Day 60: Reflect this!

Day 60. Sounds rather grand, doesn't it? I can't believe there are only 10 days left of term. I honestly cannot wait until this is over and I get two weeks off. I think I've probably said that before, but still - the feeling is building with every day I spend in the school.

First things first: the observant among you may be able to tell by the time this entry was written that I did not do too well at not going out after work on Friday. I did avoid spending 12 hours in the pub, I also managed to get some work done after school finished. Unfortunately that's all I've accomplished so far. Maybe try again next week.

Righty ho. Today I was looking forward to having a lesson covered as I FINALLY managed to sort out a physio appointment for my knee at the hospital across the road from the school (long story short - fell on knee, damaged the underside of my kneecap, can't play rugby anymore.) So I got into school early and, having been out all yesterday for training, sorted out my classroom and my cover for my year 10s. I wasn't sure how long I'd be at the hospital, so was only going to ask them to finish off what they *should* have been writing the day before.

I was asked to help out a colleague by covering her VT, so I went in there to see a year 11 boy sat at the computer. I wasn't entirely convinced that he should be doing the register himself, so decided to interrupt his conversation with a girl (who as it turned out, was not even in the form) so that I could take over.
"Excuse me."
*boy continues to chat*
"Excuse me."
*chat*
"Ahem. EXCUSE ME."
"WHAT? I'm signing in the form!!!"
"Er - don't talk to me like that. I've been asked to do it. Please sit down." Little shit.
I sat down in his vacated seat and watched the kids. I'm glad I don't have a form. The problem with being new, and less than confident in oneself, is that the kids just ignore you. I was a little embarrassed when the head of year 9 came in to check up on the group, as requested by my colleague, and she was able to make them remove hats and coats and even sit in their seats without fuss. I think "undermined" should be my middle name in this place.
I was so fed up with the boy who was rude to me, when he started annoying the girls with a rather irritating story about farting in a girl's face, that I went to get my HoD to cover them so I could leave for my appointment.

As it turned out, the physio appointment only took 15 minutes so I was able to get back in time for my year 10s. They were a little disappointed when the cover teacher turned up and I sent him away, as he's the school heartthrob, it would seem. Gutted. Year 10 were pretty good; we talked about Britishness as a starter, and some of them came up with some interesting ideas. I keep launching into politics, which is amusing in as much as you can actually *see* their eyes glaze over, but having read some of the work, it was clear that a lot understood what I was trying to say. I had spoken at length about why everyone hates Gordon Brown/Tony Blair which they took a bit literally, but never mind.

After year 10 I had year 7, and I had thrown together some Simpsons-related video to talk about characterisation. I was a little lost with the original lesson plan, but I think the kids got what I wanted out of it. I also showed them a clip from Shrek because, well, why not? It was almost relevant. We got through the lesson and they did the plenary, which makes a nice change, and the bell went and I was free for the day.

After lunch I sorted through paperwork, tidied my desk, finished my book, and went down to The Bin but *DIDN'T* smoke. Win. I feel under a lot of pressure at the moment because I'm behind with my marking and I have a written assignment due on Monday which I am yet to write. It's also 5am and I can't sleep, so you can see my predicament. Anyway, all in all, it was a rather nice day, and I just CANNOT wait for this term to be over. Roll on Day 61; let's be having you.