#RSMFridayFastFive – Mr Marsh
Why did you choose a career working with children?
It has never ceased to amaze me how much I have learnt myself from working with children. Everyday I learn to see topics from a new perspective, hear ideas I’d never thought about before and think about history in a completely new way. In addition, there is no greater feeling than being part of some of the amazing journeys of progress I have witnessed in my time working in schools. It is a job quite unlike any other.
Your favourite subjects at school
I always enjoyed history and creative writing. I have always found learning about the origins of traditions and societies fascinating and it has continued into my adulthood. History offers us an insight into the struggles and emotions of people in our past but also teaches us lessons that we can take into the future. Writing especially creative writing offered me the opportunity to create my own worlds and characters which I found very freeing as a child. I would often come home and write short stories which my sister would illustrate.
Why Lower School?
I began my teaching career teaching in Year 2 in South London. I had a particularly challenging class who didn’t enjoy learning when I took the class over from their previous teacher. Throughout the year we grew together me in confidence as a teacher and them in their enjoyment of learning and school. It was particularly rewarding to be a part of them growing into happy, confident learners who ended up excelling in their statutory Year 2 assessments.
Most Memorable moment of your teaching career
There have been many stand out moments over my teaching career, far too many to write them all down here! My Year 2 class performing in the Royal Festival Hall as part of London wide concert for schools, my Year 2 children receiving outstanding achievement in SATs awards from the Mayor of Lambeth at the Royal Albert Hall, taking part in a Design Technology project to redesign the city and taking the class to receive ‘the keys to the city’ from the Mayor of London, meeting and having lunch with Michael Rosen and then watching him perform ‘Chocolate Cake’ and some of his other famous poems to Year 1 and 2 children, meeting and watching Benjamen Zephaniah perform his poetry to children and lots more.
Memorable Quote
As a Classicist I always admired Marcus Aurelius this quote particularly I have held close to me as an educator:
“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love …”