Having the role of a teacher is all well and good, but it is also extremely tiring and stressful. It doesn’t matter which subjects you specialise in, there are always reams of papers that need to be written, scrutinised or marked.

Sometimes I will sit and daydream - perhaps I should have a total change of career. Surely there are plenty of other jobs out there that are a whole lot easier to do…

However, the only problem is that I thoroughly enjoy my work! Oh well, back to the grindstone then…

Having the role of a teacher is all well and good, but it is also extremely tiring and stressful. It doesn’t matter which subjects you specialise in, there are always reams of papers that need to be written, scrutinised or marked.

Sometimes I will sit and daydream - perhaps I should have a total change of career. Surely there are plenty of other jobs out there that are a whole lot easier to do…

However, the only problem is that I thoroughly enjoy my work! Oh well, back to the grindstone then…

Considering the well reported workload and associated stress that comes with teaching you might be wondering how I ended up in the profession. I could say I was born into it, and though that’s true, it’s slightly more complex than that. My maternal grandma was a teacher, as were six of her children, including my Mum who was a primary teacher. I’ve got cousins who are teachers…I think you get the drift. However teaching wasn’t something my Mum talked about at the dinner table; if she did it would involve complaining about certain issues such as paperwork and lesson planning. Plus change.

As I progressed through my years in education I had no real career in mind I just knew what subjects I liked and did my best when it came to exam time. I’ve always been a philosophical kind of girl, pragmatic to whatever situation I’m been confronted with. This has helped me in dealing with disappointments along the way and responding to criticism. When it came to choosing a degree subject I opted for English literature, as I’ve always possessed a love of reading, which my Dad somewhat bemoaned: he regularly had to create extra shelving to store my personal library. Unlike my elder brother I’ve a gift of a gab, even though I’m the only one of my family not to lip lock with the Blarney Stone. I don’t the psychological reasoning behind it but I communicate well and find it relatively easy to make friends. My brother is somewhat puzzled about this ability as he’s found it a struggle his whole life, he keeps persevering bless him and I’ve confidence he’ll get there in the end.

As you can probably gather from these reminiscences I was building up a suitable teaching skill set without even knowing it. What got me to focus on this ancient profession were two things. First was my time spent travelling the world after graduation. I had enough funds to get me to Thailand, but to go the whole 360º I needed to earn a living. Thanks to some forward thinking, I’d photocopied my qualifications, and some chutzpah I managed to get a full-time job teaching English at a high school in Bangkok. Despite my limited knowledge of the Thai language, I ended up being doing rather well. I was helped by the fact that I was a Manchester United supporter, which is a selling point in that country, as well as my communication skills, body language and creative albeit still informative lessons. Seeing the progress the kids were making and knowing of some of their backgrounds was inspiring and has sustained me during whatever low points I’ve had back in the UK. The second defining movement was when I badly fractured my right knee and I was laid up for months, which gave me plenty of time to ponder my future. I decided on teaching and as of yet I’m sticking with it.

As you might already know by now, I am an illustrator and I am also a freelancer. I might have tried my luck a couple of times, applying for one or two high profile company jobs only to discover that “I did not have what they were looking for in an illustrator”. Namely, not enough of experience, not enough diplomas and completed courses. Even though I felt a bit disappointed by all that was happening around me, I am glad I did not put my weapons down and surrender. My career as a freelance illustrator has been booming ever since. And because I feel I owe it all to the people, I would like to offer you some advice and maybe some extra tips to guide you on the same path that I went on. Provided you are planning on becoming a freelance illustrator.

First of all, I need to tell you that the thing that inspired me the most to write this blog was actually another blog that I came across today. It was talking about the need of a company to be enjoyable, as much as it is well organized and properly financed. So then I started thinking what kind of traits should my small freelancing business have in order to be successful? First of all, one needs to start thinking hard about the type of illustrator he would like to become. Determine your weaknesses and work on eradicating them fast. Work constantly on improving your strong points. Think of the type of art you like to create. Is your drawing considered elegant, dramatic, soft, hard, classy or plain pretty? You could learn a lot from what others think about your work, so you could start from there.

Next, you are going to have to use your current location to the maximum. You are going to have to think about creating your own studio and selling your creations to some major buyers. Living in a metropolis is definitely going to help you a lot in this regard. You could transform one of the rooms inside your flat into a studio, if you cannot yet afford to pay any extra rent. You will also need to get into the possession of a high-speed Internet connection and all the illustrating computer software programs you can think of. Learn how to handle them smoothly and start making an appealing portfolio. Organize it well and start sending it to important publishers. Success should follow.

Idea 1: The most obvious idea would be to have a designated recycling area. Have separate bins for glass, plastic and paper and encourage the children to use them.

Idea 2: Even clothes can be recyled. Get the childrento bring in any old clothes and shoes they no longer need and send them off to clothing banks. Tell the children they will be sent to poorer children in countries such as India and Africa. Children are generally very caring about others and will react very positively to this!

Idea 3: Hold a crafting session where the children can make necklaces, bracelets, toys and other items out od recycled goods. Not only will they learn about recycling, they will also be able to make a lovely present for a friend or family member. This is particulalry good for Mother’s Day or any other occasion thatt requires a handmade card!

Idea 4: Composting worms is always popular amongst kids. This was pretty cheap to do. I just split the class into 5 groups of 5 and gave them each a plastic see-through container with soil, worms and bits of food (such as carrots or lettuce). I also gave them a second container with soil and scraps of food, but no worms. I told them to note down what they saw during the first week and then in the second week I made them note down any changes. Just be careful of hungry kids! Apparently worms are a delicious snack to them!

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I have recently had to have some time off from teaching to deal with some troubling personal issues…. yes I caught my husband cheating on me with someone from his workplace! He worked carrying out data quality services, and I thought his job entailed working alone…obviously not! I would never have imagined that this would have happened to me, but it did.

Today I am going to offer you some advice on what to do if you suspect your husband is doing the same.

Relationships can fall apart for many reasons and trying to resolve or fix whatever problem has caused this upset can be extremely difficult. A massive percentage of these break ups are due to a spouse participating in extra marital affairs, which can be the most hurtful thing any partner can endure.

If you are convinced that your husband is cheating on you and are starting along the path to follow the signs of how to catch a cheating husband the number one rule to always adhere to is; never let on to your husband that you suspect anything untoward. If he knows that you are on to him he will make extra special care to not make any mistakes in hiding his tracks and finding out the truth about what he is up to will become much harder. The more oblivious your husband is and the more oblivious he thinks you are the better.

One of the biggest tell tale signs of your husband’s cheating will be his phone bill. If he is clever he will erase all his call and text message history so you won’t be able to find anything out by just merely snooping through his phone. You will need to get your hands on his phone bill. This will be easy if you live together, so wait until the mailman brings your post. Act in whatever way you normally would with the phone bill and wait until he is out of the house to examine it. Look out for multiple calls to the same number, and also look at what time these calls were made. Were they made in the middle of the night? Or when he was out of the house?

Take my advice and keep your eyes open!

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There is no doubt that in today’s world there is considerably more importance put on how we look as opposed to how we are. There are constant reminders in many of the magazines and newspapers we read; that we have to continually look our best and that being beautiful will lead to us being more successful in our lives.  Such material is also finding its way into the magazines that children read and surely this can’t be a good thing? Children reading about celebrities getting Botox, only reinforces the belief that our appearance counts for everything.  The problem with this is that it leads to children being shallow and inadvertently will lead to an increase in bullying of the child considered ‘less attractive physically’ in the classroom.

Undoubtedly Botox is an extremely impressive procedure and there is definitely a place for it on our modern society but we must not forget that our appearance is not the single most important thing. Botox effectively smooth’s out frown lines and wrinkles but it only lasts for 4 months after which time it needs repeating. Although the side effects of Botox are rare, they are still possible and this is something that you need to fully understand before undertaking the treatment.   Children in particular should rarely if ever be exposed to the mass marketing of Botox.

Another problem with children reading about Botox etc. is the fact that is makes them want to grow up quicker than they should. Children reading about adult things will result in them wanting to leave their childhood behind quicker than they should do. Children should enjoy being kids and must be encouraged to be kids as long as possible as there is no turning back once they reach adulthood.  As a teacher it is important that kids are taught that good values such as honesty, commitment and trust are far more important than what we look like.  Teachers should therefore try to limit children’s exposure to magazines and books that place importance on how we look rather than how we are.

In summary treatments like Botox do inadvertently put indirect pressure on children’s appearance.  The whole ethos behind Botox is to encourage people to stay looking young and beautiful for as long as possible and this message is bound to filter down to kids as they are growing up.  It is important for parents and teachers to shield this message from our children as otherwise more of their innocence and childhood will be taken away from them.   For those who are considering Botox please ensure you check that your practitioner has all the appropriate qualifications

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I’m not a brand-new teacher (you can always tell a brand-new teacher…they’ll be the ones standing around looking absolutely bloomin'terrified…). But even I don’t know a lot of things about children. That’s not to say I know nothing, because that isn’t true. I know lots. I just don’t have the slightest idea where children get their information from. Sometimes, I look out at the playground and despair in the knowledge that swirling around there is all this information…but I just can’t see it. You can only see it if you’re a mini human, you know.

Take little Danny as a fine example. When he first started at the school, he literally didn’t have a clue about anything. He was one of those poor little boys who is too shy to speak up, and when he does is overruled by the more brash alpha males who wander the school playground like little hungry sharks. But then he turns up after 3 months or so and I overhear the following conversation:

It literally was as if the spirit of a 300 year old old-English tailor had jumped into his body

“My dad has ten bespoke suits , you know.” This is Danny.

“Well my dad has fifteen, and he has one which is made with 24 carat gold which you can’t get better than.” This is Sarah.

Danny: “Well I don’t care, because all my Dad’s suits have been fitted with the kind of meticulous attention to detail which is only found at London’s finest suit-makers, so poo to you.”

At this point me and my friend Judith – receptionist – stopped giggling from behind the door and looked at each other in a kind of horror. Here was a little man who just couldn’t – JUST COULD NOT – know such things. It literally was as if the spirit of a 300 year old old-English tailor had jumped into his body. The very thought made me shudder.

I would later learn that Danny was special; I knew that already, but what I mean is, he was special in another way: he could remember who things and then recite them with the exact same authority at a later date. This made me feel the shudder again, as I started to think about all the things which Danny would soon overhear and recite at school in front of much more innocent children…

And that’s how it can be, being a teacher. Children are the most surprising things. Seriously, sometimes you just have to be there to witness it…

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When I first started teaching primary school children, I thought it was going to be relatively easy. Note that I said relatively easy. I knew it wouldn’t be completely without issue; I knew, for certain, that there would be an adjustment period.

What I genuinely wasn’t prepared for was just how big that adjustment period would be. I’m still adjusting now and a fair bit of time has passed!

Here are a few things which are surprising about teaching at this level which you may or may not know:

1. It’s actually pretty daunting. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that teaching primary school kids is easy if you have spent plenty of time with primary school children. It isn’t. In fact, sometimes it’s worse if you know what they are like. Worse because you have this lovely vision of how they should behave, and when you start teaching it is utterly destroyed…

yes you’re teaching things like art tuition and simple maths, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be simple to get your message across

1. The stress can mount up: yes you’re teaching things like art tuition and simple maths, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be simple to get your message across. Sometimes it can take half a lesson just to settle an unruly pupil!

2. It’s not always easy to be in three places at once: OK, you probably do know this part. The children at this age have no idea you only have one pair of hands. They think you have about four pairs of hands and can time travel…I’m serious! So if you want to make a career out of teaching primary school children then you need to remember one word and one word only: patience! (The exclamation mark is optional, of course.)

3. Children at this age really do know much more than you think. Not only that but they know more about technology than some adults. In fact, some children at my school are already bringing their ipad’s in to show the others…and to be honest I wouldn’t know what to do with one of them if one struck me in the face. Which, incidentally, one did one time and it hurt. I really need to sort this one out before I get left behind like some old woman…

4. The hours can be long and it can wear you down: obvious, really, but I really don’t think most people have any idea of how tough teaching can be on the mind of an adult. Or maybe they do…maybe that’s why there is a lack of teachers…and don’t I feel foolish right now?

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Quite a few people begin their business without any type of plan or blueprint drawn up. These people just begin on the power of a concept. Then they discover while they go along that developing a business just isn’t as easy as they expected it would be. Here are some guidelines that will assist you in creating a plan on which to develop your business.

Many people who get started on a business grumble that they are bombarded with info and they do not have enough time to take action or even think about various solutions. It is possible to avoid being overcome by this excess of data by crafting the vision of your enterprise. Keep your focus on just one point and allow everything else that isn’t important recede to the backdrop.

The next thing is to develop your staff since you can’t drive a company on your own. First draft a resource strategy so you will have a clue how many people it’s likely you’ll need. Create the job outline for what every job needs. Then, your next step will be to keep an eye out for individuals to fill out the job opportunities that you have made.

To develop an enterprise you’ll need funds. Write down the resources from where you plan to acquire your preliminary funds. You may want to be lent it from close friends or family members, or maybe put it on your charge card. Without having access to money, you will have to remodel your business plan in order to get the money needed as soon as you can.

If you think you lack in a specific area or a talent attempt to learn that talent. The other choice is get somebody on board that has that ability. Lastly, do not get sidetracked in the course of the work day. Begin with a checklist and accomplish as much as you are able to while not delaying.
with a checklist and accomplish as much as you are able to while not delaying. Regardless whether you have an investment services business such as Rowan dartington or you are in the printing business, you need a strategic plan and proper staff to be successful.

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