I'm trying not to lose my head. Ah huh huh ha. Or something. As my facebook status, er, states: I am teetering between fury and despair. I have not felt this pissed off in quite some time, I can actually taste the bile.
Where did this come from? At first, I thought it was just year 8. They were unpleasant as always, and I sent out X within 5 minutes for being incredibly insolent and rude to me. She refused to come away from the window (and was stood with her head out of it), refused to sit down (in the most insidious passive aggressive way possible - "I'm coming, I'm just hot") and then made an incredibly snide remark about me "I just asked her to open the window, you'd think she had to go downstairs to ask permission or somethink.") This was at the start of what was a difficult lesson, compounded by a worksheet which was far too difficult for the kids and, admittedly, myself to understand, let alone complete. There was so much chatter, talking back and general rowdiness that I kept the whole group back for ten minutes, and asked my poor mentor, the HoD, to come and yell at them. He was pretty good, and after he took N off (who was also rude to him) I let them go one at a time, explaining to the remaining few my expectations of them for future lessons. I'm sure it went in one ear and out the other, but I'm glad that my mentor has seen them, and will now hopefully take at least two of them out - the group of disruptive children is too big and dominates the class.
I was pretty pissed off about the lesson generally, when my colleague with whom I share the class joined me at the end and told me that she'd spoken to X in the corridor and she'd heard her side of the story, which was that I "hate her" (ha) had picked on her, tried to close her fingers in the window (I had shut it when she refused to sit down, as all the kids were sticking their heads out of it) and general other things that I'd done. This pushed me over the edge, and I couldn't stop the tears.
I went back to the staffroom, was made a cup of tea and given a hug by a compassionate colleague, and resolved to leave early and do the work from home. I stopped off at my room to inexplicably rearrange my furniture based on an article I read, and so when I left it was quarter to five. However, on my way out the door I ran into my LDO from Teachy Firsty, who reminded me that we have training today. I have to attend at least 3 of these sessions as part of my training so I had to go really. Two 1/2 hours later I left and was even more irritated by the lack of buses, so by the time I got home I was fuming.
I feel run down, tired and pissed off with this whole thing. Why am I doing this? For whose benefit? Mine? Because right now all I seem to be getting out of it is stress. The kids are getting shit lessons and a pissed off teacher, and frankly we don't seem to be enjoying each others' company. I thought I was only pissed off because of year 8, but actually, all my classes were irritating today to the extreme. They were all chatty and unresponsive and exceedingly infuriating. I wonder how much of this is their behaviour and how much is my combination of PMT and nicotine withdrawal, but either way, I'm fed up with the whole sorry charade.
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Monday, 16 November 2009
Day 46: Running out of synonyms for "tired"
First things first - HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! I'm not sure if you'll even read this before tomorrow, but I hope if you do then you're having a lovely birthday.
Down to business. I was doing a little maths today. Please humour me.
2: days since I've had a cigarette (I am determined to quit.)
2: weeks till payday (Oh god!)
2.5: months that I have been a teacher
5: weeks till the end of term.
15: children left in my year 9 class (Thank you HIP!)
135: lessons (approx.) that I have taught.
Scary stuff, non?
Today was interesting. Well, not really. I started with first period off, and busied myself sorting out my first lesson, adding various aspects, planning others. First up were year 8, and I was being observed by a colleague who is part of the training team for us teachy firstys. I was a bit nervous, mainly because the group stress me out so much. They turned up, eventually, and I got going with the lesson. The worst student (the one who hates me) was mercifully absent, but the new boy did turn up, although I wasn't expecting him to. They did get through the work, and the behaviour wasn't atrocious, although I did send out one girl who was being obnoxious.
The feedback after the lesson was fair and nice, actually (although I still cried, embarrassingly enough.) She pointed out some things I was aware of: I need to have a starter ready to go on the board on or their desks, rather than wait for them to get ready. This will be sorted for tomorrow. I also need to make the lessons more active, and she gave me some good advice for reading with the group.
After break was year 7, who came in to the room to the sound of Bonnie Tyler's Holding out for a Hero, and me dancing. This was fun, but admittedly a mistake, as they were all a little excitable after. I told a few off, which worked at taking them down a peg or two. The lesson was ok, and we got through most of the work, but as I made up something for them to do, which I should have saved to the end, we didn't get through all the reading so will have to finish it tomorrow (when I am being observed. Eep.)
After lunch I had year 9, and was quite delighted to see so few of them. They're a tough group, and I had to tell off a kid (who looks about 30) for calling me "darling".
"Don't call me that"
"Why not? I call loads of people darling."
"It's not appropriate."
"What does that mean? Man, I hate that word. People always say that to me."
"Funny that."
Again, we got through the work, a little quicker than expected, as I tried to simplify it for them, and they shot through it, unsurprisingly. I ended up showing them the video they'd already watched - pretending that we were going to watch something else but I couldn't find it. Ha!
Finally, I had year 11. I told the boys (we've lost one from this group too, as I've moved him up a set) that I'd just quit smoking so was easily aggravated, although they seemed to ignore this towards the end of the lesson and just pissed me right off. Someone's phone kept going off, which was irritating, and they weren't really paying the short story as much attention as I would have liked. Ah well, I'll have to try harder tomorrow.
And so, after some more Teachy Firsty Monday evening training, I came home, after a visit to the classy new Iceland, and have mooched in front of the TV as I'm feeling a bit run down, if I'm honest. I hope I feel better tomorrow.
Ciao. x
Down to business. I was doing a little maths today. Please humour me.
2: days since I've had a cigarette (I am determined to quit.)
2: weeks till payday (Oh god!)
2.5: months that I have been a teacher
5: weeks till the end of term.
15: children left in my year 9 class (Thank you HIP!)
135: lessons (approx.) that I have taught.
Scary stuff, non?
Today was interesting. Well, not really. I started with first period off, and busied myself sorting out my first lesson, adding various aspects, planning others. First up were year 8, and I was being observed by a colleague who is part of the training team for us teachy firstys. I was a bit nervous, mainly because the group stress me out so much. They turned up, eventually, and I got going with the lesson. The worst student (the one who hates me) was mercifully absent, but the new boy did turn up, although I wasn't expecting him to. They did get through the work, and the behaviour wasn't atrocious, although I did send out one girl who was being obnoxious.
The feedback after the lesson was fair and nice, actually (although I still cried, embarrassingly enough.) She pointed out some things I was aware of: I need to have a starter ready to go on the board on or their desks, rather than wait for them to get ready. This will be sorted for tomorrow. I also need to make the lessons more active, and she gave me some good advice for reading with the group.
After break was year 7, who came in to the room to the sound of Bonnie Tyler's Holding out for a Hero, and me dancing. This was fun, but admittedly a mistake, as they were all a little excitable after. I told a few off, which worked at taking them down a peg or two. The lesson was ok, and we got through most of the work, but as I made up something for them to do, which I should have saved to the end, we didn't get through all the reading so will have to finish it tomorrow (when I am being observed. Eep.)
After lunch I had year 9, and was quite delighted to see so few of them. They're a tough group, and I had to tell off a kid (who looks about 30) for calling me "darling".
"Don't call me that"
"Why not? I call loads of people darling."
"It's not appropriate."
"What does that mean? Man, I hate that word. People always say that to me."
"Funny that."
Again, we got through the work, a little quicker than expected, as I tried to simplify it for them, and they shot through it, unsurprisingly. I ended up showing them the video they'd already watched - pretending that we were going to watch something else but I couldn't find it. Ha!
Finally, I had year 11. I told the boys (we've lost one from this group too, as I've moved him up a set) that I'd just quit smoking so was easily aggravated, although they seemed to ignore this towards the end of the lesson and just pissed me right off. Someone's phone kept going off, which was irritating, and they weren't really paying the short story as much attention as I would have liked. Ah well, I'll have to try harder tomorrow.
And so, after some more Teachy Firsty Monday evening training, I came home, after a visit to the classy new Iceland, and have mooched in front of the TV as I'm feeling a bit run down, if I'm honest. I hope I feel better tomorrow.
Ciao. x
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Days 44 and 45: Relentless
The problem with living for the weekend is twofold. One: the rest of the week tends to melt into one big pile of horribleness. Two: the weekend itself goes bloody quickly. As I look back over the last two working days of this week, both points are evident.
Thursday started off as always. I have been managing to get in around 7.30 for the past few days which is pretty good, considering how dark it's getting in the mornings, and how little I've been sleeping. I had year 9 to start, and seemed to have lost half the kids along the way. They were unruly, although we got through the text, and I was impressed that they seemed to understand what was going on. It is the Tempest, after all. The behaviour descended into chaos after a while, but I suppose that was my fault for not being strict enough with them, and so I was somewhat pleased to read an email today telling me that three of the students from that class are going to be sent to the HIP, which means they'll be out of my lessons for at least a few weeks.
Afterwards were year 10, and I actually can't remember what we did, although I think it was writing the introductions to their coursework. That's a good sign, isn't it? I do remember I was sat on my desk and I knocked over a glass of water with my butt, which was funny. I should take it as a sign that they must like me that we laughed it off and I sent off a kid to get some tissue to wipe it up. I also managed to get them back on task after (if only I could remember what it was...)
I was then free until last lesson; again I can't remember what I did but last lesson was year 7 and it was, as far as I can remember, a good lesson. The kids are getting a little cocky, which I'm finding a little difficult because I want to get on with them but I've turned into an evil stepmother character at the moment to stop them acting up. I'm not sure what else I can do but I've got them tomorrow so I'll be able to stamp my authority on them.
After work I relaxed, safe in the knowledge that I wouldn't be teaching the next day. Instead of planning I baked cupcakes and decorated them by writing out the names of my colleagues on it. I found out at 8am the next morning that this wasn't as cute as I'd thought, when every colleague bar one made fun of me for being sad. Tears.
Friday morning, after the cupcake insults, I was feeling pretty pleased with myself. I had only two lessons, as with every Friday, and wasn't going to teach either. "BUT WHY!?" I hear you shout. I'll tell you.
First up were year 10, who had an exam the next lesson. Rather than overload their brains with extra English stuff, I gave them the option - write their introductions, or revise for their maths exam. They were pleased with the option, and all but one got down to it. A few of them were off-task, but it went quite well, and I know that on the whole I can trust them to work off their own back.
My second lesson of the day, after a lesson off, was year 7, and we were booked for the library, so I was going to let the lovely librarian teach them for me! They were also a little feisty and again gave me cause for concern. One boy apparently tried to skive the lesson, but we ran into him on the way, and I had a stern word outside the library, which resulted in me taking him back to my classroom after the lesson for a 5 minute detention. I asked him if he'd been skiving other lessons - apparently so. Not impressed. What was a bit of a cause for celebration, and one which I've repeated several times now, was that when he was sat in my room and I was talking to him, another boy ran past and shouted "WASTEMAN" at him. I got up and managed to get him to sit in my classroom himself for 5 minutes and, eventually, apologise for being so rude. WIN!
The rest of the day was wasted by myself, if I'm honest, and I'm a little bit annoyed that I passed up a great opportunity to plan Monday's lessons but, ah well.
Friday finished, and I was down the pub. I've actually run out of money now, and as there are two weeks till I get paid, I won't be going back for the ritual until December. On the money note, I've actually decided to stop smoking as, if for no other reason, I'm spending at least 25 quid a week on it, and that's just silly.
I can't believe I've only got 5 weeks left of term, and it's half way through November already. I only hope the rest of the term goes as quickly.
Thursday started off as always. I have been managing to get in around 7.30 for the past few days which is pretty good, considering how dark it's getting in the mornings, and how little I've been sleeping. I had year 9 to start, and seemed to have lost half the kids along the way. They were unruly, although we got through the text, and I was impressed that they seemed to understand what was going on. It is the Tempest, after all. The behaviour descended into chaos after a while, but I suppose that was my fault for not being strict enough with them, and so I was somewhat pleased to read an email today telling me that three of the students from that class are going to be sent to the HIP, which means they'll be out of my lessons for at least a few weeks.
Afterwards were year 10, and I actually can't remember what we did, although I think it was writing the introductions to their coursework. That's a good sign, isn't it? I do remember I was sat on my desk and I knocked over a glass of water with my butt, which was funny. I should take it as a sign that they must like me that we laughed it off and I sent off a kid to get some tissue to wipe it up. I also managed to get them back on task after (if only I could remember what it was...)
I was then free until last lesson; again I can't remember what I did but last lesson was year 7 and it was, as far as I can remember, a good lesson. The kids are getting a little cocky, which I'm finding a little difficult because I want to get on with them but I've turned into an evil stepmother character at the moment to stop them acting up. I'm not sure what else I can do but I've got them tomorrow so I'll be able to stamp my authority on them.
After work I relaxed, safe in the knowledge that I wouldn't be teaching the next day. Instead of planning I baked cupcakes and decorated them by writing out the names of my colleagues on it. I found out at 8am the next morning that this wasn't as cute as I'd thought, when every colleague bar one made fun of me for being sad. Tears.
Friday morning, after the cupcake insults, I was feeling pretty pleased with myself. I had only two lessons, as with every Friday, and wasn't going to teach either. "BUT WHY!?" I hear you shout. I'll tell you.
First up were year 10, who had an exam the next lesson. Rather than overload their brains with extra English stuff, I gave them the option - write their introductions, or revise for their maths exam. They were pleased with the option, and all but one got down to it. A few of them were off-task, but it went quite well, and I know that on the whole I can trust them to work off their own back.
My second lesson of the day, after a lesson off, was year 7, and we were booked for the library, so I was going to let the lovely librarian teach them for me! They were also a little feisty and again gave me cause for concern. One boy apparently tried to skive the lesson, but we ran into him on the way, and I had a stern word outside the library, which resulted in me taking him back to my classroom after the lesson for a 5 minute detention. I asked him if he'd been skiving other lessons - apparently so. Not impressed. What was a bit of a cause for celebration, and one which I've repeated several times now, was that when he was sat in my room and I was talking to him, another boy ran past and shouted "WASTEMAN" at him. I got up and managed to get him to sit in my classroom himself for 5 minutes and, eventually, apologise for being so rude. WIN!
The rest of the day was wasted by myself, if I'm honest, and I'm a little bit annoyed that I passed up a great opportunity to plan Monday's lessons but, ah well.
Friday finished, and I was down the pub. I've actually run out of money now, and as there are two weeks till I get paid, I won't be going back for the ritual until December. On the money note, I've actually decided to stop smoking as, if for no other reason, I'm spending at least 25 quid a week on it, and that's just silly.
I can't believe I've only got 5 weeks left of term, and it's half way through November already. I only hope the rest of the term goes as quickly.
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Days 42 and 43: Fatigued
To every teacher I've ever had,
Please accept my apologies. For everything. For every note I passed in class. For ever asinine offhand comment I made to be funny, or worse, controversial. For every time I was off-task because I wanted to chat to my friends. For every time I had to be asked to return to my seat, to stop swearing, to "be calme". For every poem I wrote which ridiculed you in some way. For distracting anyone within a 3 metre radius because I was bored. For every time I didn't listen and had to ask what I was supposed to be doing (I still do this now.) For every time I refused to join in the lesson and sat at the side of the gym sulking or sometimes crying. For the obscene things I used to do in music lessons. For every time I answered you back. For every time I said you were a crap teacher. For every lesson I said was boring. For thinking you had it easy. For thinking I was always funny. And right.
I am so so sorry.
Tuesday and Wednesday seemed to melt into one. I'm not sure where one ended and t'other began, but I'll start with Tuesday morning. I took a leave of absence to attend an occupational health appointment, thinking it was going to be a medical, and was somewhat irritated to find that it was in fact a 10 minute conversation about my knee injury and whether or not I have any "limitations" as a result. I don't. "Then you're good to work!" the miserable woman told me. Great.
I got into school midway though my year 9 lesson, but couldn't bring myself to take over the class, so ended up planning what I would do for my year 8 lesson. This was a good thing, as I ended up having to rearrange my plan as I hadn't spoken to my colleague with whom I share the class and therefore the lesson I had prepared was too far ahead.
I had stayed up till 2 marking the year 10 coursework the night before, ready to give it back to my year 10 class. I had given some scores back - 1 A* so far, although wasn't entirely confident in my ability to mark properly, so should have asked someone to read through them with me before I set about giving them out. As it turned out, one girl (Turkish madam #1) had been given an admittedly low mark of an E, which at 2am seemed fair, but in the cold light of day, and under her deathly stare, I realised was probably wrong. I did have my mentor check it, and he pushed her grade up 6 points to a D. Oops. The rest of the year 10 class were pretty happy with what they got, although I did get another couple checked by my mentor to make sure, and most were pushed up a bit. Overall, I was pretty impressed with the quality of the work. I gave out at least 3 A* (I think I may have been too generous with 2 of them) and lots of As, Bs and Cs, plus a few Ds.
After year 10 filed out I had year 8. I had been dreading this group, and rightly so. They were little bastards. The behaviour is shocking, and their attitude to me just completely overwhelms me. They are so rude. Not all of them, in fact some are quite sweet, but the small group have just completely ground me down. I kept them all back 5 minutes because they took so long to shut up, and kept three back longer to chat to, one of whom was so so rude to me and as she left she called down the corridor something along the lines of "I hate you miss and that class and I'm not coming back..."
Amusingly, I am trying to have her moved, so as she's been told as much (well, that she's being moved up a set) she obviously doesn't care anymore. Vile. Of course, it's my fault for not being stern enough, and not doling out the warnings when they speak to me like that. I guess I'm just so taken aback by them that it catches me unawares.
So that was Tuesday. Today I had three lessons, and was being observed in lesson 2 by my tutor. I was relieved to have my colleague in with me for year 9 first thing, although I feel under extra scrutiny in the class, as I'm not really connecting with the work we're doing so I feel a little crap at explaining stuff to the group, who were on the whole quite good today. I'm still not sure what I'm doing with them.
After year 9 was year 11, and they were really good, actually, apart from one of them who left the class early, but that's not the point. We were going to do Dulce and Decorum Est, which was a coincidence considering it's remembrance day. I showed them a video of trench warfare, we talked about world war 1, and most of them were able to do the work set, which was nice. The feedback I received from my tutor was, on the whole, positive, although she gave me lots of great pointers and advice. I was really pleased with some of the guys in the group, as they came out with some great stuff. The whole group also observed the two minute silence impeccably, which was nice to see.
I had a break, then year 10. I decided, last minute, to do a research lesson, which was lucky, as I wasn't sure what to do really and the kids were super excited to be using laptops. A few of them took the piss but I wasn't really that bothered - it was last lesson. I gave the girl her new mark, and she was pretty gracious about the whole thing, which was nice of her. I doubt I would have been.
After school I went to a college meeting, which was interesting, and I found out that one of my year 11s has been placed on the "could get a C so work hard on him" list, which I found a little disturbing. He's definitely a bright one, but I feel a little overwhelmed at the prospect.
All in all, a longish couple of days. I have so much work I need to catch up on, which is stressing me out, but at least we're over the "hump" now and I'm going home on Saturday, so am thinking mainly about that. I might drive past my old school and leave a bunch of flowers. You know, to say thanks.
Please accept my apologies. For everything. For every note I passed in class. For ever asinine offhand comment I made to be funny, or worse, controversial. For every time I was off-task because I wanted to chat to my friends. For every time I had to be asked to return to my seat, to stop swearing, to "be calme". For every poem I wrote which ridiculed you in some way. For distracting anyone within a 3 metre radius because I was bored. For every time I didn't listen and had to ask what I was supposed to be doing (I still do this now.) For every time I refused to join in the lesson and sat at the side of the gym sulking or sometimes crying. For the obscene things I used to do in music lessons. For every time I answered you back. For every time I said you were a crap teacher. For every lesson I said was boring. For thinking you had it easy. For thinking I was always funny. And right.
I am so so sorry.
Tuesday and Wednesday seemed to melt into one. I'm not sure where one ended and t'other began, but I'll start with Tuesday morning. I took a leave of absence to attend an occupational health appointment, thinking it was going to be a medical, and was somewhat irritated to find that it was in fact a 10 minute conversation about my knee injury and whether or not I have any "limitations" as a result. I don't. "Then you're good to work!" the miserable woman told me. Great.
I got into school midway though my year 9 lesson, but couldn't bring myself to take over the class, so ended up planning what I would do for my year 8 lesson. This was a good thing, as I ended up having to rearrange my plan as I hadn't spoken to my colleague with whom I share the class and therefore the lesson I had prepared was too far ahead.
I had stayed up till 2 marking the year 10 coursework the night before, ready to give it back to my year 10 class. I had given some scores back - 1 A* so far, although wasn't entirely confident in my ability to mark properly, so should have asked someone to read through them with me before I set about giving them out. As it turned out, one girl (Turkish madam #1) had been given an admittedly low mark of an E, which at 2am seemed fair, but in the cold light of day, and under her deathly stare, I realised was probably wrong. I did have my mentor check it, and he pushed her grade up 6 points to a D. Oops. The rest of the year 10 class were pretty happy with what they got, although I did get another couple checked by my mentor to make sure, and most were pushed up a bit. Overall, I was pretty impressed with the quality of the work. I gave out at least 3 A* (I think I may have been too generous with 2 of them) and lots of As, Bs and Cs, plus a few Ds.
After year 10 filed out I had year 8. I had been dreading this group, and rightly so. They were little bastards. The behaviour is shocking, and their attitude to me just completely overwhelms me. They are so rude. Not all of them, in fact some are quite sweet, but the small group have just completely ground me down. I kept them all back 5 minutes because they took so long to shut up, and kept three back longer to chat to, one of whom was so so rude to me and as she left she called down the corridor something along the lines of "I hate you miss and that class and I'm not coming back..."
Amusingly, I am trying to have her moved, so as she's been told as much (well, that she's being moved up a set) she obviously doesn't care anymore. Vile. Of course, it's my fault for not being stern enough, and not doling out the warnings when they speak to me like that. I guess I'm just so taken aback by them that it catches me unawares.
So that was Tuesday. Today I had three lessons, and was being observed in lesson 2 by my tutor. I was relieved to have my colleague in with me for year 9 first thing, although I feel under extra scrutiny in the class, as I'm not really connecting with the work we're doing so I feel a little crap at explaining stuff to the group, who were on the whole quite good today. I'm still not sure what I'm doing with them.
After year 9 was year 11, and they were really good, actually, apart from one of them who left the class early, but that's not the point. We were going to do Dulce and Decorum Est, which was a coincidence considering it's remembrance day. I showed them a video of trench warfare, we talked about world war 1, and most of them were able to do the work set, which was nice. The feedback I received from my tutor was, on the whole, positive, although she gave me lots of great pointers and advice. I was really pleased with some of the guys in the group, as they came out with some great stuff. The whole group also observed the two minute silence impeccably, which was nice to see.
I had a break, then year 10. I decided, last minute, to do a research lesson, which was lucky, as I wasn't sure what to do really and the kids were super excited to be using laptops. A few of them took the piss but I wasn't really that bothered - it was last lesson. I gave the girl her new mark, and she was pretty gracious about the whole thing, which was nice of her. I doubt I would have been.
After school I went to a college meeting, which was interesting, and I found out that one of my year 11s has been placed on the "could get a C so work hard on him" list, which I found a little disturbing. He's definitely a bright one, but I feel a little overwhelmed at the prospect.
All in all, a longish couple of days. I have so much work I need to catch up on, which is stressing me out, but at least we're over the "hump" now and I'm going home on Saturday, so am thinking mainly about that. I might drive past my old school and leave a bunch of flowers. You know, to say thanks.
Monday, 9 November 2009
Day 41: Back to the Grindstone
What happened to the rest of last week? Good question. Long story short, the rest of the week went really quickly, with buckets of stress, tears, and irritation. The weekend was spent lazing around the not doing *any* work, which brings me to today.
I went to school with one lesson prepared, as it was being observed, and one lesson to prepare for, as well as a bunch of marking to finish off. The morning was a little irritating, as I found out that half of my kids were going to be on a trip (actually, it was only 6 out of 22, but that's almost a third) so I rearranged my observation and thought up a hasty lesson plan for them (poetry) and got on with the lesson. My year 7s have been a little cocky lately, so I rearranged their seating plan and started with the warnings. The lesson went quite well, although the kids needing support didn't really get enough from me, so I need to think of how to support them during the lesson. I got a poem out of everyone, including one from the crying boy whose poem was on the subject of school, and was something along the lines of "don't go to school, school is the worst, all the teachers want is money money money." I passed it to his form tutor who found it rather amusing.
After year 7 I was free until last lesson, so I set about preparing for them. I was going to do a poem with them today, so managed to spent a huuuge amount of time sorting out the lesson. I was quite pleased with the plan I put together, with the help of a colleague, and the discover of "wordle.net". I was going through my Canterbury resources and remembered I'd attended a poetry workshop, ironically run by my colleague, and wanted to look up a word cloud. I managed to make one for the poem - it's basically a way of putting the words from a poem or any text into a picture - hard to explain so here's an example of Journey's Don't Stop Believin'.
I found out about this time that I was supposed to have an occupational health appointment tomorrow - oops. I had to sort out cover for my first two lessons, and spent a good while running around like a headless chicken.
Eventually year 11 turned up, and they were in pretty good spirits. I realised that I haven't actually taught poetry yet, so was pretty nervous about it, but I think it went well enough - they seemed to get what the poem was about anyway.
After school I had to go to a very long meeting about lesson objectives/outcomes, and ended up staying at school till 7. Which sucked.
I think I'm just so so tired at the moment, and fed up. I have to prepare two lessons for tomorrow and mark the rest of my coursework, but at least I get a lie in. Thank you occupational health!
I went to school with one lesson prepared, as it was being observed, and one lesson to prepare for, as well as a bunch of marking to finish off. The morning was a little irritating, as I found out that half of my kids were going to be on a trip (actually, it was only 6 out of 22, but that's almost a third) so I rearranged my observation and thought up a hasty lesson plan for them (poetry) and got on with the lesson. My year 7s have been a little cocky lately, so I rearranged their seating plan and started with the warnings. The lesson went quite well, although the kids needing support didn't really get enough from me, so I need to think of how to support them during the lesson. I got a poem out of everyone, including one from the crying boy whose poem was on the subject of school, and was something along the lines of "don't go to school, school is the worst, all the teachers want is money money money." I passed it to his form tutor who found it rather amusing.
After year 7 I was free until last lesson, so I set about preparing for them. I was going to do a poem with them today, so managed to spent a huuuge amount of time sorting out the lesson. I was quite pleased with the plan I put together, with the help of a colleague, and the discover of "wordle.net". I was going through my Canterbury resources and remembered I'd attended a poetry workshop, ironically run by my colleague, and wanted to look up a word cloud. I managed to make one for the poem - it's basically a way of putting the words from a poem or any text into a picture - hard to explain so here's an example of Journey's Don't Stop Believin'.
I found out about this time that I was supposed to have an occupational health appointment tomorrow - oops. I had to sort out cover for my first two lessons, and spent a good while running around like a headless chicken.
Eventually year 11 turned up, and they were in pretty good spirits. I realised that I haven't actually taught poetry yet, so was pretty nervous about it, but I think it went well enough - they seemed to get what the poem was about anyway.
After school I had to go to a very long meeting about lesson objectives/outcomes, and ended up staying at school till 7. Which sucked.
I think I'm just so so tired at the moment, and fed up. I have to prepare two lessons for tomorrow and mark the rest of my coursework, but at least I get a lie in. Thank you occupational health!
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Day 37: Horrible
Today was horrible. I can't be bothered to write it up, but suffice to say I had year 9 followed by year 8 and both were hideous. I cried.
I have just had a delicious curry with free poppadom, daal and bombay potatoes, with free home delivery, and I feel so much better.
Unfortunately I'm going to spend the next 4 hours planning for tomorrow. ARGH!
I have just had a delicious curry with free poppadom, daal and bombay potatoes, with free home delivery, and I feel so much better.
Unfortunately I'm going to spend the next 4 hours planning for tomorrow. ARGH!
Monday, 2 November 2009
Day 36: Back to Black
After a week off, it was never going to be easy making it back in to school. As one colleague noted, you get used to spending time with people who are nice to you, and so getting back to school is a bit of a culture shock.
I managed to get in pretty early and got straight to work sorting out photocopying and such like, panicking when I realised I couldn't find some of the stuff I needed and then panicking more when I saw a note on the board to say that the year 11 scheme wasn't ready and I should do some poetry instead (argh!)
I was feeling pretty stressed, to put it mildly. Luckily I had period 1 off so could rush around and sort out the final pieces. I had year 8 second period and i wasn't looking forward to them at all.
As it happened, they were horrible. I was stressing at first that I was doing a new scheme of work - Macbeth - and I wasn't confident about teaching it. I'm aware that Shakespeare can be very dull and I didn't want to make it so. A new boy turned up that had been transferred into my class for, as it turned out, bullying and extortion or something similarly horrific. He's a big lad, and OF COURSE is friends with my gang of outlaws, and I sent him out pretty sharpish because he was being unbearable: he wouldn't sit where I told him to, then wouldn't sit down when he finally agreed to go there, then turned around and chatted to the people behind him. He initially refused to go to the behaviour rota classroom, but I managed to get him to go. I returned to the class who were pissing me off so much I tried to make them work in silence but of course the little gang were obnoxious so I got all flustered and yelled "I SAID IN SILENCE!" which was a little uncool. I had found a rap of Macbeth to play them, which I did at the end, but otherwise I stuck to the rather dull scheme. I only have them one more time this week (tomorrow) so I'll relax after that. I don't know what to do about them. The girls are so rude to me, the boys are disruptive, and I just don't know what to do.
After that hilarity I began to panic about year 9 after the break, so set up the classroom then headed out for a cigarette. I was DELIGHTED to hear that I was confused; they were going to be after lunch and so I had year 7 next. Not only that, but the whole of year 9 were going to be watching an anti-homophobic bullying play so I wouldn't have to teach, although I would have to sit with them. More on that later.
Year 7 turned up and it was a little confuddled because I had to sort out the classroom but luckily two of my kids offered to help give out folders. We got the lesson going, and I had a new girl join - she was in the year 7 transition group so I sat her next to an able girl. Unfortunately I was interrupted several times as the year 7 class had had maths in period 1 and the teacher's mobile was stolen. What it was doing out in the classroom, I have no idea, but the pupils were taken out one at a time and questioned, then they had to empty their bags and pockets onto their desks. We had some peace for a bit, but then in the last 20 minutes the school's PC turned up and yelled at them, saying that if someone in the class didn't own up they'd all be sent home. The lesson was a bit of a write off, as the kids couldn't talk about anything else, and were upset at being accused, but I added fuel to the fire with my "evil prevails when good men do nothing" speech which even I didn't buy. As they left I asked one to stay behind to explain that, as horrible as the situation was (I think he was suspect #1) as long as he was honest and didn't take it personally it would be fine.
Anyway, I had lunch next, and managed a mouthful or so of my pasta then went to sort out my year 11 lesson - I decided to go over the unseen non-fiction they'd struggled with and answer it as a group. At the end of lunch my colleague came in for a little pep talk, which was much appreciated. I was still feeling pretty stressed about the whole thing so I really felt better after a little positive reinforcement.
Year 9 turned up and we lined them up and registered them, then I took them down to wait outside the theatre. I felt like Arnold Schwarzenegger in Kindergarten Cop when the fire drill happens the first time and he exits the building with screaming kids slung over his shoulders to find the rest of the school quietly lined up in silence. Well, it wasn't that bad, but my kids were definitely the rowdiest. We were eventually called in the kids sat down. I ended up sitting next to A, with whom I have a strange relationship that consists of me shushing him like a nagging aunt. He does respond though, so it's good to have that at least. I actually am developing a soft spot for the little guy. The play was quite good, but it was a bit embarrassing when one of the characters revealed she was a lesbian and "lost her virginity to a girl" because all the kids went "EEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW!" Another amusing part was when they were in the locker room and the male actors were topless - one of them was well-endowed in the pectoral region and so a girl in front of me screamed "MAN BOOBS!" which made me laugh as well as the rest of the kids. I left before the end to get to my lesson in time for year 11, and so missed the lesbian kiss apparently. Shame. Apparently the kids asked sensible questions at the end, which was nice to hear.
Year 11 crawled in, and I basically said to them that I too was tired and fed up, so if we got through the work together we could watch whatever they wanted on youtube. We had a nice lesson actually, reading through the passage again and I stopped to question for understanding, looking up photos on google images to show them tripe, haddock and saffron, among other things. We constructed the answer together, with me typing, so I hope it was useful. We'll finish it tomorrow. As it happens, the video requested on youtube was some awful crazy-frog inspired gummy bear song which was terrible.
I stayed behind till 7 to sort out photocopying for tomorrow, not wanting the same mad rush in the morning, and came home to some tasty soup.
I know I was feeling more positive at the end of half term, so I am pretty gutted to feel crappy again, and to know that there's 34 working days left till the next break, but I ain't going nowhere. Well, don't quote me on that.
I managed to get in pretty early and got straight to work sorting out photocopying and such like, panicking when I realised I couldn't find some of the stuff I needed and then panicking more when I saw a note on the board to say that the year 11 scheme wasn't ready and I should do some poetry instead (argh!)
I was feeling pretty stressed, to put it mildly. Luckily I had period 1 off so could rush around and sort out the final pieces. I had year 8 second period and i wasn't looking forward to them at all.
As it happened, they were horrible. I was stressing at first that I was doing a new scheme of work - Macbeth - and I wasn't confident about teaching it. I'm aware that Shakespeare can be very dull and I didn't want to make it so. A new boy turned up that had been transferred into my class for, as it turned out, bullying and extortion or something similarly horrific. He's a big lad, and OF COURSE is friends with my gang of outlaws, and I sent him out pretty sharpish because he was being unbearable: he wouldn't sit where I told him to, then wouldn't sit down when he finally agreed to go there, then turned around and chatted to the people behind him. He initially refused to go to the behaviour rota classroom, but I managed to get him to go. I returned to the class who were pissing me off so much I tried to make them work in silence but of course the little gang were obnoxious so I got all flustered and yelled "I SAID IN SILENCE!" which was a little uncool. I had found a rap of Macbeth to play them, which I did at the end, but otherwise I stuck to the rather dull scheme. I only have them one more time this week (tomorrow) so I'll relax after that. I don't know what to do about them. The girls are so rude to me, the boys are disruptive, and I just don't know what to do.
After that hilarity I began to panic about year 9 after the break, so set up the classroom then headed out for a cigarette. I was DELIGHTED to hear that I was confused; they were going to be after lunch and so I had year 7 next. Not only that, but the whole of year 9 were going to be watching an anti-homophobic bullying play so I wouldn't have to teach, although I would have to sit with them. More on that later.
Year 7 turned up and it was a little confuddled because I had to sort out the classroom but luckily two of my kids offered to help give out folders. We got the lesson going, and I had a new girl join - she was in the year 7 transition group so I sat her next to an able girl. Unfortunately I was interrupted several times as the year 7 class had had maths in period 1 and the teacher's mobile was stolen. What it was doing out in the classroom, I have no idea, but the pupils were taken out one at a time and questioned, then they had to empty their bags and pockets onto their desks. We had some peace for a bit, but then in the last 20 minutes the school's PC turned up and yelled at them, saying that if someone in the class didn't own up they'd all be sent home. The lesson was a bit of a write off, as the kids couldn't talk about anything else, and were upset at being accused, but I added fuel to the fire with my "evil prevails when good men do nothing" speech which even I didn't buy. As they left I asked one to stay behind to explain that, as horrible as the situation was (I think he was suspect #1) as long as he was honest and didn't take it personally it would be fine.
Anyway, I had lunch next, and managed a mouthful or so of my pasta then went to sort out my year 11 lesson - I decided to go over the unseen non-fiction they'd struggled with and answer it as a group. At the end of lunch my colleague came in for a little pep talk, which was much appreciated. I was still feeling pretty stressed about the whole thing so I really felt better after a little positive reinforcement.
Year 9 turned up and we lined them up and registered them, then I took them down to wait outside the theatre. I felt like Arnold Schwarzenegger in Kindergarten Cop when the fire drill happens the first time and he exits the building with screaming kids slung over his shoulders to find the rest of the school quietly lined up in silence. Well, it wasn't that bad, but my kids were definitely the rowdiest. We were eventually called in the kids sat down. I ended up sitting next to A, with whom I have a strange relationship that consists of me shushing him like a nagging aunt. He does respond though, so it's good to have that at least. I actually am developing a soft spot for the little guy. The play was quite good, but it was a bit embarrassing when one of the characters revealed she was a lesbian and "lost her virginity to a girl" because all the kids went "EEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW!" Another amusing part was when they were in the locker room and the male actors were topless - one of them was well-endowed in the pectoral region and so a girl in front of me screamed "MAN BOOBS!" which made me laugh as well as the rest of the kids. I left before the end to get to my lesson in time for year 11, and so missed the lesbian kiss apparently. Shame. Apparently the kids asked sensible questions at the end, which was nice to hear.
Year 11 crawled in, and I basically said to them that I too was tired and fed up, so if we got through the work together we could watch whatever they wanted on youtube. We had a nice lesson actually, reading through the passage again and I stopped to question for understanding, looking up photos on google images to show them tripe, haddock and saffron, among other things. We constructed the answer together, with me typing, so I hope it was useful. We'll finish it tomorrow. As it happens, the video requested on youtube was some awful crazy-frog inspired gummy bear song which was terrible.
I stayed behind till 7 to sort out photocopying for tomorrow, not wanting the same mad rush in the morning, and came home to some tasty soup.
I know I was feeling more positive at the end of half term, so I am pretty gutted to feel crappy again, and to know that there's 34 working days left till the next break, but I ain't going nowhere. Well, don't quote me on that.
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