Essential Primary PGCE
Pre-course reading and activities.
Welcome to the Primary course at Newcastle University. You will have been directed to this page in order that you carry out subject knowledge development, preparatory readings and other activities. It is necessary to complete the essential pre-course reading before the start of the course - we have tried to keep the amount of pre-course reading to a minimum. Some text books may have been recently revised by the author, so please refer to the latest editions.
Further information on what you need to organize before commencing the course is also included below. You will receive further readings once the course begins. Many of the texts that are required throughout the course are available in the library, some as e-books, but links are included through to 'Blackwell Books' and ‘Amazon’ should you wish to buy the books on-line.
General
Before the course, please read the following chapters in Bartlett. S. and Burton D (2020 5th Edition) Introduction to Education Studies
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
You will need access to the following texts during the course:
Bartlett. S. and Burton D (2020 5th edition) Introduction to Education studies.
Pollard. A. (2018, 5th edition) Teaching in Schools, Continuum, London
English
1. Complete the English section of the Action Plan Document (Drop Box Word Document) with your needs and begin to monitor your progress.
2. Before the course, please read chapters 7, 8 and 10 in Medwell, J., et al (9th revised edition) Primary English: Knowledge and Understanding and carry out relevant tasks.
3. Before the course, please read chapters 1, 2, 3 and 11 in Medwell, J., et al (9th revised edition) Primary English: Teaching Theory and Practice and carry out relevant tasks.
4. On the English course we will be referring to a number of key texts for a variety of purposes therefore you must download and complete this reading task document:
Key reading tasks (Drop Box Word Document)
5. Prepare a 'read aloud' using a children's book you have enjoyed ('Read Aloud' Task) (word document).
6. Phonics documents have been prepared below. These documents will enable you to be aware of the progression of phonics teaching in one phonic system widely in use.
- Notes and Guidance
- Phase 1
- Phase 2
- Phase 3
- Phase 4
- Phase 5
- Phase 6
- Tricky words and Glossary
- Appendix
You will need access to the following texts during the course:
Medwell, J., Wray, D. Moore, G and Griffiths, V. (9th revised edition) Primary English: Knowledge and Understanding
Medwell, J., Wray, D, Minns, H., Griffiths, V. and Coates, L. (9th revised edition) Primary English: Teaching Theory and Practice
Joliffe, W., Waugh, D. and Carss A. (2019). Teaching Systematic Synthetic Phonics. Exeter
Mathematics
1. Complete the Mathematics section of the Action Plan Document (Drop Box word document) with your needs and begin to monitor your progress.
2. Please complete a Key Stage 2 Maths SAT test paper
3. Support your personal mathematical development with Haylock, D. (6th Revised edition) Mathematics Explained for Primary Teachers Sage Publications Ltd
You will need access to the following texts during the course:
- Boaler, J (2015) The Elephant in the Classroom. London: Souvenir Press
- Hansen, A. (ed) 2020 Childrens-Errors-in-Mathematics-by-Alice-Hansen-editor Learning Matters Ltd, Exeter (5th edition)
- Mooney, C. Hansen, A. Ferris, L. et al Primary Mathematics Knowledge and Understanding. Learning Matters Ltd, Exeter (9th edition).
- Mooney, C. Briggs, M. Hansen, A. et al Primary Mathematics: Teaching Theory and Practice. Learning Matters Ltd, Exeter (9th edition).
- Thompson I. (ed) 2003, Enhancing Primary Mathematics Teaching, Buckingham, Open University Press (Online access is available as an e-book through the University’s library).
- Thompson, I (ed) 2008, Teaching and Learning Early Number. Buckingham, Open University Press, 2nd Edition. (Online access is available as an e-book through the University’s library).
- Thompson I. (ed) 2010, Issues in Teaching Numeracy in Primary Schools, Buckingham, Open University Press (Online access is available as an e-book through the University’s library).
Science
1. Complete the Science section of the Action Plan Document (Drop Box word document) with your needs and begin to monitor your progress.
2. Top up and check your basic science knowledge & understanding to KS3 Level: KS3 Science: Complete Study & Practice
You will need access to the following texts during the course:
- Primary Science: Knowledge and Understanding (Achieving QTS Series, 9th Edition)
- Primary Science: Teaching Theory and Practice (Achieving QTS Series, 9th Edition)
Diversity and Equality
The following are recommended texts with no accompanying task.
- Jones H, Smith HJ, Teaching for Social Justice: Creating Equity for Pupils Living in Poverty and those from Black and Minority Ethnic Backgrounds in Cremin T; Burnett C, ed. Learning to Teaching in the Primary School 4th Edition, Routledge, 2018
- Gillborn, D (2008) Racism and Education: Coincidence or Conspiracy? Oxon: Routledge
- Smyth J and Wrigley, T (2018) Living on the Edge- Rethinking Poverty, Class and Schooling. New York: Peter Lang
Computing
- You should note there is NO basic ICT 'skills' training on the PGCE course. You are expected to arrive knowing how to use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email and how to navigate and search the internet effectively. On the course and as a teacher you will be expected to use ICT extensively!
- Review your ICT skills against the Computing programmes of study for key stages 1 and 2 and in the National Curriculum:
National Curriculum - Computing key stages 1 to 2 (computingatschool.org.uk)
and plan actions to address your needs and begin to monitor your progress.
You will need access to the following test
Turvey K, John Potter, et al (2016) Primary Computing and Digital Technologies Knowledge, Understanding and Practice Learning Matters Ltd (7th Edition), Exeter.
Prior Experiences
Students join the PGCE course with a range of work experience. If you have had substantial work experience in an educational setting then read this document: Information
Text Books of Interest - available from library
Holt, J. (1990) How Children Fail; Penguin Books
Wrigley,T. (2006) Another school is possible; London Bookmark Publications
Other Resources
- Lever arch folders
- Dividers for the folders that work with plastic wallets
- Lots of plastic wallets