School Day 1

This morning I met my HOF (Head of Faculty) over next door at the ADEC building at 8am.  I was feeling rather nervous but was reassured to find out that I would be teaching Grade 4 (8 year olds).  On the way I found out I was in one of the better if not best schools in Abu Dhabi with an Arabic Principal & Vice Principal.

My HOF is South African and has been here four years.  She started as an ICT adviser, then moved to a Literacy adviser, now a HOF.  As ADEC’s needs change, so do the job descriptions and positions. When I walked into her office I could tell immediately she was switched on as her wall had the planning for the year on it.  The whole school hummed with a vibrant air.  Display boards around the school were similar to high quality ones back home.  I was welcomed with open arms, literally, by the other English Medium Teachers and most of the Arabic ones.

I am to replace another teacher who is leaving at the spring break.   After being told that nothing would be overwhelming in this school, they run a calm school, I relaxed at all this information, had a cup of coffee and sat down.  I would shadow the teacher for the next few weeks then take over the class.  I had a tour around all the areas and was feeling decidedly okay with everything. 

But wait, where’s my teacher?  Not shown up again.  And not phoned in sick either.  And unable to be got hold of.  What is going on?  We go up to the class and the kids are fooling around with no supervision.  The HOF gives them a maths worksheet which looked very difficult then leaves them alone again.  Just like that.

By 9.30am guess who’s in the class?  I’d been given the weekly plan but couldn’t find the resources that went with it.  So in I go, cold so to speak, to take over the class.  I ended up teaching two classes for the rest of the day, finishing at 3pm after a staff meeting.

So much for not being overwhelming! 

The honeymoon is over.

Let’s hope she is back tomorrow.