MrsC's Diary

This week

2004-11-03T20:13:00.000-08:00

The week is hardly started and already I am feeling tired. Not sure which way to go. Was doing well with my AE and now I seem to be meeting barriers.
This evening we had a Union meeting about the workload agreement. NUT, I ended up walking out because of their attitude towards non qualified personnel. Having been a TA I know the work that they do, the care they have for their students , guaranteed not all are the same but the majority of them are hard working, more so than some teachers I could think of. This workload agreement is good for teachers but it seems to be putting more and more onto the TA's. If this is so then why are Unions not considering the position of the TA. They can't afford on their wages to pay Union fees and so are left in the lurch.
I am now thinking am I doing the right thing in training to be a teacher!!!

On Monday we had a training day and that went quite well, the person I wanted so much to be there was ill and consequently was not able to do a lot of the work I needed. This has affected my AE and to cap it all JAne has been taken ill. Not sure if it is stress, so things are a little up in the air with regard to workplace advocate. At present I have a stand in, but I miss Jane, she was one I really relate to.

Tuesday, that was a day and a half. We had a Student Progress day and I have never worked so hard. We had 26, Year 11 students in to do catch up coursework, as well as parental interviews for our Tutor groups. I had three marvelous TA's working with me and another teacher and I have never seen kids be so keen to work. In fact I think all that were ther gained something from it. I eventually arrived home at 7.30 absolutely shattered.

Twilight Training

2004-10-19T21:52:00.000-07:00

As part of whole school training we had a twilight session tonight on KS3 Assessment for Learning. At first I was quite keen but as the day wore on I began to feel less enthusiastic, especially when I collected 7 detentions for my tutor group from one lesson. I know I shouldn't let it get to me but I felt quite let down even threatened to resign as their tutor, but what good would that do?
Anyway I went to the training. We were split into groups each with a different colour code. I was in Red and as per Edward de Bono's thinking hats this was the group that covers intuition, feeling and emotions and requires no justification. Not me at all although our co-ordinator seemed to think otherwise.
The session started quite well with us making paper hats as our starter, very simple and straight forward. We were then led through the first to Units of the strategy for learning.
These were :-
Assessment for Learning in everyday lessons - very interesting and there were things I learnt that were missing from my own lessons.
The formative use of Summative assessments. - this was a bit of a disaster session as the DVD decided to stutter a little and the session ended sooner than expected.
The plenary was:
Where do we go from here?
It would appear that this is going to be a whole school strategy starting after half term. The school has consultants in to 'oversee' the training and identify any problems as they arise.
Do I envisage any problems?
Yes, the children in our school are not as 'stereotyped' as the children in the training videos, their language is not anywhere near their level and their behaviour is definately more erratic.
Am I just being negative because I had an awful day? Trouble was it didn't end there as I left the session, my head of year approached me and told me that one of my form was in trouble with the police and she would need to see me in the morning.
Where will it end ?

A Better Day

2004-10-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

Yeaterday was by far a better day for me. PS & Em were both on courses and SCITT was at Uni. JW was busy sorting out the data work and so I was left very much to my own devices. Managed in my non contact time to actually get through quite a bit of work, including some research. A minor setback was results of a round robin on a student in my form, not what I expected, will have to sort it out on Progress day.
Next Friday sees a workshop at school on addressing aspects of teaching and learning relevant to our School Development Plan. Am looking forward to these as the two consultants working with the school are concentrating on starter activities. They sent round a survey to help with the training so am going to chat and find out a little more of what the results were as I am not sure how many staff members actually use starter activities.
Tuesday evening is a twilight session, not sure what that is on but I would think it is a similar thing.
HAve done a silly thing and forgotten how to log onto the AE tool so must sort that out.

Too Long

2004-10-15T07:23:00.000-07:00

I have not written in here for over two weeks mainly because of pressure at work. I feel I am being restricted in what I can and can't do. I know there are ways around them but not always advisable.
The boss has been off for a week and so it has been left to me to keep things going. To add to it all we had open evening and it was a rush to ensure that the department was ready.
Good vibes from people who came, not as many as last year but a lot more from HR.
My meeting with Wa went well. She gave me so many ideas I have had to rethink my approach to my AE. I think I will research the affect starters have on the department and try and obtain some feedback from the SCITT , bout time he returned some of his time.
I am enjoying this usint although am a little wary about using the AE tool. Still we shall see.
I think I am now going to revert back to initial idea and use this as a journal.
Tech is going to sit down and help me sort out how I can make these starters available other than through shared. I want to make some sort of web page.
Off to work now.

Reviewing my Home Page

2004-10-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

I have just reviewed my home page and added some extra information on it. When I view it I notice that my pictures are not as I placed them. I think I need a little extra work here, but am very pleased cos the links worked to the school site for Primary schools. At least it did when I tried it and so I am going to see if links can be added to my Blog. I am now seriously worried that I am experimenting a bit much and that things may go wrong. Fingers crossed. I am enjoying this.

Good Day

2004-10-01T21:14:00.000-07:00

Well things have been a little better today actually feel as if I have achieved something. English department gave me examples of the starters they use for their classes and some of them are so simple they can be altered for ICT.
Ed and I worked on the ICT folders and they are beginning to look respectable. We had so many duplications that it was unbelieveable. There never seems to be enought time to sort things. Next on the agenda is Level descriptors in easy form for the kids to read and understand, also SMART targets.
Along with my assignment for the course I think I am going to be quite busy.

Oh Help.

2004-09-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

These guidelines for teachers are 'doing my head in.' All I want to do is my job and no matter which way I turn it seems I am in the wrong.
Tutor meeting supposed to be an hour, lasted nearly two all because one of the topics which should have taken 5 minutes took 45 minutes all because one person wanted it resolved there and then ( hasten to add that it was impossible). He wasn't bothered about the time constraint this time, but at our last meeting he was quick to point it out.
Am I in the only school where the staff don't seem to be consistent?
I have adopted the attitude that if I want to do a particular thing then that is up to me. Maybe I am wrong but I hate the way it is spoiling a good staff relationship.

Had my moan, now to work.

2004-09-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

A Very Proud Mum. My son James on his wedding day along with his dad and brother who was best man.

I wish.

2004-09-23T21:55:00.000-07:00

Well another mad day.
Faux pas of the day, delivering Year 7 lesson to Year 8 whilst being observed by a SCITT teacher.!!!!
GNVQ going well, at last got to grips with the Units and now they are changing it for the Diploma. Have a dreamn this year that we manage to get all the students through the course, that is wishful thinking.
Clait Plus course going well, four members of staff have passed the first Unit and have moved onto PowerPoint unfortunately some have fallen by the way side, not sure why? I can only think it is the time factor. Would still be keen to run the course for staff next year.
Have tried to upload picture but am having some difficulty, will have to seek help.

What a day.

2004-09-22T22:08:00.000-07:00

Today has been a day of days. Staff said that the wind had an affect on the behaviour of the children but that wasn't the reason today and I don't know what it was. The boys especailly seemed to be aggressive towards their peers and some were very loud.
I completed my fortnightly detention duty today and was amazed at the increase in the numbers of students there. It seemed to have decreased towards the end of last term and the beginning of this but today there were twenty two in the half hour slot, two being new Year 7. I know it is working and I know we have had a crack down on behaviour, but I still ask myself where are we going wrong.

First Thoughts

2004-09-21T21:37:00.000-07:00

After much thought and consideration I have decided to have another go at creating a blog, if I fail well at least I have tried.
Apart from the fact that I am working on OCTLA3, my main reason for creating this, is in the hope that it will help me with my research,I am working on the delivery of the KS3 strategy for ICT. In some parts ( perhaps a lot) the students have found it boring because there is very little practical work and so it has been my job to revamp this to suit the needs of our students. I am going to use my blog(hopefully) to record my achievements and failures and perhaps gain some information from other bloggers.
I have learnt today that we are to be a pilot for Unit 7/5 - DataDesigning Structure, Capturing and Presenting Data this is in conjunction with the Curriculum Resource Centre. This will add more pressure to our department especially as we are already involved in another pilot concerning the on line SATS. I know this is good for the school and our department but sometimes my head feels fit to bust and I don't honestly know which way to turn. I find myself asking 'Why did I choose this subject!!!' It changes at a rate of knots.
So if I moan I apologise, if it sounds boring I apologise.
I feel better already.