Those two “text-isms” OMG (oh my God) and LOL (laugh out loud) have gone to and from my mobile phone so often in the past few months that I can hardly have a conversation now without using them. They sum up what this start to a career in teaching has been like: so jaw dropping and so much fun. They also got me “in” with a challenging group of lads who were determined that they wouldn’t do letter writing on my middle stage placement.

A little girl, Claire, was duly summoned from my imaginary home life to write me a chatty letter about her school production. Lots of OMGs and LOLs and smiley grammatical faces were included, so when I projected this letter on to the interactive whiteboard to let the class “read my mail”, the hook was set and those boys were reeled in.

LOL - they produced some fantastic chatty letters in return, and the whole class received a mass reply from “Claire”. JD (job done).

I’ve finally found my way into teaching at 41 having had a nagging wish to do it since I was 16 - being a bright child I was told I “could do so much better”.

Lots of qualifications, a family and 10 years as a self-employed childminder later, here I am bringing my art and design diploma, my engineering honours degree and my vocational qualification in child care into the primary classroom to put them to some productive use at last.

I feel I’ve come home. I loved school then and I love it now. I had wonderful, dedicated teachers and learnt respect and confidence alongside my three Rs.

Topics, outside play, crafts, mess and hands-on learning were my domain. I was comfortable in schools where the heads were strong and a bit scary. This curriculum for excellence and positive discipline is new to youngsters - LOL.

So what challenges am I facing? Those little cherubs who eat up so much of your precious time with their persistent low-level disruption. Also, I have yet to figure out when student teachers sleep, but maybe that’s an input we’ll get soon - LOL.

Karen Millar is studying for a PGDE Primary at Dundee University.