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Secondary education

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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:
janeite · 27/01/2008 19:05

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

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

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).

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

Blandmum · 27/01/2008 19:17

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

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 19:22

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

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.

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?

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.

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

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 19:45

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 19:49

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 19:50

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 19:53

Thanks....wil go and look!

Blandmum · 27/01/2008 19:55

admin, general settings guests must log in

kickassangel · 27/01/2008 19:59

just found this thread.

sec english on 87% timetable (still work over 35 hours each week!) mainly english, some media, lit co-ord & run ks3eng.
was ft until this year, but dd started school & i couldn't cope with no contact with teacher.
we had an inspection pre xmas of the faculty, which has sparked a full ofsted due at any moment. bleugh.

fizzbuzz · 27/01/2008 19:59

So ladies, what delights await you tomorrow?

Awful Y8 p2 {straight from PE, so usually giddy ), rest ok, especially lesson being done by student teacher!!!!

chocolateshoes · 27/01/2008 20:03

Am getting the hang of this now! Cheers! Good luck with the Osted....is it a 'reduced tarif'?

Blandmum · 27/01/2008 20:03

sixth form
year 10
sixth form
lunch
free
staff meeting

chocolateshoes · 27/01/2008 20:06

I don't work Mondays! (runs and hides....)

roisin · 27/01/2008 20:23

Tomorrow? No idea! Oh the joys of being a CS
Stacks of cover tomorrow as loads of staff out on 3 different trips (!) including 2 of the 4 CS. But they've arranged supply to cover to keep us two free to sort out any illness cover between us if necessary.

I usually end up with at least three 1-hr lessons most days anyway!
But which three affects how I feel by the end of the day

fizzbuzz · 27/01/2008 20:37

I think you cover people should be paid a fortune..no free periods...wall to wall kids all day....

roisin · 27/01/2008 20:42

Nah, in our school we do max 15 (hourly) lessons a week, plus form periods.

We have other duties plus various admin responsibilities that take up the remaining time.

I wouldn't do it if we had to do 25 lessons, it would kill me.

This year I do max 12 hrs cover, and do 3 yrs literacy boosters with small groups of yr7s, which I love.