Wow. This is going to be a BIG year. The Olympics, the future of the History curriculum, my own wedding, my sister's having a baby... It should feel seismic, shouldn't it? But it doesn't.

Is there something wrong with me?! Well, of course I am excited about some of these events. I have imagined a 1000 times what my wedding will 'look' like, and what it will be like being an aunty etc. But, if I'm honest, I really have no idea how they'll all actually go 'on the day'. What will my wedding really turn out like; will it feel like the Olympics are actually on my doorstep (or will I just notice people everywhere?!)... will I see any changes in the History curriculum that actually affect me, my team and - most importantly - my students?

As a history teacher, you'll share with me a good understanding of the nature of change and how the nature differs for every development we study (brilliant article on that here).  But I have a sense of the unknown about the History curriculum review... a sense of 'blankness' that I admit feels a little unnerving. I can't even visualise it, like I can with my wedding. It's funny: I'm an SHP Fellow, I'm a member of the Historical Association - and we ARE discussing what we would LIKE to see in the curriculum, but as an individual teacher, and department leader, I feel like we're in a waiting room with horrific plonky xylophone music, out of date magazines, and a receptionist who seems less than pleased to have us waiting there, with us just waiting to know what treatment we're going to get. True, there are very positive comments and ideas from Professor Schama, but there are as equally spine-chillingly stupid comments and ideas from other camps. So, what does the average Joe teacher like you and I do about this waiting room nothingness - the long wait?

Well, being a member of the SHP and HA I have learned a very important lesson. The brilliance of both of these organisations is that they have experience. The members of these teams have seen many curriculum reviews, living through the waiting, the lows of media furore (kids don't know who Chamberlain is!), the So & So said this... They have also lived through the last 40+ years, since the 1970s when school history really was in a strange place, to see a journey of brilliant change and progress in how well school history is taught, and how much students enjoy it. Their experience has also given me the confidence to think: when my classroom door closes, it's just me and the students, on a journey together. Whatever madness (or potential positives!) might come down from on high, it is still up to me - to you - to interpret it and deliver it to our children. This gives us a great sense of authority, a position of strength because, even if we feel slightly stuck in limbo, and uncertain of what will happen to the curriculum, WE are the ones teaching it. This gives us great opportunities. We are professionals. We are graduates. We are smart. If we work as a team - a community - we can shape whatever turns up in our pigeon holes into something great.

So, if there is one thing that has got me through the waiting room hell, it is being part of a community - being able to talk, reflect, discuss (and just sometimes lament!). But the collected experiences of the community have kept me positive. If you're not part of a history community, there are loads out there. Join me in the HA, SHP or London History Network (check out the Northern History Network, and Midlands History Forum too). Or start more locally and make a link with another department in your borough. Or do it virtually and read blogs and follow the twitter feeds of history teachers. It just makes you think that no matter what seismic change is coming, we'll be ok.