This is tough one as the core training days and placements both have created some truly memorable moments which makes this hard to narrow down. My whole time as a trainee is memorable as going through school to university I wasn’t engaged, getting good marks or having a good time. Now I enjoy what will happen next everyday at school and I look forward to whatever shenanigans learning will be taking place in our beloved portacabin temporary modular learning centre.
During my first my placement when I taught a full lesson for the first time my mentor said “Mr Murphy will now be teaching you” and all the class went “YESSS!” that felt really good! Knowing that your presence in the classroom as a person, authority figure and role model is making those young minds excited to hear whatever you have to say helps to make you believe why you are there in the first place.
In my second placement in Reception and Year 1, a production of Peter Pan was being shown at school and everyone had to be in the hall. As usual during assemblies and such the youngest year groups sit at the front and the oldest at the back. This meant that as their teacher I was sitting at the very front practically on the set with the actors. Not a problem thought I, it’s a great view, the play is fantastic and everyone is having fun…..Suddenly, Captain Hook needs a dance partner! I don’t remember this part of the film in Peter Pan or Hook. Phew, the captain has picked the teacher next to me, but, I forgot about Smee. He (or she, the multi role playing actor) was getting my attention to dance too. I didn’t notice because I was happily watching my colleague cringe and try to put a brave face on. Right, let’s do this! Under the bright lights of Roberttown assembly hall I did the cha cha slide, birdie song, a bit of ballroom and the rest I have repressed forever. Needless to say, all the pupils at school know who I am now and in the staff room later on all the teachers agreed that I’d met 3 different teachers standards for looking daft. Get in!
I also can’t forget the AFL lesson in which we were divided in to groups and had to produce a lesson plan and deliver it to the other trainees. There was a catch. Some of us were given roles to make the classroom be more realistic. I was given ‘middle ability-enthusiastic’ and straight away I thought of a pupil in my first placement class who I would pretend to be. Also, shout out to Ben for his portrayal of ‘low level disruption’, that was method acting at its finest. All I can say is that those of us with roles savaged the lessons of each group and really tested which behaviour management strategies work with a group of unforgiving trainees. That was a very fun experience and I hope to remember that as a having a great time to help even out the days and weeks of hard work.
Dan
Primary Trainee