From the Teacher Support Network, www.teachersupport.info.

TEACHERS TELL THEIR STORIES: ANNABELL
"Seeing pupils overcome their inhibitions and do something that makes them proud is really rewarding though."

To celebrate National Storytelling Week (30 January to 6 February), we asked teachers in Scotland to tell us about the good, the bad and the downright ugly of teaching. We'll show a different story every day. If you feel inspired to tell us yours, do so in the form at the end of this tale, or by clicking here.

Annabell* was an English teacher for three years before going on maternity leave and moving to Aberdeen. She's thinking about getting into tutoring or maybe a part time job in teaching once she's ready to go back to work.

Here's her story...

I always wanted to teach and really wanted to help kids in deprived areas have higher aspirations.

It's been difficult at times though. One time, I had a cover class on the other side of the school. When I arrived, the learning assistant was shouting at pupils over chewing gum. They have a tough job and the pupils often don't give them the respect they deserve, but in this case I felt she was antagonising them and the situation was quickly escalating over something relatively minor. It was difficult because I didn't know all the pupils' names or where anything was kept, and I felt quite frustrated and powerless. I had to send at least four pupils out of the class before they settled down.

Seeing pupils overcome their inhibitions and do something that makes them proud is really rewarding though. I was organising a class project which involved the pupils writing their own play, building the set and making the costumes. They had invested so much in it and were very nervous. Watching them do their final performance made me so proud.

If I was going to use one of Teacher Support Scotland's services, I would probably prefer to talk to someone over the phone via their Support Line because it's more personal than emailing through their Online Support.

*Name changed to protect the teacher's right to privacy