Day 20: Has it really been four weeks?

This is the longest I've taken to write up a daily blog, which may be an indication of things to come. I'll put that to one side for now, and talk about how Friday went.

I can't believe I've been teaching for four weeks already; on Monday it will be exactly a month since the start of term. I'd like to say I've learnt a lot, it's been an emotional journey, etc etc, but I still feel like I have so much more to learn that anything I've picked up so far is insignificant.

The important thing to consider, I suppose, is that it's only three weeks to half term. This is the magical marker that signals the end of what is said to be the longest and most difficult half term. I hope that's the case. It has been tough, there's no doubt, but now I've gotten over the initial shock, I have to concentrate on improving my professional performance and confidence.

This was definitely evident in my performance with Year 10. I decided to work on the written work that I didn't get time for the lesson before, but unfortunately my explanation was terrible when I tried to tell them how to do an activity and they were confused. Luckily they had a go, and one girl got the idea - I read hers out and a sound of "Ooooh..." echoed around the room. Thank you, kid. I set them the introduction to write as homework, with some rushed piece on literary background ("Miss, what's literature?") and sent them on their merry, albeit confused, way.

I was in such a rotten mood following that catastrophe that I greeted my Year 7s in a bit of a strop, prompting a year 12 across the corridor to tell my colleague that I looked "well strict". I was a little shouty, but I did kinda want to remind them that I was boss. The lesson was a little rushed, especially as I took a few minutes to let a couple of them writing with their feet and chalk to mirror Christy Brown (we were reading an excerpt from "My Left Foot") and the lesson was ok. The best part was that I was finished by lunch.

I can't really remember what I did after that, other than observe a colleague's lesson and sort out my classroom.

When 3.30 rolled around I made plans to finish sorting paperwork then head to the pub. I was pleased to see my favourite colleagues waiting with a drink for me, and we took part in what has become a weekly ritual: cold drink (cider for me,) chili peanuts, and our "Highlights of The Week", whereby we each give two or three highlights from the week (obviously.) I was rather pleased to have this very blog mentioned as my colleague's highlight, as apparently he has recently discovered it.

From what I remember, my highlights this week were:
1. Finding out how many people are not just reading my blog, but apparently enjoying it.
2. My year 8 class saying they preferred me to the supply teacher.
3. I can't actually remember. How depressing. I'll give my colleague's other highlight - his year 10 pupil who skipped out of school earlier in the week to get a tattoo. In his school uniform. For free. From a guy who wanted to "establish his reputation." Apparently it's a couple of swords through a heart, with a scroll saying "Nan". Quite sweet, really.

We stayed for a few (too many) drinks and I headed on down to central London for a friend's birthday. The less said about what happened after that, the better, but all in all it was a great way to end a long and tiring week. Let's see how the next month goes.