Mariah, Loo Breaks and Squishies...
Well this has been strange hasn’t it!
If you had told me 12 months ago that when I returned to school after the Christmas holiday, the whole of my teaching world would be turned upside down, and I would find myself jumping over the back of my sofa, juggling squishies and talking to my Year 7 pupils live over my phone from my balcony, I would have just looked blankly at you!
What a year this has been. It’s a year in which we’ve never been so separated and yet so connected. We’ve been isolated and at the same time linked by shared experience.
From a teacher’s perspective it’s been both challenging and hilarious, frustrating and uplifting and an experience that none of us will, or should ever forget. I’ve both loved and hated it but I have learnt so much, developed so much and am twice the teacher I was as a result of it. You are too, even if you don’t realise it.
From the pupil who put their hand up on Zoom, to asking to go to the loo, to the teacher who didn’t turn their microphone off before relaying his frustration to his wife during a staff meeting. From the kid who’s PE video consisted of him singing and Dancing to Mariah Carey songs (He was supposed to be throwing and catching a ball!) to incomprehensible handwritten diagrams of the cardiovascular system on the back of what looked like a cereal packet, it’s been a blast!
You all know what you’ve learnt. New technology, new terminology, new ways of explaining and demonstrating but think of all the things you don’t realise you’ve learnt. Independence, Resilience, Commitment, Organisation. We all have skills we never knew we’d need and I for one will make sure I don’t stop using them just because we return to “normal”
COVID has been horrible and I’d happily see the back of it soon. It took away the things I love most about being a PE teacher, but in return it’s given me the opportunity to become a different type of teacher. As we approach the end of the maddest, baddest, saddest year in my teaching career, I can safely say I’m stronger, better and more determined than I ever would have been without it.
I’d love to hear your reflections on your year. Please do share.
Pastoral and Well-being Leader and DSL - NPQSL
4 年Reading that bought back memories.... the good, the bad, the ugly but we made it! You lead us well Mr Mathe! ???? here’s to a promising new year
Head of PE at Gulf British Academy
4 年The amount of support from PE teachers around the world, collaborating and sharing resources, has been inspiring. It doesn't seem to be as prevalent in other subjects.