Madness

Hey all!

So first of all today it's 20 degrees and beautiful and sunny, so naturally I'm on the bus and in every park I'm passing there are heaps of shirtless people sunbathing! Haha. Truth be told I'm quite hot myself. It's really warm on the bus, I've a headache and there's a crying baby behind me. Brill! I miss my Camry :(

This morning I braved the bus again, and it re confirmed my trust issues with TFL (Transport for London). I was on time, but two buses passed and didn't let anyone on. So I ended up being 15 minutes late for school. Annoying!!

Today I was teaching the other year 2 class that I taught for one session on Monday. I taught them two of the same lessons as yesterday, as well as a drawing activity and a story ordering activity for 'Little Red Riding Hood'. 

It was a strange day. In the morning they worked really well! Really really well. The middle of the day was an entirely different story. First of all was assembly. A whole school one. I had to move three kids, and another one was behaving so badly I had to take him out. How embarrassing! But a couple of teachers told me I did the right thing. Then in class they wouldn't listen to a word I was saying, were loud, rude, out of their seats etc. Alisha (their teacher) came in to ask how it was going and went absolutely nuts at them telling them I'm a visitor and that they can't do this to supply teachers or they won't have any more coming back to teach them! After this the afternoon went much more smoothly. I think I came a long way today in terms of behaviour management. Sometimes I let the kids do things and turn a blind eye. After today's session in the middle I wasn't taking anything. I glared, I yelled, I wrote lists of those misbehaving and kept them in. I made kids apologise to me and to other kids. And it worked, they liked me better for it I think. 

Highlights included in the middle session one girl coming up, giving me a hug and saying "don't worry, you're a great teacher". And when I told them I'm back tomorrow they cheered - always a good sign!! Going to miss this school after this week I reckon!

We ended the day on a high too, because whenever they have a supply teacher they have to give out prizes at the end of the day. May have used them as bribery and the three most deserving kids got prizes! Including the boy with behavioural issues who, once I asked to pick up papers around the classroom improved his behaviour out of sight!!

I'm on my way home now, the earliest I've been. I'm meeting my friend James near Ann's place for dinner and beforehand think I might go for a run! It's lovely and sunny and I need some exercise. Ann has a huge park near hers called Tooting Common. Funny thing about dinner - one of the kids and I had this conversation:

V: Miss, what are you doing tonight?

Me: I'm having dinner with a friend - he's English!

V: Is he your husband?

Me: No!

V: Is he your boyfriend?

Me: No! But I'll tell him you've asked that and make him laugh!!!

Haha. Kids are so funny (when they aren't running riot in the classroom!!)

Love to all

Claire

Xoxox