So what have I been doing recently?

I've had to absolutely scream at a student because he didn't turn up to my detention.  (I felt awful afterwards but it's the only way to deal with some kids or so I'm told.) I've been more tired and stressed than I have ever been, planning lessons for classes of about thirty boys from the ages of 11-16! This ( Read more... )

One of the things we learned about in teaching is the 'spiral curriculum' - that you go round the same topics but get deeper and deeper every time.  That's the way my brain feels at the moment - layers on layers - a spiral - there are so many things going round my head.

I had an amazing weekend with friends in Liverpool for the reunion of LAS! ( ( Read more... )

I'm loving the Olympics!  There is so much Olympic spirit in London.  Yeah, you get your usual cynics, but there is a lot less cynicism than I expected.  I think many people realise we're pretty lucky to have the Olympics in London instead of on the other side of the world and the UK are doing better this year than in a long time, possibly the best ( Read more... )

I had an interview on Monday and I thought I fluffed it but I found today I got the job!  It's teaching English at a brand new school in Wimbledon.  Callan Method, that I'm not too crazy about but it's probably ok and it's paid training.  I might get to do some normal classes too.  It's only starting up so it's a few hours a week only at the moment ( Read more... )

Still at the school with the deaf kids!  It's really nice, tiring.  5 year olds are very very cute but they have the attention span of a goldfish, enjoy getting grubby and constantly want to get their grubbiness on you, run around like crazy, but are still less wearing than kids in secondary school because you're not getting the rude teenager (or ( Read more... )

Today I got some work!  I was with the Hearing Impaired Unit in Reception (4-5 year olds)  in a primary school.  They were very cute!  I have to say, I didn't have to do a lot.  The teachers did most of the work (they have their own teacher and then they get to be in an "ordinary" Reception class sometimes).  I managed to pick up a little sign ( Read more... )

So I had my interview today for Kings College to do a PGCE starting September (Teaching Training Postgrad Course) and... do you want the short version or the long version?  Tough, you're getting the long version.  Or you can skip to the end because it's a bit tl; dr.

I wasn't sure how it went.  I wasn't sure that my presentation was amazing (we ( Read more... )

I really have a lot to say, but it's been ages since I posted.  I don't know why I don't write more.  I have had this journal for years and years and I haven't even 200 posts.  Most people with a journal as old as mine would have several thousands.  It's not as if I don't have things I want to post about, but I always overthink things and end up ( Read more... )

I'm finding it very hard to concentrate because I'm very tired and I'm having a very busy week.  But I want to write it all out for me, and you guys too I guess ( Read more... )

I started tutoring a girl today for Maths and Science.  She's 13 and she's being home schooled at the moment because she is having panic attacks and is physically sick when she tries to go into school.  I'm so sympathetic towards her, because I really understand hating school.  I wasn't physically sick luckily.  I didn't enjoy school much but I ( Read more... )