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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Is it always going to take over my whole life?

19 replies

happykatie · 03/02/2008 20:21

Have only been teaching for two years but would like some reassurance that it won't be as bad as this for ever. Once again it's Sunday night, I haven't finished my marking or preparation and I can't help but wish I did some nine to five job where I can come home and forget about work. Didn't get to bed before midnight at all last week and now it's going to start all over

OP posts:

spudmasher · 03/02/2008 20:25

I feel the same at the moment and I've been doing it for 15 years!
It does get easier. I'm in primary and we can go round, sit with the children and mark as they work. I also find that teachers chat a lot. I just grab my coffee and my sandwich and go back to my room and do a lot then. But I really do resent the amount of time I spend on the work at home. A coule of hours marking yesterday and a couple of hours planning today. I really hate doing it whilst the dds are around.

Heated · 03/02/2008 20:25

You are going through the 2 toughest years of your professional career but I promise you it gets easier.

What's your subject?

Mine's English so I understand completely what you mean about the marking and prep!

Original poster

happykatie · 03/02/2008 20:30

I teach history and have every year group from 7 through to 13 so preparation is a real issue and I'm only ever one step ahead of my sixth formers as I don't teach them anything I did at University. I'm just so worried the whole time that I'm not doing it well enough and my subject knowledge isn't good enough.

OP posts:

nickytwotimes · 03/02/2008 20:31

Katie, my dh is a teacher and the first few years were awful. However, he now has far less prep to do as he can pull lesson plans out his head at a moments notice.
It's important to mark out some time when you will NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES do any teaching related work. For him, it's the weekends. It may mean working to ridiculous hours during the week , but it is well worth the reward.

btw, the only jobs you work 9-5 nowadays and then forget about it pay minimum wage.

Good luck. It does get easier.

Lucycat · 03/02/2008 20:42

Does your department not have any resources / schemes of work that you can just use for your lower year groups? so you can focus on the ones that need more work i.e A level?

What si your school marking policy? We comment only mark and then it's a target and strength once a half term.

Original poster

happykatie · 03/02/2008 20:51

To be honest, there aren't really any schemes of work. My HoD had a break down halfway through my NQT year and left. My new HoD and I are writing them at the moment. I just wish I could grow an extra two hours in each day! I feel like I never get to see dp other than for ten mins over the dinner table and I've got washing from 2 weeks ago sitting on the sofa waiting to be folded (I don't even bother with ironing anymore)

OP posts:

Heated · 03/02/2008 20:55

Are there any history teaching websites with SOWs on it that stop you having to reinvent the wheel?

Once you have the resources in place it helps no end. You always have to spend loads of time on ALevel. I told my year 13 I was about a lesson ahead of them!

What topics in particular are your focus?

Btw, I send my ironing out!

Lucycat · 03/02/2008 20:58

oh you poor sod

Do you have any contacts in other schools who could forward some ideas / schemes to you to look through (ie. copy!)

Something has to give.......is there anyone else in your department that can help too so you just concentrate on one year group and write the scheme of work as you teach it iiswim.

Heated · 03/02/2008 21:01

I'm going keep looking:

www.ncaction.org.uk/subjects/history/index.htm

Lucycat · 03/02/2008 21:01

any of these any good to you?

Heated · 03/02/2008 21:02

www.teachingideas.co.uk/history/contents.htm

Lucycat · 03/02/2008 21:02

or go direct to the Sow here

Heated · 03/02/2008 21:04

www.historylearningsite.co.uk/

Original poster

happykatie · 03/02/2008 21:05

Germany '18-39 for As, Russia 1855-96 for A2 (OCR)As I'm at a small girls school the classes are quite intense (5 in the UVI, 10 in the LVI) I hate it when they sit there and look bored it really dents my confidence - I suppose it's unrealistic to expect them to love it all of the time like I do i just need to get better organised, be less proud about asking the other two history teachers for resources and spend less time on mn! My new resolve this evening is to ditch non-subject related reading and stick to at least half an hour on Russia & Germ each night!

Thanks for everyone's replies, this was my first post on mn (i've been lurking for 18 months) I was really worried no one would answer!

OP posts:

Heated · 03/02/2008 21:05

www.historyonthenet.com/

Original poster

happykatie · 03/02/2008 21:07

Lucycat, that sow site was great, thanks!

OP posts:

Heated · 03/02/2008 21:07

www.historygcse.org/

Lucycat · 03/02/2008 21:09

you're welcome!

now go and get yourself a glass of wine woman - you deserve it.

btw you now know where we are if you need any more help, welcome to mn officially!

Heated · 03/02/2008 21:10

www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/TVS.htm

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