commitment or neglect?

As usual I found myself sitting at the computer until after 10pm last night planning lessons for today while Larry sat in front of the TV giving me a commentary on what he was watching.

"This woman gave up her husband and children to run away with someone she met on the internet through this virtual friendship game."

I was vaguely interested. At any rate, it was more interesting than thinking about how I was going to teach speech marks to my class.

"Basically she spent too long in front of her computer and spent no time at all with her children. She completely neglected her family."

Okay. Is he trying to tell me something?

Note to self - you are spending too much time planning at the computer. Have you seen the kids this week?

A Good Week

(The picture has nothing to do with the post. I just liked it. Don't waste your time trying to figure out a connection. There isn't one! Unless you find a really clever connection, in which case it was intended and carefully thought out!)

This week has been good in many respects.

First of all, after about 3 weeks of unhealthy eating and general Christmas-related overindulgence and a subsequent week of not daring to put both feet on the bathroom scales, I can now confirm I have not gained any weight over the Christmas period (or am back to the weight I was before Christmas).

Expecting my first week of teaching to be hectic was realistic and my expectations were met. I was therefore not suprised when my first proper maths lesson (teaching from the new framework) was a bit of a mess (to put it mildly). Maths is not my strong point, but I am pleased that at least my literacy lessons are much better and the children are making progress. That sounds like my maths lessons were not at all productive. That's not true. They were just not as good as I want them to be.

The whole year group went to the theatre to see Peter Pan on Wednesday. We didn't lose any children and I got to know some of the children's parents better.

Towards the end of the week I had several parents compliment me telling me they were very happy and their children liked me and were happy in my class. That sort of comment is always very reassuring to hear.

I had a meeting with my induction mentor (the deputy) with whom I get on very well and she was pleased with how I have settled in and how I am coping in general.

My head of year has also been very complimentary.

I love this school. I don't want to leave in the summer. My contract officially ends at the end of August, although there is a possibility that my contract will be made permanent as the class teacher may not return. We will have to wait and see what she decides to do. Even if she does decide to return, I will have completed 2 terms of my NQT year at one of the best schools in Southampton which puts me in a very good position for getting a teaching post at another school.

The only thing that I am sad about at the moment is that after spending most of last term doing the school run and taking Big J to his music group, I am really missing my friends. Many of them I only ever saw in the school playground and so don't see them at all now.

I am planning a quiet weekend, where I will have to do a certain amount of planning & resource making for next week, but am not going to spend all weekend planning as I seem to have done last weekend. I think my own children need me too and I am making a stick for my own back if I don't give them some quality time now. Added to which, after hearing that Big J (at only 3 years old remember!) commented to Larry as they watched Gwen Stefani on TV that she had "nice boobs", I think he needs more of my female influence! I am not sure whether I am more shocked by the fact that my three year old son made such an inappropriate observation, or that every man I seem to tell about it simply replies, "well, he's got good taste. She does have nice boobs!" You know who you are!

So, anyway, a great week all around.

And the best bit is that today is Seany's birthday and mum & dad didn't buy him a bike! (unless they gave him one as a token present!)

Happy New Year

After a great Christmas with the family (including Seany & 'me mam') and a quiet but enjoyable New Year's Eve / Day with just the four of us the day finally came when I had to put my money where my mouth is and take over my new class.

How exciting!

How scary!

First two days back went really well. We had integrated days based around Mythical Creatures. They pushed their luck a bit with their behaviour, but after a discussion about rules and behaviour, we had a very good second day on Friday and the standard of work was much better. It is a mystery to me how the other teachers get all their stuff done and still go home at 5 - 5.30. I left at 5.45 again today and still had a list as long as my arm of things I had to do.

Oh well, as long as I keep crossing things off as well as adding new things to the list it will be okay. I once heard someone say that an in tray is suposed to have something in it and you only have an empty in tray when you die. Not sure how long it will be, but I am still aliove so far so the in tray is still doing it's job!

Got lots of planning to do and must eat sometime today too, but I'd just like to say thank you for all the lovely messages of support.

Hope everyone has a great 2008!