8 days a week!
Monday – staff meeting apologising for why the class-lists were late at the beginning of term and why the Year 7 set changes still haven’t taken place (I’m blaming SIMs and sticking to that story).
Also Monday – launch of specialist status by our new Assistant Headteacher and I become a ‘pocket of excellence’ as I talk about LIVE LEARNING and how to engage pupils (I’m on to show that it’s possible even when you’re teaching maths; fascinating to watch 60 adults grappling with algebra jigsaws)
Tuesday – lead senior leadership group meeting on Curriculum 2009-10 and Key Stage 4 intervention. I think this went well although I’ve yet to persuade them that we need an extra English and Science teacher.
In the evening (just got in from it) visit Pizza Express as several of our students are performing in our regular jazz event. I do manage to tie this in with catching up with a friend of mine who’s just taken on a new Head of Maths post (Well done and Good Luck Tom!)
Wednesday – 7.30 leadership group catch up meeting to feedback to the team about progress on our responsibilities, 2 exam analysis meetings with subject leaders, fire-drill
Thursday – Middle Leaders Team meeting - preparing for performance management (luckily this is nothing to do with me in terms of presenting to the meeting). Later on the same evening it’s the Year 10 introduction to Key Stage 4 meeting for Parents where I introduce them to the lovely Georgina from Connexions and talk about the importance of regular revision, keeping up with work, attempt to get email addresses from everybody, issue a course outline for each subject and take questions as required.
Friday – The Friends (PTFA) Quiz Night – you may think that after this week I’m doing well just to be attending but as you’ll remember I’m going to be the quizmaster hostess with the most-est. I’m just burning the CD for the Music Lesson as I type this post.
Saturday (yes, continuing last weekend’s theme) off to St. Mary’s College as I start my MA in Education. Again killing two birds with one stone as I’m then off to meet husband and visit mother-in-law who lives close by.
If I hear even one member of staff moan about their workload or the fact that I’ve got more non-contact time than them….. ! Seriously though, as I said to Tom, I wouldn’t change a thing but I’m looking forward to mother-in-law cooking and a proper lie in on Sunday morning (followed by husband's legendary baked salmon!)
Submitted by Mrs OC on 30 Sep 2008
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Salmon and all that!
HI Mrs OC
Amazing how you write such brilliant stuff about teaching and it's the salmon that people comment on!
Your thoughts on the fire drill really hit a nerve with me today. Earlier today my husband (who is a GP and is suffering from government interference in the same way as teachers are - even though the Torygraph and others would have everyone believe that they barely turn up for work to pocket their ridiculously high salaries -hmmm...) was bemoaning the fact that much of their pay comes from meeting targets on things like managing diabetes and other diseases, but they are not given credit (of any kind) for talking to patients, sorting out social problems, mental health issues etc etc. It made me think that the short-term targets often set teachers (SATs levels/five A-C grades etc) often make us concentrate on short term issues and lose sight of the real reason we are there. What is more important than the safety of children in our care?
ps: Sorry, but I'm from nowhere more exciting than the Cotswolds - lovely, but it ain't no Seattle@
emergency drills
Interesting approach on testing the system! Bravo on that...
My school in Seattle has dedicated (too much!) time to designing and implementing an emergency plan since this region is prone to earthquakes and volcanoes. Unfortunately, I tested this system two years ago when another teacher and I were cooking inside the classroom for a unit on Mexico. The fire alarm went off during lunch so kids were everywhere; perfect timing! I was so embarrassed but my principal assured me that it was a bonus practice and we would be exempted from the monthly test the fire department required us to perform. Was a good reminder too, about how teachers not only act as teacher but also as paramedic, nurse, coach, counselor, and (not a very good) chef. The variety is what I love about teaching, though, and what drew me to this career.
Take care!
Nora
Creating work
Thanks Nora, sometimes the reach of the internet catches me by surprise (not sure that crab dip has reached our climes but I'll tell him to look out for it)!
Today was good, i managed to find some entertainment!
I know that some things are not right in our registration and fire-drill procedures so I arranged to have 2 kids stay inside the building. Horrifically only one of them was picked up (a tutor marked him present even though he wasn't in the line-up).
I also know that even if we'd realised they were missing we wouldn't have known where to start looking.
Some things are more important that - options, timetables, assemblies etc. and I know that student safety has to be at the top. God forbid any real emergency but at least we'd know we'd be prepared; as it is now, we all know that we have problems but for some reason nobody's putting a plan together - didn't even discuss it in our senior team meeting this afternoon.
you deserve that baked salmon!
Hi!
I'm a teacher from Seattle, WA. Teaching is a never ending job and I too hate it when colleagues complain! Keep it up! Tell your husband to mix some crab dip with marscapone cheese and stuff the salmon with it. It's amazing! We know our salmon in Seattle :)
Nora
teacher in Washington
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