Teaching and Presents for Teachers…

Before I had my two boys I taught in primary schools and absolutely LOVED teaching. I worked for three years in Reception and a year in Class 3 at Kingswood Primary School near Reigate. I then worked in a private school in Woking called Greenfield school and there I taught year 4 and then year 6. It was my LIFE. I loved it. Yes, there were some difficult bits but without children filling up my home time and with my husband working very hard…the job took up my whole time and I didn’t mind.

I liked all the different year groups for different reasons but I have the funniest memories from teaching in Reception. The stories they would tell and the things they came out with and the rate at which they progressed, a privilege to have such a big role in their lives! I so enjoyed working as part of a team and have some very good friends that I made through teaching, my best friends in fact. In my experiences teachers are a lovely breed of their own and I’ve rarely found a teacher that I haven’t ‘hit it off with’ straight away.

I stopped teaching when we had our eldest because I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to share two such all consuming roles. I was worried that without giving teaching every single bit of my energy I wouldn’t be as good a teacher. I also believe that if at all possible (and I realise it isn’t always possible) a mummy should be at home with her children. We have achieved this, but with some sacrifice. Whilst pregnant with my eldest we moved from lovely (but very expensive) Surrey to Dilton Marsh (nice but less expensive – 14 miles from Bath). We did this so that we could have a bigger house for our money and a mortgage that we could afford on one wage. It meant moving two hours away from all our friends and family (and support network for a new mummy!) to an unfamiliar place. I found it very hard…but 7 years on, we’re happy and settled.

Now that both boys are at a very good school (I can hardly believe how time has flown!) I may do a very occasional day of supply, just to keep my hand in…if I can find my teaching confidence again! I started Name Art largely because I felt I wanted to do something and I’ve worked very hard at juggling parenting with building a business. Incredibly hard…but worth it. I love being at home with the boys.

When I was teaching, the last day of term was quite exciting. I knew I should never expect presents…but I often got quite a pile of presents. One year I got SO many boxes of chocolates – the year before we got married – that I have to admit to taking them all back to Tescos…they agreed that any they could ‘zap’ on their machine they would do. I got a £50 voucher which I spent on CDs instead. I know that sounds awful…but I had a dress to fit into!

Occasionally my teaching assistant would get asked ‘What shall we buy for Mrs Slade?’ and I trained them to say ‘oh she doesn’t expect anything…but if you really want to, then not chocolates…but wine or smellies’ and it started to work a treat. Once in a while you would get a really beautiful, thoughtful present. I remember being given tickets to a concert of my choice and all sorts…all the work of my lovely TA who had helped the parents when they asked. It’s nice to give a really different present. All Most teachers work really, really hard and it’s nice to say thank you.

Why not have a bit of a whisper in the Teaching Assistants ear and find out if your child’s teacher is a tea or coffee drinker and if so…how they take it. These are brilliant for staff rooms. Often when teachers are on playground duty, someone else will make a cuppa for them…and it’s so lovely if it’s just right.

Click on the image to find them on the site - there’s a tea or coffee one.

Thanks for reading my waffle – a bit of a trip down memory lane!