How Elmer the Elephant Got Me a Job

One night about a month ago, I found myself on a website for local jobs in schools. I'd been thinking a lot about what sort of job would make me happy. Before work each morning, I used to walk past a local primary school. I found myself wishing I was going there instead of to my actual job. I wasn't enjoying my job and I craved something different. I love talking to people, I love education, I love being a little bit silly so I started to think about getting a job in a school. Anyone who knows me will remember my disastrous au pair job two summers ago where I swore off kids forever, but deep down I know that I've always worked wonderfully with children. If I'm anywhere near a kid I will make faces behind their parents back to make them laugh. Last year, I became the unofficial baby sitter for the hotelier's daughter on my holiday in Greece. I've spent my entire educational career being told I'd be a good teacher.

So, feeling extremely unqualified, I applied for a few jobs as a TA and, unlike the majority of things I'd previously been applying for, I received interview offers from each and every role I applied for. At this point, the lack of interest from employers had become unbearable. In some situations I'd even attended interviews, actual, physical interviews, only to never hear back from that company again. Not even out of courtesy. To get a sudden influx of attention was really great for my confidence but also nerve-wracking.

I was offered a job at an infant and nursery school near where I live. The school is really nice and felt almost comforting in a way. For the interview, I was asked to conduct a 10-15 minute story-telling session with a small group of children. This sent me into a pretty wild panic. It'd been years since I'd done anything like it and had no idea how best to engage the kids. I agonised over the book I would read until my mum reminded me of a fancy dress costume I wore for World Book Day when I was in primary school. She'd made me this amazing elephant headmask and I got to be Elmer the Elephant for the whole day. I found the book Elmer Again (pictured above) in our cupboard, a book I loved a lot when I was a child, and decided to use that. Having not worked with 5/6 year olds before, I wasn't sure what kind of story would be suitable but Elmer worked really well. I had the children counting the elephants together on each page, doing impressions of elephants (and other animals!), as well as talking about which colour on Elmer's patchwork body we liked the most, which the kids really loved. I was so nervous about how it had gone which is why when I got a phone call from the school, only an hour later, I was really surprised and happy to be offered the job.

I am now two weeks into this new role and am enjoying it so far. I know that it isn't a forever thing. Part of me applied because I wanted to see if the teacher route was for me and I don't think it is. But if you are a graduate or a parent or a school leaver and want to do something that is actually rewarding, challenging and new everyday then I highly recommend a role like this.  Working with kids, especially my class, can be a really great experience and definitely makes a difference to your usual 9-5.

By the way this was my leaving cake from a co-worker at my previous job! It was INCREDIBLE.
White chocolate icing, milk chocolate lettering and chocolate cake inside!