Can't believe.... the last week is here

How time flies when you're having fun. Can not believe that this is the last week of our second placement - I am just beginning to feel settled and enjoying things. Teaching is going well on the whole, although there are those periods when something goes wrong and it gets you feeling realy down. Last period on Friday was one of those.... the class were as high as kites and whilst I thought I had managed to settle them down, they just would not shut up when they got started working. I was losing it completely and honestly couldnt think of what to do to get them to work quietly. In an open plan department, noise level is fundamental. Then one boy threw a paint brush and another spilled over a waterpot by accident!! Aaaargh!! Stress!! Not a good period. But then its all balanced out by a wonderful wee class who all sit there wide-eyed with their hands up desperate to tell you what they think, or the wee boys in the corridor who smile at you and say 'hi miss..' lol! I think its always really important to consider what made those periods go so badly... and of course take what you can from it and learn for the next time.

Oh... www.ratemyteacher.co.uk Has caused great deal of commotion in school last week. Not sure what I think about it. In some ways I think it is great to be able to hear what pupils think about you.... interactive learning/dialogue and all that, but then I think that perhaps what a pupil thinks just now in S1 or S2 isnt necesaarily how they will always feel about you. Does that make sense? Are they really the best judges of your performance as a teacher? Obviously yes, but in some ways I'd say no too. I would hope that all my pupils would think I am quite strict, and although they probably see that as a bad thing, I would say it is a good thing as a beginning teacher. I feel im not making sense anymore.

Its past my bedtime and im sleepy....

Enjoy the last few days everyone!