A big thankyou to everyone for your supportive comments over yesterday's dilemna. I'm not much of a quitter by nature, so I thought about it all night - and realised that I'm happy with the decision I made. It wasn't for me, and that's that.
Today's travel time was about 45 minutes door to door, so wasn't too bad at all, and the school was nice and cozy. Unlike most schools, this school is really quite small, and the kidlets call all the staff by their first names, teachers included. It was so weird hearing Aly... called out across the day, but nice and relaxed too. This school has one teacher's assistant based in each classroom, which is much less stressful. I covered a year three class for half a day, and a year five class for the other half of the day - and I definitely prefer working with the littlies, that's for sure. I survived, though.
I'm back again tomorrow, where I'll be having a chat to the deputy head teacher since I didn't see much of him today. Not sure what I'll be doing, but will be covering classes again. If I'm offered a more permanent role in this class, I'm not sure yet what my answer will be: I suppose a pros/cons list is in order! What are your thoughts?
Pros:
I probably won't have to do a great deal of prep, as I'm covering for teachers.
Travel is okay - I can leave at 7.20am to be there just after 8am.
Means I won't have to worry about going through agencies, and can settle down.
I get to become familiar with the little school, and the kidlets will get to know me too.\
Cons:
I'm still a bit new to being the supply teacher - I'm used to being in charge!
I'm working with all grades, rather than sticking to the infants where I'm comfortable.
I haven't gotten to know the school yet, and am still sussing it out and trying to fit in.
There could be something better out there, that I haven't discovered yet ...
I guess we'll see what tomorrow brings - but good news is, I didn't need to invest in any remedial vodka. There were a few things that made me smile today, actually:
# A little old lady politely thank the bus driver as she slowly left the bus on her walker.
# Hearing the kidlets call out my name in their gorgeous accents.
# Receiving a postcard from Kirby, and a telegram from my Nanna. Bless!
# Having a man give up his seat for me on the busy tube ride home.
# Picking up Jason and I's joint bank cards. We're a real team, now.
And last but not least, realising that regardless of what happens at school, I get to leave it all behind and come home to an apartment I love with the person I love. Swoon.**
**Complimentary vomit bag included in case the mushy talk induces nausea.
Well, for me, it is better to look for a job while you have another one. So I say, if you like this one for the time being, stick with it and you can still keep looking.
ReplyDeleteBut if you end up not liking it, then don't stay just to stay. But I think you've figured that out.
Good luck! I think you have the best attitude!
Ok, this is my opinion on work and jobs. I'll allow you to delve into it and break it down to work how you want it to to fit your situation...
ReplyDeleteI get up at 7am and go to bed at 10pm, therefore I'm awake 15 hours a day, 8 of those hours being spent at work. That is the majority of the day! That is just too much time out of the day to be unhappy and stressed out.
(Once I figured this out and took myself off of the corporate career merry-go-round I was on, my life really changed. So much happier now!)
I'm glad that today was a better day, and that you're able to put it all in such good perspective. Also, I went to a school where we all called the teachers by their first names, and it was great.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a pretty good fit to me... is there any possibility of you being an "in charge" teacher anywhere?
ReplyDeleteIf you're happy now, don't worry about "what if there is something better." You'll drive yourself nuts! And then what if you leave the good thing now for the "something better", and it turns out to be crap! Stick with what makes you happy. :)
ReplyDeleteI am with Lacey Bean. If you're happy now don't worry about the what if's. Glad to hear that your second day went better even if it takes some getting used to not being in charge but who knows what the future holds.
ReplyDeleteYay! So much better, it sounds like a great place. I hope you do get a permanent position there and are able to settle down.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to hear that today was better. And there is no need for barf baggies, I love when people are happy and in love. You deserve to be mushy, how long have you been apart?!
ReplyDeleteback to the school situation. I think you stick it out and see what it is like for a while, sometimes it is good to be challenged and not in your comfort zone (with the littlest ones). Perhaps you will love the older kids and then also perhaps you will learn that the littlest ones were the best all along.
I totally think you did the right thing and I'm happy that today was better for you. And if this doesn't work out? You can try again. Because that's what you do.
ReplyDeleteI'll even forgive you for the mushy stuff at the end. Just don't make a habit out of it.
I'm so glad to hear today was better for you :) When I find something that makes me happy, I am usually hesitant to leave it. But that's just me. Only you know what's best for you. Good luck with your decision!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kristabella...if this job is agreeable for now, may as well stay at while looking for your dream job in the meantime. And I'm so jealous you got a telegram. I have never received one! (I didn't even know they still have them.) I think that's the coolest thing ever!
ReplyDeleteI adored the part where they called out your name in those accents! It does sound cozy and much, much kinder. Even if you're not in charge, it sounds like a way better environment. And nice little kidlets, too! Yeah for Alynda! (And yes, you always have Jason to come home to and cuddle with at the end of the day no matter what else life throws at you!)
ReplyDeleteI think some of your cons would be fitting at other schools (not familiar with the atmosphere, etc.) so maybe the pros outweigh? Regardless, best of luck to you. I hope things settle soon.
ReplyDeletecongrats on sticking it out. you're going to be great. and it seems like the people there are really nice..giving you their seat and all.
ReplyDeletecan't wait to hear more.
I'm so glad you found some positives on that list. You can add "person you are currently playing Scrabble with now has a rack full of crap letters" to that.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that today went much better! I think that all the cons you listed can easily be converted into pros and that you should give the new school and adjustment some time. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love your disclaimer at the end of the post, it made me laugh out loud, haha.
The accents would have me swooning through most anything for a while :)
ReplyDeleteoh aly.. im sory to hear the original position was a bummer..
ReplyDeleteBUT glad to hear this one's shaping up.
There's some positivity to not being "in charge" - you don't have to prepare as much and if i remember my school days i LOVED the substitute teacher's cause they were so much more bludgy then the regular ones.. Lol.
Enjoy the craziness of it while you can! At the end of the day it's an experience and one you otherwise would not get the chance to do.
:)
*barf!*
ReplyDeleteOk now that that's out of the way, your list of cons with this new school will be reduced over time. Your first day was great and although you are out of your comfort zone with having to teach all grades, your whole life there now is an adventure.
So why should your job be any different? :)
I hope you are feeling better after another day at the school. I completely know how you were feeling, I went through the same thing when we first moved to Washington, DC. Now it looks like in another year I'm going to have to go through it all over again. I hope you know that you are wonderful at what you do and you really love the kiddies, no matter what happens you should know that it will all work out one way or another, things just fall into place on their own. :-) P.S. I'm loving the pictures!
ReplyDeleteMiss a day and I miss so much drama. Even without reading about how today went (gotta keep things chronological!) first, I thought you made the right decision. And then after reading your impression of the 2nd school even the way you wrote was happier, less stressed, if that makes any sense at all!
ReplyDeleteGROSSS!!! Mushy Aly....
ReplyDelete:)
swoon all you want. that is the best feeling in the world! :)
ReplyDeleteI am immune to mushy talk, but I am sorry to hear that your first day was less than stellar. But going with your first and final instinct is always good in my book. Here's to happier schooling! xoxo
ReplyDeleteBlech! Kidding, kidding. you know I think you are adorable. And good at making decisions now too!
ReplyDeleteThey call you by your first name? That's a little odd ...
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of less responsibility... I'd like the relief one.. then at least if you get a bunch of kids that are just feral, you only have to put up with them for a little while before moving on.
ReplyDeleteAnd who knew Sussex Inlet Post Office was so organised! That's only took a little over a week!
I'm so glad you've found something (even if you don't wind up staying) that suits you better.
ReplyDelete"Having a man give up his seat for me on the busy tube ride home." I'm amazed. You know how rare that is, yes? Glad that a kind man gave up his seat for a pretty girl, and that Tues was a much better day than Mon.
ReplyDeleteI'm SO glad that Tuesday was a better day than Monday! And I agree with Katelin...a lot of the things on your con list could easily move to your pro list after a little bit of time and getting used to the new situation. Whatever happens though, stick with your gut instincts!
ReplyDeleteAre teachers in the U.K. 'under contract' for a specific term/tenure?
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like it isn't as restricting as in the U.S., but I have no real experience to base it on.
At any rate, I'm sure that things are going to work out well, - they always do when there's someone to help you get through it. Mushiness is good!
Stick with the new job - it sounds great! Nothing wrong with learning something new and going a bit out of your comfort zone; you'll be glad when it's over. And you'll save yourself the stress of working with agencies because you'll have stability.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
It sounds like you're on your way to finding something great! I'm proud of you that you decided the last job was not for you and stuck with your decision.
ReplyDeleteAnd yay for coming home to your love!
Very glad that your day was better!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering how you got on.