The Crepey Buds Of May

[GiddyGiddyGoat]

Err, how did that happen with no one noticing!
It's because we're all on the dark and stormy, sloe gin and prosecco innit.

Sorry for the not v inspired title but I panicked.

BLOODY SHITTING CHRIST.

For weeks, it has been uncertain whether all my adult ed courses will be going ahead, and thus whether I will be teaching one, two or four classes a week. And thus what else I can fit in during the week. With other people relying on me. For weeks I have been emailing to try and find out the answer. Enrolment numbers were low on Friday, so I was assuming they wouldn't be going ahead.

But no. Both classes for tomorrow are going ahead. But one is at a different level than I had planned for, different assessment, different bloody everything. I have ONE EVENING to replan the whole term. And I don't know what I'm doing. FFS.

I want to cry.

Oh hell. Right. Do you have to plan entire term or can you do outline with first two planned?

Oh dear Herbs!

What MI said. Tell them that is what you are doing. I bet they will be fine with that.

I can wing it for a bit, planning each lesson as I go, and creating the scheme of work in retrospect. As long as I do it before Ofsted come in! May have to sack off teenagers teaching job though, to fit everything in.

I was one step ahead for my entire teaching term...

Honey, I'm home. For two (2, ii) whole nights.

I have to do shizzle like define the objectives, devise the assessment methods, and all that, so do need some kind of structure. Cocks.

I suspect doing the outline and structure first is the right way to go about it in any case: focus on that and drop in the lessons? Also can you make the first one very focused on them, getting to know them, activities etc? What I want to get out of this and why? Could they interview each other? Etc...

God Herbs - go with what you've got. I can't believe how bad the management is to dump that on you at the laat minute.

Verily, MI. They're going to get two inductions, which I can stretch out to an hour, a 'getting to know you' exercise, practising their speaking, listening, reading and writing, and a bit of free writing about what they want to get out of the course. I'll introduce them to the concept of ILPs, etc. Perhaps shoehorn in something about learning styles, if there's time.

Boom.

'Management' is so unbelievably shit. Makes me just want to dump it and walk away, but this would not be a wise career move.

Herbs, what a shambles. Trust me, this sort of last-minute decision-making isn't confined to education, and it induces absolute rage in a forward-planner like me. I've lost count of the times when I've been twiddling my thumbs with time to spare, but unable to get on with stuff because the powers that be won't get around to discussing anything important until the eleventh hour. If not the twelfth.

Good news today, and some less good.....

Good - payrise!
Good - DS's iGCSE "went well"
Less good - school have told DS they can't offer his A level choices. His two absolute favourite subjects are the ones that clash, and he's not prepared to compromise on these (to be honest, I agree with him). Soooo....it looks like he will have to consider the local sixth form college after all. It is a very good college, with more stretching entry requirements and an excellent reputation, but we were all expecting him to stay at school. And if he doesn't get the GCSE grades they will bounce him down to BTECs. Hmmm...

I'm also supposed to be applying for a job, deadline Thursday, and having an interview for another job, Thursday afternoon. Sixth form college has asked me to do more stuff. And I've got loads of kiddy/mummy stuff to remember.

Turns out a portfolio career is a massive pain in the backside.

I have toyed with a bit of work...

Poor old sis managing just about to keep the show on the roads

It is, Herbs, indeed.

MI, hope you can enjoy a peaceful evening on your own sofa tonight.

Oh CV, that's pants of the school But maybe the sixth form college will be the right thing for him. What is he wanting to do?

Herbs, at least there's no dearth of work/possibilities

Here DS is focusing on the subjects he has exams for this year (which is good) but there is still homework for the other subjects... Meanwhile DD is very stressed out about her forthcoming exams which is exactly what we had expected, but still...

CV, what bad luck for ds. Can he keep his options open till results day? Now seems like an awful time to be telling exam-befuddled teens that they have to make big decisions about next year.

dd started hers today - so early and she knows she hasn't had enough time. Isn't this time of year a joy?

Herbs...yes, you said it. Portfolio work is more than a bit rubbish. But your cussing is making me snigger... and I suspect all teachers are only a step or two ahead of their students in reality..... I'm so sorry about your DDad etc although the news of your DN is heartwarming.

MI do recharge your batteries...get sleep and do stuff that makes you happy, if that's at all possible.

CV similar happened to DS1 except the buggers pulled the plug on his chosen Music Tech AS Level on 1st September so there wasn't time to go anywhere else. And all other combinations didn't work or by that time certain courses that he might have substituted were full. He ended up taking subjects he didn't want and dropping 2 of them. It was a hard two years. Good idea to investigate other colleges.

Ooooh MrsS the plot thickens... the DH/DP's know us better than we think....or it might be his insecurity talking... No harm. It might make him appreciate you a bit more, do you think?

Weird day. DD is back at school for 2 weeks. DS goes back tomorrow also for 2 weeks until the dreaded study leave. I have been fannying about all day and done very little of any consequence. Lots of sitting in a cafe yakking to BFF and had a loooong text gossip with ConS who is deep in rehearsals so we can't meet to write for a number of weeks. At least there's Holby on tonight....

X posts.... to all of us mothers who are dealing with exam plagued houses

Rose - exam plagued about sums it up. DD2 had her Spanish oral today which apparently went well.

Here, we have been back to school for two days and then another bank holiday so the week hasn't been too stressful so far.

CV - good news on the payrise but very annoying for DS - agree - with Lalsy - if he can keep his options open that would be best. I went to a sixth form college and loved it as it felt very grown up after school.

DH has phoned to say he is at the top of the Tour de Montparnasse - I told him to get himself home for dinner!

Finally some heat in the weather - I feel like summer has arrived. Although I felt I ought to do a bit of cleaning rather than sitting outside in the sun reading my book.

What is this 'summer' of which you speak?

I can indeed plan as I go along, and shall. But the course I was originally going to be teaching had exams at the end, thus proving that the learners had learned (assessments). It now will not, so I have to devise ways of showing they have learned, and incorporate said assessments into my lessons. I'm sure it will be OK, though, once I stop panicking.

Still sitting at the computer, surrounded by bits of paper. And a glass of wine. Will stop for News at Ten. Then maybe start again.

Re: sixth form - there are really only two options - current school or local sixth form college. Both options are currently "open" and places have been offered by both, and he doesn't need to make a final decision until results day, however the school have now effectively ruled themselves out. But there are many advantages with the sixth form college - they are much better equipped for two of his subjects, bigger faculties, he can do his preferred Film rather than Media Studies, and yes, I think it will be a much "grown up" experience. He's just a little change-averse; he doesn't want to have to get to know a new set of teachers and a new environment. But I think it will be fine. IF he gets the grades. But he's on track; got a B in his Maths mock, which is brilliant.

Good luck to him, CV. I can see why he is reluctant, especially as the change has been forced upon him and rather last minute. But it sounds as if it will be a good option.

Oh dear: DSis has - very sensibly IMO - decided to go home later today. But says she doesn't think I should go back till my planned time (and I want to vote in any case!) I agree that there is very little anyone can actually do at the moment, there's now a lot of professional help and dad getting madder not least because he refuses to go to any arranged sessions of counselling even when the entire thing has been set up...

I myself have had a mini lie-in, a run, and have arranged lunch with a friend. Must do some work first.