How to teach when you're ill

I'm typing this from home during the day, as I'm off work ill.  I'm feeling very frustrated, because the illness that kept me off work for about 7 weeks last year is back with a vengeance - it's called 'sarcoidosis' - and if anyone has heard of it or had experience of it feels like getting in touch, it would be good to know I'm not alone - as it seems the doctors don't really know much about it and certainly don't know how to cure it.  I'm hoping to get back to work and on Thursday (Wed is my day off anyway) and try and struggle through, because a) I get VERY fed-up at home after more than a day or two and b) I worry about the students and their lack of learning during these absences. 

 

One of the things that always strikes me when I'm off ill, is how if you are a teacher you still have to struggle off your sick bed and organise cover lessons for the day - so for example at 6.30 this morning I had to drag myself to my computer and put together lessons that a non-specialist could facilitate for that day - i.e. that the kids could work on pretty much unaided.  I'm sure you realise that with languages this is particularlyy hard - there is only so much copying/ poster making that a class can do!

 

When I was off for the 7 weeks, I had to provide work for over 3 weeks, before they hired a supply teacher who could take over - and I can tell you now that providing more than a day or 2 of cover work is pretty difficult (that's if you have the text books at home to refer to!) so 3 weeks is nigh on impossible - even then it is unusual to be able to find a suitable qualified supply teacher who can teach more than one of the languages I teach (I teach French, Spanish & German) - so most groups will still not have access to a specialist to help them.

 

Ah well - there's not much I can do about it - just rest up and take a deep breath before I dive back into the fray on Thursday - wish me luck!

hurrah for the holidays - but not the best start :-o

Yes - finally it's here at last - the half-term holidays!! Of course, the next countdown will be up to Christmas - because we always live for our holidays - it really does keep us going.

Not that work isn't on my mind - which is really frustrating - in fact, I've only just finished marking a pile of tests (whilst watching t.v., admittedly!)  I always find it hard to switch off at the start of a holiday and usually it takes a week to fully relax - which is a real shame for half-term, because by the time I'm relaxed, it's time to start the next half of term!

I try to start holidays by finishing work on a happy note - and that had been my plan yesterday - but it failed miserably.  My period 5 lesson were my yr8 nightmare class (always last lesson on a Friday - was the same last year too, although a different group!) - they were 'swinging from the chandeliers' yesterday, shouting across the room - asking "can we have a fun lesson, Miss?" - to which my standard response is "of course, we're doing Spanish - it's always fun!".  Despite this, I decided to pop along to see my Head of Dept (sorry 'subject area'!) to have a quick chat about something and bid him a good holiday - BUT ended up raising my voice at him and left, slamming the door behind me - oops!!!   I've never done that with any colleague before in my whole working life, let alone a line manager - but he is one of the most infuriating people I've ever had the misery to work for.  He refuses to back down or admit he could possibly be wrong/ have made a mistake - even the simplest thing - grrrrrr :-(    He's probably already forgotten the incident and put it down to female hormones - I'm just grateful I didn't say anything too bad to him - it could have been so much worse!

Has anyone out there had to work with someone they find hard to work for and even harder to respect? I'd love some advice on how to deal with this, as he will not listen to any form of advice/constructive criticism - he will turn anything like this back on the person who brings it up and becomes very defensive. Help !!!!

In the meantime I have promised myself that I will get my school work done in the first few days, so that I can relax and enjoy most of the half-term.

Enjoy :-)

The small things that make a good day!

Well - just one full day of teaching to go and I've reached the first teacher 'landmark' - i.e. this time tomorrow I have a week off work for half-term hols - hurrah!  I've had a pretty depressing half of term so far with lots of changes in my school and subject area and have not had many days I can honestly say I've enjoyed.

BUT today I had a couple of those 'moments' that bring a smile to your face and make you remember what it's all about.  As usual, they came directly from the students.

I always enjoy the 'banter' with my students, especially the older ones - and as the Year 11 students have now returned from work experience, they are still full of stories about that, which is good to hear (although can distract from the lesson at hand!)  Even better, though, I had 2 of the younger students individually thanking me for my help, which was totally unexpected and extremely rewarding.  Both were from my Year 8 French class (aged 12/13) - I am in the middle of conducting speaking assessments - and one lad, who doesn't find French easy, managed to get a good mark, due to his hard work - and he thanked me for his good mark!  I was quick to tell hiim it was down to his hard work and effort - but it's still lovely to hear it and see the beaming face that accompanies it!  The 2nd was a girl from the group who didn't want to wait until after half-term to complete the test - so asked to come in at lunchtime to do it - which she did - and again, thanked me!

I often forget how far the words 'thank you' can go - it's certainly not something I hear a lot of at school - the students often just expect you to give up lunch hours and after school to help them - especially if they're panicking about GCSE exams looming, when they've done no work all year!

Anyway, despite a full teaching day and barely time to sip a coffee, I felt really pleased at the end of the day and can go away for the holidays knowing that I'm still doing a worthwhile job!

To all teachers out there - have a wonderful relaxing week :-)

only 4 working days to go :-)

Yes, it's nearly half-term and I can hardly wait.  Despite the amount of holidays we teachers get, I can honestly say that we live for them - if we didn't have them, there would be a huge shortage of people wanting to become teachers and there would be a lot more illness/absence amongst teachers.  The Autumn term in particular is the toughest to get through.  I'm never sure whether it's due to the end of summer, colder weather, darker days, or whether it's because is it the longest term to get through and there seems to be very little respite. 

 

Before I get people muttering to themselves that we have an easy life with all our holidays - I would refer you to www.rantingteacher.co.uk  in 'Lost Weekend' who supports my belief that most teachers give up their weekends and part of their holidays for school work - whether it's catching up on marking, preparing for the coming term, reading around the subject, or catching up on general admin.   

 

Personally, this coming half-term, although I have a lot of coursework to mark and sort through, I have interspersed my work with some 'fun' activites to look forward to - otherwise it really is just school in a more comfortable environment with no kids!  I try to resist the urge (not that it's a great one!) to go into school itself, unless I cannot do the said task at home, otherwise you feel like you have been cheated of some of the holiday.

 

Well - I have a pile of prep to get through today, so I'd better get on with it - this is my punishment for not doing any work yesterday (Saturday)!  Never mind - with only 1 week to go, I can cope - there is light at the end of the tunnel! (well, darkness, actually, as  the clocks go back, but that's another story !)

Monday meetings!

I have to ask, when are teachers supposed to find the time to actually teach, rather than waste time in meetings and with paperwork?!!  Monday night is meeting night - they are supposed to last for one hour only, but often go on for much longer - tonight it lasted 2 hours.  This means I don't get home until 6pm - which for most workers is fine - except that we then have work to do - marking/lesson preparation/ updating records/reports - and that's not including the extra work that those with responsibility points have. 

 

On top of all of this, we usually give up our lunch hours to either supervise detentions, or help students with homework issues or help prepare them for the exams.. We also give up time after school to help prepare them for exams, and many also help with after school and lunchtime clubs.

 

Those with tutor groups also have further paperwork to complete, parents to phone, students to individually chat to etc etc

 

I would love to just be allowed to teach!!

 

On that note, I'm off to sort out a Scheme of Work that needs updating!

Always a teacher

Something that really struck me today is that once you become a teacher it seems to be something you can't ever escape from.  Wherever you go and whoever you are with, you cannot put aside your 'teacher' hat and switch off completely.  Even on holiday!  A teacher friend of mine even bumped into 2 students whilst on holiday in Italy over the summer - so it's a good job she wasn't topless sunbathing at the time!

 

Despite it being Saturday today - a day I like to keep free from all things 'school' - I was on a course about becoming a good HoD (Head of Dept) - so I'm even giving up my own time to be trained.  On top of this I arranged to meet a good friend (also a teacher) for lunch afterwards - and despite not meaning to, the conversation always turns to teaching/ the kids/ stories about behaviour etc.  Even if I go out with non-teaching friends, the talk inevitably turns to school at some time or other, as they enjoy the stories - and there always seems to be a new one to add to their list for either shock purposes or  general entertainment value.

 

I also find that I cannot ignore rude children who jump queues or play their music too loud on the trains etc - I just have to say something - I'm sure it will get me into trouble one day!

 

I can only imagine it must be the same for other similar jobs, such as the police, doctors etc - as you cannot just switch off, no matter how hard you try (although I do find after a few alcoholic beverages it is easier to manage - but then it's Murphy's Law that you will then bump into a 6th former (or younger!) in your local!)  

 

I would like to add that of course I never imbide of alcoholic beverages, as I am always a total professional and would hate to upset any underage drinkers that might have escaped from my local educational establishment - heaven forbid they should spot a teacher having a social life!!

 

Wet Friday Fun

Thank goodness it's Friday again - I don't know where the week goes, but go it surely does!  As all teachers will know, there is nothing like a bit of wind and rain to really hype the kids up - especially on a Friday and especially for the last lesson of the day.  On top of that I had the joy of a mufti-day today - where the kids (sorry - 'students') have the pleasure of wearing their own choice of clothes for the day - which signals to them that the rules are going to be lapsed for the day too!  The number of students who come into the class and just sit where they want, even though you have a seating plan normally, is quite astounding.  Then you have the 'battle of the chewing gum', because clearly, having no uniform means that you can chew gum throughout the day without any problems!

You can imagine, then, what the scene was like in my classroom during period 5, with my bottom set yr8 group, who are normally pretty wired anyway!   To be very non-p.c. they are the thickest group I've ever had to teach (and that really is quite something, because I've had my fair share of dunces, I can tell you!) - mainly due to a very very very short attention span.  They shout 'don't geddit' before you have even finished your instructions - and before you ask, no, I don't risk giving them in the foreign language (mfl purists, sorry, but I know when to admit defeat!).

 

I'm still struggling with my line manager, but have managed to keep out of his way for the last 2 days, which has helped.  Having said that, I've just discovered that he will be doing my 'performance management' process this year, which means helping to set my targets and observe my lessons - which I find a daunting prospect, as he has not been teaching that long and I have way more experience than him. His teaching style is totally different to mine and he is very grammar focussed, whereas I am very communicative in my approach (i.e. I like to have lively lessons which reach all ability levels).  Ah well, I'm sure it will all be ok in the end - especially as I've just spotted a job to apply for which will be to start in January - so I may complete my escape bid yet!!

 

Well - it is now the weekend and I intend to enjoy most of it - although I will have to spend most of Sunday doing school work - but at least it's in a nice, cosy environment with no germy children coughing and spluttering all over me (how I haven't caught anything so far is a miracle!)