So we are more than halfway through term 2, this time last year I was in the middle of my first placement, stressing my head off about crits and profiles, this year is no different, only it's observed teaching, reports, parents night, ASPs, Parents Nights and more Parents Nights!
5 observed lessons down, and I've not been sacked, something must be half decent 
The DHT has been in, and has yet to give me feedback, BUT, I'm still here so she can't have observed anything that was a sackable offence!! 
I have had my first Parent's Evening, and it went well, it was really good to meet with Parents and listen to their points of view on ocassion. I dont know how long it will take before I'm not nervous to share the bad news, as well as the good!! One parent was quite intimidating, and she reminded me a little of one character from Shameless, I'll let you guess who! But in general, the parents were very pleasant and accepted the majority of things that were said, one even gave me a bottle of Rose wine!!
23 days teaching until the next holiday!!
The October week has come and gone, I now haven't had pupils infront of me in a class room for 10 school days, 2 whole weeks! I have enjoyed the break, but I feel like I am so much more confident now.
In the last week of term, I went to Loch Eil Outward Bound Centrw with a group of 1st year pupils, I had to deal with travel sickness, home sickness, and diving in freezing cold Lochs as a forfeit for cheating, the word used by many of the first years who didnt like getting beat at killer basketball, bar football, the Clan challenege or in the raft race!
OK so they're between 11-13, but learning to lose is just as important as learning to win, or I am a PE teacher, and hate getting beat at anything! The kids were awesome, took part in so many different things, conquered fears, bonded as a team and presented infront of their peers! I was chuffed for them. My personal highlight was the praise from a tyeacher who travelled with us, who is also on the parent council.
Bring on the kids.......
It is absolutely crazy how quickly the weeks pass, I have 2 periods in the week I dread, and they are right in the middle!! Up until period 5 on a Wednesday, I can teach pretty well, and after period 7 on a Wednesday, I am back to my best!
For that 100 minutes of my life, I cannot for the life of me get those kids to be quiet for more than 2 minutes, nor can I get them to take part in a Badminton practice without playing a full on rally! I have no idea what else to do!!!
But still, due to probationer training, and the weekend, I have only 4 more days with the kids in school until October break, I am off to Loch Eil for the second half of next week, and although there will be young folks there, I'll be living it up going canooing, rock climbing, gorge walking.........jealous?
This has been an eventful week, but without school trips!! My Bank account was shut due to fraudulent activity, I lost my pen drive, the Pope visited and I had my first crazy situation to deal with!!
Picture the scence, large games hall, 30 kids, not enough shuttles for everyone to play, whilst Im hunting for shuttles, one little bampot has more than enough for him and 6 other folk to play, but he's pelting them off another pupils back, and finishes off by swinging his racquet at her!!!!! I quickly asked him to step outside, and left him for a few minutes before going to speak to him!
I walked outside, asked him what was going on, got some attitude, and told him I couldnt trust him to come back into the lesson, whilst he is walking away telling em to 'Shut Up'! I asked the young lad to come back down the stairs to me and his reply was priceless.....
'WHIT SO AH KIN COME AND LISTEN TO YOU TALKING SH%&E, AWAY YOU AND F^^K OFF!'
I was so surprised I just laughed at him, then I thought, how the heck do I deal with this? I walked back into the class, and even the kids asked me why I was laughing! I guess we'll see how he is in a few days when he is back in school!!
What did I learn from this.......SMILE! It annoys them even more!!
Its almost time for a shandy!!
Week four has been ticked off! I had my first probationer training day on wednesday, and although not all of the activities can be used within the PE lesson, I gained a few ideas that I want to try with my Standard Grade group when they are in the theory lesson.
What was also good about the training day (no not the lunch in the Primary) but, hearing that I am not the only one who is havving trouble with settling pupils down at the beggining of lessons is somewhat relieving! It was also good to hear of other peoples successes and to try to relate back to my own teaching performance.
I had another trip out to Hampden, this time to watch the dross that was on display on Tuesday night!! I feel that I set a good example, of how to abuse Kris Boyd without actually swearing at him! I then got to jump around like a 13 year old again when McManus scored, and to my horror, I looked around to see the other teachers merely standing applauding, embarrassed is an understatement! Although embarassed, I feel like that minute of madness has endeared me to the kids who were there, and they now know that I am a 'normal' person, and not just a big bad teacher, which should hopefully make life a little easier for me.
I cant believe that its only 2 weeks until the September weekend, this year is flying by a little too quickly!
Again, this week seems to have flashed before my eyes! I have developed a sore throat, and a runny nose!! The pupils have taken my pleas for sympathy silence well, and settled down really quickly, I might layer it on this thick every week!! Yesterday, I had my first trip out of the School, where we went to Hampden, for the stadium and museum tours with the second year football team.
I think I was more excited than the kids were in the museum, taking pictures like a snap happy tourist!! It was good to see the pupils outside of the normal school environment, and the more informal setting allowed for a more relaxed conversation with the majorty of them.
We were in the underground training area where they could measure the pace of your shot, and I think I was more nervous here than I was with my first class I had on my own. I was dreading missing the target, especially after the toher two staff managed it in dress shoes!! I didnt exactly put the laces through it, but it hit the back of the net, and I scored double what the other members of staff did, so the boys were impressed!!
First CPD day is next wednesday, hopefully meet some of you guys then.....its Basketball time!
And even more so at break times, lunchtimes and bedtimes!!! Every morning for the past week when my alarms gone off I could swear that I had only just shut my eyes!!This weeks been OK, it wasnt my turn to drive, so alertness wast an early requirement!!
Week 2 has come and gone, I have had my first mentor meeting, organised my first twillight, organised my first observed lesson and most importnatly had my first Teacher wage (if anyone makes any comment about a half wage I wont be happy), it may have been a paltry sum compared to a few full time friends, but it was most definitely the largest sum ever paid into my bank account that wasnt from SAAS or the SLC!!!!
The kids are becoming more used to me being around the school, and will generally stop to have a chat with you in the lunch hall, and I feel like Ive settled into the department well, especially when you're allowed to dish out some jokes about a particular Glaswegian football sides dismal European Away form and join in on the Daily Records Tuesday funday quizzes and Double Words sessions!
I feel like Im getting to grips with classroom control, although one 4th year boy did tell me to F**k Off on Monday, but in the main, the kids here are great! So, the weekend is almost upon us, its time for me to blow my wages on trackies, trainers, whistles and Stopwatches........
Im off to SportsDirect!!!
So, week one flew in and I didnt feel as if i had taught much after laying down the ground rules with all my new classes, even less with the first years who seem to take forever to get changed into their kit. After numerous question of who is Mr.(Insert any number of mis-pronounced PE teachers names), week one was over and to be honest the rest was welcomed, I cant wait until my sleep pattern has sorted out!!
Week two is halfway gone, and tommorrow is payday!! It may only be a half wage but itll be the most Ive earned in one month in my life!! I have started to settle in, and it gets a little easier when the pupils get to know you, and you get to know them. Ill be taking the second year football team, so might bump into soe of you at games, just look out for a KYLE LAFFERTY and BASSHUNTER lookalike, I have no idea what Basshunter looks like, but the first one is just down right offensive, have you seen the nick of his barnet, and that daft celebration.
A badminton Racquest is calling my name.........