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After completing a music degree at Canterbury Christ Church University, Eleanor decided to do a PGCE Secondary (Music) at the University to pursue a career in teaching.\u00a0Eleanor shares her experience as a teacher training student with dyslexia.<\/p>\n
I heard about getting into teaching when I was doing my undergraduate degree. Emily Sayers and Vanessa Young came into our lectures to talk about teaching music, so I started to think about it.<\/p>\n
I always wanted to teach but was told at school that I wouldn\u2019t be able to do anything with my life. I\u2019m dyslexic and was told I was stupid and lazy.\u00a0I decided that I wanted to become a teacher to encourage children who struggle with academia and to say to them you can do it, you\u2019re not stupid, you just need a little bit of help<\/em>.<\/p>\n I really like the physical side of curriculum studies sessions.\u00a0With music everyone is doing something, there isn\u2019t a single lesson that doesn\u2019t involve singing, dancing or playing. We take it in turns to run a half hour mini-lesson. One lesson we took our shoes and socks off and learnt to walk, we were moving in time together and getting a sense of each other and doing clapping rhythms. We\u2019re able to take these activities into school and use them with the kids.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not just the support you get from the staff but you also get a lot of support from your peers. Someone might have heard something in a school that gets passed on that you can use in your own teaching and your own life. I always come out of a lecture feeling happier and more physically well.<\/p>\n Eventually I want to be a special educational needs adviser or co-coordinator, so my course will help me understand about children and how they learn.\u00a0I want to be teaching for the rest of my life and to help children who may not get help anywhere else.<\/p>\n I think it\u2019s important that every child is supported, it\u2019s just as important to encourage high ability children as it is low ability children.\u00a0 High ability children also need to see that support is available and doing the PGCE will give me ways to support them. I\u2019ve already learnt so many behavioural techniques, behaviour management is such a complex thing.<\/p>\n Don’t let anyone stop you! I think dyslexic music teachers make good teachers because they can see it from the view of children who find it difficult to learn. They find it easier to adapt lessons to suit these children.<\/p>\n I would tell any student who is considering teacher training to do their research, do the right subject and be organised.\u00a0 Organisation is the biggest thing when you train to be a teacher.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been able to continue to play in ensembles because I have been organised with my time.\u00a0I\u2019m very aware that I need to be organised especially because I\u2019m dyslexic, it can be hard but you can do it.<\/p>\n There are a lot of kids that don\u2019t have anything they are proud of.\u00a0 When you\u2019re teaching these kids, you\u2019ve got to realise they haven\u2019t had the chances you had but you can bring your experience into the classroom.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to show that if you\u2019re not academically able or sporty, there is another option for you.\u00a0Being a teacher, you can find another way and help them find out what they are good at. It\u2019s rewarding as you get to see that kid who is told they\u2019re not academic succeed in what they\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n Discover our wide range of postgraduate teacher training courses at our next Open Day on Saturday 13 October from 10am to 2pm at Augustine House, Canterbury.<\/p>\n Whether you are a graduate or thinking about changing your career we can help you find the best route to become a teacher.<\/p>\nMy PGCE study so far<\/h2>\n
Support at Christ Church<\/h2>\n
My future career<\/h2>\n
My advice for anyone with dyslexia wanting to become a teacher<\/h2>\n
My top tips for future PGCE students<\/h2>\n
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Postgraduate Routes into Teaching Open Day<\/h2>\n