The Future

 Today is my first day in my new job, and it's exciting. 

Today was the day I took the first step on the academic career ladder, starting my first day as a Costume Teaching Fellow. 

Teaching

 Teaching

One day a week I teach in two very different establishments. I am so proud of all my learners, well done all.

The first is a performing arts college, where I teach basic costume skills. This morning all of the students researched, designed and made their own Berets. Below are a few.

The second is a group for adults with learning disabilities, and I am so proud of one of my students who has never done cross stitch before but persevered with this cross stitch kit. 

Teaching

 I am feeling really proud of my students most of whom hadn't used a sewing machine a few weeks ago, but all have now made a bag of their own design. 

Here are a few of their great bags.

Well That was a busy week

My degree officially starts today the 1st October, but last week was so busy, yet satisfying and oddly relaxing, I've missed being really busy.

Starting Monday with a one-to-one session on getting into teaching with lots of great advice, do I want to be a teacher, honestly I am not sure yet. That said I am really enjoying teaching, and new experiences, training and qualifications are always a bonus. 

The chat was really useful and certainly gave me some thinking points and areas for further investigation.

Tuesday was a successful day at work with my students, most of whom had never touched a sewing machine before, all designing and making their own bags. I was really impressed with this and very proud of them all.

Wednesday started with a two-hour online training session on Period dignity and Menopause from BECTU, found this surprisingly interesting and learned a lot, much of which I have already passed on to others. 

From this, I dashed to a coordinators meeting for our academic society, and this went well. Then onto another meeting, while also taking part in an online Postgrad catch-up meeting

Thursday a meeting with my volunteer manager and mentor, for the sports volunteering I am doing, followed by a little spare time to dash into town to buy materials for the session I was running later in the day. Then a meeting with a  theatre company about a project for the academic society. I did however manage to have a brief lunch with a friend before delivering a session on Yarncrafts for the school of applied sciences, this was well received with some students asking for another session.

Before in the evening when I discovered I now have access to SkillsForge, so the evening was spent updating that and booking courses. 

Friday a day off, that isn't a day off in the way other people have a day off, that means a day of floristry ready for a family wedding. 

Friday evening a little light research and reading, some more time booking training on SkillsForge, and some Society organisation. 

The future

 Not actually started my degree yet, but I'm planning for the future. Is that wrong? I'm not sure.

Assuming I pass and survive the Masters, what's next?

I had thought of a PhD, but now I'm now thinking of a teaching degree as well. Again teaching is not a new idea, as I have considered it before, but now I'm thinking maybe teaching then PhD. 

When I say teaching I'm thinking either secondary or more likely post 16.

So what have I done, booked a get-in to teaching appointment, booked to attend university open days, and got myself all confused?

            

New Day, New Job

I applied for a freelance job before the summer, was invited for an interview and was offered a part-time teaching role, which was a bit of a shock.

However over the summer, I heard nothing and so thought it was a mistake of some kind, two days ago, I received an email asking me to start this week. A bit of a surprise, but great news.

Today I attended my first teacher inset day, everyone was lovely and had a great day.