Slightly less hot day...

 Well, the incredibly hot weather seems to have given up a little. Phew! I don’t object to hot, bright summeriness during the summer holidays but hotness when one is already struggling with the hardship of returning to work is not fair. Especially when one must spent one’s day trapped inside a stuffy classroom with a bunch of dehydrated teenagers.

At last today is grey, overcast and not particularly hot – far more appropriate conditions for work. Whether the weather shall allow for Athletics day to go ahead on Thursday is uncertain at this stage. If it is on I shall endeavour to be running some type of sport or activity rather than being relegated to the misery of guard duty on the gates.

My new year 9 form class seem to be quiet, timid little hobbits. Most of them are quite literally 3 feet tall. Some are starting to show signs of personality but mostly they just sit there and quietly do what they are told. They appear remarkably keen in terms of homework. When asked to do any homework task such as writing a letter or an essay on NZ, they produce far more writing than my year 10s and 11s and decorate the page with lovely borders and fancy lettering! Fantastic! So far I haven’t had to give them a detention or anything.

My sixth form appear to be keen and intelligent. The years 10s aren’t fantastic but they are doing their homework and seem more competent than the infamously illiterate criminal-types I had last year.

On the whole my classes seem to be shaping up quite well. The only cloud on the horizon is my year 11 class. Some pretty lazy and arrogant types in there. However, according to the latest timetable there has been an additional class added so my class has been chopped in half. Woot! I’ve gone from 30 students to 17. Heh heh. I hope it’s true. 17 students would be sweet. I won’t gloat yet though or it shall get changed. Probably some oversight or mistake but hopefully if I don’t say anything noone will notice and I’ll get to have a tiny fifth form class.

Returning to teaching has been tiring to say the least. Yesterday afternoon had me ready for another weekend. My teaching muscles must have atrophied over the holidays. Writing on whiteboards and standing up all day has caused foot and lower back aching.

Bring on the weekend and more cool weather!