Feeling sick and no confidence.

[janji]

Have an interview on Tuesday for a mixed y3/4 class. Have Ben away from teaching for over a year and feel physically ill at the interview process and 30 min teaching segment. I used to be really upbeat and confident but due to some really nasty bullying circumstances surrounding my ex head, feel I have no clue about what and how to teach?

If any of you lovely people could give me some help I would be so utterly grateful.

I need to deliver a 30 min numeracy lesson to a higher ability maths grp of y3/4 children. Range of ability is 2b to 4c!! Numeracy objective is 'problem solving using a real life context.'

There is also a 'group exercise' for candidates!?! What is this?!

I was a deputy head for eleven years and am going for a deputy head vacancy this time.

Almost feel like not going but then I can't keep turning down interviews forever more and a previous head has given me such a glowing reference. Was the most recent head however that got rid of all previous staff and myself eventually (after me deciding my health was more important than her nasty games) and has made me feel I can no longer teach!

Please help oh luvly mnetters?!

[Chottie]

I can't give you any interview advice, but I just wanted to wish you luck for your interview, head up, deep breath, you can do it :)

[cardibach]

As a secondary teacher of not maths I can't help with the lesson. I just wanted to say i hear you about the bullying games of some heads. I am experiencing this at the moment. Please do not let it destroy your confidence. You did the job well before her (or you wouldn't have got to be Deputy) and you can do it again.

[partystress]

Wanted to echo the previous comments - you have clearly done really well before now and you have taken time to get yourself back together after a horrible experience. Schools need leaders who know what it is like to be bullied and who are determined not to repeat that process.

Thinking about your lesson, the focus at the mo seems to be all about visible progress. 2b doesn't sound like high ability to me, so guess you need something pretty flexible. My first thought was something around data handling. Ice cream day coming up - how could we work out how many tubs of each flavour to buy? Lower levels could work on tally charts, middle on bar charts, highers could be stretched to think about scaling up quantities - could include some conversion from ml to l.

Good luck whatever you end up doing - I'm sure inspiration will strike soon.

[donnasummer]

sorry NQT here, can't help but just wanted to wish you the very best of luck.

[missmapp]

If you google mathematical challenges for the more able, a framework document comes up which is full of really good ideas for investigations, they can usually be adapted for higher/lower levels, and should make a good 20 min activity.

The group activity may be to do with data, or action plans- a colleague recently went for a deputy interview and had to look at a set of data linked to yr4 results and come up with an action plan to improve results.

I know what it is like to lose confidence, but read through your reference and remember , that was written about you, so you can do it !!

Good luck

[janji]

Thank you all so much; you're support is more than I've had in over a year! I just go to pieces at the thought of getting through an interview and teaching etc. I get so upset if I don't get a job and feel my ex head was right (despite close friends & previous bosses telling me otherwise). It's all down to confidence I know and believing I'm ok no matter if I succeed or fail.

[missmapp]

It is not about succeed or fail, it is is whether you will fit into that school. You will be brilliant, if the school don't see that, then you won't shine there, so it is not the job for you.

[GW297]

Janji, I sympathise. I am in a similar position, due to similar circumstances sadly. Please don't avoid this interview - it'll just make the next one twice as hard. Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

[janji]

It's next week; I will be sure to let you know. You're right in that its important that the school fits my abilities as much as I fit theirs. I got outstanding feedback from my NPQH panel a year ago and know I can do it; I've interviewed teaching staff myself. Can't believe after 18 yrs of nothing but praise that one individual has got away with making me feel so insecure. Have had 3 previous interviews and basically been met with suspicion r.e seemingly over qualified and a couple said that my teaching wasn't up to scratch (ofsted & perf management have always given me great feedback in the past), but my nerves make me a complete wreck!