Only three weeks left on this placement. Eek!
So, this week. I started by getting ahead, but by the end of the week everything had caught up with me again! I've had some very long days in school this week.
I taught my first ever y10 lesson. Cripes! I was so nervous. I don't think it was my best lesson, but a good start. The evaluation came from the kids themselves, which was terrifying and insightful at the same time. They are very observant.
My y7 lessons are getting better. They feel more structured and purposeful, and I can see what direction they're heading. I know what the final goal is, I just need to get them there. In only 8 lessons. I lose tomorrow's lesson due to a visiting guest speaker.
My y8s are testing me. They don't respond well to a change of routine, so me walking in and taking their lessons for a new unit is not going down so well. I'm trying to maintain their established routines, in terms of how lessons begin, discipline and reward strategies; but they are definitely my biggest challenge at the moment.
I feel as though I am making progress with y9. I introduced team posters, which they created with their friends. They can then earn stars for their teams during the lessons. The team with the most points at half term gets a prize (actual prize to be negotiated). This is proving an incentive.
Started searching for jobs now. I think I've found one I want to apply for- even if just for the interview experience. I don't expect to land a job before easter, if I'm honest. I definitely need the experience of second placement to be able to offer a more complete answer to any question at interview.
Need to get these flippin QTS tests out of the way. Need some hard core revision and then book 'em. They're becoming an annoyance, just nagging at me.
Hopefully there'll be no more snow. The students get way too distracted by the weather. I've resorted to closing the blinds in some classes. I hope it all melts- as distracting as it is, I'd sooner have the snow than the ice.
Time to make these last three weeks really count. It's going to be weird going back into university.
Sunday 20 January 2013
Saturday 12 January 2013
Dropping back into things
Well the Christmas break is well and truly over.
Happy New Year everyone.
The first week back was approached with dread. I'd had nothing but problems in the last week of the holidays- so I've been playing catch up since then. Got pretty injured too so been a bit slow and delicate wandering around school.
The big essay was due on Tuesday and my first official observation was also due to happen on Tuesday. And I had lessons to create for this week.
Thank god it all worked out.
The essay was submitted on Monday night. I hope it's good enough for a pass.
Tuesday, I was very nervous. My university mentor had chosen to observe my difficult y8 class. And I'd planned to do drama. Oh.My.God.
To their credit, the kids were brilliant (not that I told them that I was being observed); and they seemed to really enjoy the activity. Yesterday's lesson showed me that they actually learnt something from it.
I got some fantastic feedback from my mentor. And when I ran the same activity with the other half of the class on Thursday, although the lesson seemed to be a disaster and the kids behaved badly, I did get some lovely comments from a passing member of staff. He said it was great to see someone doing something different with the kids; taking advantage of all the open spaces in the school, and experimenting with approaches. This was lovely to hear, although I'm never quite sure how to react to compliments.
I also feel as though I've made real progress with my other classes this week. My organisation has improved and, although I haven't made the resources yet, I've been ready for what I'm going to do next week, and have been able to create this week's lessons to lead into next week's lessons.
I think I've had some of my best lessons this week. The pupils are seeing me as their teacher now. Things feel good, more comfortable. And I'm getting a Y10 lesson next week. I'm very excited, I just hope I don't mess it up. The class is lovely though, and I've been in their lessons since the beginning of December so they know me.
Overall, a brilliant first week back. Someone's created a countdown of working days until the next half term, which is when I leave this school. I cannot believe there are only 20 working days left! Too soon. I'm not sure that I want to leave.
Happy New Year everyone.
The first week back was approached with dread. I'd had nothing but problems in the last week of the holidays- so I've been playing catch up since then. Got pretty injured too so been a bit slow and delicate wandering around school.
The big essay was due on Tuesday and my first official observation was also due to happen on Tuesday. And I had lessons to create for this week.
Thank god it all worked out.
The essay was submitted on Monday night. I hope it's good enough for a pass.
Tuesday, I was very nervous. My university mentor had chosen to observe my difficult y8 class. And I'd planned to do drama. Oh.My.God.
To their credit, the kids were brilliant (not that I told them that I was being observed); and they seemed to really enjoy the activity. Yesterday's lesson showed me that they actually learnt something from it.
I got some fantastic feedback from my mentor. And when I ran the same activity with the other half of the class on Thursday, although the lesson seemed to be a disaster and the kids behaved badly, I did get some lovely comments from a passing member of staff. He said it was great to see someone doing something different with the kids; taking advantage of all the open spaces in the school, and experimenting with approaches. This was lovely to hear, although I'm never quite sure how to react to compliments.
I also feel as though I've made real progress with my other classes this week. My organisation has improved and, although I haven't made the resources yet, I've been ready for what I'm going to do next week, and have been able to create this week's lessons to lead into next week's lessons.
I think I've had some of my best lessons this week. The pupils are seeing me as their teacher now. Things feel good, more comfortable. And I'm getting a Y10 lesson next week. I'm very excited, I just hope I don't mess it up. The class is lovely though, and I've been in their lessons since the beginning of December so they know me.
Overall, a brilliant first week back. Someone's created a countdown of working days until the next half term, which is when I leave this school. I cannot believe there are only 20 working days left! Too soon. I'm not sure that I want to leave.
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