Rictus Grin

Briefly,

I am writing this after my half day (well, three periods) at school and I am going back this evening to assist in the open evening. I have loads of 'Observations' to write up too! So, I tell you now, I am only getting this information in now because (a) I have a brief bit of freedom and (b) some of it I found fascinating.

First off, the Rictus Grin. In period 3 today, the group of PGCE students at School A had a lesson together with a teacher who was going to explain classroom management to us. He arrived 30 minutes late because he had to exclude a pupil. What an introduction.

He then proceeded to tell us probably the most fascinating insight into Secondary education I have ever heard. First off, the layout of the classroom:

At the back of the class, you have the noisy pupils (who may/may not do their work, but often know their stuff whenever there is a classroom discussion. The centre 'chunk' of pupils normally can get rowdy, but when they are interested, they get involved and whenever they aren't - they don't get involved. This centre chunk is your standard, average student. Right on the front row you have the pupils that want to look clever - though they are not neccessarily clever. Possibly dumb-asses (Napoleon Dynamite would sit here I would imagine).

Okay, the left and right aisles really depends on where you teach the class. Okay, if you can imagine the white board at the front of the class, in the centre. The teacher will stand on either the right or left hand side when using the board. The pupils closest to him, and the aisle going back, are the worst behaved (from after the second row, because the one student at the front will be quiet and wants to be segragated from the class). These pupils use this space because they can do alot of things and get away with it, because the teacher has his/her back to them. Therefore, the students on the opposite aisle are generally pretty knowledgeable - and towards the back they become more 'social', so they probably know their stuff but don't want to appear to be geeks.

Problem is, I teach Art whereby the class layout is completely different.

Most of us in the class were fascinated - because where ever we came from, whatever school we went to, in classes set out in such a way that was exactly the case. I never even noticed at the time.

Now, the guy spoke so fast we were all writing as much as we could because every single thing he said mattered. This is so far the only point in the course where I wish I had my dictaphone.

The Rictus Grin though is the grin, laugh or smile that a pupil may give after being told off. It is akin to a twitch and it is purely reactive - if a pupil feels scared or embarressed, the automatic emotion is the 'rictus grin' and if you are unaware that it is automatic (rather than a cheeky grin at the teacher or a laugh directly at the teacher) then normally - and if unaware, understandably - you will tell the pupil off again for being cheeky or rude, when that is not to be done. It is an automatic reaction. In many cases it is the alternate reaction before he/she is about to cry. Fascinating stuff.

Morning All ...

Well, I have decided to get up that little bit earlier today (10.30am ... ) and hopefully get my body a little bit back in sync before I have to start another week of school observing.

Last night Sarah and I joined a housemate - Simon - with his friends Mike and Girlfriend. We enjoyed the night but decided at about 11pm that we would escape early. Sarah had been in London all day and I was just a bit knackered, so I attempted to finish my Guinness and head for the 11.30 bus but, surprise surprise, we missed it and I ate a footlong subway meatball marinara to pass the time. Sarahs a vegetarian, so she wasn't best pleased.

Today, my aim is to type up all my notes from school observing ... this typing now should get me in the mood for a type-a-thon later.

Pretty boring blog today. Apologies.

To compensate I shall put a picture on the page. It is another attempt of getting a profile picture of me ... but one which isn't too big. (It keeps telling me it is too big ...)

The reason why ...

(Tis Me and Sean - L-R - before we went to Dublin in 2005... Its only there for my 'profile picture')

To begin, I have only caved into this whole blogger thing because this PGCE course is not giving me much chance to do very much other than read and do teaching stuff, so this blog should hopefully give me the chance to explain what i'm up to while I can be a bit more detailed and informative than a passing conversation on msn messenger.

Personally, I find this whole 'blogger' thing a bit strange - which is why I have waited until after the hype. I simply hope that by me having one of these things, if I have posted a 'blog' on the one day and someone asks me how I am I can ust copy and paste a link and that will be enough.

I could also structure alot more clearly my plans for the future, and then look back and see what I have achieved and what-not.

BUT to start and introduce the first recurring character in this blog ...

Sarah: My girlfriend, I am normally typing this in her room because I don't have a PC in my room. We have been together for just over 20 months (I swear I wasn't counting, but she has reminded me of it so much, i might aswell use the information in a more practical way) and aree both on the PGCE course. I am doing Art & Design Secondary PGCE and she is doing a Theatre Secondary PGCE. At the moment we are all in training, but if this is still going on next year I shall endeavour not to get this blog out too much ... I don't want the gossip of the school yard to be about me.

Believe me, there are many more people who e going to crop up (Pete & Rebecca, Tom & Charlotte*, Matt, Sean, Rachel & Richard, Tori, Harper & Tara, Francis, Holly and Jev, Toni, Tall Sarah, Nathan & Katie - who have just moved to Carmarthern so I've heard! - , Jo, Alistair, Beth, Barry & Antoinette, Kaff, Tom Wood & Amy, Lewis and many more) and also my family (consisting of eight members, most of which have respective partners!) who will no doubt make some interesting stories.

I'll also try and fill you up briefly on back stories - IF need be. I have done this kind of thing before, but I typed it out more like a story and it came back five fold on me because people got offended. I shall try not to do that again. So information will only be revealed when neccessary.

Righto, must call Dad (he just left an answer phone message saying to call home... uh oh) and this now marks the beginning, finally, of Simon's Blog.

*Originally was Rebecca. Rebecca on my mind. ... sorry for the mistake.