I’d like to say I’ve been off doing all the things you rush to do at this time of year so that as soon as the kids go home at 1pm on Thursday I’ll be able to enjoy the mince pies and mulled wine before nipping off to the hairdressers for the staff Christmas do.

 

Instead I’ve been at home sitting under blankie feeling sorry for myself! What is it about teachers that makes them (in general) reluctant to take time off? My husband practically had to force me to stay at home yesterday. I went back today but actually didn’t get much intelligent work done.

 

So almost all my posts in December are going to be retrospective and even though I’ve been off for 4 days (and I think probably using up energy trying to prevent myself being ill for a lot longer) there has still been plenty of busy excitement.

 

Firstly, we had a huge whole school Eucharist – the first we’ve had since I’ve joined. Every single member of staff who was working in the afternoon on Monday 1^st December went to Church. All the singing practice in assembly paid off; all the talking to students about how to behave in church seemed to have sunk in; the choirs did well; the sermon was of a suitable length – fantastic!

 

I do sometimes wonder if some of our teachers who have been in post a while realise how lucky they are to work in a school where we can having singing in assembly - in an inner-city secondary school – in 2008? I often hear little moans about ‘manners’; today at a senior leadership meeting we spent at least 15 minutes debating whether chewing gum in a lesson should be an instant demerit/detentionable offence – told you I didn’t do much of any intelligence!

Firstly my customized A5 filofax has been taken on by at least two people. I have my diary (personalised sheets which have my teaching and meeting commitments pre-printed, holidays left blanks), class registers and seating plans, colour coordinated to-do lists. Plus post-its, whiteboard pens, highlighter and other basic equipment easily to hand and yet all in a neat handbag sized object.

 

I found out at the training that having different styles of to-do lists can actually make a huge difference to task management so I’m pleased that I’ve had this set-up since the beginning of the year.

 

I always wanted to be able to just carry around one item and have all my school life within it. I’ve never been able to get on with electronic organizers – synchronizing et al and besides it always seems to take the user ABSOLUTE AGES to put anything in their diary.  I thoroughly recommend this all-in-one approach.

 

Secondly, I learnt a listening technique and project planning style that will be good for both meetings and lessons. Each participant completed a project outcome sheet, this included the following:

–        phrasing your intentions in a positive way

–        what will you see, hear and feel when you’ve been successful (much like assessment for learning success criteria)

–        who is involved

–        what is your very first step [thinking yourself into action - imagining yourself taking this (often tiny) action will increase the chances of you actually doing it.]

 

The listening technique involved working in groups of four people. We each had 15 minutes of time, the first 7 ½ minutes was for us to outline our project, setting the context, explaining our positive outcome and putting forward our first step(s).

 

The second half was for the other 3 people to feed back in specific ways (as they’d been listening for certain things)

It certainly was enlightening using this technique – both as a listener and as the person receiving the feedback. It makes you listen more intently, making sure you doing miss out on anything important. Receiving the feedback in clear sections seems to stimulate your brain more – can’t explain it but it works. It was a revelation in just 15 short minutes.

 

My project was to have our senior leadership team feeling positive about our team performance. I was reminded of Truckman’s four stages of team-development. As I’ve been promoted and we have a new Assistant Head this year we’re still firmly stuck between the forming and storming stages.

 

As I told the story (relatively new senior leadership team, small school meaning everybody seems to have a hundred jobs etc.) It was apparently clear that I was feeling very frustrated about our relative lack of progress but what didn’t come out (although I was prompted to add it to my list) was my frustration that I was having to take the steps to try to resolve the problem instead of our Head. Clarity of thought came through and I was skipping into work on Friday, feeling very positive about the way ahead (that may also have been the lovely hotel lunch!).

 

This is all I can remember at the moment but I know that I’ll be working through some of the legion of techniques covered with the rest of the leadership team and will be reporting progress (in positive mode I have to say that there definitely will be progress) as it happens.

As I look up from writing this I have 19 students staring back at me. It's 10am on Saturday morning. What a way to start our half-term holiday! They’re in full school uniform, writing out our code of conduct before explaining what they did wrong and how they could do better next time.

 

Another time (a long way off) I may give my thoughts on students being set writing as a punishment; however but it works and I don’t have the time or energy to think of anything more productive (but if you do …….)

 

Anyway, once again I’m doing my filing and hoping that if I work productively I won’t have to come into school during the holiday (I’ll have my ICT coursework to mark but I plan to do that sat at the kitchen table in the glorious glow of the warmth and smells coming from a cake baking in the oven)

 

We’re in our fifth full month of a demerit leading to one-hour detentions the next day and non-attendance or more than three demerits in a week leading to a Saturday.

 

Demerits are given for chewing, lack of homework (if it’s not brought in by lunch-time the day after it’s due), disruptive behaviour, disobedience, and a few other items.

 

The after-school detentions are run by pairs of teachers with everybody taking a turn. Saturdays are the privilege of senior team on a rota.

 

Does your school inflict this punishment on its staff (as well as its students)? 

 

I know that at least half of the children in front of me now were here when I was on duty a month ago, so I’m not sure that we’re making enough of a difference. I’d welcome your comments.