Happy birthday, Mr Darwin

Even though I am, by degree, a physical scientist, I can’t help but be fascinated by Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. The more I think about it, the more I am amazed by it – how it all just makes sense and, as my boyfriend put it, how incredibly simple it is. The idea that all species are related to one another is just so… elegant. Having been born and raised a Roman Catholic, I had never though of the idea that humans could have evolved from other animals – after all, I had believed that God created Adam from soil and later Eve from Adam’s rib. How grateful I will remain to my parents for not sending me to a faith secondary school and for helping me to develop a curiosity for science that is not clouded by religion. Anyway, I will stop wittering on.

As I am sure you are aware, 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his awe-inspiring, revolutionary book, On the Origin of the Species. In honour of this, the Natural History Museum in London has been running an exhibition, Darwin, since November 2008. (It closes on 19th April 2009.) As it was half term this week, I decided to treat myself and go to it. It contained some incredible artifacts, for example Darwin’s beetle collections and his notebooks. It was a very thoughtfully created exhibition, which appealed to pretty much anyone with an interest in science that was at least 8 years old. Unfortunately, because the exhibition catered for the masses, I found that I didn’t really learn much from it – however, as I did mention, the artifacts were brilliant. It depends on what you want from an exhibition. I’d certainly take a group of more able Year 8 and/or 9 pupils, but not a group of A-Level biologists. It’s worth visiting if you’re in London, but don’t make a special trip. (Word of warning though – you MUST book tickets in advance as they’ll be sold out on the day.)

On a similar Darwinian theme, I was gobsmacked by the programme the BBC showed a few weeks ago called Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life as part of its Darwin Season. Maybe it’s BBC’s production skills, maybe it’s Sir David Attenborough’s wonderful way of explaining things. That programme was incredible.

First day nerves

Today was my first proper day at School 2. The staff seemed a little more friendly than they did before – maybe they’ve realised I’m there until May so they’d better get used to it! Or maybe I have lowered my expectations. My tutor at uni told me that the last trainee who went there clashed with the staff so spectacularly that she failed the course. I am the first trainee to go to School 2 since. Well whoop die doo. Maybe I should just stick my iPod on and keep myself to myself.

So, back to today. I was really nervous this morning. It didn’t help that it was pouring with rain and that my outfit was being ruined as I walked to Reception! But I found my feet after a while. The other trainees at school (one does History and the one does English with Drama) are nothing like me at all – I’m not sure I’ll build the same relationship with them as I did with the trainees at School 1. I think the fact that each department has it’s own staff room doesn’t help that either. I met the headteacher today and she seems lovely – I’m having a formal introduction on Thursday, which should be good.

I met my Year 8 class today. They seem like my Year 7’s from School 1 on a good day! Bella, their class teacher, is really focused and she used to be a mentor before Bob did it, so she knows the exact advice to give me. Plus she’s really easy to talk to. I’m teaching Year 8 about Food and the Digestive System after half term, which should be “fun”.

All in all, as I was explaining to my family, you instantly get a feeling about a school when you walk in. It’s difficult for a school to grow on you. School 2 may not be similar to School 1 in any shape or form, but I’m feeling a little more optimistic now. I hope my optimism isn’t misplaced!

Thrown in at the deep end

So there I was this morning, sat in the staff room with David, having our weekly meeting. We spent ages planning when I’d start teaching, what topics I’d teach, which part of the lesson I would lead, etc etc. We spent a good half an hour discussing when I’d do my first ten minutes of being a real teacher. This was in period 1.

Fast forward to period 3, straight after morning break. I went to the lab which I was meant to be observing in. This is the Year 7 class I’m supposed to be teaching from next week, for their weekly 200 minutes of science. And guess what? Their class teacher was off sick. But it’s OK, he’s left a few worksheets for the little blighters to do. And a cover teacher walked in, so I wouldn’t be alone. But oh no, life’s not that nice. The cover teacher decided that, seeing as I’m a trainee science teacher, I could lead the class. So I got them to start the worksheets. But within thirty seconds, they were asking me questions. I flicked through their exercise books to find they’d never covered the material before. Some children were even getting “adaptation” and “adoption” confused. As a human being, how could I sit there watching them do that?? So I really had to think on my feet and I made them read aloud from the textbook in turns, just the few pages their teacher should’ve gone through with them long before they cast their eyes on those worksheets. And they finished them in half the lesson time so I had to run crying to the technician asking her what to do! David was not best pleased that that’d happened but what can you do?

Speaking of technicians, the one I know best will be referred to as Susan and, I’ll be honest with you, she’s an absolute diamond. And I’m not just saying that in an “all science teachers love the technician” way. She truly is wonderful.