end of second week...

...and I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
I spent the monday (last post) and tuesday in school with the yr4's - got some observations done but realised the need to focus them else you end up just writing everything down and then not knowing what to do with it afterwards!
I spent the day enjoying being with yr4 and wondering whether I'd really want to go to yr 2, and then...
Next day I was in a different school to do some group investigations with 3 other GTPers...spent the morning in reception and loved that too..and then yr 1, which was great as well. I guess I won't worry about enjoying yr 2s!
Had a couple of really interesting observations where an unqualifed teacher taught a perfectly adequate lesson, but she got drawn into the children's talk and so their behaviour got away with her a bit, and then the same class with a very experienced teacher where the kids tried exactly the same strategy but she simply cut them off with a 'shhh' and refused to reply. If they wre noisy she simply stopped talking until they were silent, and if they went off task during PE she made them sit out for a minute until they could behave. You could tell she meant business, and if she had said 'okay, no PE if you don't behave' she would have just turned them round and taken tham back to the classroom and given them no PE! It was good to see.
Did a presentation about our findings at the end of the week to the rest of the trainees, which I thought would be harder or more nerve wracking than it eventually was. I was pleased with myself, spoke clearly and coherently and only began to go to pieces a little at the end because I realise I hadn't moved to the next slide when I should have, and wasn't sure what comment to make during the final slide, but I still managed to blag it! Problem was that I hadn't had long to prepare...remember for next time, at least vaguely prepare!!
So, all in all, a successful week. Next week we have Ofsted in school for two days, but I'm only in on one of them, and not teaching so shouldn't be too harsh.
I'll try and post again next weekend, as evening seem to be either busy or when I'm tired!
I'm glad I have my portfolio set up it took me an entire sunday afternoon, and that was just to add the bits the DRB wanted! Now I spend an hour or so on a sunday updated it, which keeps me on track, and I can already see evidence under a few standards.
I've booked skills tests for october, which is scary, but also wish it was a bit earlier. Unfortunately, we're not allowed time out of school or centre to do the tests so it;s a case of squeezing them between lectures or at the weekend.
Anyway, enough said.
Except - if you get a cold or especially a sore throat, try mixing a tsp honey, tsp apple cider vinegar and (optional, but great for sore throat) 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper in hot water. I did and my throat was cured instantly, and regained most of my voice too. And the mix without the cayenne is great for decongesting!