Teaching Trials and Tribulations 1

Friday: The chat with Paul O Connell worked so at last I can talk about my renewed teaching career. I am still not well enough to write a long article so it will be a series, and a long one at that, of snippets.

Today I took the Prep/One class for about fifteen minutes at the end of the school day. Teacher had an appointment but all I had to do was get them ready for home. They were all sitting nicely when teacher left and I was feeling strong. I forgot that I was taking the class and did not have anything prepared but I would think of something. I was just about to think of that something when a woman I had never seen before walked into the room. When I enquired she said that she was Josh's mom. I thought that she was going to take him home and was pleased to have one less, but no she told me that she would like to sit down and observe! (Nobody told me that at the induction!) At that stage I was not thinking of the niceties of curriculum objectives or pupil progress, just get through ten minutes. Why didn't I prepare something? So she sat down, while I was still trying to think of something to do with them. Eureka: 'head, shoulders, knees and toes' should last a few minutes. They already knew it but when I asked them to sing it was a different version. One which I did not know! So I taught them my version, said a big long prayer (very slowly to get the full meaning and feeling) and brought them to the door with their bags. Then the fun really started. I had parents that I had never seen before collecting children that I did not know and it seemed that they were crawling all over me. I felt like King Canute and he could not hold back the tide either. The parents kept distracting me asking me silly questions like how was I settling in and did I like it here! Each time another little ant disappeared out of the corner of my eye. Yet everyone was smiling and happy, so I gave in and was also smiling and happy. I walked out of the class and stood between the road and the playground. I was sure that no one went out on the road and was able to gather three 'leftovers' from the playground afterwards.

No matter, it was Friday and we all went to Mickey Bourkes after school. I am really enjoying that little routine, followed by the drive home in the sunshine and the visit to Kermond's for the 'eight best burger in the world.' Life is good.

P.S. She never said that it was a brilliant lesson!