Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Getting there.....

slowly......

Teaching is the biggest rollercoaster EVER made. Seriously, sometimes I am on a high and sometimes I am steeply going down and wondering if I'll ever get my life back. One day I love it and some days I want to escape go back to uni (again) and be a student forever...and have lies in and watch Neighbours twice a day!

I am making progress though (I think) no, I KNOW!!!!! I have also discovered that, that is what the probation year is all about - learning and progression. If you don't learn then you are in the wrong job and if you don't progress then you are definitely doing something wrong.

I have discovered (from numerous people telling me) that initially I was being far too hard on myself and being over critical. But, its very hard not to be hard and critical of yourself when you want to be good at something. I was hoping to be superteacher from the word go, but have since realised that even teacher's who have been teaching for ages are still not 'perfect' and make mistakes too.

On the positive side, I have managed to move some of my classes to another classroom. Now remember I said that my classroom had a really bad layout? Well, 2 of the classes I have managed to get another classroom for. I still don't have a media projector or a OHP - just a blackboard, 30 desks and ME! But what I am trying to say is that the environment in the new classroom is far better and I now believe that the layout of the classroom and position of the blackboard/teacher are vital to teaching and learning.

1 comment:

alysse_firefly said...

Hi Lesley

I have read you experiences and find everything you've written really fascinating and intense.

I've just started PGDE and I'm loving it but sometimes I feel totally intimidated by it all. Being able to read your posts and the comments of others kind off reminds me that I'm not alone and I think your stuff is really making my heart rate slow a bit.

Its great that your room has changed, I think the classroom environment is such a huge factor, not just for organising and comfort but for behaviour as well. Used to work as behavioour support and saw really good teachers suffering under really bad layouts.

Anyway, well done and keep letting us all know what its really like