The dreaded teacher lesson observation by Kay on 11 April 2026 Posted in Teaching The dreaded teacher lesson observation. The very term fills most teachers with quite an unpleasant feeling! And I mean a heart-dropping, gut-clenching, worrying, nervous, unpleasant feeling. We all know it’s coming at some point during the school year, of course. But it’s an email I, for one, always dread receiving. Email announcement of dates and Read More 0
Staff meeting. A new approach, apparently! by Kay on 13 January 2026 Posted in Teaching I’ve been teaching for a few years now, so it’s safe to say that in those years I’ve attended my fair share of staff meetings. I have also experienced these regular meetings, which occur weekly or twice weekly on occasion, in three different countries now. I’ve found that they don’t seem to differ that much Read More 5
Quirky characters, still finding my feet and a few Dutch traditions by Kay on 22 November 2025 Posted in Teaching As we get further into the school year, I’m feeling more settled and happy in my new job and my new home. It’s all quirky characters, still finding my feet and a few Dutch traditions! It’s lovely and interesting getting to know my class and watching them grow as the year progresses. I’m making new Read More 14
Somehow survived my first school trip in my new job teaching abroad by Kay on 18 October 2025 Posted in Teaching So, how can I sum up the first school trip in my new job and newfound country? A bundle of nerves with a bit of local history thrown in! Somehow survived my first school trip in the Netherlands… I think! Feeling all prepared and organised beforehand… It had all started off so well with the Read More 9
International teaching take 2! by Kay on 16 June 2025 Posted in Teaching Although job hunting and my interview experiences haven’t been so great of late, I am still not deterred. I am still keen to teach, and with the UK not being considered an option, the international teaching take 2 job hunt continues! The nervous niggles… Although I’m quite excited by the prospect of a new beginning Read More 12
The whoas of interviews! by Kay on 8 June 2025 Posted in Teaching Summertime chilling… As I’m lounging about in the garden for the fourth day of the first week of the holidays my mind starts to wonder, as it does. Spending the summer back home with everyone has been lovely so far. But, I can’t help contemplate the whoas of interviews past and what is likely to Read More 11
Closing of the first overseas chapter… by Kay on 15 April 2025 Posted in Teaching Where does the time go? As we get closer to the end of the school year and that well-earned summer break, I sit with my coffee on the terrace on a sunny Sunday morning. Tomorrow will be the last week of the year and the closing of the first overseas chapter for me. As I Read More 4
A new kind of playground duty expectation! by Kay on 15 March 2025 Posted in Teaching Playground duty in Spain… Before I came to work in Spain, I worked in a fairly large school consisting of two playgrounds. During playtimes there were roughly 180-240 on each of the two playgrounds, as it was a two-form entry school. And, on each playground, there would be 5-6 adults on duty. However, in Spain, Read More 1
A staff meeting and a half!! by Kay on 6 March 2025 Posted in Teaching Monthly staff meeting… Once a month we were required, in our contracts, to work until 7 pm. Sometimes this was allocated time in our classes updating displays, marking, preparing resources or meetings within our teaching teams. Other times there were specific things the management team wanted to discuss and inform us about. So it was Read More 3
Teaching in Spain: When school management doesn’t communicate! by Kay on 3 March 2025 Posted in Teaching When I first moved to Spain to teach, I expected my biggest challenges to be adapting to a new school, learning Spanish and getting used to a different education system. I didn’t expect communication with school management to be one of my biggest frustrations! Last full week before the holidays… It’s Monday morning and the Read More 4
