Don't want to go back on Monday

[goingmadinthecountry]

This is the first time I've really felt like this. I teach Year 6 and am feeling so fed up at the work they'll be doing this term - I'm normally hugely enthusiastic at the thought of new topics. Bloody SATs.

[momtothree]

Don't go! Have another day off -

I have year 6 twins - one could breeze SATS with her eyes closed and her hand tied behind her back!!
The other - not so much -

What does this prove? Nothing - bugger all!

One works at it - because it interests them - the other needs to pull his finger out - he's not daft - but doesn't have the same interest -

I feel like the only parent who really doesn't give a stuff on the results because they are 11 and there's so much more to life.

[daisiesinthespring]

I don't either. Feel sick at the thought of disaffected students and controlled assessments. I also have to see my headteacher about the possibility of going part time in September and am dreading that in case he says no!

[CamilleDesmoulins]

I knew you would be Y6. I feel the same way for the first time in a long career.

[Minispringroll]

I've just quit Year 6 (after having taught UKS2 for all of my teaching career) and I'm moving to LKS2 for the remainder of the year (different school). I'm so glad that I am no longer part of this. It's heartbreaking and frustrating.
School is meant to be fun. How is doing test paper after test paper conducive to creating enthusiastic lifelong learners?
I went to school abroad. The first "tests" I had to do that counted for anything were my A-Level equivalents. We never actually did any revision in school for those, either. It just assessed what you had been taught. Never had to "practise" how to do a test. Never had to go and sit in the hall for a mock exam. Before that, everything was teacher assessed and I don't think I'm poorly educated because I've not had to sit test after test after test. How are you meant to actually teach and learn anything new?

[CodyKing]

That's an interesting view point - DD does written assessments after each science module - she does science twice a week - so when do they get time to teach? Ok it proves they listened - but nothing else

[Minispringroll]

I don't think a short assessment at the end of a unit is a problem. Sitting old SATs papers for two out of five Maths lessons every week is a waste of time, in my opinion. The other lessons were then used to have children go through the papers and correct mistakes. For me, that's not teaching. I find it particularly confusing, since the old papers don't match the new NC and there's curriculum content that simply hasn't been taught. All you train them to do is to do tests. Old tests.

[apple1992]

I've got 'the fear'. Don't feel prepared at all.

[Cataline]

I'm leaving!! I've got a few weeks left then I'm leaving teaching forever to start a new career. I haven't had a migraine since I got the start date for my new job either

[goingmadinthecountry]

I foolishly hoped writing moderation meetings would be later this year after the submission dates were changed for schools, but no, May 16th.

One question on a practice arithmetic paper I had was -0.1 squared. Do children really need to know how that works aged 11?

I'm just so angry for all those children who are not ready for this, who have other stuff going on in their lives, who will have forgotten all last term's revision because no-one could/would help at home or parents quite rightly felt they needed a proper break. It's really not narrowing the gap.

Roll on term 6!

[petalpower]

Our moderation can be anytime after 23rd May - I agree, why so early?
No. I don't think Year 6 pupils need to know the answer to 0.1 squared - how long are they going to spend trying to work that one out when they need to be working at top speed to get through all the arithmetic questions?
Really not looking forward to the next 4 weeks. It feels like it's going to be horrible pressure for pupils and teachers.

[phlebasconsidered]

I've got the Fear too. I week. I've just looked at my planning for this week. It's all yet more mock papers, which I will then be marking and planning for gap filling till the bloody SAT's are over. I feel like a torturer, not a teacher. We have no fun EVER. Not all year. I keep soothing them with promises of when it's all over. When it's all over i'll be able to teach again. I'll cover all the subjects. We'll be creative.

That's if I make it.

I can't do Year 6 again. And I speak as someone who did donkeys years of secondary teaching for GCSE and AS / A2. There is literally no joy at all in the new curriculum. None.

[BetweenTwoLungs]

Year 6 too and also have the fear, dreading going back and normally love the job. Just feel like it's going to be a panic until we get there as expectations are just so high!

I want to teach about interesting countries of the world, gripping history topics, great science experiments. Instead it's more endless weeks of the subjunctive form and long division.

[BetweenTwoLungs]

Also is anyone else having a little panic about cramming for the tests while at the same time ensuring you've got enough quality writing with colons and passive voice in?! I honestly don't know how I'm going to fit it all in.

[ExpandingRoundTheMiddle]

I'll write you a note OP.
And give you a very uncharacteristic big virtual hug.

[petalpower]

Yes BetweenTwoLungs - exactly that. Also, I have a mixed Year 5/6 class so even more juggling to do.

[goingmadinthecountry]

BetweenTwoLungs, I have that same dread - I had a few "fun" activities to get some great writing planned for after SATS but that's all stuffed now that our moderation meeting is on the Monday straight after the tests finish.

Petalpower, I also have a mixed 5/6 class. I just feel like there isn't a decent solution. I've rearranged my classroom for the next 4 weeks - we have no spare space at school to send Y5s off to with TA for the odd session, not even a hall, so I'm hoping for some sunny mornings for a Y5 project on scale and measurements outside...

Afternoons look like Writers' Workshop time. Yay!

[goingmadinthecountry]

Hoping you and your classes all have as good a few weeks as possible - it's reassuring to know there are lots of other people out there in the same boat.

[TitaniumSpider]

phleba the government have taken all of the joy out of education for teachers, TAs and children. I used to love my job and used to look forward to the start of a new term.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Sympathies

My dh has gone in to work in a right mood as some twatty kid (who didn't turn up to the compulsory geography field trip) has had his mum email him at 3am expecting him to meet the 18 year old at 7am this morning to 'catch him up'.

There were 10 who didn't turn up with no reason whatsoever - their mates saying 'they slept in'/'he's round his girlfriends' and other bullshit excuses.

Ffs. First day back and he already looks a bit annoyed.

[MrsGuyOfGisbo]

18 year old

[1944dadhelp]

Me too Cataline!! CAN'T wait!!!

[Cataline]

How long do you have left 1944 ?

[1944dadhelp]

I leave on the 29th! 12 school days and counting!!
How about you Cataline? What are you going do to?
Sorry goingmad I don't want to hijack your thread, do you feel any more positive now you're back at school?

[apple1992]

I've actually had a great week back (pastoral though not teacher), although absolutely exhausted this morning.