Day 302 - Training Day

Friday February 12th

INSET day (In Service Training Day). I had a really good day as a) this counted as 1 day of training towards my 60 day requirement b) the official job vacancy went up on the board and I applied for it and c) I got a whole bunch of work done and felt useful on all kinds of levels. I helped the Art department put together their GCSE mark scheme. A simple set of percentages on Excel but they were pleased

I ended up not leaving until gone 5pm. I think I was the only one left in the building but all loose ends were tied up and if my CRB check comes through during half term I will be ready to go.

Half term is here - 9 days of rest. Bliss.

Day 216 - Upside Down

Wednesday November 18th

Mrs N stayed in bed today feeling unwell. Given that I can count the number of sick days she has had in the 20 years I have known and loved her, this is a BIG DEAL. I was therefore on duty and managed to survive three lessons and get Alice to ballet on time. I went for a run while I was waiting and bumped into Neil. Mrs N does not believe this was a coincidence and thinks there is something untoward going on. I think she is delirious.

Going back to my theme of the week about feeling some strain. I had a chat with my mentor about this and I think it is a combination of things. The first cause is obvious - I have turned my professional life upside down and am doing something completely alien to whatever skills and experience I have picked up since 1989. The second came to me out of the blue but is also obvious - I have never trained so hard in my life. I am 10 or so weeks into a new job and am still in training every day, whether it's being observed, having assignments, figuring out what to teach or just adjusting to life in a big school. Of course, I've moved jobs and countries frequently through my career but to be in formal training for that long is something I've never experienced.

Day 210 - Bus Duty

Thursday November 12th

I love Thursdays. One lesson, a little bit of training and then an afternoon of relaxed work in the staff room. I brought the bike up this morning so I could head off early to the dentist. Unfortunately, the heavens opened, I got soaking and decided not to go to my appointment as my trousers were wet through and my shoes full of water, much to Mrs N's derision.

Prior to that, I was on bus duty and stopped a boy who was smoking as he left the school gates. He didn't seem that bothered but he gave me his name anyway. I guess it's not illegal, dumb but not illegal.

Day 208 - High Praise Indeed

Tuesday November 10th

The house is quiet again after our visitors have left and one thing I can guarantee as a teacher is the same classes come around week after week. On both the down and up side, I know what to expect! This morning I embarrassed Ellen as I went up to the front and answered a question in Year 10 assembly. She'll get over it.

A brilliant afternoon, when I did a group task with 10.2.2 on prime factors, which they seemed to enjoy and stay focused on, followed by a shiny new 7.2.1 class. This was interesting as it was my second attempt at teaching sequences. I learnt a lot from my first experience and it went very well. In fact, OSM loved something I did so much, he stole it for his class. That felt very good.

Day 187 - Swans

Tuesday October 20th

Started to feel tired this week and I can't figure out whether it's the running or the 6 weeks of intense teacher training I've experienced. On the surface, my new job is a 50% timetable that goes from 8.45 to 3.15 every day. Underneath, I'm definitely in swan territory - serenely gliding along while my skinny little legs are thrashing frantically around trying to work out which way is forward.

I really am getting the hang of working at school - getting to know the staff, getting to know the kids, being prepared for everything on time...just. The two areas I feel tentative in are the big ones - consistent, strong behaviour management and the effective teaching of Maths. The former is all about suppressing the liberally minded 'que sera, que sera' in me, the latter is fundamental and will take time. I may be able to do this stuff myself but getting it across to 30 individuals is one beast of a professional skill