Page 3: So now I'm actually Miss Yeoman...
5:45 AM that classic iPhone alarm (that I know many will now having it ringing in their head) shrieked. I sat up starkly to ensure I was not going to endure my reoccurring nightmare of sleeping through my alarm. I scrambled my way to the bathroom, still hearing many of my flatmates up from the night out before. As I showered, did my makeup and got dressed, every 5 minutes that apple alarm shrieked again just to make sure I was awake. In fear of the unknown I got dressed into my favourite 'teacher outfit' aiming to look sophisticated and professional. My baggy blouse nervelessly overhung my trousers, foreshadowing the exact nerves I felt the first time wearing this outfit- my university interview. The blinding flash in the picture, was hiding the fear in my eyes now at 6:15 AM as becoming Miss Yeoman was getting closer.
It was now time to start my journey to school. It is well known how unreliable public transport can be. Luckily, another student teacher who lived near my accommodation was allocated the same school. This greatly reduced my stress as having someone to help me navigate my way was essential as I have NO sense of direction! Now that I was no longer alone, I thankfully began to feel less nervous. However, the weather! As mentioned, I had to take public transport to school as I did not bring my car to university. This consisted of a 15 minute walk, a 25 minute bus ride and then another 10 minute walk. This was November. As the rain was attacking my umbrella, I got drenched. (This resulted in the first thing I did when I got home that night was to jump on the Pretty Little Thing website and order some boots - I was not making the mistake of wearing pumps again!) Like eagled eyed hawks, every time a bus drove past we squinted into the distance to make sure we got onto the correct one. As I sat down on the eventual bus that arrived, this is when reality really hit me. Not the superficial nerves, but the real ones. As a year one student, the thought of teaching year 6 first was so scary. On the bus, every possible scenario that could potentially happen played over in my head. What if they don't like me? What if I feel unwelcome? What if I'm not respected by the class? What if I don't fit in? What if I don't have the ability or knowledge? Thinking so much into these questions, we missed the stop. When I released I missed my stop, I quickly stood up to ensure I got off at the next one ASAP. With Google Maps in hand and the really awful weather it felt a bit like DofE all over again! It was now 7:45, 2 hours after that initial shriek and I had arrived.
The next obstacle of the day was how to get in. After what took way too much time, I pressed a dusty button that summoned a bit of a scary lift. (As someone who is not particularly a fan of lifts, for once I was glad this was taking my mind off my nerves for teaching). It was now time. As the lift doors opened, I was greeted by a few other students that were in other classes in the school. We all pulled out our very empty folders (at this point), handed over our DBS checks and collected our name badges and lanyards.
So my nerves could not be any more pointless! Greeted by our professional mentor, we had a tour around the school and the six of us got dropped off at our classes. I threw my bags into the cupboard and as soon as I started to chat with my mentor everything felt right. I was so excited for what was to come, I was counting down the minutes until I would get to meet the pupils.
The morning was so busy I did not even have any time to think about the build up. I was loving every second. Straight away I began assisting pupils and observing lessons across the school as this was the aim of the first week on placement. Being the first day of a new half term, today was 'hook day'. This was the introduction to the new topic of the term; for my class it was the heart. With the busy morning trying to fit everything in, we did not discuss the plan for after break. My class mentor left the classroom briefly at break time to get some food so it was just me, unaware of what was just about to happen. Inquisitively, reading all the displays, a member of staff walked in with a bag of hearts. I was baffled, it turned out to be dissection day. My first day could not get anymore exciting. Stood at the front, pointing with a large stick to the different elements from aortas to capillaries as the class teacher dissected, I looked up and saw the beaming looks on 30 faces. They were indeed hooked, they were all asking questions, wanting to know more and were thriving off their learning experience. We were not just stood there teaching, we were inspiring the next generation. As the pupils looked back beaming I stood there confidently, with no nerves, confirming to myself I was right. This was where I was meant to end up, teaching.
I had the best first day in school, better than I could have ever imagined. No longer full of nerves I was a lot more relaxed getting the bus back. I strolled onto the first one that arrived and sat and reflected on the such brilliant day I had. I was so ecstatic for the rest of my week and time in school. Lets just say this bus journey did not end as well as my first day in school. With my luck I ended up on the wrong bus resulting in a half an hour walk, following Google Maps in the rain, like DofE - again! This proved to me, although my first placement school was better than I could ever imagine, I still had no luck with the travelling aspect!
So I guess upon reflection, I had a quite eventful first day and loved every second of it. I could not wait to complete the rest of my placement, and every time a placement week was over, I just wanted to go back! I had the ideal first day as a student teacher. I felt so welcomed, a part of their school community and the pupils began to start look up to me as their teacher. I really hope in my next 2 years of studying, the future 'first days' will be just as amazing.
- Miss Yeoman
5:45 AM that classic iPhone alarm (that I know many will now having it ringing in their head) shrieked. I sat up starkly to ensure I was not going to endure my reoccurring nightmare of sleeping through my alarm. I scrambled my way to the bathroom, still hearing many of my flatmates up from the night out before. As I showered, did my makeup and got dressed, every 5 minutes that apple alarm shrieked again just to make sure I was awake. In fear of the unknown I got dressed into my favourite 'teacher outfit' aiming to look sophisticated and professional. My baggy blouse nervelessly overhung my trousers, foreshadowing the exact nerves I felt the first time wearing this outfit- my university interview. The blinding flash in the picture, was hiding the fear in my eyes now at 6:15 AM as becoming Miss Yeoman was getting closer.
The next obstacle of the day was how to get in. After what took way too much time, I pressed a dusty button that summoned a bit of a scary lift. (As someone who is not particularly a fan of lifts, for once I was glad this was taking my mind off my nerves for teaching). It was now time. As the lift doors opened, I was greeted by a few other students that were in other classes in the school. We all pulled out our very empty folders (at this point), handed over our DBS checks and collected our name badges and lanyards.
So my nerves could not be any more pointless! Greeted by our professional mentor, we had a tour around the school and the six of us got dropped off at our classes. I threw my bags into the cupboard and as soon as I started to chat with my mentor everything felt right. I was so excited for what was to come, I was counting down the minutes until I would get to meet the pupils.
The morning was so busy I did not even have any time to think about the build up. I was loving every second. Straight away I began assisting pupils and observing lessons across the school as this was the aim of the first week on placement. Being the first day of a new half term, today was 'hook day'. This was the introduction to the new topic of the term; for my class it was the heart. With the busy morning trying to fit everything in, we did not discuss the plan for after break. My class mentor left the classroom briefly at break time to get some food so it was just me, unaware of what was just about to happen. Inquisitively, reading all the displays, a member of staff walked in with a bag of hearts. I was baffled, it turned out to be dissection day. My first day could not get anymore exciting. Stood at the front, pointing with a large stick to the different elements from aortas to capillaries as the class teacher dissected, I looked up and saw the beaming looks on 30 faces. They were indeed hooked, they were all asking questions, wanting to know more and were thriving off their learning experience. We were not just stood there teaching, we were inspiring the next generation. As the pupils looked back beaming I stood there confidently, with no nerves, confirming to myself I was right. This was where I was meant to end up, teaching.
I had the best first day in school, better than I could have ever imagined. No longer full of nerves I was a lot more relaxed getting the bus back. I strolled onto the first one that arrived and sat and reflected on the such brilliant day I had. I was so ecstatic for the rest of my week and time in school. Lets just say this bus journey did not end as well as my first day in school. With my luck I ended up on the wrong bus resulting in a half an hour walk, following Google Maps in the rain, like DofE - again! This proved to me, although my first placement school was better than I could ever imagine, I still had no luck with the travelling aspect!
So I guess upon reflection, I had a quite eventful first day and loved every second of it. I could not wait to complete the rest of my placement, and every time a placement week was over, I just wanted to go back! I had the ideal first day as a student teacher. I felt so welcomed, a part of their school community and the pupils began to start look up to me as their teacher. I really hope in my next 2 years of studying, the future 'first days' will be just as amazing.
- Miss Yeoman
I remember my first day of teaching practice...even the first time I taught a class...dry mouth, pumping heart, but it was the best choice of career I could have ever made. Great to see you think so too!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't be more true! Yes it was indeed nerve wracking, but in reflection there is not better feeling than sharing a passion for learning with others
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