It's been a while...

When I started this reflective blog back in September, I was certain that I would write a post every single week, writing about my teaching ventures on placement and at uni... I'll admit, I was naive, and had a lot more energy than I can even imagine having now! This job takes it out of you, and the course doesn't help. When you're not at school, you're at home, planning for the next week, and when the odd holiday does come up, there's assignments to complete for uni. But here I am, having made it through both assignments, and actually feeling refreshed after being able to enjoy the final half term holiday before the course ends. 

I completed my first placement in Year 3 back in February, which is slightly terrifying. I managed to leave with a solid Good grade, and was lucky enough to be invited back to the school for Enrichment Week, where myself and two other PGCEs held an Easter themed activity with years 1,3 and 4. Our activity was loosely Science based, with the children participating in an outdoors scavenger hunt, where they came across an egg. After a discussion about the significance of eggs around the Easter period, we had a bit of fun - they then got to imagine their own creature that could have hatched from the egg, and make them out of clay. All children across the year groups were engaged, and enjoyed the activities a lot - it was also great for me to go back into my Year 3 class and see their shocked, excited faces as they realised I was back! 

I've now been in a lovely Year 6 class since April, and although it was difficult to actually teach anything in the lead up to SATs, I'm loving the relaxed atmosphere there is now that they are over; it also helps that Year 6 are a LOT less scary than I expected! I've found myself becoming a lot more confident and comfortable in my teaching role, and love the different relationships I've built with the children; I've found that I can be a lot more sarcastic with them and joke around more, as I know that they will understand the humour. 

It's a very strange thought that I'll only be at this school for 3 and a half weeks before moving onto my employing school for the final week, and then those last two days at uni... It's one of those bittersweet feelings that I can't seem to shake right now.