2 - My new job. by Linda

Linda — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:06:12 +0000

Hi Mary,
If you are considering training there are a number of courses you could start with depending on what’s available to you locally and what age groups you are interested in working with.

NCFE stands for National College for Further Education.
NCFE2 Teaching Assistants Certificate is ideal if you are working as a volunteer in a school. You need to be in a placement (a school)for several hours a week, which you usually have to find for yourself. The course is usually one 3 hour session a week for a year plus a fair bit of homework. Some colleges offer it combined with a placement in school for two days a week.

If you are already employed in a school you can consider an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) usually at level 2 or 3.
Alternatively you could do a full time college course, like a BTech. This involves both college work and placements in schools.
As I said, it depends what is available locally to you and what your personal circumstances are. Why not book yourself an appointment at your local college and have a chat? I’m sure there will be someone there who will be happy to help you.
Let me know how you get on