Three day weekend :)

The great thing about doing a SCITT course is you get one reading day a week where you are not at school, meaning a three day weekend :)
This I have always believed is what it is meant to be (four days work, three days rest) but this is the first time it has actually come true.
Although the reality is that with the amount of work we have to do already it will not be a restful three days.
I already have an assignment to do and lots of reading so that will wipe tomorrow out but there is something quite refreshing about not having to travel into work.

Confidence grows ... again

I have loved the first two days of having the children in as it is so good to feel your confidence grow all the time.

The first day I was in my shell, the second inset I got better and then to my surprise it continued to grow when the children came in.

Right up to the final minutes I was so nervous about looking after the class, but before I knew it I had 25 kids in front of me and I had to entertain them.

That was the best thing that could have happened as straight away they knew who I was. 

There was obviously hard times in the last couple of days where children haven't done what I have said but that has got less and I seem to have more authority now.

It all finished with me reading out the class book today and every kid was engrossed with the story. It was a great feeling to see them all listening.

Of course I have been helped out by a brilliant mentor teacher who has kept on top of them and is already proving an inspiration of ideas.

The kids are brilliant :)

What a shock my class were, on the first day they have been absolutely brilliant. I'm not sure if it is just because it is the first day or whether they are just a quiet class but there was no problems whatsoever.
One child was slightly misbehaved and looks like they could cause problems but my first impression is it something that with discipline can be quashed quite well.
The boys in particular are so enthusiastic and there is a table of football-loving high achievers which I think I will get on with quite well.
My duties were mainly just helping the children out with the work and that was a god introduction for me. Hopefully I will carry that on this week to build up my confidence and then be let loose with a bigger challenge when I am ready for it next week.
But the day obviously doesn't finish at 3.30 so straight after school I completed my maths audit (having already spend four hours or more on an English one) and now I am about to start the science one.
Hopefully this will be finished over the weekend and I will be able to devote all of next week to my first assignment (yes we have already got assessed work to do!)

A brilliant second day

Just finished day two in school and what a difference it made.
I am now so much more confident around the teachers and in school and am now really looking forward to meeting the class.
Yesterday the prospect of being confident in front of the kids seemed a daunting prospect but now I think it will be fine.
I am told that tomorrow will consist of me mainly helping out and maybe reading a story or something like that so should be a nice introduction.

First day

So the first day is over and I am pleased to report that I survived!
In fact I would probably go as far as saying it was fairly easy, although it was an INSET day so the real challenge hasn't exactly begun.
The whole day was about learning new assessment techniques, which although useful, will not be of great relevance to me this year.
But what was good was to see the staff, it is a big school so lots of people to get to know but there was a great atmosphere which makes me think working here is going to be full of fun :D
Now just role on tomorrow to bring my confidence up in school before the term really begins on Wednesday.

It all begins tomorrow ...

Well the introduction period is over and the real thing starts tomorrow with the first day of term!
Luckily I will be eased into the school environment with two inset days but that doesn't stop me from being nervous, after all this is the place where I will be spending the entire academic year.
I am sure it will bring some highs and some lows but even now I still don't quite know what is in store for me over the next 12 months.
One thing is for sure though, I am as prepared as possible for the day.
We were given work to do from the university conference and I am happy to say I have done it all and even a bit extra.
Our course is split into different weeks and we are given set tasks to do each week.
To start with week one and two are grouped together and so I thought I would take the chance to get a head start and do the entire reading for the next two weeks already, lets just hope this pays off!

Rested and raring to go

What a difference a holiday makes! Just four days away and I am completely rested and ready for the new term.

I admit this feeling will probably last until precisely 9.15 on my first morning, but for now it seems time well spent.

I have timed it so I have two days to complete all the work needed before the start of term, which I think will be more than enough.

The most important work I have is a full English test with word meanings, phonemes etc and after completing 10 pages I am left with the question, why are they making us fill out this pointless form?

I am not ashamed that I have enlisted the help of my mum (who is English co-ordinator at a different primary school) as her knowledge has really helped me out.

But just to back up my point of how pathetic these questions are, after more than 20 years of teaching experience, she has not used about 75 per cent of what I am having to research. 

What's more is she hasn't even heard of most of the terms.

I wish the time could be used more effectively to learn English that I am actually going to use, but if my course wants me to do this form, I will do this form.