This issue's problem: Hannah Mitchell would like to wean pupils off the use of writing frames. Hannah Mitchell has embarked on her PGCE training after a year spent working as a Teaching Assistant. Her varied experiences in that role - sometimes working one-to-one with young people, within a targeted intervention programme,...

This issue's problem: Arthur Wellesley is struggling to model tasks effectively for students. Arthur has made a positive start to his training, but remains rather nervous in the classroom. He recognises the importance of well-planned lessons and his outline plans generally have a clear, logical structure. His mentor thinks that he...

This issue's problem: Matt Boulton is using Bloom's taxonomy in very mechanistic ways to plan lesson objectives and think about progression in history. Matt Boulton worked for 18 months as a Teaching Assistant before deciding to become a qualified teacher. His previous experience and understanding of the needs of students with...

This Issue's problem: Margaret Cooper has struggled hard to realise her ambition to train to be a teacher but, now that she is taking responsibility for whole-class teaching, she is finding that her assumptions are being challenged and she is losing confidence...

This Issue's Problem: Dot Bradford would love to generate much more productive small group talk and worthwhile class discussion but can't work out how to manage it. Dot came to the PGCE straight from a history degree and was originally inspired by approaches quite different from her own school experience....

This Issue's Problem: Nat Turner is feeling confused and aggrieved about what is expected of him in using ICT in his teaching.

This Issue's Problem: Lizzie Lyons, PGCE student, is finding literacy a burden.

This Issue's Problem: John Ball is having difficulty getting his language register right Problem: John is several weeks into his first school placement. He is very much enjoying the PGCE course. It is proving to be the intellectual and practical challenge that he hoped. He has come to the course...

This Issue's Problem: William Cuffay, PGCE student, is struggling to find a questioning style which will develop pupils' thinking. Problem: William Cuffay is half way through the second term of his PGCE course and is showing considerable promise. He is thorough in his lesson preparation, and has a clear sense...

Millie Marvel, PGCE Student is not making use of ICT to teach history in the classroom Problem: Millie Marvel, student history teacher, is in Term 2 of her PGCE year. She enjoys using ICT and is highly competent in her use of several applications. However, lessons in which she has chosen...