Getting my priorities right

Having finished my work yesterday afternoon, I had several things to do: research to be analysing, assignment to be writing and lessons to be planned. So I naturally decided to go and play my fiddle with the BBC SSO at the BBC Play It Again event in the Fruitmarket!

When I signed up for it a while ago I wasn't sure if I would make it, because of the timing. However I am very glad indeed that I went as it was the most enjoyable Saturday afternoon I've spent in a long time. It was extremely well organised, and all the strings players had a BBC SSO buddy assigned to them for the afternoon, to guide them in the right direction and give any help needed. It all culminated in a performance, which sounded fantastic (luckily there were many other violins to drown me out!). As it only took another couple of hours today to finish my assignment, I think I made the right decision.

So this is my last week at school, and the realisation that I have four more days / sixteen more periods / a little over fourteen more hours to practise on other teachers' pupils is terrifying. After that, the next kids I teach will be my responsibility.

Scary!

Wipe that smile off your face, young lady

So there I was, being as stern as I could be towards one over-chatty pupil, when another one said "Is that you trying to put your serious face on, miss?".

(Sigh...)

Sighs of relief and sighs of despair

It is slightly ironic that I started this blog as a record of my progress / struggle through my PGDE year, yet I have been too busy to write in it!

However, I have breathed a huge sigh of relief after passing my final crit (I felt physically sick, that's how nervous I was), and now have only my school report, research project, assignment, presentation, final interview....to worry about, not forgetting all the lessons I still have to teach. It has truly been the quickest year of my life and I can't quite believe that I am nearly there.

I have also waved goodbye to my two tutees, who sit their respective exams on Friday. It feels like quite a responsibility; I was mostly in it for the money but I would hate them to fail!

I may as well get a rant out of the way while I'm here. Was it a shambles, a fiasco or a debacle? Or just evidence that we are a nation of simpletons? I'm referring of course to the staggering 140,000 spoiled ballot papers from last week's election. Not only did we all get a helpful leaflet posted to us well in advance, there were clear instructions on the wall of each booth and a lady asking every single voter if they wanted any assistance. What's not to understand?! It's like a Standard Grade candidate who doesn't read the question properly and complains that they have been unfairly penalised. Unbelievable.