In pursuit of Health, Wealth and Happiness

poddle911

Really nice to hear from you, Tete. Sorry you've had a tough day, but -as always - completely ace, sound advice from Lara.

Lara44 wrote: »

Already you are reflecting on what you could have done differently today, and that is what will make you a good teacher. You care

This is so true. I've been having a few stressy work weeks and it makes me feel wretched! It generally takes someone else to point out that you wouldn't feel bad if you didn't give a !!!!.

You'll make a brill teacher! try not to let the anxiety get to you - it's only been a few weeks xx

Kittikins

Hugs Tete, sounds like a stereotypical Monday, the week will get better x Your critical reflection sounds even more vague than mine for Thursday, and that's saying something!!

I know what you mean about accents and genders - and having to do them in Spanish as well as French, well ooo la la (as they wouldn't say in France ).

I had yummy English, 2 sessions of DPP and met with my little group for DRCP about this s*dding article. Felt pants, but then stayed for a lovely chat with the vicar and a chap off my course about CS Lewis and felt calmer about it.

Now time for procrastination and possibly a ton of work. Sleep well and hope that tomorrow kicks the butt of today!

Birdie85

Sorry you had a crappy Monday, hope the rest of the week looks up for you. Don't forget that you're learning right now and you're not expected to suddenly be this perfect teacher figure because you're actually the student! The language stuff will come in time and you'll know exactly what's what by the time you have to teach classes on your own.

On the whole it sounds like things are going well for you so focus on that bigger picture when you have a bad day.

Hope it's all going well for you too Kitty, good luck with the essay (just the word brings me out in hives!).

Have a lovely Tuesday!

zigmeister

Tete, was lurking but read your post and had to reply. There will be some horrendous days where you will doubt yourself and the decision to do this. But then you'll have amazing days where it feels so easy and right and you go home on a high. It's such a rollercoaster.

Just please remember that you are learning! I had an observation while I was on one of my primary placements and it went so wrong. I had set work that too difficult, the children didn't understand and I panicked and couldn't explain properly. It was ridiculously bad. When the observer asked me how it went I said terrible and explained why. And she said that all teachers have bad lessons and make mistakes but I knew what I had done wrong and that was the main thing. And it stuck with me. As long as you can look back and learn from it then it's ok to get things wrong.

The other invaluable piece of advice I had, which I found difficult as it went against my nature, was to go in and be too tough on the class, and then soften up. Easier to do that than be soft and then try and be hard on them down the line. Also, always carry out threats! I was supply for a class once and hadn't been with them very long. They completely walked all over me so I said that if they continued they wouldn't get any golden time (15 mins free play). They ignored the threat so they spent 15 mins in silence, doing nothing. Harsh but they didn't push it again!

Hope you're ok, you'll be fab x

Bohochange13

Hi there Iam totally new to this site, and am looking for inspiration and support through many difficult things I need to tackle. I have o
NLT read your introduction so far but I admire how focused you are regardless of what is going on around you. I will need to sit down and read more as your introduction has been very inspiring. Thank you

Tete_en_l'Air

Thanks girls for your words of encouragement - especially you Lara (the forum sage) and Zig as you'll have a good idea what I'm feeling! Nice to hear from you BTW, hope all's well your end

I've had a better few days - today was quite good actually although it was busy and I did have another excruciating Spanish conversation practice

I had my first go at doing a formal dismissal of my form and had to do that thing where you just stand silently and wait for them to quieten down - soooo nerve-wracking because what if they just keep on talking?! But they did quieten down and the form tutor said he was really impressed and added that they are starting to like me now that they're used to me being there - and I can kind of feel that - so that was a real boost.

We also got to see a fantastic African children's choir which is touring schools in the area - I think they're from Kampala actually Lara - and it was just wonderful. It really humbled me to see their boundless happiness and positive outlook - look at me with this amazing opportunity to train in a great career and yet I'm moaning and feeling sorry for myself, shame on me!

Then I came home and checked my computer and the student loans company have paid me about 150% more than I was expecting (need to check my paperwork on that!) and I've been formally okayed to go on the French trip in Feb! Eeep! As well as getting a trip away which includes a visit to a chocolaterie, it will be brilliant for my file So I'm a much happier lapin than I was on Monday ... but I get the feeling it's going to be a rollercoaster all year!

Kittikins

You lucky thing going to la belle France!

Was the choir Watoto? Hope so, they came to our old church and were amazing! DD insisted to buying the CD which was played to death for a fortnight at least.......

Well done on the keeping silent thing, I'm dreading that as I'm worried I'll be impatient too. I met my tutor today for the first time and wasn't overly impressed, but I guess it was just a welcome chat. He made me wait 30 minutes whilst he saw someone else and then just said don't worry about the Masters level work, you'll be fine ...... err on what basis can you deduce that I'll be fine??

Birdie85

Glad the week has been getting better for you!

Well done on the discipline, you'll have them eating out of your hand in no time. Show no weakness!

Great news about getting extra money (although I really hope you only have to pay back the amount you were expecting! ) and extra great news about going on a trip to France! That will definitely be an eye opener- doing a school trip from the teacher's perspective, must be so different to the students' experience!

Lara44

Aww shucks

Glad you had a great day yesterday. It sounds like there are so many positives at the moment alongside the stresses of learning. Yay! It will be so cool going on the French trip. Chocolaterie, you say? YUM.

Sorry about the excruciating conversations. Sometimes I don't mind things being painful, because then I really know I'm learning. At least that's what I'm telling myself at the moment, pain = progress!

If it was Watoto I used to go to their church sometimes with my friend. It is a huge operation with a few megachurches across the city. Fantastic music!

Tete_en_l'Air

It was the Pearl of Africa Children's Choir - really made me want to visit Africa! Hopefully I'll have the opportunity somehow to go over and teach during the holidays or something once I'm qualified. Do you have any plans to return once you're Dr Lara?

Kitty I guess your tutor will have seen your application? Perhaps based on that he has no concerns for your written work?? Hope things improve with him, feeling at ease with your tutor/mentors is such a big thing *hug*.

Haha Birdie, they can smell fear I think - I'm deffo trying to look calm and collected but my heart was hammering away. I'm just hoping no-one is sick on the coach - I couldn't deal with that! _pale_ Re the loan, I think it's right, I just wasn't expecting it so soon is all.

Had some SEN training today - quite alarming how many autism symptoms I spotted in myself haha! At least I'll be able to empathise with them (actually that's one of the main things they CAN'T do, so I must be fine).