Day 19: PPPPP

Proper planning prevents piss poor... you get the idea. I allowed myself a break last night from planning, thinking I could do it instead this morning (first 2 periods off.) Bit of a mistake. I managed to get them planned, and resources printed, but was not happy really with what I was supposed to do.

I observed a colleague first thing, as she also teaches top set year 10. It was good to see her in action, as it were, although I was embarrassed that I only asked her 15 minutes before the lesson and she didn't look too impressed by the intrusion. It was even more embarrassing to see that her group have pretty much written their entire coursework and mine have not written anything. I've been reassured by the HoD that this is fine, but everyone else has made a start.

Anyway, so year 10 came and went, and it was a bit crap. They were ok, but I spent too long on the start of the lesson and they didn't get as far as actually writing what they were supposed to. I really need to rein in my pacing so that this doesn't happen again. I ended the lesson telling them they could all get As in some half-assed pep talk which sounded more like a confused drill sergeant than Dead Poet's Society. I hope they got the message.

Lunch after, and I ran out the door for a cigarette, knowing that my year 11 boys were supposed to be coming up to do their coursework. I bumped in to one of them in the corridor and asked him to come back in 5, which of course he didn't. So I had my cigarette and my lunch and prepared myself mentally for year 9, who I'd be having last lesson.

As can be expected, year 9 are never good in the afternoon, so I decided that I'd show them the film to keep them quiet. Of course, they were a nightmare and moaned the whole way through the work, which was infuriating, and A turned up and was taken away again, and caused such a fuss that it took him 35 minutes to calm down. I'm a little concerned that I have exacerbated his behaviour, and I should have had his mother in already but either way I don't want him in my already unsettled class until I know he can behave like a normal person.

So the day ended and I was pleased that my two year 11 boys turned up, as I'd run to their classroom to ask them in person. They stayed for an hour or so, eating my jaffa cakes, and finished their media coursework. I was very pleased with them. Nice boys, too. Apparently one of them was a bit of a nightmare when he was younger but he's quite sweet really.

And there you have it. I was lucky enough to get a lift home from a colleague, which was a nice treat, and then treated myself further to some tasty Battlestar Galactica. I suppose I should get on with my lesson plans for tomorrow. I need to make sure year 10 get lots of writing done tomorrow so I need to be prepared. You know what they say...