bbcteaching

I have taught at the same School for nearly Seven years since I arrived, fresh-faced, as an NQT. That school has been perfect for my development as a Teacher: supportive staff, engaged pupils, involved parents. I have been able to stretch my wings and try new things, all in the safety of my home-from-home. During those seven years I have also had a turbulent home life: getting married (once), having children (twice), moving house (three times). All very stressful situations made less stressful by my comfortable, familiar workplace. I could happily work in the same School forever. I could remain comfortable and relaxed where I am. However a little voice in my head has been bothering me for a while now. 'There's a whole world of schools out there'. I think I'm ready for something new, a challenge, a new adventure. A new school would bring me into contact with new colleagues, new pupils, new ways of working. A new school would allow me to grow, force me to change,  pr...

One of the best things about being a teacher is the ability to make children cry. Before you get out the flaming torches and pitchforks, I don’t mean that in the way you might assume. That sort of attitude has no place in modern teaching. Rather, the thing that I enjoy is when something you do as a teacher, a lesson, an activity, or an experience, causes your pupils to have an emotional experience. Younger children cry easily, usually in response to pain, or when overwhelmed by a situation or the actions of another child. Working in Year 5 I have noticed that this reaction is lessened over time (although some children are more prone than others). However, it is still important that children understand their emotions and how they react to them. Crying, especially for boys, increasingly becomes a taboo. Crying equals being a baby. This restriction or masking of emotions is not healthy, and results in our children being repressed and unable to demonstrate their emotions in an accept...