Staff Room!!!

I've just marked 42 GCSE projects, now gearing up for A Level

I have the grand total of 12 A2, 10AS and 22 GCSE.

At least the BTEC stuff is up to date. At this time of year I like BTEC students, they don't seem as stuck up as some of the A level students who can have rather grandiose opinions of themselves and their abilities.

I have 17 bits of AS course work to mark......

Oh joy! Just spent the day marking A level scripts. Red pen went into overdrive - typical howlers included which/witch, their/there and where/were. As for capital letters .....

those lucky people who were back at work today- hope all went well! God, isn't it hard trying to get back into it lol

I've just started my Easter break too. Though I am a bit worried about just how much work i have got to get through before the students leave (I teach FE).

Scaryteacher - thanks for the details about the MA. After reading your post, I decided to sign up for one too. I'm doing my application now and hope to start in Oct. My specialism is philosophy tho.

We have just started our 2 weeks easter holidays here, so have only 5 weeks teaching until half term. The last 2 weeks have been a real slog, though.

well i'm glad we have our own lil staffroom to come to and have a moan when we have had enough (come about week two...)

Yes, a veeeeeeeeery long term

Hi lucycat! sorry for late reply i was hoovering- yep still no marking/planning been done! Thank you, i am very proud of myself for getting through two whole terms (3 before me only managed one each!) lol we have training day tomorrow too- i'm hoping to find out if school we be closed or not for the strike- 7 weeks though, i'm hoping it is! hands up who wants a duvet day!

ha ha - the majority of the TAs in our school haven't even got a contract, but that's another story!!

I know that teachers are not allowed by law to cover a striking teacher's class, but I'm not sure about TAs. whether their contract is the same?

We have about 60% of our staff in the NUT so that should be a fun day!

Does anyone know what with the NUT strike, what happens if you are a TA in Unison but get asked to cover a striking teachers lesson (or I suppose a teacher in another union)???
Not heard anything from school yet as to what is happening

Hello crunchynutter! well done on getting through 2 terms of your NQT year!

back tomorrow - GCSE Coursework moderation. I don't work Mondays but I'm still going in for the Inset day - do you think 'anyone important' will notice me? nah thought not.

How long till Whit?

oh yeh 7 weeks

I'm glad you're not worried about the job (maernity leave/staying going!)somebody i started with is in the same position but i really want her to stay! At least you're sorted. I am generally more cheerful in summer- hope you're right! Got stress of SATS and yr 10doing early exams though and i have got really bad classes :-( they are known as bad classes but they will still be my first results and i don't expect them to be good. Ahh well, what can you do!

I do ask dumb questions but they have got used to me by now. I am covering maternity leave for another teacher so I don't know if they need me next year. I am not that bothered actually, as have other stuff I can do if this doesn't come off.

Crunchy I think the summer term is easier as the weather gets better - well it is for me anyway. Also my Yr13s go on study leave at the end of May.

has anyone else had a bad holiday? I've been ill for most of it, antibiotics, blood tests (silly woman has manages to cause me a burger (?) sized bruise on my arm) and weve been decorating so had ppl in and out the house, lots of mess etc and as a result i have done no school work and am very tired!! (gosh- its guna be a long term!)

Aha! thank god i'm not alone! Do you ever feel the need to ask questions that you know will make you sound dumb? lol! we'll get through it somehow! I hope you're enjoying your first year- bet Sixth form are quite nice- i wouldn't know though!

crunchynutter, I am also a primary trained NQT who is doing her first post in secondary. I know exactly what you mean about feeling like you are learning all over again. I teach Business Studies, mainly at A level.

Hello! i like this thread, there are friendly staff rooms out there lol!

I am an english teacher- NQT (I trained primary and got first post in secondary, really glad, not regretting it but it has been tough! feel like i'm learning all over again!)

Hi all! Just found you. Love the messageboard idea - thanks MB!

I am a music teacher currently enjoying maternity leave with my delicious little 2 month old girl.
Also have 2 big girls - 16 and 11!

Planning to go back to work at the end of July - teach only A level and feel like I have abandoned my students mid year - though really loving being off work I know I would go mad with boredom if it was for too long...

Snap Fizzbuzz. We've had such a fantastic Easter holidays: I love being at home with the children. They're 8 and 10 now, so hardly need me any more; but I love spending time together as a family.

Almost makes me want to jack in the whole work thing altogether and do Home Ed

Elkat - sorry, I've just noticed your post. I'm in Brussels so Heythrop is out for me as well, much as I would like to be taught by Mr Vardy.

I've found a completely distance learning MA in World Religions from Lampeter (Uni of Wales) that I can do over 3 years, and the cost isn't extortionate. The modules look interesting, especially the ethics, which would help with A level teaching, should I ever teach again, and there are some Judaism modules as well, which look fascinating.

...and trying not to think about Monday