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Original poster

Staff Room!!!

465 replies

ScienceTeacher · 27/01/2008 14:42

It was suggested on another thread that we should have a staff room, so I thought I'd bite the bullet and start one.

Shall we introduce ourselves?

I teach Science (Physics A-level and GCSE Chemistry plus the usual general science in KS3, and also KS3 Geography). I work in a small girls' independent school. I started this job in September having spent two years in contract and supply. This was a getting back to teaching after an 8-year maternity leave.

I am a mum to five children from 16 (gcse!) TO 5.

OP posts:
Blandmum · 27/01/2008 19:50

I have set up mine so that the students have to 'apply' to join, you can only get on my board if you are a regestered user....stops people dropping in, causing hell by trolling and then buggereing off again

It is all in the admin part of the baord

chocolateshoes · 27/01/2008 19:49

What do you mean keep it private MB? Am grateful for any top tips you may have! Thought I'd trial it with my AS group 1st as they are certainly alot more trustworthy! But ideally would like it for GCSE.

Blandmum · 27/01/2008 19:45

Good to 'play' with it first, to make sure you are confident in using it.

Rough out how you want to organise it before you start, easier to get it right fisrt time than change it around. I keep my board private so it they mess around, I can ban them

chocolateshoes · 27/01/2008 19:42

oooh I'm all motivated now! I've just set my board up (but will obviously check with school 1st before going any further) adn e-mailed ICT co-ordinator.

Thanks again MB!

Blandmum · 27/01/2008 19:36

I prefer it to msn as there is a thread left at the end that other kids can access. Plus it leaves a visible 'trail' so no-one could accuse you falsly of anything untoward

janeite · 27/01/2008 19:30

Thanks MB - sounds more technical than MSN then; I will talk to the ICT peeps.

Hope it goes well tomorrow.

alfiesbabe · 27/01/2008 19:28

roisin - 60 on School Action. 4 Statements (they're getting very rare now in my authority) and 22 on School Action Plus (severe enough to get additional funding). Definitely sounds like I'm doing too much teaching does it?

chocolateshoes · 27/01/2008 19:28

Its brilliant MB - well done! I'm off to get a board & will talk to our dept ICT co-ordinator about it. Thanks for all the info.

Blandmum · 27/01/2008 19:22

the kids love it, and it is excellent for encouraging the really quiet ones to ask questions. Cos they can have a user name, that you know but not the rest of the class

Lucycat · 27/01/2008 19:21

I love my wiki mb - it's great! I put all my lesson notes on it so if any of the little darlings miss a lesson then they can catch up easily - and with AS resits at the moment they are all over the place!

Blandmum · 27/01/2008 19:17

get school approval before yuo do! and make sure you keep a close eye on what they post!

Blandmum · 27/01/2008 19:17

Go to www.proboards.com, you can get a message board for free.

If you want a wiki space, go to www.wikispaces.com, they will give you one for free, and will even take of the ads if you state it is for educational use.

Wikispace would be good for english, or a blog

roisin · 27/01/2008 19:16

Alfiesmum - how many students on SEN register/statemented?

At my boys' primary they have 470 children (3-11) and have a non-teaching SENCO. (Obviously she does small groups and one-to-one work, but no classroom responsibility).

chocolateshoes · 27/01/2008 19:08

That sounds a great idea MB. How do you set up a messsage board? Is it a blog? I'd like to copy your idea for my GCSE class

janeite · 27/01/2008 19:05

Cool! You mean like MSN, or more complicated than that?

Blandmum · 27/01/2008 19:01

I have an message board for my sixth formers.

they post questions, help each other and I step in if they get stuck

Great for formative assessment!

janeite · 27/01/2008 19:00

Online revision - wow - how does that work then MB if you don't mind me asking?

chocolateshoes · 27/01/2008 18:52

Whats a good idea!

I teach MFL part-time in a large comp. MB good luck with Osted - they came to us last week.

Blandmum · 27/01/2008 18:42

I'm about to do an hours online revision with the sixth form....they have an exam on Monday

Nymphadora · 27/01/2008 18:38

Hercules-what age group are you?, what sort of school is it?

alfiesbabe · 27/01/2008 18:15

roisin and fizzbuzz that's really interesting. Get the feeling I'm probably do way more teaching than i should be. 25 TAs in your school roisin - I want to work there! My school is a small secondary (700 on roll). I do all the SEN teaching plus a day a week normal curriculum teaching. Works out about 55% teaching over the week, which I tend to think is on the high side, bearing in mind all the admin, chairing meetings, funding applications etc etc . I feel a meeting with SMT coming on...

hercules1 · 27/01/2008 18:12

I am in an sen school too.

Nymphadora · 27/01/2008 18:12

I'm just going to lurk here cos I can't see there being a staff room for me as AFAIK there is only Christie in SN school!

I am STA (doing HLTA-Hi Roisin!) in Sixth form of SN school. Hoping to get a job in secondary in September though.

cat64 · 27/01/2008 17:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

CaptainCod · 27/01/2008 17:33

ah now sister did it and just said no to who she wanted to
said there was no pile to worry about as no one discussed ti
i.e the schools rang themsleves so didnt tlak abotu you together.

haev ,ade apporaches t a couple fo local shcools that i like

anythign in N wilts is a no go

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