What will be, will be.

I've tried to be really creative this week, not that I'm not normally and I think I've come up with some good ideas. Well they seem pretty good in my head.

Anyway, I try my best and keep things interesting. We continued our instruction writing and as a good way of understanding their work I got them to write a review as if their instructions were real. Now I really enjoyed writing as a child, so I wrote my own review. I think it was pretty impressive, although I would say that. As I've mentioned in previous blogs children don't seem to have much creativity in their writing. These are the writers/authors of the future and I do try to inspire them. Hopefully by the end of the school year it will have paid off and I would have supported the next generation of writers (Oxford Learning, 2016).

In Maths we have begun looking at fractions. I sometimes think that fractions are quite difficult to learn, however I actually like teaching them. I want to try and come up with some quirky way to teach fractions and while writing this my brain is on overdrive and I've actually had a good thought. I have another Maths observation after Easter so I think I'll save this idea and keep you posted about it.

At the start of the week I had almost lost my voice, I'm just putting it down to talking too much (obviously)! It was difficult to manage my class, especially with the lack of teaching assistant. I wonder how teachers coped when I was at school because they never had teaching assistants. They are one of the most important resources and I can't wait until my colleague returns. Stonebridge (2016), highlights the importance of a teaching assistant and the key role they have in educating children. They also give me the moral support that I need and someone to back me up and have the occasional banter with (especially with my sarcastic sense of humour). Having a teaching assistant does take away that added extra stress of preparing lessons. I try to be proactive and before I left yesterday (Friday) I started preparing work for Monday, just so I know I have one less thing to do. Although, I know a teaching assistant could have done those little things for me.

The government still doesn't see the importance of having that second adult in the room, which is why I find it difficult to support every child and expect those children who know the work to be independent and not rely on me. This is when I'm told, you need to make sure those children who are working above expectations or nearly there need extra support, I think to myself, how am I supposed to do that when some can't do anything without support. This makes me think again about the lack of support teachers get and the pressure to do better without the resources. Are our expectations too high for the teachers? Are our expectations too high for the children? Are our expectations too high for schools in general? Its that mentally of, you've done really well, but I still want more. Sometimes there is no more yo give. (Rant over).

So, as I'm always super organised, well not with everything, we have already started making mothers day cards and writing a class poem. They each have a line for the poem, which they will recite next week in assembly, however I have to admit the cards were, in a polite where, not what I expected. Some looking slightly dodgy. I'm sure the mums will be happy with whatever their child has produced and hopefully they will enjoy the morning that I have started to prepare for. I think that's me again thinking, oh that's not what I would have done. However, they are children and it's supposed to be fun and creative so I shouldn't be too annoyed.

I try to continue to feel positive and I know the last two weeks will be busy, especially with late night meetings, long days at school and another training course. However, only two weeks until Easter and I'm already prepared for the last day of this term. My minds made up and I'll be able to look to the next challenge/chapter in my life. What will be, will be.

Have a good week.

Steve Maull. An NQT

References: Oxford Learning (2016), Online at https://www.oxfordlearning.com/improve-kids-writing-skills/

Stonebridge (2016), Online at https://www.stonebridge.uk.com/blog/teaching-assistant/importance-of-teaching-assistants