We’re well and truly in the business end of the school year. Term 6 is well under way and I have but 3 and a half weeks left of this academic year. It seemed as good a time as any to reflect on my first year of Primary Teaching. What a year it has been!
- I have worked an average of 60 hours a week all year.
- I have got tendonitis in my elbow from too much marking.
- I have become, rather sadly, entirely dependent on caffeine.
On the plus side, I have also:
- Taught, quite literally, the loveliest class on Earth. I could not have made it this far without them.
- Become far and away a better teacher in the last 6 months than in the previous two years.
- Discovered a new talent of staple gun wielding.
- Developed a signature ‘Teacher’ look. You know the one. It’s the ‘I-am-not-impressed-right-now’ look. Easily confused with the ‘I’ll-just-wait-here-until-you’re-all-ready-don’t-mind-me-it’s-your-time-you’re-wasting’ look.
I am going to really admit something. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Drama teaching is challenging, extremely challenging in fact, especially when you’re trying to manage and engage 30-odd 14 year olds. But I really had no idea of the rigour required of Primary teachers. The day in, day out grind of their huge workload.
I am just at the beginning of my career. I by no means have the whole ‘teaching’ thing down pat. But I do know this – I have never felt more engaged, more inspired, or more excited by a job that I am by teaching. No job I have tried yet has a better combination of what interests me, what is expected of me, and what I get paid (I am used to working in the arts, so yes, a teacher’s salary is amazing compared to that!).
But….there is still so far to go. I still sometimes struggle to get in all the feedback I want to. I don’t feel like I’ve yet discovered how to delve deeply enough into a topic in a short space of time. It’s still not perfect – but I’m still learning. I’ll always be learning, and perhaps that’s the best part of it all.
I’ve just signed up for the 12 month productivity course The 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Club. I’ve spoken about Angela Watson before, and honestly, her Monday morning podcasts have been the thing that has got me through the more challenging parts of my first year as a primary teacher. I’m ready to commit to changing the way I work, in order to improve my workload, and student outcomes. It should be really interesting. It should also be fun!
I’m looking forward to it, which probably says it all about how I feel about being a primary teacher! I’ve well and truly gone over to the dark side….
These are the final words that Angela Watson, of the 
The Creative Teacher Project 