I survived!

I did it. I survived my first day back at work. Can we call it a day even though I was only booked in for a half-day supply teaching at the school? I did have to leave my house at 7:30am and didn't get back til after 1pm. Yep, sure felt like a full day to me.

To those who are familiar with my navigational skills or lack thereof, I found my way perfectly with time to spare. Finding 'my way' involved a detailed map, drawn by my friend's husband, a GPS, an AA-auto route finder print out and just to make sure, I had my 'Road Maps of Britain' in the car. Believe me, I do consider the travelling to and from so many different schools to be the most complicated part of going back to work. Well, that and making sure my four children are all organised and each to their respective schools, colleges and before school care centres.

Overall, I do believe that the morning went well. A teacher did have to come and call us into assembly as the rest of the school were in there waiting patiently and the headteacher was ready to start. I'm not sure I was ever any good at completing register, dinner money and saying hello to the children in only ten minutes; especially on a Monday morning.  There's so much to catch up on after an exciting weekend; even with a class full of new children. One child was crying and had a tummy ache (always happens on a Monday Mum said), someone else had a headache (their Mum had been shouting at her two younger brothers), three children traipsed in clutching large, black bin liners containing science projects (we had to find somewhere suitable for them), another lad was proudly displaying a medal which he'd won (would have been rude of me not to enquire as to the reason) and another girl had got a bumped head because someone had pulled out their drawer while she was bent putting her things away, so we had to send for an ice pack!

The class teacher had left some sketchy plans for me to follow so I did my best to make sense of them. As the morning went on, the knowledge and skills which have lain dormant in me for several years came flooding back. Some of the lingo is a little different and I can see that I am going to become good friends with two guys; WALT and WILF. (We Are Learning To) and (WHAT I'm Looking For)

All in all, I do believe I taught the children something and they learned what they were supposed to be learning. (Even the ADHD boy who had been pointed out to me at the beginning of the day.)  At the end of the morning, two little girls came up to me and said, "You must be one of the nicest teachers in the world." Aw bless, being back at work certainly does have its rewards.