A new school year

joanlawson

Although I've been retired from teaching for quite a long time, I still miss the buzz of starting a new school year each September.

I used to teach primary-age children, so I was with my class all day and every day once the year began. Over the year, I got to know the children in my class very well, and I used to regard them as my second family. I loved the challenge of discovering each child's individual personality and capabilities, and then devising ways of helping them to achieve their full potential.

Each new school year, it was like opening a new chapter in a very exciting book, wondering what lay ahead for all the characters in the story, but knowing it was going to be great fun to find out. It was also hard work and often exhausting, but a real privilege to work with children.

Next week, I will be thinking of all the children starting back to school, their teachers who will be busily preparing for the year, and also the parents who work hard to support the schools. I should also mention school governors, like our own Nina Kang, who work hard in the background without very much in the way of thanks.

Joan

julie47

Joan ......you could always come and teach me to paint as good as you.

juliepf x

Ankyspond

You said that so beautifully, I have spent the last couple of days getting ready to go back (I teach secondary) wondering what the new ones will be like, planning to put a rocket up the older ones to get the coursework finsihed.

I love my job even though its stressfull it gives me a sense of being able to help someone. Nothing better than a child who was predicted a low grade and them getting a much higher one and seeing the smile on thier face. Or a child who has just learnt to do something and the look of satisfaction!

Must admit though will be hard after the holidays, especially on the bones. xx

joanlawson

julie47 wrote:

Joan ......you could always come and teach me to paint as good as you.

juliepf x

I'm afraid I've still got a lot to learn about art myself, Julie, but I do enjoy it. That's one of the things I miss about school because I always loved teaching art. I wasn't quite so keen on teaching maths, but as a primary school teacher you have to cover the whole curriculum. Some of the Year 6 children were better than me at maths, and light years ahead of me on computers.

Once when I was teaching maths to some 5-year-olds, one little boy gave me a very pained look and asked, '' What exactly is the learning objective of this lesson?'' ( his exact words )

tonesp

Partially Agree Joan Loved the contact withthe kids BUT the relentless paper work record keeping policy documents and staff meetings drove me out early Not to mention OFSTED

joanlawson

Ankyspond wrote:

You said that so beautifully, I have spent the last couple of days getting ready to go back (I teach secondary) wondering what the new ones will be like, planning to put a rocket up the older ones to get the coursework finsihed.

I love my job even though its stressfull it gives me a sense of being able to help someone. Nothing better than a child who was predicted a low grade and them getting a much higher one and seeing the smile on thier face. Or a child who has just learnt to do something and the look of satisfaction!

Must admit though will be hard after the holidays, especially on the bones. xx

Hi Anky, I don't envy you teaching secondary age these days, although I think the majority are hard-working and keen to get on well. It's just that difficult minority who try to spoil things for everyone.

It is a stressful job because you don't switch off from it very easily when you get home. People don't realise how many hours teachers have to put in at home as well as school. However, as you say, it's very rewarding when children achieve something. With young children, it might be a very small step like learning to write their names, but their sense of achievement makes the job worthwhile.

Good luck with the new school year, Anky

Joan

joanlawson

tonesp wrote:

Partially Agree Joan Loved the contact withthe kids BUT the relentless paper work record keeping policy documents and staff meetings drove me out early Not to mention OFSTED

Yes, I agree Tone that all the paperwork etc. has taken the fun out of the job to a large degree. It's funny to remember that the head of my very first school ( many moons ago ) didn't believe in having staff meetings. He thought that he was paid to make the important decisions, and didn't want to waste time on meetings. Now schools have meetings about meetings :roll:

The last time I was OFSTEDed, I left my glasses at home, so I couldn't read a word. :roll: I got round it by asking the children to read out loud to the class, and the inspector who sat in on my literacy lesson praised me for the active involvement of the children in the lesson

Joan

valval

both our local comprehensive schools have become acadamys with the same uniform and it looks awful black and purple (white shirts and blouses) where the pride in there school going to come from changing a name does not make it a better school we have three junior schools all called the same now as well what going on with schools these days . joan wish i had had a teacher like you might have made more of my self with a little more confidance val

joanlawson

I agree, Val, that all the changes in education going on at the moment are very confusing. The comprehensive school where I live is one of the biggest in the country, and it has just become an academy. The teachers didn't want this and took strike action against it, but it went through anyway. The school has been rewarded with a lot more money to spend, but I wonder how long this will last. It will be interesting to see what happens to all the academies and free schools in the future. I suspect that any schools which don't become academies will be starved of funds and will eventually have to change or close.

Thank you for the compliment, Val Building self-confidence in the children was always one of my main aims. Sadly, some of them feel that they are failures at a very young age, so it's up to the teacher to rectify this.

valval

good teachers are what is needed with great head teacher and the parents behind them so there is discipline and the right atmosphere to learn in
because both schools have only had there present uniforms a year they have provided a ful uniform for each child what a waste of money that is

joanlawson

You are right, Val. I've worked for some brilliant head teachers, but also some rubbish ones. It makes such a difference when everyone works together as a team.

valval

i always went in and helped with reading etc so saw what some of the brats were like and there mothers thought they were so lovely and well behaved and the first to go having a go at teacher if they told little darling off for not sitting still and paying attention.
these days so few children know how to sit and listen how they suposed to learn anything sorry off on one val

NinaKKang

Thanks Joan, but all governors know a school is only as good as the teachers within it Hats off to teachers who put up with kids all day every day - I struggle with just my own in the holidays!

Our primary school has been brilliant for all my girls both academically and emotionally. It's not rated as one of the best in the city but the teachers and Head are outstanding in their attitude and their commitment to the children's education and well being.

My eldest is a real worrier and perfectionist. Her teachers brought her out of herself and taught her that it's OK not to be top in everything and making mistakes is human.

My middle child has confidence issues (doesn't help that, at 9 years old, she is 5'4" tall), but the teachers have worked hard with her to show her what a lovely girl she is. She's such a monkey now!

My youngest has always been overshadowed by her brilliant eldest sisters as she's quieter than them, but her teachers proved to her what a star she is and that, she's not only just as bright as them, she is, if anything, brighter, as she's learned from them!

Having met you and got to know you well, Joan, I know you were a teacher who did this countless times too. Priceless.

It was after attending this primary school that our eldest sat an exam and got herself into one of the best secondary schools in the country. They have a sibling rule so her sisters will follow her. The house we're moving to has a school round the corner from it, but we will still drive our youngest two to their current primary school, we're so pleased with it.

Nxx

joanlawson

All three of your girls would be an absolute delight to teach, Nina. They are all fantastic personalities, and would be an asset to any school. It's good to know that they are happy at their schools, and I know that they will all do very well in the future. You'd better start saving up for university fees X3 now because you're going to need them

Wish Ellen, Simie, and Jassie our very best wishes and love for the new school year.

joanlawson

valval wrote:

i always went in and helped with reading etc so saw what some of the brats were like and there mothers thought they were so lovely and well behaved and the first to go having a go at teacher if they told little darling off for not sitting still and paying attention.
these days so few children know how to sit and listen how they suposed to learn anything sorry off on one val

Most parents are supportive of the teachers, but you do get some of the other kind too, unfortunately. I was once physically assaulted by the father of one of my pupils. He hadn't made an appointment for a parents' evening, but expected to be seen by me immediately. When I asked him politely to wait, he picked up a heavy tray full of books and threw it at me with some force, knocking me off my feet. Luckily, other parents came to my rescue and the man left the building in a hurry. I was bruised and shocked, but didn't report the assault to the Police, although I had many witnesses. These days, I wouldn't hesitate to report it, but then I didn't want to make a fuss about it. I never got an apology from the man, but I felt a lot of sympathy for the child having to live with a father like that. :roll:

frogmorton

Oh Joan :sad:

Poor poor you :sad: That must have been a shock!!

Well my eldest, got her GCSE results last week and is now considering teaching of all things!!!!

Back to school tuesday to start her A levels.

Mind l am ready for them to go l have had her and her step sis off since May and youngest since July....this Mum is ready for a rest

Love

Toni xx

joanlawson

Hi Toni

Yes, it was a nasty shock, but many teachers could tell about such incidents, unfortunately :roll: A boy once threw a metal chair at me because I asked him to take off his baseball cap in school. :shock: He was suspended for a day, so he got a day off school as a reward for his aggressive behaviour :roll: He's probably one of the rioters we've seen on TV recently, I shoudn't wonder :roll:

Good luck to your daughter with her A levels, Toni. If she is considering teaching, she should try to get some work experience in a school if she can. My daughter was allowed a bit of time every week to go and help in an infant school, and this helped her a lot to understand what the job involves. She is now head of Early Years (nursery, plus 2 reception classes) at an infant school in Yorkshire. She has a busy life with three children of her own as well, but she loves the job.

Enjoy the rest next week

Joan

NinaKKang

Thanks Joan, I told the girls you wished them a happy new school year and they were pleased... although Ellen did huff and puff a bit because she started back on 24th August Simie and Jassie's holidays seem to have dragged since she went back, and they do seem a little lost without their bossy big sister!

Nxx