Real teacher now!

So it's three months in and I'm starting to feel like a real teacher. I've led a staff meeting, done parents evening and preformed my first class assembly- mile stones in the year of any teacher at all stages in their profession! We focused on communication and told a story about a baby elephant who didn't listen. There were therefore 6 four year olds wearing elephant masks! I was helpfully informed that the advantage of having the youngest children is that regardless of the work put in and the story being told whatever they do people will still think it cute! Thankfully it was a roaring success (in my opinion).

I was warned by those already teaching that I'd be tired but I've struggled to stay awake past 8 o'clock since the start of term. For someone who's suffered for many years with insomnia this is an unusual experience, although as a treatment it's proving to be a great success.

I've been entangled in a little controversy early in my carer, having already stuck my neck out for outdoor provision. I have strong views on this subject, having seen it in action and observed the benefits especially for little boys. At the start of term it was suggested that outside play was a priority for the school so in my enthusiasm I set off to open the quad which leads off my classroom. At the time the other classes in the year group didn't feel ready to join me in the venture so having discussed my ideas with the senior staff I proceeded to go it alone. Within a few weeks the others were interested in joining me outside in the cold and wet.

And now things are a little fraught at school thanks to some fairly major class reorganisation due to take place after xmas as a result of rising numbers in year two. But overall I'm keeping my head above water and coping. Ask me in September if I'm enjoying it!

lovely little people

They are all gorgeous! They were so confident and settled. I realise I can't expect them to be as well adjusted after 6 weeks off coming into a new environment with new staff, but it's at least a good start and hopefully this indicates that it won't take them long to adjust. I had 19 on Monday which was great. I'm not sure of final numbers yet as there are always some who don't come and a few who appear out of the blue, but it should be a fantastic class.

Now I have to make the classroom perfect for the little mites. My first act will be to remove some tables. If there are about 20 children in the class why would you need 30 seats? They are aged 4/5. How much time are they actually going to spend sat at tables? (Virtually none if I had my way, but the curriculum is mandatory!) Once I've done this I can begin work on my displays and spaces. I've made good progress on planning my book corner and the role-play area so far.

The suggestion that I wouldn't work as a nursery nurse after this week may have been premature as I managed to get roped into a holiday play scheme while in school today. I'm such a sucker! Of course I am also poor which is such a strong motivator. It gives me another two weeks with the darlings from this school which is great as I will miss them. I do enjoy special needs work and it might take my mind off the mountain of work that I need to do in my classroom. I think I'll be climbing the walls as I can't really DO anything in there until the last week of the holiday.

Oh and the parents were all fine- no one was too anxious, overbearing, or antagonistic and almost all of them were interested in what I had to say. Yay!

Fear and panic

I'm spending my Friday night swatting up. I have the terrifying experience of transition day on Monday and do not feel slightly prepared. I have policies to memorise (or at least get to grips with the gist) when I still can't remember the names of the staff. It worries me. So my weekend will be exclusively devoted to revision, which quite frankly I thought I'd put behind me in May. Unfortunately I get the feeling that much of the year will follow a similar pattern.

I have to tell parents about routines, curriculum, uniform and behaviour management when I still get lost trying to find the staff room! I am very concerned that they are likely to ask questions, which is perfectly reasonable behaviour for a parent. I hope my nursery nurse is as good as she seems and supports me when I'm cowering in the corner crying. What if they don't take me seriously? What if they think I'm too young, or not smart enough, or too inexperienced? I suppose these are perfectly normal issues for an NQT but it doesn't stop me feeling very isolated and scared. In reality it will probably be fine as long as I've done my homework and prepared myself. I've picked out an outfit and started composing a crib sheet to ease my stage fright.

But I am also coming to the scary and quite sad realisation that as of Thursday I will no longer work as a nursery nurse. I'm finding the fact that I won't be involved in special needs anymore hard to swallow and am probably never again going to work with any of the children I have got to know over the last four years. Happily the school in which I have spent a majority of time as a supply nursery nurse have said I will be welcome to visit for observations and career development.

On the other hand I will be in charge. For the fast time I am responsible for the children and the environment and the decisions are mine to make. I am the teacher.

Qualified!

I shall class today as the first of my teaching career. Until today, despite already having a firm job offer my future was still in doubt. Today I, Rachael Elizabeth Webster, officially become a qualified teacher type person. It is not the day of joy I was anticipating as it has been tarred by some issues at the university and the fact that my sister and her own tiddlypeeps have returned to survey the damage after suffering the Sheffield floods. Thankfully they have actually not lost too much apart from the contents of their cellar.

So now I am beginning to plan and organise my very first classroom. This is what I have been looking forward to for 6 years but am suddenly feeling that the task ahead is going to be a little daunting! I am moving into the room of a retiring teacher who has been in the school for 20 years. I am feeling very aware that I am in fact a novice, no matter how many amazing fresh ideas I may have. Thankfully I have my own level 3 nursery nurse who seems on first meeting to be into the same style of teaching and learning as myself- child initiated and as messy as possible!!! I am currently on the scrounge for tatty old bean bags (as a seamstress I am able to recover them) to furnish the book corner which is worse than woeful right now.

With giddy anticipation and more than a little apprehension I become a grown up with a career and everything!