Teacher Training

Written for https://weeklyprompts.com/2026/01/24/weekly-prompts-weekend-challenge-squish/

Allesandra squished the pen between her fingers and gazed at the sea of faces in front of her. Every child was seated at their desk, waiting for her first lesson. Her stomach churned. A teaching assistant stepped forward, bent to the height of a charged grin, as a boy with blond hair leant back, the chair legs released from the floor.

She sat next to him with a tray full of bricks.

Glad of the support, she scanned the room.

‘Class, this is Miss Walters. I know you are brilliant and will make her feel welcome.’

Allesandra straightened, as seven-year-olds dared her to fail.

‘Thank you, Miss Taylor said you were amazing at your number bonds. I want you to talk to your partner and come up with as many that add up to ten.’

A few students took this as a good time to chat about their morning. She knelt to their level and got their attention. ‘Amy? She paused for a minute and said, ‘I had five sweets,’ she said, holding out her fingers. ‘How many more.’

‘Five miss,’ Amy grinned.

‘That’s right. What if I have ten sweets, and I eat two?’

The girl stared at her own hand. She folded her fingers until she got the right number. ‘You have eight sweets, but I would eat all of them.’

‘Me too,’ Allesandra said.

As she returned to the class, she clapped in the hope of silence.

‘Amy, what is ten minus two?’

‘Eight.’

‘That’s right.’

With a nod from the assistance, she responded, ‘Harry what is one add nine?’

‘Ten?’

‘Yes, a positive point for both of you.’