Day 361 - Self Discipline

Lack thereof will surely lead to my downfall...

Teaching is alot about self discipline so far. The discipline to plan each lesson ahead of time, the discipline to mark 30 books with lucid comments, the discipline to write 60 reports over a weekend, the discipline to give up some of your holiday to look at the curriculum and think through a half term of lessons across 5 or more different classes ahead of time, the discipline to ask other teachers for advice and sift through the mountains of resources available to help, the discipline not to show your emotion when confronted with rudeness, laziness, indifference, stupidity or all of the above!

I've never been that disciplined. I am completely capable of being organised and would never have been successful as a marketer without it but I preferred to exercise the right to be spontaneous, unplanned and doing the minimum necessary to get by - winging it. As I climbed the ranks at Diageo it became easier to do so, placing the burden on those around me to compensate. I can't do that anymore and it's stretching me way beyond my comfort zone, which is GOOD.

The trouble is, I'm not sure how long I can keep it up. I know it's the right thing to do and as a result I am better prepared and deliver a better lesson. Winging it was always my thing and it's very tempting, especially when I look at my more experienced colleagues who jot a couple of key points in their diary and off they go. The good thing is that I've tried it a couple of times and it's gone horribly wrong. The other good thing is that I know the right thing to do and will keep striving to do the right thing. Maybe in 10 years I can start winging it again.

Day 174 - Winging It

Wednesday October 7th

Didn't go to track last night so punished myself with 5 quick miles today. Really enjoyed school today for some reason...just felt calm, relaxed and in control. Fun lesson with 7.2.1 and then a really good lesson with 8.2.4. They were pretty engaged in the lesson and learnt a bit I think.

Very strange the last few days as I've felt very calm and serene, very different to the same time last week. I think it's partly down to decent organisation and getting lessons planned when I have the time. It's also down to a little more confidence - you can plan so much and then you need to deal with what they throw at you. As I say to everyone, I used to do "winging it" as a full time career so should be pretty good at it.

Worked late and then met up with Ted on his way back from a school match. It was tipping down and he was shivering and soaking wet. Poor boy had a hot bath and then headed back out to another practice