Twinkl KS1 Facebook group

[Feenie]

Joined it recently, but might have to leave - so depressed at the level of incompetence! This weekend I've seen threads from a teacher of 30+ years who says that phonics is to blame for all her non-readers in Y2, a teacher who wants to know how to collect evidence in Y2 for explaining writers' use of figurative language (don't bother - you're reading the Y6 interim framework, love ) and a teacher who wants advice on dealing with 'figgity' children. And loads if threads asking to be spoonfed to plan EVERYTHING down to the last detail. Or threads that say 'do we have to teach such and such? Where can I find out? Thanks in advance.' READ THE BLOODY CURRICULUM!

And breathe.

I can imagine. I promised myself over the summer I wasn't going to post on phonics/reading threads anymore.

It hasn't gone well tbh.

Me too, llsalund! But probably not as an NQT.

Mrz, that thread NEEDS you!

Whoever is posting is doing a sterling job.

Generally there seem to be lots of hysterical PAs from teachers who are convinced phonics doesn't work when they have no.possible way of knowing because they are using ridiculously convoluted mixed methods.

I think I know who is posting

There's a post on there I saw this morning, in which the teacher has shown a photo of what she's got her TAs for Christmas. It's actual Facebook glittery shite wine bottles. For the answer to the question "Who buys this stuff?" look no further.

There was a post on there this week where someone added a photo of the personalised bookmarks she'd made -showing the namesof her whole class! I wonder if her head teacher knows??

There was also a lady on there who used to make lots of very colourful worksheets that she'd print out daily for her class-I was stunned by how much colour ink they were allowed to use waste!

Ok I have a question. I often see posts saying something like "my topic is xxxxxxx does anyone have any ideas?" Are people actually coming up with topic titles before content, or is someone in an office dictating topics which the teachers have to go with? I have always decided my own topics. But I'm wondering if this is the case everywhere?

I came across a post elsewhere where lots of teachers responded saying they'd never been allowed to choose their own topics. IME though, when that's the case there's usually a medium term plan too so I'm not sure that loads of new ideas are necessary or will even fit in.

TBH, I'm Ok with people asking for new ideas or links. I've definitely been in that position where I've been given an overarching topic title and a curriculum area/set of objectives and drawn a complete black when trying to fit them together.

It took me a while to click! Initially I was wondering who on earth came up with topic titles before the content! But I suppose the answer is that someone did if these poor teachers have no idea how to run with them.

I'm fairly certain we used to get the topic title for the half term (usually linked to literacy), the sub topic (usually 2-3 week blocks linked to a specific text) and then the specific science, history and geog objectives we had to cover over that half term.

Not bad if there are obvious links, but nightmare with a couple of topics where you got what was left of the science objectives. You'd end up with a 2 week science block attempting to make the most tenuous link possible.

Don't they realise they don't have to make everything fit? Some things just need to be discretely taught

Exactly, mrz. It wouldn't have been so bad if they'd have allowed us to teach the science separately and then link the bits that did work. Which is mostly what I sort of ended up doing with that topic in the end.

We were always told not to bother making tenuous links in uni.

In my first teaching post we had whole school topics from nursery to Y6 a nightmare for teachers

I can't think of anything worse. At least 'Nursery Rhymes' is vaguely age appropriate for yr1/2 even if it is a bit dull and done to death.

No think of topics such as "The Romans" combined with "Italy" for nursery!

Twinkl actually produces lists of stuff like this. I downloaded a list of year one must haves when I changed year groups to check I hadn't missed anything! Are these people not even looking at the name of the group they joined?!

The poster asking if she should put an X or a smiley face at the end of her Christmas cards to her class has to be taking the piss - surely.

Although the dozen or so answers are taking it seriously...

This thread has taken on a life of its own. I am completely superfluous!

I love it - carry on guys!