Independent primary school teacher

2.35am Wake with heart racing.

What have I forgotten? Oh yes, I need to buy a door stopper to hold open the very heavy door to my classroom.

8am: Breathe a sigh of relief to get a spot in the school carpark. Switch on my smartboard to find the sound is not working so I log a ticket with my ICT team.

8.15am: Print reading comprehension worksheets for the lesson instead of uploading it on Google Classroom, would as otherwise half the class end up watching YouTube on their devices rather than working.

8.55am: About to go to bathroom but students are let in early! No matter. I can control my bladder.

9am: During guided reading groups

I notice students who are off task. I remove one of the rewards the class has earned. A student cannot access the online reading program. I log another job with our ICT team.

Noon (lunch): I copy out the differentiated of teachers maths worksheets. A group is coming to observe my classroom.

Go over maths problems quickly as I eat lunch. I rush to my duty. No time for break. toilet

1pm: A student returns to the classroom with an ice pack on their head. I need to monitor that student for the rest of the day for signs of a concussion. Maths lesson begins and the visitors observe, are impressed and leave. Class continues but a disruptive student starts tossing materials around the room. My priority is now making the other students safe and calling for help, but no other staff member is available. The student eventually calms down and after lesson I write a brief outline of the incident to the person who oversees detention.

3.30pm: I finally go to the bathroom. I then work with a colleague to prepare the parent newsletter which is due tomorrow.

6pm: I leave demoralised. Another day where I didn’t get to really talk to that one kid who really needed it.

6.30pm: I remember that student who had a head bump and of course I forgot to send the follow-up email to their parents. I quickly send the email.

7pm: I get my computer out to plan my lessons for tomorrow then I fall asleep on the sofa.