Well, the past 2 days of Teaching Assistant-ing have certianly been interesting... and on the whole very enjoyable (and tiring)! I've been spending the morning in one year 1 class, and the afternoon in the other, and then the opposite way round the following day (i.e. Tuesday: am - class 1, pm - class 2. Wednesday: am - class 2, pm - class 1 etc). The two teachers have very different styles, and handle the often difficult behavour in very different ways, with varying levels of success. I'm picking up lots of things that I do want to do when I'm a teacher, and a few that i don't, so it's definitely useful. I've been really 'involved' in everything, which is good - the classes are always doing things, always noisy, so I'm completely occupied 100% of the time - there's no sitting around! Today I worked solidly from 8.40am until 12.15pm, had 40 minutes for lunch, then did just before 1pm until 3.40pm. It may not seem amazingly long to those of you who work 9-5pm (as I used to), but trust me, when you're on your feet 90% of time, and dealing with lots of hyperactive kids, it's many times more tiring than 9-5 in the office.

So far the lessons I've been involved with have been numeracy, literacy and PE - there hasn't been any history/music/etc etc which i am looking forward to. The guy who teaches class 2 structures the day very clearly, and has a lot of respect from the kids, even though they still mess around a lot. In PE today it was all him and I could do to stop half the class climbing the apparatus (leaning against the walls, not assembled)! I've seen some very different approaches to numeracy and literacy, which is interesting too...

The last two days have definitely affirmed my passion for teaching, and made me sure that leaving the world of office work to temp in schools, then do a PGCE, was definitely the right decision. I enjoy being in a classroom with so many different kinds of children (in terms of behaviour, outlook on life...) and I enjoy being part of their learning. I've been sole supervisor of children in the class (up to 15 at a time!) for large chunks of lessons, so my behavour/classroom management skills are already being put to the test - and I'm not faring too badly. This afternoon I had 10 children in the classroom, whilst the other 10 went with the teacher to do 'creative stuff' in another room. Some of the ones i had were terrors, but I managed to keep the majority occupied by reading them a (long!) story then getting them into doing timed sit ups/pressups and jogging on the spot on the carpet. It was great - they were quiet, concentrating on something - and it was tiring them out, so I bet their parents will be pleased!!

I've just had a call to say the school would like me back for the whole of next week, so it's nice to know they think I'm doing OK. It's great to be getting more experience, and I'm very happy to be asked back, as it really means I can get to know the children better. Hopefully after these 2 weeks the agency will be able to find me more work, either in this school or another, as I'm really getting into this...!