Why is it when one part of life is going great the other takes a tumble?

School is going great kids are lovely, having fun, few niggles with admin but all is good.

Home however just slopes. Try to make a nice dinner that goes wrong. Try to make it better by ordering dessert. That doesn’t arrive and results in an argument with restaurant. My partner has had tonsilitus for the last 10 days. I am just emotionally drained. It’s like I am just on autopilot looking at my actions from above. In a slump of glumness. It really is hard to make a work home balance. Hopefully things will pick up. Bring on tomorrow evening with time at home

Speak soon J.

After last year I didn’t think I would say this, but here i am. I am actually enjoying teaching. The children are wonderful. We have had a few niggles, but nothing major and all understandable. After all they are only 5.

However, my issue comes down to the administration and organisation. It is all a game of give and take. We gained an extra 15 mins lunchtime this year, after trialing a shorter lunch last year and not being able to fit all the hot dinners in time. Yay an hour lunch. However, we have now been told we need to have an extra hour meeting each week to make up the lost hours of our 1265 hours. Wow another late night a week. Oh I love the nitty gritty. Oh well here goes another year.

Speak soon J.

So I start my day searching for the site manager to unlock my classroom, which he somehow forgot. Then of course it begins. Technical issues. Oh well no register for my class, good job I’m prepared with a class list!

The the nerves begin,the butterflies and worries of what might happen. And of course that’s the same for the children. Some came in excited, some looked like rabbits in headlights and obviously some of the emotional ones with tears, but we overcome it. Stickers really do combat a lot of issues.

All goes smoothly until handwriting and some children need the toilet, no one knows where they are,despite several walks during transition. So, there’s no choice, handwriting is ditched and off we go for a trip to the toilets. All fun and games until a child bursts into tears in the toilet because bless their heart they can’t get the toilet paper out. Teacher to the rescue.

It gets to lunchtime and I realise the difference between this cohort and my last. It is wonderful they are so responsive and respectful and I can feel myself becoming less stresses and actually having fun teaching. End of lunch comes, after our newly replenished hour, after being cut to 45 minutes last year. Oh what the difference 15 minutes makes! I go to collect the children and I run in to my old class. All smiling and shouting my name, which shows the difference we make to their lives and experiences.

The afternoon goes smoothly with only minor reminders and home time the thing I have worried about was fine. The parents were very helpful in being patient and reminding us of who they were picking up. Then the ugly technical issues rear their head with a remote access with our technical team. After an hour and 20 minutes waiting I have up and left my laptop with the deputy head. I think 5pm is late enough after the first day back. What a whirlwind of a day, but a reminder of why I entered the world of teaching.

Speak soon J.

So here we are training day complete and the first day nerves are setting in. Everything is ready, well as it can be. Planning done classroom ready and children’s seats allocated. However, nerves have kicked in all the what ifs and is it ready. The most thing I find worrying at this time of year is home time. Making sure those children go home with the right people. People that we barely know.

I think it doesn’t help the amount of emphasis on safeguarding, GDPR and all the other training we have. It makes us worry. It makes question our judgements. However, one thing we were told today in our training was ‘trust your gut, there’s a reason you feel what you do’. I think that sums up our profession. These parents give us their most important treasure, their children. We spend the most time with these children, day in day out. So for all those teachers out there worrying, don’t. Trust your judgement. Ask for support if needed. But you’ve got this. We can do this. Bring on another year, we’re ready!

Speak soon J.

What a lovely break!

After my first year as a teacher (NQT) it was certainly great to have 6 weeks break. Time to clear the head of the past year and give home life some full attention. Most of the time has been spent doing those things you never get a chance to do. The final box sorted through from moving in (IN MARCH!!!). Things organised like the wardrobe, well before the holiday shopping! And more importantly hours of recreation. I think I may have watched all the worth while series on Netflix. But overall time with my partner, family and friends. Time to plan our wedding and get organised. It has been wonderful. And of course the final thing preparing for yet another year of the crazy profession we call teaching.

It has taken three days to get my room ready, including having my partner in for one day – don’t do it guys they are little to no help! This is my first year of backing boards, as we had felt ones last year, and what a pain they are. And why did anyone think it was a good idea to place heating and window controls in the centre of the board! However,I did it and my superhero reading corner looks great, I can’t wait for my little ones to see it.

I have new table names on my tolsby frames, hoping this year they will be able to stay on tables and be used, due to behaviour issues last year some got trashed. I have used the Twinkl names with gems and positioned them in a way to remember which table is which.

Reliable Rubies

Efficient Emeralds

Amazing Ameythysts

Dazzinlg Diamonds

Super Sapphires

The way I remember it is READS that go round the room from left to right, simples! I was very impressed with myself for this I am sure it will save a lot of confusion this year.

I think my biggest battle of setting up the room , other than the pesky control panels, oh and the staples or bits of paper left behind, was the fact of having 31 children. It makes it a complete nightmare to make displays equal, I have big OCD issues with my big write board. Do admin not think of the OCD teacher?

Anyway so I am ready. Planning is done for the first two weeks. Classroom is done. Home life is organised. But am I ready to go back? Of course not. The countdown to half term begins. As teachers we are always counting down the year.

Here goes good luck to all teachers, no matter how many years experience, enjoy the year and try not to stress too much you’re doing great!

Speak soon J.

Wow what a flash of two weeks that was! I honestly don’t know how, but I have finally made it through my NQT year. I am officially qualified. And I am moving on to what I hope to be a much smoother year.

Now to enjoy a marvellous 6 weeks off! Well done to all those teachers that made it through another year. Have a restful time off and prepare for next year. We’ve made it! Speak soon J.

So today I popped into town after work. I know somehow I managed to leave early! I went into pound world – the one that’s closing down. I got a pack of 8 activity books for 70p and 12 sparkly pencils for 70p. So I bought enough for kids Christmas or end of year presents next year. All for less than £5! I really would suggest if you have one near you to go and have a look. Speak soon J.