Monday 20 October 2014

Currently in October


Where has the time gone? I could have sworn I did a currently post for September but apparently not! I feel like I haven't spent enough time on this little blog but I'm so crazy busy I never seem to find a moment spare for anything let alone blogging. When people say that the PGCE year will be the busiest (and most stressful) year of your life they really weren't exaggerating, it's far worse than A Levels or third year. I've never had so much to do and so little time to do it in before. However, it is so fulfilling at the same time and I've really enjoyed it so far. We started our school placements a couple of weeks ago, just 2 days a week so far, and being with the children makes it all worth it. That all said, here is what I have been doing when I do find the time...

Reading...

A book which at times feels rather uncomfortable, particularly now that I'm at school, Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita. It is a challenging topic and can be very disturbing at times but Nabokov writes so subtly and humorously that it is almost possible to miss the unsettling evidence of what is truly taking place in the story. He constructs the character of Humbert so carefully and cleverly that it is impossible not to see some of society in him, it raises a number of interesting issues with the sexualisation of children and the uncomfortable attitude society has towards teenage girls. I have almost finished reading it and I think my next novel choice will have to be a little lighter in subject!

Listening to...

James Vincent McMorrow's album Post Tropical which is great to work to with its calming tones and its gentle melodies. I find his voice has a haunting quality and I can sit and listen to him sing for hours.

Watching...

Now that the Great British Bake Off has come to an end I feel a little lost when it comes to watching TV. It's quite possibly my favourite programme of the entire year and I miss it already (no this is not hyperbole). I'm very much enjoying Educating the East End on Channel 4 and I have high hopes that it will help change and improve people's views on teachers, even if only of secondary teachers. It goes a long way towards illustrating just how hard (good) teachers work and how challenging the profession actually is.

Loving...

My cycle to school in the morning. Cycling home always feels much faster - who knows why journeys back seem to go by quicker? Often it can be a bit of a drag to have to get on the bike early in the morning to head to work but I have such a pretty cycle route for the most part that I really enjoy it. I'm trying to make the most of it while it is still light enough to go that way because, as there are no street lights for a large chunk of it, when the clocks go back I will have to resort to going via the main roads.

Dreaming of...

Christmas. I am not even ashamed to admit it. As soon as it begins to get dark quicker in the evenings and the temperature increasingly starts to drop I cannot help but start to dream of Christmas and all of its wonders. It is probably what gets me through the chilly month of November and from the 1st of December I allow myself endless indulgence in all things Christmassy, especially carols!

What have you been up to in the month of October? Are you feeling as insanely busy as I do right now? There must be others who start to think about Christmas wistfully this early too, right?

Monday 6 October 2014

October Goals

This is a few days late, I meant to have it up on the first of the month but time just seems to have gotten away from me so here it is anyway. For someone who has become accustomed to only having about six hours of prescribed, structured time it is a bit of a shock to the system to be out of the house from 8.10am to 5.40pm every week day. I've always had a lot of work to do but I could structure my days in whatever way suits me, now I have to try to fit what feels like a million and one chores and readings into a few hours each evening. So this month I'm trying to give myself more achievable goals, we'll see how that pans out...


September

// Read two new novels
This I didn't quite manage unfortunately, apparently even two novels was a tall order! I did succeed in reading the majority of Donna Tartt's The Secret History (I technically started it in August) which I absolutely adored. It is such a gripping tale of secrets and betrayal and it is beautifully written. I would fully recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading, it's on the lengthier side but it doesn't feel a page too long and it's bound to keep you captivated. I've recently started reading Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita but I'm not ready to give a verdict just yet as I'm only about 50 pages in.

// Bake something different
Having a new kitchen is always quite exciting even if it is only a little galley kitchen with very little surface area. However I did manage to bake some raspberry muffins this week which I kind of improvised from a vague recipe as I couldn't find anything that worked well with the ingredients we had. They were actually pretty tasty considering how basic they were.

// Workout properly twice a week

I feel like workout goals are quite often what I shove to the side, not because I don't think they're important but because they don't really have deadlines as such. Although I haven't managed to completely call this goal a success I have been working out a lot more than I was previously. My course is so full on that I'm pretty tired when I get home in the evening and after having made tomorrow's lunch and cooking and eating dinner I don't have the energy for a full workout session. Instead in the week I've been doing a small circuit of squats, modified push-ups and crunches each evening and then working out properly at least once on the weekend.

// Visit new places in Norwich

Definitely achieved this one! I've visited the Cathedral, I've eaten at the Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Loch Fyne, and I've checked out a bit of a Norwich institution: Biddy's Tea Room. I have plans to discover many more fun spots around the city.

October

// Take 5 minutes to stretch everyday
Now that I'm in school several days a week (so exciting, more on this soon) I'm finding that I'm getting quite stiff, possibly from spending a lot of my time crouching down or sitting in tiny chairs. In order to try to combat this I want to try a few simple stretches in the evening.

// Revise for and pass my audits!
As part of my teacher training this year I have to pass a Science audit and a Maths audit, both are roughly to GCSE level so I have the ability to pass but there is just so much I've forgotten. We do get a second chance to pass them next term but I really want to get them over and done with at the end of the month.

// Expand my teaching outfit collection
This goal does sound a little bit like an excuse to go shopping and I think my bank account is already groaning at me but I genuinely have a shortage of clothes which are classroom appropriate so I'm trying to build up a teaching wardrobe bit by bit.

// Build up my confidence to stand up at the front of the room
I've never lacked confidence with children, what freaks a lot of people out just seems to come naturally to me. What does make me nervous is the idea of having to stand up at the front of a classroom with the class teacher, two other teaching assistants and another student all watching. It makes me really nervous. So I've got to try and spend the month building up my confidence with this and learn to not mind being observed.

There you have it, they may be rather basic but that's all I have time for on top of everything this course involves, it's crazy how busy we all are! Wish me luck!

Do you give yourself monthly goals? What are yours?