Well, importantly, I've visited a few new football grounds and I'm training more than ever before with the aim to improve my climbing. But neither of these are the focus of this blog.
Number 10 on my list was to get a job, and that has been achieved. I am, officially, a supply teaching assistant!! (I know what you are thinking, that really is a rock and roll title!) So what does it all involve?? Well, with it being agency work, it usually involves a lot of getting up early, waiting for the phone to ring and then being disappointed when it doesn't.
When I actually get round to doing some work, it is pretty good fun. I spent some time last week working as a one-to-one teaching assistant with a child with special educational needs. This situation does offer a variety of challenges, some amusing and others not so much.
A great start to the work I was to do at the school came in the form of an afternoon game of bench ball in the school hall. The little lad I was working with has some problems with his coordination, and it was my job to help out. Now straight away the tie came off. It was serious. The kid in question had decided he would perform the role of catcher, if the ball was thrown to him a point would be scored. It turns out that I'm a little better at catching a bit foam ball than the average 8 year old! I still had fun at least!
The end of the day bought the next realisation that I was indeed living the dream. This was purely and simple that the end of the day came at 3.15. Its a long hard day working in a primary school!
Day two at the school started better than the last. I got there early enough for a mug of tea before school. Always a bonus, and it soon got even better. First up it was reading time and I was asked to help the child I was working with to read aloud. Between the two of us we were reading a book about smugglers. The suggestion was that I would read all the speech throughout the book. About half way through the book a pirate appeared, and this character had plenty to say! I was in my element, there were giggles all round. By the end of the day we were in Art, and I was drawing pictures of mini beasts on a white board. I think some of the kids' art was better than mine! They all told me as much too!
Friday bought then end of a hard(!) week. To start there was a whole school assembly, all 6 classes into the hall, a bit of show and tell, a hymn and a few certificates. Then came a bit of story writing. Writing out a plan of the story "Something Strange at Playtime". Out at playtime, there was something strange. I'd spotted the bouldering wall the school had put up around an outdoor storage room. The kids were very impressed by my ability to get round the whole thing, including the tricky move across the door.
Best bit of the day, or so I though, was afternoon playtime. A game of football for the older children. I, of course, joined in. I gave the team a bit of aerial presence. I managed to keep the tie on for this game, the coat being zipped up in the cold weather gave amble protection. The school shoes weren't as suitable unfortunately. My first touch wasn't as good as I'd hoped, not that the kids noticed.
It did get better after playtime. I was given a gift by one of the kids. He had draw this for me during a bit of free time. As I promised him, it is now up on my fridge!
Now I'm sure that is enough tales of my boring week at work. I can tell that you are all waiting for the joke, and don't worry, it's a belter.
Why did Shaggy go to an underwater disco?
He likes a scuba doo!!
Keep the faith!
