Tag: building relationships

chipping in

photo of bonfire placed on high ground in front of city under cloudy sky
Photo by Peter Fazekas on Pexels.com

Running Brownie packs with camping trips,

Hiking through the sunlit fields

And toasting sweet treats on the fire,

Or running book club for the readers,

Rattling through the classics at a pace,

Then outside for running club, blowing whistles,

Shouting times and aiming for a personal best.

I’d love to say I’m the teacher with

A finger in each pie, but really

I just like to sit alone, with my book

And biscuits while the others play.

I must admit that I’ve never been one of those people who join lots of things. I’m an introvert in the truest sense, so I swerve people as often as I can. But I do realise that as a teacher I kind of owe it to my students to show them that I am willing to push myself.

I feel like I’ve started off on the back foot as I haven’t had any experience of clubs and trips because I trained during COVID – so everything was cancelled.

But now, things are opening up so I’m really trying to step outside of my comfort zone. I’ve signed up for a duty at lunch time, I’m doing a day at the Year 7 summer camp and I’ve offered to teach crochet to the students who want some mindfulness exercises.

And you know what? I’m actually quite enjoying it. School is like a little town and it seems the more you do, and the more you get your face out there, the more the kids come to like you and respect you. And it’s quite good fun.

Much Love

Rachel xx

working hard for your approval

It’s a little bit like a hamster wheel,

The harder I run, the less I achieve.

I’m trying hard, that’s for sure,

A perma-smile plastered across my face

Each time I step inside,

Doing a little dance (and a song) for your approval.

But I could give you the moon on a stick

And I still think that we’d be here,

Staring at me with the evil eye,

Because I just can’t give you enough.

I’ve realised as I approach the final few days in my training school, that it’s really hard to win the approval of some classes. And I think that age really plays a huge part. You get into a class of Year 7’s and they take to you after half an hour. But the Year 10’s are a whole different kettle of fish.

That class are all around 15 and they are bright kids. And they can quite clearly see right through me. They know that I’m a student and that I’m still finding my feet and they are quite happy to point out all of my weaknesses.

It’s fine. I’m prepared for it. But it has taught me that the older years will hold me to account. I will have to work for their respect. But how much better will that relationship be when I have earned that respect? I think that it’ll be worth every ounce of the blood, sweat and tears that has gone into forming it.

Much Love

Rachel xx