Act I: Ready for the call

It’s 4.30am and I’m up and ready for action (perhaps too many years of 2am starts working in a bakery!) My shirt is ironed and tie ready, bag packed with the essentials:

  • Morning tea and lunch
  • Stationary must-haves and laptop
  • GPS because unlike the kids, the bus doesn’t call past my house and Mum won’t drive me

Act II: The call

  • “Hi Lawrence we know you are used to Year 12 but can we forget about the 1 and make it Year 2?”
  • How difficult can Year 2 be? I have been for my morning walk and I am feeling flexible, so OK I’ll do it.
  • Upon leaving, I notice my wife in the rear vision mirror waving enthusiastically. Is that encouragement, is she glad to get rid of me, or does she know something that I don’t?!

Act III: The school

  • I sign in at the front desk for the day and it appears they take your photo now…in colour and using an Ipad. I make it to my classroom and wow, year 2’s really are little people (especially if you are close to six foot!)

It’s down to business! Reading, writing, science, maths (probably not ready for calculus yet). Then the wonderful playground duty. Must remember my hat next time to protect the children from the glare from my shiny head! We have to wear fluoro safety vests; is playground duty more dangerous than it used to be, or does it make it easier to identify the target?

Act IV: The lifeline

Time now to ring my lifeline; my son is a primary teacher and has taught Year 2 before. Asking for help is always a good thing but you also have to be independent and resourceful. I ask if Year 2’s do Calculus? He says no so my hopes are dashed and I stick to the plan provided.
And before I know it, my first day at school is done! I sign out for the day with a smile and a thank you. Now where’s that coffee?

Act V: Epilogue

It feels good to be back with students again. Students learning, the joy of teaching, the activity of the playground, chatting to students on playground duty and all the old routines.
Lots of things are different but some things haven’t changed:  be organised, be respectful, learn from your environment about what is expected of you and your students and listen more than you talk.

Routines and order are still good, anticipate difficulties, don’t create issues for others or the school, don’t escalate discipline problems and keep the voice low and calm. Leave the classroom in a better state than when you found it, leave the teacher with a record of what you have done and definitely, don’t write on the electronic whiteboard!