Miss.

Waiting for a roar, looking at the mutating skyline. The city is my church, it wraps me in the sparkling twilight.

Talking about my finest hour, I had more than one today. Thank you, whoever I need to thank.
Woke up into a bit of a disaster today. I have plumbing issues (No pun intended.) - the tap in my toilet just wouldn't shut properly. Water stuck on full throttle. I did managed to fix it, but by the time I left the flat, I was late for work. I didn't call the school today informing that I was going to be late - naughty me, but then you'd imagine how bizarre will it sound if I call up and say 'hey, I am running late, my tap just started leaking everywhere'. To leave that on an answering machine, nah. I'd rather explain it to my mentor face-to-face, and enjoy the laughter and embarrassment between us two.

I had two double lessons today. Thursday was my rather strange, but wonderful induction day at my new school placement, so I arranged a swap with my mentor with my Year 10s. So, first time ever, I was having a lesson on Friday. 'Surprise me.' - I told my mentor not to tell me when my formal observation is at the very start - I do believe telling me that 'this is formal' changes the dynamics of the lesson, it wouldn't be me teaching, not a true reflection. I need to stay true to myself. So 'surprise me' it is.

I ended up surprising myself today again. The lesson went very well. I changed the tone of my voice and people listened. I still had my usual banter with my students, we laughed a lot during this lesson. It was fun yet challenging. To be honest, I started my career as a teacher, doubting myself. I always thought the reason why my lesson went well must be due to my mentors - they must have done something to the students while I wasn't in - like Institute Fridays. As if by going into the school, full-time, Monday to Friday, things started clearing up. My confidence is building up steadily. Part of me is saying, maybe there's something in the water - the another parts are saying, yeah, I am that thing in the water now. My first teaching Friday was on fire - not literally, I did my risk assessment, no fire involved, safe.

After lunch, I had a year 7 class. This was a new set for me, not the usual 'troublesome year 7'. 25 is troublesome, 7 is heavenly. Class size of 7. Unheard of, in my rather short history of career in teaching. Well, to be honest, 4 were missing, but still small class, cheering in my heart. We continued with the lesson, learning their names was tricky to start with, but then not bad, I mean - 7 wasn't that difficult, was it? So, the class carried on with a big finish - dissection. My original year 7, this was messy. But then with a smaller group, this was magical. They were getting involved, touchy feely, cutty yucky.

'Bye, miss, have a nice weekend.' The kids, one by one, just left the classroom. 'Bye, sir, have a nice weekend.'
'You too.' - we only just met. This was great. Sometimes, the simplest thing will make you smile. They really will.

The countdown clock is ticking fast. In a desperate attempt to tidy up my messy ARF file, I was reading through my mentor's lesson observation notes. It's fascinating that we have come this far, but only just started.

‎'Will you promise to come back and teach us after you are gone, sir? Please, don't just leave us.'
I love my job. I really do.
iD + :T C.

Electric.

What breaks your bones is not the load you're carrying. What breaks you down is all in how you carry.

Wednesday. What a wonderful day. Wednesday is by far the busiest day in the entire week. Two double lessons, back-to-back, such fun. But, for today, for today, I finally realised that I am a teacher, I am the teacher. The sense of being, hello, nice to meet you, for the first time.

After the kerfuffle I had last Wednesday, I met this Wednesday with a scar in my heart - well, not literally, metaphorically, oh dear, English-obsessive alert. But when life breaks you, you pick life up and mend it. Keep cool and carry on. My ideaology, well, one of my many, just like I think all staircase should be fitted with slides, such fun. Anyway.

Got in this morning. I was in a good mood, well, like many other days - it is the start, you have to feel good, don't you? After swapping classrooms, I made a jumpstart to my lesson. I always have a feeling that - you will know after a few minutes whether this lesson is going to be good or not. You can sense it in the air. Today was one of those days. The good days, that is. Everything went surprisingly well. I had a moment in the middle of the lesson when I said to myself, 'oh my god, well done, you, well done, myself'. It was a really lame moment, myself bigging myself up with my inner thoughts.

A student of mine commented on the excessive use of the phrase 'OK./OK?/O-K!/O-K?' in every single sentence. Last time someone mentioned this, my mentor shouted at them and said 'that is rude - sir is new to this school - it is a natural reflex.' Oh well, this time, student would meet feedback, Mr C-style!

'Well, OK is my favourite word. OK? Is that a problem with you, OK? I mean I can stop using the word OK, OK, but it is OK for now?' - 'OK.' The student laughed and never spoke again, but then the dear friend did reply with 'sir, you are funny.' Well, to be honest, I was really self-conscious for the rest of the lesson, desperately trying to avoid the word OK. But then, I put my hands up, OK, you win, right? Right? I laughed out loud.

Technology is a mysterious thing. It works in magical ways. In most of my cases, this magic is like my students' disappearing homework, magic. Just like last week, technology will fail you. And when nothing else fails you, everything will fail you, and never Follow-you. I looked at the classroom I was in, a pile of wires and two speakers on the floor - the question 'is the speaker working' was pointless. IT 1 - Mr C 0.

It's OK (oh damn, I said OK again). I shall narrate it and adjust the plan accordingly. I was pushing the kids to discuss. It was really engaging. I was in love with this lesson til the laptop debacle.

Research time. Laptops for everyone! But, a few seconds after handing the laptops out, the students, one by one, said the dreadful news, the news that everyone dreads to hear,

'the Internet is not working, sir.'

Always prepare for the worse. To be honest, I thought I was going to panic and lose track. I tend to do that when I am lost - I stare into deep space and have a little 'me-moment'. I wouldn't say or do anything. Zoned out. The brain's way of telling me to 'PANIC!' or maybe 'PLEASE CALM DOWN. THIS IS AWKWARD.' But then as if I wasn't in control of myself. I turned back and yelled, TEXTBOOKS.

I had never been this quick in response in my entire life. I picked up a textbook and found the page for them to read. Then, I asked 'do we have the BTEC textbook as well'. The response was lightning in my sense. I looked back on my mentor's face - I am terrible at reading facial expressions, actually. Is that a 'pleasantly surprised' face or a 'strangely disgusted' face? - This was followed by a lot of writing on my lesson observation sheet. I shall not panic - I should say that to myself sometimes. But then this day, I was doing it subconsciously. It was weird. It was near out of body.

I had a pat on my shoulder from myself after the lesson - not because it was sore, although it is quite sore, as a matter of fact. Turned out it was pleasantly surprised. That mad rush of scribble on the sheet were a lot of positive comments and things to improve on next time. Q strands, tick, tick, tick, ... Oh, tick.

I am a happy man. This false sense of security turned out to be less false than it was.
I love my job.

Bring on SE2.
iD + :T C.

Shakespeare.

Look at me. I am on a mountain.

A school is a multi-disciplinary institution. Don't get me wrong, I love science, rock on, but if a school only teaches science, it will be a bad school, with a lot of bad people, teaching a lot of bad people - a bit like Imperial I suppose. (Jonathan, UCL always wins.)

Tuesday, sun was shining. This was a bit odd for me. I don't have lessons on Tuesday - it usually rains on Tuesday, part of the 'weather affects mood' idea, I suppose. The previous day, Head of Department finally organised my Teaching Assistant task to commence, after a lot of nagging people and frustrating phone calls. I was to become a teaching assistant every Tuesday.

In English.

I don't really like English. You should know better, judging by the fact that I am now a scientist, writing stuff in near-Greek sense. But, I didn't like English, things are about to change. (*English as in the language, not the race, of course. Yeah, bloody English.)

Period 1. English (Dah, of course). A year 7 class with Mr P, the new NQT. Talking about teenager aspire to be someone just slightly older them, the next reachable goal - I aspire to be a NQT. This could be a fun experience. The tables and chairs were really low. Children were seated in rows and in pairs. Somehow, I fell into this fantasy world. It was like being in primary school again. Mr P went on exploring Frankstein by Shelley and the wonders of the 'logues, monologue, epilogue, prologue. The lesson was surprisingly engaging. I started picking up a book and started reading with the children. I was looking for the meaning in the dictionary when the children were doing the same. I was doing the plenary when the children were discussing the answers. For a moment, I forgot I was observing. I was a teacher. But then I was a kid.

'That was the best English lesson I've ever had.' - That wasn't from a student, it was from me. Well, that tells you a lot about my background of English in the education system, I suppose. I missed the whole Key Stage 3 - I was in this mere city called Hong Kong. Never read Romeo and Juliet. Never read Frankstein. Never wrote a haiku. Nah. This is the opening to a new world to me. I suppose, it is never too late to start Key Stage 3, right?

Period 5. English. The calm before the storm - that was Period 1. Period 5 was a tough one, I have been warned, in advance, by a lot of people. The class teacher notified me beforehand, she might be a bit late for her whole lesson - she would be on her way back from a day trip with half the class. But not to worry, help was at hand. A cover teacher. Just for the first 15 minutes or so.

There wasn't cover work. She was on her way back.
Cover teacher improvised. He was going to discuss and debate with the kids.

About science.

I don't think he remembers I am a science teacher. Anyway, if you insist, off you go, sir.
The kids were surprising engaged. They were excited. Now, that's the power of science.

The calm came and went. Here comes the storm. I give you, the world according to a cover teacher.

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO A COVER TEACHER
The Sun is hot, a few thousand degrees.
It is (therefore) expanding.
The world might end this year. It might just explode.
The likelihood of the world ending today or in 30 years time are the same.
The Sun is a star. Now name the other 9 stars.
Yup, Earth is the third one.
The way to remember the order of them is we are the third rock from the Sun.
There's about 4.5 billion people on planet Earth now.
1.5 billion in China.
About 1 billion in India.
Maybe a billion in Africa.
Yeah. 4.5 billion.

My head. It might just explode. Oh dear. The last bit was a killer for me. Europe, Asia, America - population, er, about zero.

English teacher returned to save the day. I didn't correct the information about our Universe on the spot. The kids were believing him and fascinated. Correcting the cover teacher will be as cruel as telling them Santa doesn't exist.

Sometimes the misconceptions are from the adults. Tackling them will be near impossible.
Now how's that for the next M1 assignment?

Somewhere, somewhere a Head of Department will have a quiet word with a cover teacher.
Yes, I am the centre of the Universe. Oh yes.
iD + :T C.

Deprived.

Sooner or later. I swear. We'll make it there. Sooner than later.

So, duties resumed. To be honest, having lived 23 years of my life, this is by far the most tired and exhausting week ever. Note to self, good way to torture students. set deadline one day before school resumes. Now that will teach them a lesson, I guess.

My sleeping pattern is irradical. A bit like myself actually. Normal days, I will be lucky if I get 4 hours sleep. I am fine I suppose. People wonder how can I face tens of children for god-knows-how-many hour after just few hours of sleep - well, I don't know how. I guess part of being a teacher is being a very convincing and good actor. It is a game of story telling. To some extent. But, then after just one hour sleep on Monday, followed by another one hour on Tuesday, this show that I am starring in was going to become challenging.

Wednesday, headed back to school. To be honest, Wednesday is the most challenging day for every week. Two double lessons, back to back. Four hours of science meet kids, fun. The night before the storm, Tuesday, went out to have sushi with family and friends. But, after just one hour of sleep, I was not thinking straight. I knew I had to do some lesson planning for Wednesday, but then I was too tired to think properly, I needed food. But then, when I was having sushi, the conveyor belt was hypnotising, well, sort of, all I could think about was lesson planning. When I saw the neon lights, I thought about electricity - lesson planning. When I saw food rotating senselessly in an anti-clockwise direction on a conveyor belt, I thought about digestion - lesson planning.

Ah. I screamed. Inner thoughts screamed. Not literally. Just mentally.

Here is a fact. When you are offered to take the first lesson after a holiday of celebration - turn it down, just don't bother. Computers will fail you. Whiteboard will fail you. Ballpoint pens will fail you. Paper will fail you. Tables and chairs will fail you. Lights and switches will fail you. First double lesson, half way through, with a cover teacher, I noticed - I have had better days. All my days.

However, when all else fails you, there will be light. Second double lesson, my year 7. I received a text from my mentor on Tuesday, to remind me about (quote alert) 'the troublesome year 7'. To be frank, I could have gone to bed at 4 the night before and have 3 hours of sleep, which in my world, that is plenty. But, stupidly, I decided to perfect my lesson plan for the year 7 class by rewriting the whole lesson.

From scratch.

Well, my hard work paid off. My year 7. As if all their new year resolution was 'be nice to sir'. They were engaged again. They were paying attention. Well, I need raise my voice to breaking point at one point, but, hey, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel now. I am happy. I am one happy man.

Weren't that troublesome afterall.
Stay cool.
iD + :T C.