Well, that was an action-packed week!

I have gone from having done no teaching, to having taken seven lessons this week! The first one, unfortunately, was allocated to me five minutes before it started, and was fairly disastrous. It was a Higher class and they were well-behaved, bless them, but it must have been obvious to all that I was winging it and had no plan whatsoever. My first proper, planned, lesson was yesterday morning (was it just yesterday?!), with some delightful (yes, really) 2nd-years, who were suitably enthusiastic and co-operative, and I am looking forward (hmmm....) to having my second crit with them next month.

The teachers have been great at giving me feedback, but already I feel I am destined to have the words "She had a nice manner" etched on my grave-stone, as two of them used those exact words. I suppose that's a good thing! However, I definitely need to have more of a 'presence', as I let the kids talk over me quite a lot, and my classroom management so far is really not the best! One thing I have improved on since yesterday is my writing-on-the-board technique. Even I struggle to read my own handwriting sometimes, so making it the same except bigger wasn't terribly effective. So, I spent about 40 minutes this afternoon practising in an empty classroom, trying out different styles and running to the back of the room to make sure it was legible. It's a small triumph, but I need all the confidence-boosters I can get!

Anyway, I feel it's time to pour myself a well-deserved glass of red wine...