TTC and a teacher?! Join me!

Good luck with the job application. My DP wants to move house (somewhere warm abroad) and both of us get new jobs but I keep saying I don't want to go anywhere as I would lose my maternity entitlement should I ever manage to get pregnant!!

Hello hello!
Taking a break from job application. Trying to put a positive spin on being a TA wanting to return to teaching. School I'm applying for is in SM, so no pressure! They were brutally honest when i visited that the staff (most of whom have left) were not up to the job! So they are looking for several strong teachers from April & September. My neighbour is a parent governor, so I have a bit more info, otherwise I wouldn't have touched it with a barge pole.
Good luck to others applying for jobs. It's an odd process at the best of times.
Went for acupuncture session yesterday. No pain, but have sore spots where the needles were. Will mention that when I go back next week. Still no af, but didn't think it would come that quickly after! thatsso - my cycles have always been long - about 35 days before taking the pill - but now they're mad! I've had 2 cycles of 43 days and this 65+ one. So in 6 months of trying, I've only have 3 cycles. Hence the acupuncture. She did say that the first session could cause me to ov, if that's what's delaying my cycle, so could get pg now. But, if I've already ov and am stuck in luteal phase, then it should regulate the progesterone and start af. I did have a smiley OPK this cycle, on day 21, but who knows how accurate they are?! That would mean a 44 day luteal phase!!

h313 - it really irritates me maybe irrationally so when senior members of staff make jokes about people being/not being pregnant. It's absolutely none of their business and they shouldn't make comments about it. I known people in SLT who've made comments like that before to people who've had miscarriages and they've been so upset but not felt they could say anything. Grrrrr. Grumble grumble. I did the same as you though with blood tests. Again, to my mind my medical details are none of their business (unless it prevents me from doing my job). I wouldn't worry in the slightest about not telling them. Hope it all works out for you h313 and they come back with positive results.

I'm in the process of applying too 'Thatsso'. I've got an app going in for a place I'd really like to work but is a half hour commute, but have just heard on the grapevine that another more local job I'd like might be coming up, so not sure what to do. I'm not sure closing dates will overlap either. But I'm still going to go for the original one as a)I might not get it and b)I might not like it, so we'll see. I know what you mean about not being excited about 'outstanding' schools Thatso- they're bloody hard work, but in a different way to other schools. However, I'd still take an 'Outstanding' over a 'satisfactory' personally, although I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. I wouldn't worry about the head though - from my experience they are often more nervous about creating a good impression than the candidates.

Welcome h313n. Hope the tests work out well. We've got two ladies pregnant at my school. Well, let's hope it's contagious.

Haven't got any "symptoms" (unless getting a cold is one...which I doubt), and too busy at school to worry too much about it for most of the day.

Went to look at the school I might apply at, but not too sure. Didn't feel amazing, but I'm terrible on such school visits. I don't wanna ask a million questions and the head seemed to really rush us through the place. Don't think she fell in love with me, either. Unfortunately, the label "outstanding" doesn't impress me (I've worked at an outstanding school for years and know how much hard work it is...and how much show) and I'm not desperate or inexperienced enough to pretend to be all bouncy and excited. I know that it's a nice enough school, because I live in the area...

I'm a teacher! I've been ttc #1 for over a year and just been having the blood tests etc. which were impossible to arrange outside school time so I told school I needed blood tests but not what they were for. Having just had another teacher announce her pregnancy the deputy jokingly said she hoped I wasn't pregnant as well....As I have a short luteal phase I had to go back for a day 28 as well. I just told school they hadn't found what they were looking for so had to test again - perfectly honest really!!

BeQuicksie I think changing to EY would be my absolute nightmare. I cannot cope with teaching little ones. Had YR/1 during training and absolutely hated it, because I'd rather just see them play...I switched to KS2/3/4 during training and then taught at a middle school for years to avoid just that. Only just ventured into a primary school...and so far haven't stepped on any of the little people.

ILove I've changed to Centrum, hoping they will agree better with me. Had taken Pregnacare only once every few days, but still felt dizzy. Wow, 63 days. That's a really long time. Are yours always that long? I start to stress when I've got a long cycle...mine are 26-33 days. By the time I get to day 33, I've started to get really annoyed, but usually that's because I was stressed during normal ovulation time,...so I'm generally already annoyed anyway.

Hello all! Can't sleep, so am up earlier than on a work day on the first day of half term!
Was interested to read that you've also had dizziness on pregnacare, thatssofunny. I started a thread about it and found others with similar side effects. Have been off them for over a week now and feeling much less weird.
Going to start acupuncture this week & applying for new job! Still no af on cd 63, but the acupuncture should help shorten my cycles. I hope!
Have a good week, ladies. Love to hear your news.

Thats you don't have to be crazy to work here, but if you aren't, you will be soon!
I taught year 6 for years and loved it... Especially maths. I found maths tricky at school and I love unlocking problems with them. I teach early years now and I love that too but it is so different, it is a completely new job! If anyone told me they were fed up of teaching, I would definitely recommend they do a drastic change of key stage as it feels like a new career!
I have had gnawing hunger pains this week too, and felt quite sick if I didn't have my breakfast on time...I was so sure something had changed, especially with the sore bbs! Maybe the acupuncture had made a difference... Crikey, how will I symptom spot if every month is like this one?!

BeQuicksie Haha, my class can do fractions. We've done flippin' fractions for weeks. Even my SEN kid can now change them to decimals and percentages, esp. when I allow him to colour them in. If they claim next year that they can't, the TA will slap them round their heads (she's with us and year group above). Mine usually go "Oohhh...yeah...I remember that...How did that work?" when we revise things we've done earlier in the year. It's my top group keeping me sane...we enjoy doing Level 6 stuff and I feel like a kid in a candy store each time. I AM a crazy person. We'll see how they fare when we revise calculation methods next week.

My body is driving me nuts. I'm soooo hungry all the time at the moment and there's no reason for it. Feel like I'm getting a cold, but have dodged them all year so far. (If I lose my appetite, it's a sign that I'm really, really ill. Never constantly felt hungry, though. It's not as if I haven't eaten.) HAHA...DP has the dinner ready! I'm quite sure I'm not really a lunatic. At least I hope I'm not. They allow me to teach little kids.

Thats I was round at a teacher friend's house last night and we were talking about the amount of time we have spent teaching, making resources, planning...only for the kids to swear they have never seen it before. Our particular fave is FRACTIONS. Every year group claim to never have done it! What, you mean you don't remember cutting up all that pizza/cake/fruit that I spent a fortune on? Oh, that, was that fractions? Grrrrrr!

I think I might just threaten to chop them in to fractions next time!

Spotting seems to have gone away temporarily...talk about your body being out to get you sectioned!

BeQuicksie Sorry to hear that AF is on its way. It's always so annoying when that happens and it seems to make the next weeks go so slowly. Well, chance for a . I get weird symptoms all the time and then af appears...I think my body is just trying to pee me off big time, or it invents symptoms because I'd like for it to happen so much. (God, makes me sound like a crazy person.)

It breaks my heart when I hear that my old class are such trouble this year. Went back to visit them a while back and they complained that their new teacher was too strict. The had told me last year that I was too strict, but apparently I was: "at least funny, Miss. Lessons now are so boring." Aehm, yeah, but I'm quite a bit younger than their current teacher and have a completely different teaching style. (Their current teacher is amazing! I hope they come to appreciate her and she doesn't give up on them.) I'd have gladly kept them for another year, and would quite happily swap them for my current ones, though. Since I'm not at the school anymore, I don't have to listen to all the stuff they apparently can't do despite having been taught it last year.

With my class this year, their previous teacher and I agree that they are annoying. I also know that she's taught them stuff that they refuse to know now. My usual comment is "I know you have done this last year. I've spoken to Miss...about this. She has taught you this, so stop pretending that you've never heard of it before!"

Hi All,
I think Aunt Flo is on her way....feel fat, fed up and have got heavier spotting, like I get before af. Bugger! I can't believe my body would be so evil and pretend to be pg! My bbs still hurt, never had this before, hopefully it means my hormones are doing a proper job.

Thats I had a class just like that last year as well! I loved them, but by heck they were hard work. Their current teacher is seriously considering a career change....does anyone else feel immediately defensive when someone slags off your class from last year?! When I hear about how they can't do this or that, I feel like pulling out evidence that I taught them properly last year and that they have got redeeming features!

Amelie I started charting this month too! My temperatures were always below 36 celsius for the first half of my cycle - my gp was worried it might mean hypothyroid...but it turns out that is normal for me. Might be worth getting it checked out if it continues, but it can be effectively treated so don't worry about it (or google it, deadly)
Also, you will get lower temperatures if you take your temp orally (I do) and if you mouth breathe during the night! Also if you take it at different times you will get a variation. On my chart on FF you can see where the weekends are without looking at the dates! It has taken me a month to start seeing a nice smooth line on the chart, without crazy rocky mountain peaks, but you will see a pattern forming even if it does look wacky day to day.

No changes yet! Still waiting for AF but my imaginary symptoms have vanished so am assuming it was just a virus after all.

I've started charting my temp just out of interest - and it seems I have a weirdly low temp . Anyone else experienced this? It's quite odd!

Any news BeQuicksie?

Half term is over,...and I've got to go to school tomorrow. I don't want to. Funny that, I used to love going to school...and couldn't wait to go back after the holidays. I really need a nice class next year; it's no fun this way. I'm good at running my class like a bootcamp when I have to, but I don't like it. (Might be the reason why this is my third "challenging" class in a row. Loved my last one, though. They were hard work, but I really liked them. Their current teacher can't stand them. )

Preparing lessons and planning everything, but just can't seem to focus on anything. Got a fixture next week as well,...Need to concentrate. Really.

BeQuicksie I wish I could join you. Sounds good so far. I'm only 2 dpo. Waiting game.

Amelie Any changes, yet? I had dizziness and all that last term, but that was down to the Pregnacare vitamins I was taking. Thought I had a virus, which was going round school at the time.

Hi Everyone, Happy Half Term!

I have been mad busy this week (I am sure you all have been) trying to get everything done before the holiday, and have still managed to bring home many bags of assorted papers which I wish someone would set fire to. eventually I get fed up of carrying them around and start a new, empty bag....there are hundreds of them lurking in my spare room. God only knows what horrors they contain.

Well this week I have had sore boobs, pink spotting on Wednesday and nausea when not sdtuffing my face...good right?! I am 11 dpo and to scared to test. Is anyone else coming up for testing time who wants to do a double dip?!

Thanks Amelie, hope you end up with BFP very soon.

My half term starts today too bearface yippee!!. ERTD turned up yesterday 5 days early so definitely having a glass or 3 of bubbles to celebrate valentines night with DP.

Happy half term people x

Ooo - sounds promising Amelie!

My half term has started today - wooo hooooo! and Fridays don't count for the rest of you who have to work tomorrow

Hello all - not posted in ages but have been keeping up to date and lurking!

marshmallow that's fab news. Laura rubbish about AF, fingers x for next cycle.

My period has gone seriously AWOL and have been having pg symptoms - nausea, tiredness, peeing all the bloody time, dizziness and headaches... But POAS twice 5 days apart and both BFN.

Hoping AF still on its way back after mc but waiting around is annoying! Plus I appear to be tormenting myself with fake symptoms

Had a shocking day at school today (training day) so am in bed with a film, hot water bottle, sleepy cat and some chocolate. Can't shake the grumpiness though and am annoyed with myself!

Bring on half term .... just saying!

ILoveMyCats - sorry that it came back BFN. But I'm on the Just Shagging fred and everyone there is lovely , so do come on over. I'm mainly on there, but I do hop about trying to get a range of ideas and to 'meet' different peeps.

I think my ERTD is round the corner. Due tomorrow or Friday and I can feel some twinges beginning. We did it at the right times too. It's soooooo frustrating. Why won't it happen? Sigh. . . Nearly half term for me though, so I'm hanging on for dear life!

How's eveyone else?

thatssofunny, I agree with your feelings about not wanting to arrive at a job heavily pg, but IMHO, I think you should still apply and go for the interview. If you're offered the post, you could ask for a day to think about it to give you another day to test. If you are pg, then you can be honest and turn it down and say why. If you're not, then you know you'll be a month less pg in Sept! I have no direct experience of this, but common sense suggests that schools must encounter this as the recruitment process is so far ahead. Would you consider taking a couple of months off ttc if you get the job so that you wouldn't be pg in the first term, say? If you don't feel this is an option, then just keep ttc. You'll be in your new position for long enough to give them notice to get cover.

Thanks for your thoughts on SM and restorative justice. I'm not sure it's being used very effectively at my school. Also there are children for whom it would not work. SM does concern me, but I've had a look at their Ofsted stuff and it's to do with pupil progress rather than behaviour, which I can cope with!

Thanks for your reply, bearface. My dad has his moments!

Blood test came back bfn. After a bit of googling I've found that the pregnacare vitamins I've been taking could have been responsible for the dizziness & delaying my cycle! I've stopped taking them today and do feel a lot better in myself. How bizarre! After a heart to heart with DH, we've decided to stop using OPKs etc until the summer and adopt the just shagging approach while my cycles settle. Once I get af I'll get some acupunture booked in, but my focus will be regulating my cycles with the view to starting charting etc in the summer holidays. May join the just shagging thread....but will keep posting here, my spiritual home!

Sorry to hear that it didn't work this time round, Laura.

ILoveMyCats my previous school used restorative justice, although I didn't feel it to be appropriate in all cases. (We had one where a student accused a teacher and that teacher was put through the restorative justice routine, basically implying that he had been in the wrong and needed to apologize. Most staff and union did not agree with that. He was fine, parents needed to sort out their sprog, really.) Moving to a school in SM is generally a tricky situation. I moved in the summer, knowing I was walking straight into an inspection and a rather tense school environment. It worked out ok, though.
I can understand the wish to work closer to home, which is the main reason for me wanting to apply at the moment. However, interview date would be 4th March,...and the earliest I can test is 1st March, so it would be really, really early days. I'd hate to start at a school and then leave for mat leave a few weeks into the academic year. At the same time, I'd hate to pass up this opportunity and then not be pregnant for another year. Does anyone have any experience with going into a new position that heavily pregnant? In most other workplaces, you don't apply and interview so many months ahead of the start date...

I think I'd like your wise old dad ILoveMyCats. You're right that I shouldn't worry too much about it and I'm going to push it to the back of my mind. Weirdly though I'm in the 2ww and I've got about 5 days to go but I don't feel the overwhelming urge to POAS that I normally get, so I'm thinking that maybe this is because I really want that job!?

Your job prospects do sound promising though ILoveMy! Good luck with it!

Never used restorative justice, so no, sorry. Sounds interesting though - do you think it would work?

P.S. very happy for you marshmallow!

bearface I have always hated how far in advance you have to commit to a job, and even moreso now. My wise old dad always says the time to panic is when they offer you the job! Until that point, try not to think about it. Easy to say, I know. If my blood test is bfn I'm going to apply for a job next week.. I've spoken to the head before about other vacancies and she's contacted me a couple of times for short term things (never met her as I'm not going to leave a perm job, albeit as a TA, for 4 weeks work). School is in special measures, but is close to home & my lovely neighbour is a parent there & governor & says the head is great (new as dead wood has been cut out!).
My other ttc while having a life dilemma is clothes shopping......any thoughts?? I don't think this is my month, just a weird cycle. Results tomorrow & then clothes shopping!!

Had training on restorative justice today. Anyone else use it?