Day 9 - Becoming part of the fabric

it's a beautiful sunny day and I have forgotten my suncream - not a good idea!

Today I chatted to some of the cake schoolgirls about things one girl's mom is in hospital having an eye operation another boy is about to become an uncle

One little girl (whose mother I know) keeps inviting me round "when are you coming round?" this today has moved to "i know, we'll come to yours!" - it is getting more awkward every week!

This particular girl also fancies a boy and asks me to "tell him you know my mum".  I do this but it is awkward and the other children mock her for it.  It is hard to straddle the ground between - the comment is ridiculous and i don't want to defend it it, but equally i certainly don't want to belittle the girl either.

0900
Make tea for teachers with lots of lovely "thank yous"
One boy is upset about something I go to help but the teacher asked me not to (I feel a little rejected!)

0930

Sat with children outside doing peer mediation lessons; this is the precursor lesson to get Yr5 volunteers to be trained for peer mediation.  The hope is that in the future, general scuffles and conflicts can be resolved by the children themselves.

I partnered with an initially shy girl who really came out of herself as the lesson went on and we practiced listening to each others stories.  It think I’ve made a new friend.

Lunchtime
There was another cake sale today and I spent my time with them since they needed a supervisor.

I met the yr 6 teachers to offer myself in a more definitive role to them, what with the apprehension of leaving schools coming up.  We agreed that after their holiday away I would make myself available from 11.45 to 12.15 (lunchtime) in a drop in room for any year 6 who fancied it.

1400

After lunch I chatted with a support teacher.  I confessed that I was feeling like the novelty of my presence had now worn off with the children and I was struggling to find a floating role in a well run system that depended on predictable staffing.  She suggested that perhaps the novelty hadn’t worn off so much, but more that the summer term is so packed with events (Jubilee, town festival, Olympics, school production etc) so I’m competing with more things.  Also there is much less structure and that is going to have an impact on the way which children interact with their environment.

1500

With time to spare I take a conference call for work and then write up this blog post in the library, always a good place to be amongst children :-)

Day 8 - A chance to hang with the Yr6s

This Morning i really struggled to get up and i'm feeling not really in the mood for seeing people

I say hello to kids on door; a girl is crying with the Head: she's got a tummy ache but we think it has more to do with tennis in PE this morning then last nights food!
I take her for a walk and she feels better but when we head for her classroom she starts to cry again - the teacher just tells her to get her PE kit on.

I go for a cup of tea and then go out to PE to make sure Nicole is ok.
During playtime i chat with some boys about holidays and radio control cars.  After break I decide to find some yr6s.

A few are cutting out hands, some painting a flag.  It is very easy talking to them about their new schools.  Though that may be because these are clearly the more more able of the year group - they all have major parts in the school production of Charlie and the chocolate factory and have got time out whilst the oompa loompas learn their routines - the children make several jabs about their inability to sing and dance at the same time.  I defend the oompa loompas but then am proven wrong by and impromptu perfect performance from the children - apparently they are right!

When they are done I help cover a bird with the yr 3s: for the town festival

Today i have been asked to be an official lunchtime supervisor as they are short staffed today.  I run the Basket Ball and then hang around the toilets (a hotspot for mishiecf i am told).

The afternoon is very quiet - yr 6 are all busy, yr 5 are off on a trip yr4 are busy and yr 3 games really do not require my attendance.  I chat with a few teachers and stay til the end of school bell then go home.

Apprenticeship post available

Jubilee special

Last wednesday I was hearing all about the Jubilee street party that the school was having and i left feeling a little jealous that i was going to miss it.

Well since i turned out that i had no set meetings for thursday i decided to cross a boundary and invite myself a 2nd day in a row... and had a wonderful time.

Lots of children asked for me to sit with them.  We sang the national anthem (i was very out of tune) and then we ate.  It didn't take long to finish all the food and soon children were standing and shouting and singing and dancing.

We then had a big run around on the school field, my new russian friend came to find me and insisted on poking me in the back, which quickly became a sport for lots of children…

As it happened i had to pop in the next day as well in order to pick up a broken stereo to fix.  one of the teachers jokingly comment that "we can't seem to get rid of you".  This is the kind of comment i read in to…

Day 7 - The last day of Term

I've just finished a 6000 word essay and i'm feeling pretty tired today

0835
Go straight for the playground today and meet the two brothers who had told me last week that their Dad was very ill and they were living all over the place.  This week he is completely better, they are back at home and their dad has got a job!  "Maybe its because of your prayer" one of the brothers said. …"maybe it was" I reply…

0900
Everyone is in school except for a few boys gathered round a tree on the other side of the playground.  "Where should you be" the Head called out to them.  they run across the playground straight into class - I think really they should have been at least halfway up it!

1000
I spend the morning with Yr4 games.  One of my key boys is sitting out because of a leg splint so we spend a good amount of time sitting on the bench in the sun.
The other key boy accidentally runs into a metal post producing a golf-ball size lump on his temple, I spend most of morning break sitting with him where he landed.  His "girlfriend" came over to show a suitable amount of disdain - its quite sweet really.
…I also beat some girls at a handstand competition :-)

Morning
The remainder of the morning is spent flitting between staffroom, games lesson and a girl with down's syndrome - we'd played catch.

Lunchtime
I decided to eat with the staff this week, and then head out to the field.  Over the course of the morning I seem to have adopted a new friend amongst the yr4s and she immediately runs over to say hello (and by that i mean pick on me!).  Its funny how children suddenly latch on to you - and then disappear.  I also spend some time with the two brothers on the climbing frame - I really think its SO important to just play and mess about with kids (I also like setting them challenges - do it backwards/with your eyes closed etc)

Afternoon
I was asked to attend a TA's meeting giving guidance about a dyslexia review.  I was SO tired i think i fell asleep a few times and I'm quite embarrassed about it - i'm 90% certain that every TA noticed…

I went to sit in on a lesson with a recently bereaved teacher, just in case they needed some extra support.  The lesson was 'history' - we learnt about the Beatles and we were shown a Beatles vinyl record… i can't tell you how weird it seems that this constitutes history :-(

Afterschool
Eco club.  I made sure i emphasised working this week.  the children were even more relaxed and happy with me this week - I bought a tomato plant from them and got a free radish.

I meant to leave at 1630 but got chatting to a teacher about Grammar/Single-sex/Private schools system and we both got quite passionately righteous putting the system to rights.  I left at 1700 instead.