onequietteacher

#DailyWritingChallenge – Trust

There have been better days than today, and I am sure that better days are coming. Today, not even a run was enough to clear my head, so I guess that leaves me waiting it out. I have to trust that it will get better. How is it even possible to feel burnt out byContinue reading “#DailyWritingChallenge – Trust”

#DailyWritingChallenge – Emotions

While the prompt for today is ‘Emotions’, I could easily have titled this entry Everything is up in the air and it’s not much fun. Emotions are raw at the moment, and I’m sure that’s not just the case for me. But what is the case for me, is a huge shift in my emotionsContinue reading “#DailyWritingChallenge – Emotions”

#DailyWritingChallenge – Purpose

When I was in the classroom every day, I think I knew my purpose. I was a teacher, with all the unpackable purpose of that job title that I had worked for so long to earn. Being an NQT though, I was still very much finding my feet and still in a permanent state ofContinue reading “#DailyWritingChallenge – Purpose”

#DailyWritingChallenge – Growth

There is a daily writing challenge gaining traction in the #edutwitter community, and this is my first step into it. 500 words maximum, on the given topic – today, it’s Growth. Considering I’m in a profession that’s all about encouraging growth in others and constantly finding growth in oneself, plus I’ve done a hell ofContinue reading “#DailyWritingChallenge – Growth”

A Letter to My Younger Self

Dear ten-year-old Caitlin, When I look at your school picture, I see your smile before anything else. But I remember how often you didn’t want to smile, too. Your crooked teeth, your clothes, your glasses, your height, your introversion, your maturity, your willingness to wear a woolly hat when it’s cold, your cleverness (yes, youContinue reading “A Letter to My Younger Self”

Who Am I?

Being a teacher is something I dreamed of, something I worked hard for, something I knew would be difficult but that I persevered for regardless.

I never expected my first year to be like this.

Sunday Shelf, Vol. 1

I thought I might use my little corner of the internet to spread a little more of that sunshine I wrote about a few days ago. Today I’m sharing books (surprise surprise!)

October

This is the second in my series of NQT Year blogs, looking back and reflecting on each month. Now, October, where I tried to keep afloat, sometimes with success and other times with less than that… “[My headteacher] told me today that I’m smiling again.” Tuesday, 1st October 2019 As the leaves began to change,Continue reading “October”

Seeking Sunshine

Social Media in the Coronavirus Lockdown I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with social media. On the one hand, it can be hugely anxiety-provoking, because it feeds that part of our brains that can’t help but compare us viciously to those around us. For example: “Oh my goodness, look how lovely she looks on thatContinue reading “Seeking Sunshine”

September

All good stories have a solid starting point, don’t they? My NQT story began in September 2019, and thanks to my meticulous journaling habit, I can piece together a fairly accurate account of my first month as a teacher. Maybe it will be useful to someone just embarking on their NQT journey (provided, of course,Continue reading “September”