First day of Teaching at the new school!

So after two full on weeks of meetings and planning and collaborating and debating and brain overload we started school with our brand new first lot of Year 10s on a three day camp. I have to say it was one of the better camps I had been on. Getting to know the kids on a camp was really interesting. The highlight of the camp was a talent show that showcased ACTUAL talent - and a lot of it. The most amazing performance was from a student who prefaced his act with the admission that he had never performed in public before. He got up with his guitar and the hand written lyrics and notes to the song he had penned himself and started to play. The kids could see it had taken him a lot to get up there and that he was very nervous. He then made a mistake on the guitar and it seemed like he was going to give up and leave the stage, or worse, cry. Rather than heckling him off-stage as may have happened in another school, these kids started yelling out keep going, and other encouragement and started clapping and cheering him to keep on going. He had a great voice and despite other mistakes and him seeming like he was going to break down a couple of times, he kept on going and got through his whole song and earned himself a standing ovation from the crowd of kids. Not only was this the gutsiest thing I have ever seen from a kid - putting himself out there with a crowd of complete strangers but the crowd's reaction to him made me want to cry too- I really think these kids will be amazing and I am so excited to be part of something that promises to be so special.

So today was the first day of teaching and it was really nice to get back in the classroom. It feels like my job was just administration for the past few months and although I have said in the past that I don't think I would mind if my job involved less teaching, I actually think that I'm changing my mind. Despite how tired I am coming off the camp and straight into teaching I am energised by this job in a way that I haven't been for a while. The staff team are amazing and every day I have moments where I smile to myself thinking that this whole thing is too good to be true and wondering how I was so lucky to end up here.

It's not all peaches and cream, don't get me wrong. The building is not finished and the university buildings we are working out of are quite old and spread apart so that all of my classes are literally a five minute, brisk walk out in the elements. I can't get used to leaving so early for class!
We only just got a printer/photocopier so you can imagine how frustrating it has been not being able to do things as basic as print and copy, especially because the student's laptop tablets have been delayed a second time so we can't even provide them with electronic documents. Having said that though, we are already high tech in our tablets and the programs we are using and I feel like I can use all the skills I have acquired over all these years and really help to create something great. This school is really appealing to my techno-loving self - so much so that I now have an iphone too which is synced with my email and my calendar etc. I feel like all my Christmases have come at once!

In all, despite the fact that I would like to go to bed and not wake up for days, I am buoyed by the start of this school year in a way that i haven't been for a while. I don't think that this is a reflection on my old school, rather a reflection of my itchy feet when it comes to change and challenge and new experiences. I know for certain that I have made the right decision. Bring on the rest of the year!

The Year ahead

I generally don't make New Year's Resolutions but I think this year there are many things I want to achieve.
- A healthier diet that involves more home cooked meals and less take-away
- At least 30 mins of walking each day or every second day, or some other form of exercise
- Date night with James once a week to get us out of the house doing fun things together
- A healthy herb garden to complement my dedication to cooking
- A flourishing English faculty with an interesting curriculum and happy students
- Maintaining a regular blog to enable reflection and recording of what I have learnt
Some days I sit at my desk at home and wonder where to begin in order to get all the work done that I need to before the school year starts. Other days I work for hours excited and motivated by the new challenges, the endless possibilities and the intrinsic reward in creating something from scratch.

New Challenges and a little bit of Sentimentality

I have begun the task of clearing out my office. Back in August/September when I first found out that I had been successful in my application to my new school, all I really felt was excitement. Now I'm still excited but as I clear out my stuff from the school where I have spent around 50 hours a week for the last 6 years, I am realising I am having moments where I really feel a bit sentimental and a little bit sad.

e5 framework

title="Wordle: e5 framework"> src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/1183017/e5_framework"
alt="Wordle: e5 framework"
style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd">

English

title="Wordle: English"> src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/1183012/English"
alt="Wordle: English"
style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd">

Lesson Activitie Wordle

title="Wordle: lesson activities"> src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/1182989/lesson_activities"
alt="Wordle: lesson activities"
style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd">

Principles of Teaching and Learning Wordle

Here is a wordle I just created on the Principles of Teaching and Learning.
I want to put some of this stuff up on my wall at home whilst doing my curriculum planning because it might prompt some ideas.
More to come! www.wordle.net - Check it out.