There once was a teacher with an aura so bright

That kids would behave in a way that was right,

Tidying desks and tucking in chairs,

Lessons completed without any cares –

Except for those girls who had a fist fight.

Another happy limerick was required today because I’m sometimes sounding like the most glum person on the planet. I do like to talk about all the issues and road blocks that I’ve hit in my teaching journey so far, but sometimes I need to remind myself that there is also so much joy in my days.

Today was still tough because I was beating myself up over how badly it is going with my Year 10s. However, I did have a meeting with the lady who is Head of House for many of my troublesome students – and it felt like a great weight lifting off my shoulders.

She was such a lovely person and she had such a bubbly manner – and, more importantly, she still has the ability to control a class. I didn’t want to lose my friendliness and become an ice queen, and she has shown me that that’s not necessary.

I ended up sitting in her room for an hour and a half, crying and eating chocolate Freddo’s. She made me feel really safe, and that is something I haven’t really felt for a while, because of that class.

I wish there were more people with a sparkly aura, dancing across the surface of the planet. Just to illustrate how lovely she is, she opened the meeting by asking me the question: ‘can you give me the names of the people in that class that have been ‘bananas’?’ I could think of another name for them – but then I don’t have a sparkly aura.

Much Love

Rachel xx