Two and a half weeks til Easter! Can't believe this term's gone so fast - it seems to have flown by. It doesn't seem to have been any where near as long, or as tiring as my first term, which has to be a good thing.

Thankfully, I seem to manage my classes better this term and everything. I'm also just starting to write schemes of work, as the KS4 scheme of work was only written up to October... All I need to know now is what GCSE papers the Year 10s will be doing; unfortunately this kind of vital information appears to be hidden from me!

At the minute, things are going pretty well generally, and I'm fairly happy. Things at school are good, and I have some good friends there who look after me - which is always a good thing...

Got the coolest present in the world today - maybe just to remind me of how young I am (I do make lots of mean comments about those people in the staffroom who are a significant number of years older - and probably wiser - than me), but maybe just to see if I'd go red; this appears to be a "game" in the staffroom at the minute! I got space dust - the stuff that pops in your mouth! It's great. And yes, I did go red, especially when people were trying to make me stick my tongue out while I was eating it, so they could hear it pop. So far, the spacedust is winning...

Year 9 parents' evening tomorrow, and then options evening on Monday... I've decided that it'll be easy compared to Year 11 parents' evening - I hate Year 11s!

Going away this weekend - to see my parents and grandparents - everybody's going to my grandparents. My little sister will be 7 on Friday, and I know we'll never be forgiven if we don't see her for her birthday, and it's also Mother's Day, so we decided the best thing to do is to try and keep my sister, my mother, and my grandmother all happy at the same time. The added bonus is that we're going to a Turkish & Greek restaurant for dinner on Sunday - I love Turkish food, and haven't had any for ages, so I'm really looking forward to it.

Other than that, I'm just waiting for the end of term really... Enjoying school at the minute, but time off is always welcome. The 12 weeks holiday a year has to be the main perk of teaching!

We're still struggling to find a church in Reading - have tried all of the Catholic ones, but none of them really feel right... I guess after going to Sacred Heart in Exeter for so long, my expectations are probably a bit high, and I'm going about finding a church in the wrong way... I think I've been looking for something a bit too much like Sacred Heart - the churches here just aren't like that! Not one of them has a music group every Sunday - they use an organ and choir. I guess I could try to learn to sing & join a choir... I miss being in a music group!

Have spent the last two days tiling a floor (yes, really), and now have sore knees (despite knee pads) and have discovered some leg muscles I didn't know existed. I'm not exactly jubilant about my discovery, as I have only found said muscles because they hurt! Today, we just have grouting to do, and then we have the rest of half term to ourselves.

Tiling has made my hands really hard and flaky - very distressing! guess at least now they match my dry face and legs!

It's half term! School's closed today, so just did some sorting out of stuff, but no children! I'm now half way through my NQT year, and the past half term just seems to have flown by, and I'm far less stressed and much more confident than before, so it looks like I might actually have a more enjoyable half term than before because I've actually got some energy left. I think it's partly because I have some lovely people who look after me well at school, and my tutor group are regularly visited by our year head just to remind them that they are being watched - it helps me too, and I know that I have support there when I need it.

Apparently, I have changed quite a lot this half term, and I'm better with the way I speak to the kids, & I'm not afraid to tell them off when they do bad things like stick their heads around the staffroom door - how dare they interrupt my lunch?!!! I've also started to be more "witty" (well, that's how I like to think of it, even if others wouldn't agree), and say things that are 'quite good by girl standards' like hysterical and historical, which I'm still quite proud of... & pointing out that I know who David Essex is because that's the kind of thing my grandparents play in the car - well maybe that was a bit harsh, but it was funny; I thought so any way.

I will miss verbally beating people up over half term - I'm hoping that I don't get too out of practise over the next week, that would be very upsetting.

Well, it's just one more week til half term, which is nice, and then we're off down to Exeter for the week. Should be nice.

Had two days off school this week because I was really ill - on Saturday evening last week, I just started sneezing, and by Sunday evening, I had a full blown flu type thing. So, Monday I slept, and Tuesday I shuffled around the house feeling sorry for myself. It really was not nice! Back to school on Wednesday though. Tried to get sympathy there, but as usual, they just made fun of me!

Was going to do Year 9 assembly yesterday - it would've been good. But no one told me that they were going to watch a Shakespeare thing, and so they didn't have assembly. I think it's just because everyone's scared that I'm going to get a clap again, & they're jealous. Last time I did assembly, I got a clap; I bet I would've done yesterday too. It's not my fault Head of Year assemblies don't get claps too! Never mind. I'll do my assembly next week, and I'll still get a clap then, so everyone'll still be jealous.

Well, this week for the first time ever, snow did not have any real effect on the rail network, and so on Wednesday, I missed my train to school by 2 minutes... I didn't know it'd been snowing til I left the house at 6:50, and the snow somewhat impaired my usually brisk walk to the station!

For the past two days, we have once again found ourselves orphaned in the RE department, as our head of department has been ill. And, this afternoon, due to a cover teacher who couldn't quite manage the Year 10 class, I looked after two classes at once. I was amazed, and rather happy about the fact that my own class sat quietly and got on with their work whilst I prevented mayhem from breaking out next door...

Tomorrow, we're going to London, and on Sunday, will be marching on Whitehall, as tomorrow is the anniversary of the death of Charles I. Sadly, I will be unable to carry a musket, as I hurt my hand last week stopping a fight between two Year 8s. I'm fairly gutted, but such is life.

We will be marching down Whitehall properly dressed as English Civil War soldiers, which is historical, as opposed to being properly dressed in Star Trek uniform, which is simply hysterical - apparently my use of the play on words was quite good - for a girl, any way! And no, I have never dressed in a Star Trek uniform!!!

Another new week; more annoying children. One of my Yr 11s thought it was funny to throw drink all over my classroom today, so he's coming to pick chewing gum off my tables after school tomorrow.

Other than that, not much exciting is going on at the minute. Been writing reports, and hurting my eyes (by writing reports)... Very tired, & feeling a bit grotty because of it. Oh well!

It's been ages since I blogged, but I have been busy. Done 2 weeks back at school now, and this term has started off better than the last one finished, and the kids seem to have accepted / become resigned to the fact that they haven't managed to drive me away!!!

Been observed twice already, but both of my lessons were good, so only have to be observed once more!

Year 9've been a pain, but we've been year-head-less, cos he hurt his back putting on his socks!! So, I think that at least partly explains why the kids've been bouncing off the walls - us tutors just don't have quite the same effect when we tell them off. Also, I don't have space in my classroom to have 'cupboard buddies'. I think we'll all be glad when he's back at school!

Any way, off to see my grandparents now. It's not too far to go and see them from here; we're staying over night, and it's definitely well worth it for the Sunday roast we'll get tomorrow!

End of term!!! Almost can't believe I've got through a whole term...

Now, there's 2 weeks off... But things've been tough at home, and prayers'd be much appreciated at the moment... Not something I really want to talk about at the minute, but it's put me in a real bad mood all day today - & on the last day of term! But, I was well looked after at school, which was nice.

Have just been listening to Chasing Cars - now it can go on my ipod! & it does have beautiful lyrics...

Hopefully going up to Stevenage to see my little brother on Saturday - he'll be 10 next week! & then on Sunday, we should be going down to Exeter until the 27th, & then up to Warwickshire for the rest of the break. Hopefully everything'll work out OK...

Chasing Cars does have beautiful lyrics - I am glad there's other people out there who appreciate the same stuff as I do!!!

Last week of term - 3 & a half days left to go, and I am looking forward to it, but in a way will probably miss it for two whole weeks. It is quite a long time, but I don't think I'll change much in that time!

I have also been given my lesson material for the remainder of term, at least for KS3 - it comes in DVD form, and is otherwise known as 'the Grinch', and though I might be sick to the eye teeth of it by the end of the week, I'll watch it over & over again because I've been told to by my head of department, and who am I to disagree?!

Didn't say when I blogged on Friday, but I did my first assembly for Year 9. I got a clap for it & everything! Talked to them about Mary (Jesus' mum) and Muhammad (pbuh), and how they were both brave enough to change the world. I said that I wasn't asking them to change the world, but was asking them to spend the holiday thinking about any part of themselves that may need changing in the new school term. Afterwards, I had quite a few kids come up to me and tell me that it was a 'sick' assembly, which I am assured does mean 'good'(!); I was quite pleased... Only 2 of us have got a clap for our assemblies this term!

Not much else to say, really, but what / where is Galway Bay? (It's in Fairytale of New York - another good song - by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl...)

One more week of term left!

This week has been odd...

On Wednesday, it was the old people's party at school. Colin, Kemme & me entertained them, and then I got ignored while all of the ladies flirted with Colin & Kemme...

I got so scared - had forgotten how nervous I get. I played clarinet for them, and I was shaking!

No more panic attacks, but I did come close to it on Thursday. My Year 11s were a pain. Really bad lesson! But they're in exams all next week, so the most contact I have to have with them is invigilating, which is good...

Had a song going round in my head all week, which is odd for me - I listen to my ipod on the way to school, and on the train on the way home, so usually I have at least a song a day in my head... But this week, one song's just got stuck there. It's Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol (it's not even on my ipod! & Snow Patrol aren't one of my favourite bands in the world either); to 'just forget the world' sounds a really good idea...

9 days of school til the end of term! & counting...

Old people's party this week - I'm playing clarinet for them... Haven't played on my own, or even outside of church for ages. Have been practising, and so I'm not going bright red every time I play now - which is good.

Really tired. Not sleeping as well as usual, so I'm not getting any less tired. It's not good.

Walked to Henley on Saturday (about 10 miles). Got about half way there, and came to a flood! We walk along the river bank, and it was flooded. So, we walked through it. Got very wet!! We did get to Henley eventually, and it was good. Met some really odd people! Got a train home - it's easier than walking home in the dark!!!

Had my first panic attack in a long time at the weekend - proper hyperventilation and everything. It went on for ages, and because I haven't had one for so long, I don't keep beta blockers or anything like that any more, so I just had to deal with it. Was knackered afterwards - that really wasn't good...

Less than 3 weeks of school left til we finish for Christmas - am looking forward to the break!

Still being observed lots, but have started to get better feedback; on Friday, my lesson was even 'good'!!! & with a difficult class, so I was really happy. Being observed again tomorrow - am a bit nervous because it's a difficult class, but I'm hoping it'll be OK. If I can get at least a 'satisfactory', I'll feel a bit less pressured!

All in all, things are going pretty well. We went properly out for the night on Saturday - didn't get home til 3am! It was good, but I was so hungover on Sunday morning & I'd only had about 6 drinks in 9 hours - how pathetic is that?!

Sorry to you Exeter people I upset with my last post - it wasn't you that the bit about the past was aimed at.

I received an unwelcome forwarded email at the weekend. I would like the person who requested that the email be forwarded to know that I don't want to know about their life, and I certainly do not want to re-initiate contact. Any contact of any kind is unwelcome. I would also like that person to leave me alone to get on with my life, and stop trying to look me up on Google or anywhere else. There is no element of my life that is shared or held in common with that person any more; I would like to keep it that way.

I am glad that I still have friends who read my blog, & there are others who are also welcome, but the author of the email is not welcome here.

Don't you just hate it when the past creeps up on you? Often in unwanted ways... I hate that.

Once again, it's been a long time since I blogged. Now, there's only 4 weeks left until the end of term, & either the kids are settling down, or I'm getting used to them.

The worst thing about having to share a classroom is the mess other people leave, and the fact that they don't rub the board when they're finished. There are not any board rubbing fairies, and so when I go back into my room, I have to do it; and then there's the paper all over the floor. My tutor group now know that on the days that someone else uses my classroom before lunch, they get to clean up in afternoon registration so it's not so much of a mess for the afternoon...

Any way, right now, I have to write a worksheet on Diwali for Year 7...

Well, once again, it appears to be almost 2 whole months since I blogged. It has been a v busy 2 months - since last time, I have moved house, and have been teaching for almost 5 whole weeks. It is only 8 more school days until half term, which is quite a big landmark for me!

School has generally been good, but I think that with some of my classes, it will take them a while longer to realise that I AM a permanent fixture! Hopefully, they will start to settle down a bit soon.

Sometimes, school is a bit difficult - in some ways, I think it's because I care a lot more about my classes than I did last year; that might sound really bad, but while I was doing my PGCE, I was only ever temporarily teaching someone else's classes, & knew that I'd be giving them back at the end of my placement. But now, my classes are mine, & there's no one to give them back to, and I am essentially responsible for how well they perform in their GCSE (in the case of Years 10 & 11).

I'm finding that there are plenty of challenges - both in terms of behaviour, and pupils who don't speak much English - I'm getting to be good at using on-line Polish-English / English-Polish translators, as one of my pupils is in the early stages of learning English, and sometimes needs a bit of help with some vocabulary!

Thankfully, there are people in the staffroom who really help me get through the tough days, and people who also struggle with some of my more difficult classes...

Outside school, life is getting easier - I'm finding that I can stay up until after 10 now that I'm getting used to getting up at 6 to go to school! For a while, I was in bed by 10 every night, just to make sure that I could get up the next day!!

In a couple of weeks, I have a hospital appointment in Oxford, to discuss whether my eye can be operated on (to straighten it; it won't really do anything for my sight); and I also have to have some kidney x-rays (not related to my eyes) as I've been having really nasty pains in my kidney region.

Other than that, I'm fairly healthy, and things are going well. Looking forward to half term, but enjoying my job too!

Well, it seems that it's almost a whole two months since I blogged.

I obviously forgot to blog about the fact that I HAVE A JOB!!! It is now only 2 and a half weeks 'til I start (where has the summer gone?!).

It means that I will be moving to Reading within the next couple of weeks. So, new house, new school...

My Significant Other will be coming with me. We're planning on getting married next year - can't afford to do it just yet!

So, life is pretty much full of excitement at the minute. It's changes all round.

I've also got "new" hair - it needs cutting before I start school, but it is now red... I probably also need new glasses, and may also be having my left eye operated on to straighten it - it is moving further out of line.

Also had fun & games in trying to get a new copy of my birth certificate - nightmare! It appears that my birth may have been registered 3 times (!!!) and under 2 different names (surnames), and twice in 1986 & once in 1987, and not at all in 1983... Parents are a nightmare!

Well, I still don't have a job for September. Starting to get a bit concerned now, but if I don't have one, I might just do an MA and look for a job for next September. I think I'm getting better at the interview thing, and I know I'm a good teacher - I was judged as outstanding in every aspect of my teaching practice. I guess the right school just hasn't come up yet, but it's still really frustrating and demeaning going for all these interviews, and still not having a job. To be fair, most of the schools I didn't really like any way, so it's probably better that I didn't get a job in them...

Yesterday, I did the Race for Life in Luton. I'm quite proud of myself. I did no training, and I don't do running. I haven't even tried to run any considerable distance since I was about 14, I think. But I ran (and walked - I didn't run all the way!) 5km in 35 minutes. I was impressed. It was very hot, and sometimes I was held up by the fact that in places, there wasn't really enough room for all the people to get through.

On Wednesday, I'm moving back down to Devon to be closer to my fiance; and then in September, either we'll be moving somewhere else if I have a job, or we'll be staying put for another year. We'll have to see what happens.

I have finished my school experience!!! No more lessons for me (well, not til September any way!)... I'm kind of happy that I've finished, but quite sad to be leaving the school too... Still don't have a job for September, but lots of resignations will be going in over the next couple of weeks, so hopefully I'll get something... Prayers on that one would be much appreciated.

So, it's now half term, and I am exhausted! I think it's partly because now that I know that I've finished school, I'm letting myself feel the tiredness that has been building up. it may also be because I carried my two HUGE school folders home today. Big leverach things they are, and they're full of lesson plans and stuff.

Any way, talking of exhaustion, I think it's time for bed...

So nearly there... 12 lessons left til I finish school (2 lessons tomorrow, at an interview Friday, 1 lesson Monday, 3 lessons Tuesday, 2 lessons Wednesday, 4 lessons Thursday, staff training day Friday)... Will be sad to leave, but am still excited about reaching the end of this year - it's been hard work. I know I've got more hard work to come, but finishing will be clearing a major hurdle!

When I finish school, I then have a week off (half term) which will be nice, and then I go back to college for just over a week, and then I have nearly 3 WHOLE MONTHS OFF!!! I will be working - am marking GCSE exam papers over the summer...

I just can't believe how close I am to being a REAL TEACHER...

A belated crisis of confidence?

Well, I'm now almost half way through the week, meaning that I've got 2 and a half weeks left at school... And, I'm having a crisis of confidence - along the lines of what I perceive to be my lack of classroom control (apparently, according to everyone else, not an issue; I even held it together when my video was in the wrong place, and then rain started coming through the ceiling onto the children...); my tendency to get flustered (EVERYone who's observed me has commented on how calm I am.... Am I sure they're talking about ME?!!); whether I'm going to fail (no causes for concern, so apparently not...).

So despite my worries, other people think that I'm good, and even I know some of my strengths, but it didn't stop me from crying down the phone to my other half... Oh well, it's half term soon....