Throughout last year I dreamed about having long, straight lines of pupils waiting outside my room, and the delight of having a space I could call my own. I had spent a number of days over the summer preparing my new classroom and making it mine: new display boards, inspiring phrases on the walls, new science posters and carnivorous plants such as Venus fly traps to increase the kids’ enthusiasm.

However, the most notable addition to my room was completely unplanned and somewhat unexpected. It was Boris. I inherited Boris the five-inch stick insect from another teacher at the end of last term when I was working as a cover teacher after my PGCE course finished. I managed to keep him alive during the holiday and now he lives on my side bench.

The pupils are amazed by Boris, and getting him out has proved to be a brilliant way to break up a long double period. When he shed his outer layer this week to reveal a pair of wings, it led to impromptu discussions about adaptation, exoskeletons and predatorprey relationships.

The incentive of giving Boris his daily spray of water has helped some of my more challenging pupils knuckle down to their work, and the threat that I will set Boris on them if they don’t stop talking works wonders in building my relationship with the class.

When one of my Year 10 boys walked in during the first week he took a look around and said: “Nice gaff, Miss”. I was beaming inside.

My strategy of creating an exciting, stimulating learning environment is surely working. Thanks Bor **

Victoria Oakey is an NQT. She works as a science teacher in Hampshire

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