Day 6 - Field time!

1030

This morning is beautiful and I have a chat with the head at the entrance.  Get talking to two brothers whose dad is ill so they have to switch between their granny and aunt's houses - they are not enjoying it.

I was asked to help a child with his maths test in order to release another teacher for other work.  As a result I can’t do the cricket and by the time the test finishes break time has started so I get even less time to be with other children.  Though I had a great time with the test boy I’m not sure it has helped me.

A few boys keep gravitating toward me to talk or show me card tricks – including one of the brothers with an ill dad.

Since I missed cricket they now don’t need my help.

I go to the staffroom to type up my diary.

I wander the corridor (something I’ve not done for a couple of weeks) and eventually head out to PE with Yr4 – the blindfold team games are hilarious!

I have to tell a boy off for throwing stones, his grumpy response rubs me up the wrong way so he gets the stepped-up-telling-off from me – the first time I’ve had to do it.

1230

Lunchtime in the field is a delight!  Yr 5 and 6 are first and I’m invited to play cricket, whilst trying to fend children off my sunglasses.  By the time it’s the switch over and year 3/4  are out I’m doing a  round of the field finding out the imaginative world of children’s play – its truly a model of how the world should work :-)

Some girls have taken to calling me "Daddy" which is pretty much my worst nightmare – There are so many connotations with that label, plus the risk of being seen to develop inaapropiate relationships.  It is of course just child’s play but it freaks me out – I’d rather they call me their boyfriend!, i it would definitely just be silliness then!

1330

After lunch I head to the staff room and enjoy my own lunch, and quiz a teacher about how they arrange learning sets

1400

Go to find the girls for a spot of reading – we settle on a play from the year 6 shelf and have a good time reading out the character parts.

1445

All of year 4 go to one room for story time, it is again a wonderful sight, about 50 children all sitting higgledy-piggledy listening for 30 min to one teacher.  The room was so full I had to sit with a couple of children with our legs dangling outside the door.

I still lack a particular confidence about what i'm actually doing, which is making me shy.  a trainee teacher is leaving this week and i literally wished her (and i quote) "a lovely lovely love…ely …lovely…love…)"  What an IDIOT!

1515

Eco club is a good opptunity to catch up with the two brothers earlier in the morning to chat about their Dad.  I tell them that I’ll pray for their Dad, they say thank you.

I may have hit my first point of antagonism, - the leader of eco club complained to me that the children are spending too much time chatting and not enough time working – and that its my fault!  I take the point, but I distinctly remember the leader complaining about lack of work  on my first arrival – maybe they just like to complain.

Talking to one girl at eco club, her mother turned up and I introduced myself as the school chaplain.  She straight away starts telling me about her daughter's struggles.  I listen and I’m pleased but I’m not sure what to do with the information.

Likewise another boy tells me he doesn’t want to go home because he is fed up with his brother’s incessant talking.  Again, I don’t know how to respond to this.

Day 5 - The best day yet!

The sun is shining today and everyone is in a positive mood

…except Year 6, it's SATS week and they're all doing exams

0830
I go straight into the playground to say hello to the children. Almost immediately a boy drops his 10p down the drain.  I lift the drain cover and sink my hand into a month's worth of dirty rainwater, and then go and have a wash!

0900
I make cups of tea for the few teachers that are in the staffroom.  I'm finding that that teachers initiate conversation more than I do - because it is their home and I'm the 'alien', I never know whether to break the ice or not…
The result of teachers starting the chat is that I then end up quite happily blabbing on about myself and not about them - I must learn to rein in my anecdotes!






0930
Spent most of the remainder of the morning out on the school playground helping with cricket practice.  I'm finding Year 4 sports an excellent opportunity to chat with children.  It was also a really good chance to chat to one of the PE teachers since - on this occasion - they had proper cricketers come in to lead the lesson (next week they won't be there so I've been roped in to referee the game!)



As it got near to lunch some of the Year 6's came out to run the cake stall - a fantastic affair with not just cakes, but also books for sale and a lucky dip.  We made £60.44 which is a school 'world record' apparently.  Later I was presented with the money in one of the classrooms and then the teacher opened and Q&A about why they had done it - the stall is usually for dog charities and they wanted to do something different this time.

1330
I popped into the staffroom having not eaten or drunk anything all morning! - In addition to being dehydrated and starving hungry, I am also now quite sunburnt!!

1400
In the afternoon I joined the cake stall children for their lesson - I'm not entirely sure what the topic was on (!), the teacher had so skilfully woven together Indian studies, Design Technology, Food Tech, Music, Horticulture and Religious Studies (I'm nog kidding!). We pushed decorated paper boats with our prayers to the Hindu god of the river out on to the pond, whilst playing percussion instruments.

Day 4 - On the wrong foot and feeling low

Last night my wife made me sandwiches for lunch.  she doesn't often do this so i got quite excited.  This morning I Forgot to take my lunch with me which for some reason made feel really unsettled and upset.

0845

I've arrived late because I had to buy lunch and there was bad traffic; because of this I've missed door holding so I head straight for the staff room and Chat with yr4  teacher about whether i've found a routine yet… i havn't really.

Having been really taken by a teacher last week saying that they needed encouragement, I go to the games teacher to tell her how much i enjoy her lessons.  I think she appreciates this.

On the way back there are some children in the corridors changing classes.  We talk about maths.

0900

Staff room: coffee and blog

0930

Caught the end of the games lesson with the 2boys and went into the playground.

Lots of games playing 'it'; I wonder if having my hands in my pockets gives me unapproachable body language but it doesn't seem to stop children.

Year 4 invited me into their french lesson which was alot of fun: Bingo, toy dictation microphones and pronouncation activities.  I try to tell the teacher how great i think she is but it seems to fall flat - perhaps she was in too much of a rush (this is ironic to me because it genuinely was the best french lesson I've been in!)

1130
Really dont seem to have my game head on today.  Head for the staffroom again, for a sandwich and a cup of tea.

I had a pre lunch sandwich still feeling a little not in the game today.  But went out at lunch time and made good use of my new "schoolswork cards" which i have to say went down very well. …especially given that a lot of the children knew some pretty neat card tricks ( i think there may have been a lunchtime magic club in the past).

I was invited to play stuck in the mud and quite alot of fun doing that.  I had heard there might be a cake stall but i think it was too wet to run it.

Afterlunch i hung out in the staff room with the Head and some TAs and had a good chat.  The Head suggested that it was fine to run round with the children - another TA emphasised that there was nothing more important than playing with the children on their environment.

1400

I wandered the corridor a bit and find some children at the libary.  One of them had never heard the story of King Wensleslas so I read them that, which was lovely.  I then joined the class for the remaiinder of the afternoon for their lessons.

1515

Wednesday is staff-meeting day and since today's topic was more grammar and then marking policies I decided not to attend.

I was going to leave early but then noticed Eco club out in the school garden, i felt sorry for them in the rain so i went to go and give some moral support.  Eco club seems mainly to consist of adults doing all the weeding whilst childre wave spades around in a dangerous fashion, wildly stabbing the soil when they feel like it - however it is muddy and it smells of nature and seemed like a whole lot of fun!

I also got some rhubarb to take home :-)

3rd Day (pt 2)

1330

I had a chat at the end of lunch with one of the trainee teachers, we were having a lovely casual conversation when she droped in that she'd just broken up with their boyfriend.  I wasn't quick enough to change mode though, rather than take a pastoral direction i carried on casually and by the time it clicked what i'd done (about 5 seconds) the moment had passed.  Fail.

Afternoon

In the afternoon i went to a Y6 class that some girls had invited me to.  We were doing circuit expereiments which was a lot of fun.  It is far easier to chat and bond with children over doing exercises than it is over literacy of numeracy.

Once again the "are you a Christian?" question came up.
None of this group were, one was some times but wasn't other times, I suggested that maybe she was agnostic.  I explained how i did believe in God because of how wonderful hands are, and trees, that i think we must have be made by someone who loves us.  It quickly became existential and i wonder if this is appropiate for 10/11 year olds.  Should i have perhaps gone for a "because the bible says…" or "Because Jesus did…".  I wonder what is more age appropriate for the Yr6 agnostic/atheist?

I also taught some children the difference between parallel and series circuits… i hope i got it right!

End of the Day

Every wednesday there is a staff meeting, I heard it might be about 'behaviour for learning' so I went along.  It wasn't. It was about how to use an apostrophe: the tension tangibably increased in the room when something was suggested that contradicted a previous week's advice.  We also looked at alternatives to raising hands in lessons

This meeting was a massive insight to me since i assumed that this is all things that one learns in teacher training.  Not so apparently.  The deputy Head pointed out to me that "you only need to know one more thing than the children" in order to teach them.  He was very keen on 'facilitation' over 'teaching' which was interesting to me as much of my youth/childrenswork BA was along these themes.

Basicly I thought teachers knew everything and it turns out, their normal humans just like us…who'd have thought it!

3rd Day: Apprehension and New Directions...

I Felt very apprehensive on my way in this morning: What am i doing?!!  Am i just interfereing? Am i just being 'me' and not a 'chaplain'? 

I'm also concerned about the informal nature of chaplaincy - should i have measurable goals?

0825
Decided to hang around outside the schools doors rather than inside.  Had some nice chats but still quite superficial.  Turned a conversation about bouncy balls to crystal balls to "If you could look into the future, would you?"

Pop in to see my '2boys' at registration

0910

Cup of tea in the staff room and chat with teachers.

0930

Help the 2boys in PE doing team games and found that the children are so open and welcoming to having me around.

1015

Chatted with some girls over break-time and they invited me to their afternoon lesson - in much the same way you'd invite your friends over for dinner.

11:15
I bumped into a teacher who was creating new phonic's learning packs and helped her out - it took the two of us a full hour to create these packs - it was quite a big order.
I know the lady from church and we had a chat about what i'm trying to do here.  She emphasised the needs of the teachers, who despite receiving praise, quite often feel like they're not quite doing a good enough job.  The overall message i got was that there is definitely a role for someone to give praise to the teachers - much more so than the children even.


Whilst we busy in the corridor some children came to see what were we up to as a way of avoiding doing their reading. - I indulged them a bit, then got them to read out their respective books to me.  at first they didn't want to but soon they were squabbling to be the next one to read their bit!

I lost track of the number of times that children told me there was a pencil in the toilet.  some time later a suspiciously satisfied young girl walked past me brandishing a pencil in her hand… it was the same one "i hope you washed your hands" i said "Ooops!" was the reply as she turned and ran back to the toilets.

At Lunchtime i popped to the playgorund and once again go not even a metre before i was acosted by a group of girls who wanted to perform their "show".  It was very good, quite glee-esque - i even got imaginary popcorn and ice cream in the intermission!

2nd Day (Part 2 - Lunch, Cricket and Pencil Shavings))

Lunchtime

This week i decide to skip the lunch hall and head straight to playground (the rain has let up).  I make it 2 metres on to the concrete before being hooked by some yr6 boys; we talk about sport and Djing, and the shirts that they have made.  Some girls come over and I get confused by who's girlfriend his who's.  Seems like they all get dumped and picked up again at an alarming rate!

Some of the year 3 and 4s have finished their food quickly and come over to give me hugs.  The whistle goes and I escape to the staffroom to grab a sandwich

I chat to a couple of trainee teachers who i preparing for a lesson they are being observed on.

I head back to the playground for the 2nd innings (Yr 3&4).  Lots more hugs and high fives and "are you a Christian/you are?!/Me too!" from the children -Happy faces.

Mainly I'm requested to play "snap" (Bulldog where you have ten lives that no-one keeps count of).  Tag and Stuck-in-the-mud.  I don't want to run around too much, it doesn't seem like the right thing to do.

1315

I've been asked to help out with Year 3 PE so i heard to the hall for Cricket.  3 classes back to back was alot of fun, it was reassuring for me to see professional teachers struggling to maintain discipline with some of the boys - made me feel better about all the times i've felt desperate.  Sometimes you have to wonder if the behaviour expectations are right for children.  Sitting still, being quiet, working in teams, listening, following patterns - all of these things appear entriely alien to a child's nature!

1515

At the end of the day I head over to the two lads from earlier to touch base with them.  I have a good conversation with the - one of them is astonishingly frank about his experiences, I arrange to meet him next week.  There is a big staff meeting about how to pick up boxes, so i wander around the school with some girls from Eco club who are collecting pencil shavings.  Alot of pencil shavings, their bucket is full by the end "more than 200 pencils" reckons one of the girls.

We talk about favourite books, "how does it make you feel?" I ask, determined to try out my caring conversations techniques" "it makes me feel sad, but then happy at the end" she says.  sounds like a good book.

Another Y6 is sitting in the libary reading 'breaking dawn', i'd love to chat to her about it but shes engrossed so i leave her to it "tell me what happens next week" i say.

2nd Day (Rain, Stacks and Sewing)

Last weeks weather was bad,  There aren't the adjectives to describe this weeks - its horrible.

Beginning
I arrived by 0830 this week and straight away headed into the corridor to say hello. (and have some caring conversations).  Door holding ministry was a little more sporadic this time, but all the children were arriving in dribs and drabs due to the weather (perhaps that should be drips and drabs)

There are a few children in the ICT suite playing computer games (educational ones of course) and I try to put into practice what i learn last night.  It very quickly becomes apparent that this doesn't really work when the child is distracted by a flashing screen.

I go to visit a couple of teachers, it is helpful that the children are always pleased to see me - one child asks if i'm helping them today which sparks the teacher into inviting me over to help them sew at 11 o'clock.

0930
I've been asked to befriend two boys who are at the centre of some kind of dispute so I head over to the classroom.  The only spare seat is next to one of the boys so that works out well - even better they're playing speed stacks so we have alot of fun doing that, then build huge towers at morning break.

1015
After morning break there is no assembly in tha hall so go chat with staff in the staffroom; eating delicious muffins.  The two boys are studying french so don't go in - I am extremely thankful that i'm not asked to help with the cycling proffiency!

1115
A teacher has asked for some help with sewing class so i turn up - The children's creativitiy is wonderful, one girl in particular spends 5 staright minutes monologuing on their design and decision process, where her inspiration came from and how wide to make each stripe - fasinationg.
Three children start up a conversation about being a Christian and going to Church.  I'm finding that most children are reassured by calling themselves Christian.  "Its got to be true" says one girl "Why would anyone make it up"

The End of Day One.

1415
1 hour until the end of the school day (for children at least) and i am DESPERATELY struggling to stay awake!  I hit the corridors again but everyone is back in lessons, in the end i head back to the staff room and help a teacher plan 'Friendship week'.  This is basically 'Anti-Bullying week' but with a more positive focus.  The teacher is very good at mind-maps!  I've never done them before.

1505
I suddenly notice that i've been hearing drumming for the last hour and realise that its a friend of mine!  We have a nice catch and arrange to meet at the pub later.

1510
Five minutes from the end of the day and there is a lot of hustle and bustle going on.  Collecting bags returning pens etc.

1515
No school bell.  None through the whole day in fact and i've only just realised.
I have some great conversations by the lunch box stands but in doing so i miss the other 340 children who apparently leave through doors on the other side of the building. doh!

Teachers of course not finish at this time of day, indeed they don't have a set 40 hour week, they just have to get all their jobs done. I stick around because i want to show commitment and solidarity to them as much as the children.

I play computer games with a couple of children who's parents are in a meeting.  It later transpires that the head would like me to work with these two boys so it is a happy co-incidence that i've made friends with them

When they go I find myself in a classroom with two teachers who run a biscuits and marking club (just for the two of them!).  They are interested in what i'm up to but also point out that what ever i was doing, i'd still be welcome because i'm a man.  this certainly throws an interesting light on the gender dynamics in a child's life.  I wonder if masculinity puts a different twist to chaplaincy to femininity...