My Supply Teaching Tin

Sorry for the lack of posts in the last few weeks. I've been a bit under the weather this week and not been up for late night blogging!

So I've been supplying for a few weeks now and still loving it! I feel like I've worked a lot of stuff out regarding where I'd like to be in the next year or so. I've been working more in KS2 (that's ages 7-11 for anyone overseas who may be reading this!) although I'm also getting some experience in Year 1, which is lots of fun and very different to anything I'm used to!

In my last post I talked about putting together an emergency kit for when I'm working. I've encountered many a day when I find I really need my own stash to make the day go by a little smoother. I present my Supply Box:

Remember this? My awesome tin that my mum and dad bought back from a trip away. I've started filling it up with lots of goodies to get me through my day on supply. There are still things I want to get, but I've made a start.

• My brand new 'marked by supply teacher' stamper. I also have a customised 'marked by Miss Hazell' stamper on order for the classes that I work in more regularly.
• My portable hard drive. This is my baby. I have two years worth of planning, activities and other time fillers on here. Perfect for those times when I need to improvise! 
• My 'register pen'. Basically a red and a black Biro cellotaped together to speed up register marking (I was always fascinated by this contraption when I was young!)
• Spare pencils. From Tiger (LOVE this shop!) You never know when a child needs a spare pencil. I like these ones as they stand out compared to standard school pencils.
• A Sharpie. You never know!
• A stash of red pens. For marking. Lots of marking!
• Highlighters. The school I'm currently based in uses a highlighting system called 'Tickled Pink, Green Growth'. You highlight all strong points of a child's work in pink and highlight areas to edit or change/improve in green.
• A rubber. Goes without saying. 
• My awesome metallic stars. The kids LOVE these! A star shaped sticker always beats a round sticker. And they're shiny. Oooh!
• My hour glass. Times 3 minutes. Just the right amount of time to give a class to tidy away. Or complete partner talk. Or get lined up. Lots of things, really.

I will add more bits over time, but this is what I've collected so far! 

Nx :)

Two days in...

Okay, I have decided.

I. Love. Supply.

I managed to get myself fully booked this week and have taught across Year 4 and Year 6 (four different classes) in the last two days and I have loved every minute! There is something really exciting about meeting a fresh set of faces and being able to start over every day.

I've been really lucky so far, as most of the time I have had lesson plans provided for me (at least, verbally!) so I have been able to just get on and teach. However, this morning I encountered some technical difficulty with a PC that refused to switch on and so had to work out what to do with an extra 15-20 minutes. Rather than panic, I ransacked the teacher's desk drawers and discovered a pad of post its and created a quick activity from that (more about that another time!).

This has got me to thinking about what I'd like to include in my 'in case of emergencies' pack. Yes, a new project! I am going to create my emergency supply kit!!

Watch this space...
Nx :)

Bumpy Beginnings...

It's that time of year again. 

September. Teachers everywhere (or at least, the ones I've spoken to) are busy compiling activities to get to know their new classes, methods in which to memorise 30 new names within a couple of days and planning ahead as far as the October half term. Heck; some are already counting down the days until school breaks up again (apparently it's 37/38 days?!). 

Me? I'm crossing all of my fingers and toes and hoping that I'll have something lined up this week. 

It's an odd feeling. I feel excited and liberated that I'm going to wake up everyday and head off somewhere new and meet lots of new faces on a regular basis. I'm also anxious about getting started. This morning was quite a rollercoaster...

I woke up at about 8am to the sound of my phone beeping at me. I checked my phone and I found a text from my agency offering me a block of 5 days work starting tomorrow (eek!). I eagerly called them back to confirm that I was happy to take the job (which just happens to be at my mum's old primary school - what a small world!). By this point I was feeling pretty awesome. I'd accepted my first job as a supply teacher. I started tomorrow. I was working 3 days this week, meaning I'd get paid something next week. All was good.

A few hours later...

I get a call from my agency explaining that the school only need me on Tuesday next week. Bubble is now burst. Don't get me wrong; I'm still excited to get started next week. Besides, what's a few extra days to myself? I guess I was just really looking forward to getting started this week while all my friends are heading into school and getting settled in. Mind you, a bet a few of them are envious that I'm not back in yet. 

I guess the grass is always greener, eh?

Here's to hoping for a call and a job by Friday this week! I really want to start blogging about my job now! Until then... 

Nx :)