. . . . . but not in a way that the workers on here would recognise as work. This morning a former pupil came to see me, she has been having real trouble at school with bullying and all-round general unpleasantness so hopes to be changing schools. She wanted to find out if she would be able to cope in mainstream so wanted some up-to-date figures. We acquired them: she can't, not without support (her current school is not doing much for her apart from making her stand out from the crowd) so I found myself saying 'Do you want to come back, just once a week, so we can improve things?' She said yes.
Gulp. I know it isn't going to be that onerous, just one hour a week, but I am severely out of practice and have no idea where my teaching materials are (or what I preserved). I will have to get used to making my own worksheets once again (all individually tailored to her needs, all my pupils had individual stuff) and dig out the red and blue wooden letters, my Lettercase (I think I still have it) and - the best bit - her favourite game which is Snakes and Ladders. I might treat us to a luxury version.

This thirteen year old has been self-harming at the behest of the bullies - her parents and me want her out of that toxic situation, she's a very gentle, quiet and timid girl and needs a fresh start. The pressures that young teens are now facing are horrendous - and very disturbing. DD
Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
Comments
I imagine that you of all people will be able to do a grand job with or without tools and you might just make an amazing difference to somebody's life. Good luck with finding things and preparing your worksheets - small bits of effort at a time please.
Anyway good luck and if I can be of help just PM me.
Julian of Norwich
Slosh? It's all in hand and thank you for the offer - I may take you up on it, that depends on what I unearth! I was fairly up-to-date before I finished, I've just got to find it. DD
smile another smile and soon there
will be miles and miles of smiles
just because you smiled I wish your
day is full of Smiles
You'll be the one to help her and its good that you offered
It will probably help you as well......I know you say 1 hour a week isn't much but it is for you when you haven't done it for a while but it will help both of you I think.
Good luck
Love
Hileena
The little girl is very lucky to have help and I am sure she will come on leaps and bounds
I was taken out of school through bullying - it was an awful ordeal for me, my parents had moved from a flat to a house so I had to change schools and because I was different (and smart) I was picked on.
I ended up being home schooled by parents who had 'other priorities' - I don't want to go into detail, but I had no one there for me and got into a lot of trouble.
Having only educated myself, I managed to get into college at 16 after having an 'epiphany' and after college ended up working as a Junior accountant (until the arthritis got too bad) for a reputable firm with a promising career.
I found that Kadampa Buddhist meditation helped me immensely get over my 'demons' (the bullying was the tip of the iceberg, but it had really upset me and was at the core of a lot of my issues) - maybe it is something that can help the little girl too?
Best wishes,
Charleeh x
(sorry to waffle, its something close to my heart)
When I was young there was, of course, bullying but, because there was no Facebook or Twitter or, indeed, computers, it ended at the school gates and there was some respite for those on the receiving end. Now it seems to be non-stop.
your pupil new who to come too you are the right person to help her.
i know it will give you a lot of hard work but you will both have the rewards.
how is your sore throat.
take care
joan xx
joan xx
I was bullied at school too – I was 'different' due to arthritis. Thankfully no physical violence was involved, but the verbal insults got a bit much at times and it became difficult to get up in the morning and go to school. I think it would've helped a lot if I'd felt there was someone on my side and I'm sure this girl will benefit from any assistance you're able to give her
Best wishes,
Phee
Barbara
The 21st century explosion of social media offers much more scope for cowards to attack and the general exposure of young minds to self-harm, anorexia, bulimia, etc. will influence their ideas of what is the norm. Even supposed adults fall under the ghastly spell of twitbook, happily launching unprovoked attacks on people they do not know and will never meet but they still feel they can pass on their cruel and usually vacuous comments because they are protected by anonymity - the apparently 'church-going lovely-and-kind woman' (who targeted the McCanns) recently killed herself after her identity was discovered is proof that people cannot face the results of their actions. Social media has a good face and a very bad one. We can choose which face we use but youngsters may not have a fully-developed moral compass available to them: if you regularly witness your parents cheerfully unfriending total strangers what are you going to learn from that behaviour? Not a lot.
I'll shut up now. DD
and DD I agree with you about certain people with social networks, my Dad couldn't control himself and had 3 women on the go at once (he would normally only have 1 affair at a time) .... My mom's not much better but needless to say that ended their 25 year relationship / 10 year marriage.
I use social networks as I have family all over the UK and friends and more family all over the world and I can share my holiday pics and chat to them for free
I can't understand the 'key board warrior' as my husband calls them - I'd never say anything than i would say in person.... its a thing I can't get my head around?? - and I am 23 LOL
Best wishes,
Charleeh
and p.s - I got a good look into 'real life' and 'normality' from my 1st job @ 16, I worked in a family run chippy and I saw how much the father loved his kids and worked all the hours for them and his wife and how much of a moral person he was... I do think that they had a big influence in changing my perception of the world. Just having one person reach out to you demonstrating a good honest way of life can me massively influential on children. Especially those who lose respect for older people / authorities that should have been helping them.
You'll make a big difference without realising.... I never tell my old boss that I have said here and I see them often (he would get big headed lol)
maybe not miraculous DD, but wonderful certainly, to put aside your own considerable difficulties to help this girl.