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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Missing the structure of the school day?

35 replies

HellesBelles396 · 23/07/2013 10:22

Hipe you've clicked on because you are because, for some reason I am! Otherwise, feel free to tell me to get a life!

As a result, I have split the day into the four periods we have at school and assigned a group of tasks to each one - otherwise I'll spebd all holidays lying around reading.

It's currently break time so I am sitting outside in the garden with a cuppa but period one was exercise and shower (PE!) and next period is household management (ie cleaning, bills, etc). P3 is science (ie lesson planning) and p4 is enrichment (whatever hobby I'm in the mood for - currently making a top).

So I was wondering if anyone else does this when they have nothing planned (possibly less rigidly than I have!).

OP posts:
rosabud · 23/07/2013 11:47

otherwise I'll spebd all holidays lying around reading.

It's the first day!! Lie around and spend all your time reading!!! (I am!)

willow777 · 23/07/2013 12:03

I fully intend to spend the hols lying around reading :)

Auntfini · 23/07/2013 12:07

Oh gosh! Can't believe you're lesson planning! I'm ignoring the pile of work in the corner and watching tv

bigTillyMint · 23/07/2013 12:09

Not on holiday yet, but I definitely won't be structuring my days as if I was at workGrin

way2serious · 23/07/2013 12:13

Am afraid I do something similar and plan out what I want to achieve each day both school work and housework and social / relaxing. Otherwise I find the six weeks have gone and I hav achieved nothing. I also go into school a fair bit to catch up. I am a head so have loads of paperwork etc to sort and my office needs a clear out.

HellesBelles396 · 23/07/2013 16:31

Thanks Way2Serious, I was starting to worry it was just me!

Most days we have plans for at least part of the day and they take priority over the schedule but it really seems to allow me to enjoy the time I do sit and chill far more if I know I have done the other things and structuring my day helps me get everything done.

I'm planning a new scheme of work AuntFini so it will take a fair bit of time and the HoD is checking it as I do it so I need to crack on. An hour a day isn't too bad.

OP posts:
Inclusionist · 23/07/2013 16:40

Nah, I'm gonna lay about. Grin

TwasBrillig · 23/07/2013 16:48

Do you all have kids? Or is it than when they're older you can spend the day reading bliss

Auntfini · 23/07/2013 16:50

Oh hellesbelles you poor thing! I'm starting at a new school in September so I do actually have a lot to organise but I'm trying to ignore it.

Inclusionist · 23/07/2013 16:53

I'm going to lay about whilst allowing my three year old to become feral.

HellesBelles396 · 23/07/2013 17:02

Yes ds is 12 and wants to play basketball or on his bike with his friends (we live in a village with a large park in the middle so it's very safe). He wants nothing to do with me while the sun's shining and his friends are around.

Don't feel sorry for me AuntFini having a pattern to my days makes it much easier to do what I need to do and then relax. It suits me to get all the tasks out of the way while ds is playing and then relax all evening when he wants to spend time with me. Cribbage is quite the thing in our house just now :)

OP posts:
HellesBelles396 · 23/07/2013 17:07

Inclusionist in my experience, 3yo's need direction to have fun - you've a while to go to achieve a lower-maintenance child. Summer holidays then were masses of sunscreen, garden toys in the shady parts of the garden and frequent frozen fruit juice cubes. It was a good summer. Pavement chalks and buckets of water are a must. Sitting grinning remembering as that summer is very clear in my mind.

OP posts:
TwasBrillig · 23/07/2013 17:09

Ooh frozen fruit ice cubes -genius! We've spent most of today making a mess in the garden and then turning sitting room into soft play!

HellesBelles396 · 23/07/2013 17:42

I'm enjoying seeing ds become a young man (when he's not in a huff- my family is cursed with early but lengthy puberties!) but I do miss those summers before he started school when an hour-long game could be based around a leaf or a worm and painting the house with mud was totally engrossing. Naptimes in the sun-tent were lovely too. DS is just not as snuggly now - the longest cuddle is about 10 seconds. He is much better at telling jokes now though.

OP posts:
Bluebell99 · 23/07/2013 17:49

Lol. My fil was a college lecturer and when my dh was a teen he used to have a planner and timetable for every day of the holidays with lesser roles for my dh . Ie fil up the ladder clearing gutter, dh at the bottom catching the crud that came out. Ditto hedge cutting, fil hedge cutting, dh collecting up the pieces.Grin he died last summer, we miss him.

HellesBelles396 · 23/07/2013 18:24

And did dh turn out to be equally conscientious?

OP posts:
Bluebell99 · 23/07/2013 18:37

Not really, no. I think, his dad's attitude could be rather domineering and critical, so at household tasks, he never really gets round to doing them, but career wise, he has been very successful. He doesn't like to waste time, so likes to plan ahead and fit lots into a day. I think I should take a leaf out of your book though. I am overwhelmed by things I need to do, but don't want to, and then I also don't get round to doing the things I do want to do.

HellesBelles396 · 23/07/2013 19:27

BlueBell99 that is exactly it. You've put it much better than I have.

Of course, between family, friends and Active Northumberland (a council initiative - free sports sessions for children), the days will whizz by anyway!

OP posts:
deleted203 · 23/07/2013 21:23

Crikey...

We broke up today and I intend to sleep for the next week, if possible. (Unlikely, as I have kids).

Then, if the sunshine continues, I intend to spend the next 5 weeks on the beach with smallest DS and pals. I do not intend to do anything useful at all in the way of work. Or housework. We will probably eat chips. And candyfloss.

HellesBelles396 · 24/07/2013 07:13

SoWornOut that sounds fun!

OP posts:
katydid02 · 24/07/2013 07:24

Oh heavens, no. We are still at work anyway :(
After that, the five weeks (not six, boohoo) can go in a blur of fun and no routines :)

HellesBelles396 · 24/07/2013 07:42

Which county is still at school?

OP posts:
bigTillyMint · 24/07/2013 07:57

Many schools in London boroughs finish today, Yay!

HellesBelles396IsDeeplyUncool · 24/07/2013 10:49

As late as this? And I hear it's really hot down there. Congrats that the last day of term has finally arrived all londoners!!

Bluebell99 · 24/07/2013 13:41

My dd is still at school in West Berkshire. My ds also West Berkshire broke up on Friday.

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