Technically I was a Music Teacher all week, and it's worth taking a moment to discuss why being a specialist teacher for a day can be a very, very good thing.
One Monday I went to a school I had never visited before, and between teaching music and doing a playground duty I think I met about three-quarters of the school. It's a great way to meet the kids in a fun play-based learning environment. On Tuesday I was at a different school, one I'd only been at a few times and once again, by the end of the day had made positive contact with most of the school. Very positive contact. I made some wonderful connections with the kids and experience tells me that when I teach them in the classroom these connections will help me to interact with them positively. A couple of great days at the end of the week back at one of my favorite schools confirmed the benefits of taking on specialist roles to help build positive relationships.
What needs to be said right now is that I have no musical telents or abilities. My singing is the closest thing available to corporal punishment! It's painful. But unless you are actually being a specialist teacher (complete with planning and assessment) you don't need to have the specific skills or abilities for that specialist role. You can create quick play-based activities for all specialist areas on-the-spot. Play buzz, around the world or bingo with LOTE or music terms. Sing nursery rhymes, or play any rythmic game in music. For PE you should have a few safe but fun games on hand that need little (or no) equipment. Have a few relevant clips on a datastick in case there is a smartboard in the LOTE or music room and you are set.
So off we go into week two, and with a fully-booked week ahead I'm looking forward to another fun week of teaching. If you are a little short on bookings take the plunge and tick the "PE, LOTE and Music" box on your preferences and sit back to enjoy the rewards it brings.
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