..... sitting in the sun, in the car in the supermarket carpark, eating an extremely illegal chocolate eclair! Yesterday I completely gave into late afternoon sugar cravings and it felt GOOD! I'd stopped off on the way home to get some more rolls for sandwiches and found myself making a quite detour via the cream cake display. Fortunately I went to Pilates later so some of the illegal calories were exercised away...!
Today my form and I decided that we're going to have 'Cup-Cake' Friday tomorrow....
My school has a vertical tutoring system so I have a group of 20 children ranging from 11 to 16 in age. The smaller class size means that I've got to know them pretty well and I positively encourage a 'family' atmosphere. I think it's needed because the school is very large - almost 1300 kids - and they need somewhere where they can be seen as individuals. Anyway, my little 'family' has been having a difficult and very busy time recently. One lad has lost his Grandmother; another has just had to have his dog put down; four of the younger girls are involved in various shows across the West Midlands so they are exhausted; and my Year 11s are so strung out about 6th form entry that you play a tune on them..! After some informal chat at form time we decided that sugary products were the only thing that was going to see us through to the end of the week.
Obviously I don't treat them to cake all the time - but I think they appreciate the treat if it happens occasionally and with good reason. Hopefully their lives are going to become a little settled again soon. I hate seeing them struggle.
That's a great idea and it does work - my year 10s have already told me they are bringing in cake next week for my birthday - I usually do the buying so I was really chuffed. enjoy your cup cakes! xx
ReplyDeleteYour little family are so lucky to have such an understanding teacher.......cake does make the world seem a nicer place. Oh how I miss chocolate eclaires, I can no longer eat wheat or gluten so they are really off limits for me................hope you relished every mouthful. x
ReplyDeleteMy daughter's school have the same tutoring system but with a slightly bigger group. The 6th form girls organised a rota so they do have treats every friday, organised by year group. I usually get a text during the day before it's "our turn" asking if I can "get the stuff to bake". Unfortunately, the last time it fell on the same day as the middle one had a school swimming gala. I have traditionally baked for treats at sporting events so that night I made 50 chocolate buns!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work, if your students have been prepared to share all that with you then you are definately doing it right.
cup cake friday sounds perfect - It is amazing how close you get to them, a mini family! Hope you enjoyed every single mouthful of the eclair....sounds yummy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea - enjoy your cupcake Friday.
ReplyDeleteCupcake Friday sounds like a great idea. Many years ago, in one of the places I worked, we used to take it in turns to take in homebaked cakes on Fridays- they were happy days. I loved going to work then - it must be 25 years ago and despite having a job where I had to achieve a target each day I didn't seem to be stressed at all, and it was still possible to have a laugh at work. How things have changed. I hope you and your form enjoy your cakes tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteHope the cupcakes did the trick. What an understanding teacher you are. The eclair looks yummy too.
ReplyDeleteI'll pass this idea on to my daughter. Maybe she can help start a Cupcake Friday at my grandchildren's school. Once in a while, really makes it a treat!
ReplyDeleteYou sound like a very caring Teacher! I hope the treats made their Friday!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend,
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