Starting the Day ..

The bell goes and already you feel frazzled, having sorted out your room for the day and not even gone into the staff room to hear any news.

You open the door and walk out into the yard. There is a cold wind - the children will be hyper today - and all of a sudden prams, buggies, nannies, granddads and mammy's arrive around you with their offspring. You note that there are even a few daddy's today. All of a sudden there is a chorus of
'Be good', 'Eat your lunch', 'Teacher I need to collect him early today', 'She was sick last night but seems ok now; ring me at work if she gets worse'

Eventually all are settled in the classroom and you hear 'What activities are we doing today?' and see bright eyes looking up with eager anticipation. Knock, Knock on the door - Roll Books being delivered...

Another knock, "Sorry we are late, traffic bad". Behind them, someone else saying the bus never came. Peace again and you go through what each group are doing for the next three quarters of an hour.

Group Work..

You look around, all are busy - but what do you see? That group that is supposed to be finding pictures of things that roll -what you see- a fight ensuing over a picture of 'Shrek,', who definitely does not roll!

That sorted out and - tap, tap, tap, - a little person eager to get your attention, 'Teacher, the glue fell'. "Who did it?", " I didn't", (Teacher thinks there must be goblins here as well but says nothing)

"He did", "she did". That's wiped up."Teacher He used all the yellow paint" .

You ring the bell and the place erupts into activity: will we get the star if we are first tidied up? After a few minutes all the 'Lions' are sitting quietly at their table and they get the much coveted star.

Prayer Time..

Now for a few minutes peace. You get the matches and light the candle for prayer time - complete and utter silence, which table will get the candle today? (Meanwhile you are frantically trying to remember who got it yesterday, and think it is the 'Giraffes' turn) Religion lesson takes place and you even manage a few moments silent prayer with all eyes closed.

Reading..

We open this week's big book- 'Guzzler'. Today we learn about Food which gives us energy. We re-read the pages together - Good! At least some children are going over their words each night and recognising some of the basic 100 words. You must be doing something right! We predict what Guzzler will tell us about food - is chocolate really good to eat for breakfast? And we learn about breakfast, lunch and dinner and teacher knows in her heart and soul that not all parents will provide a healthy dinner tonight for some of the little faces in front of her.

Then you give out the worksheet where the children are to circle and colour in foods which are good for them. An atmosphere of work permeates the room. Soon it will be time for Little Break and that much earned cup of coffee - and still the rest of the day to follow!