Oh no....only the weekend left to do all the work I brought home!

[LuvMyBoyz]

I've had a great half term but since Tuesday I have felt guilty about not doing the work I need to do before Monday. Now I am going to have to get up early tomorrow and Sunday to get it done.

Will anyone else be working so I don't feel so lonely?

[petalpower]

I still enjoy lots about teaching but the data crunching, observations and unreasonable stresses are hideous.

[stillenacht]

I don't blame you petal. I have just said the same. I too have in theory another 20 years of this although in reality when DS2 leaves SS in 10 years I will have to be a full time carer. I used to enjoy teaching

[petalpower]

Thank you - yes, the written feedback will be enlightening I hope.
I'm still marking now and feel like saying sod it, but it's not fair on my class.

[AntiJamDidi]

I hope your written feedback sheds some light on what they're looking for, sometimes it's something really obscure that they think went badly.

[AntiJamDidi]

It is a long time to wait isn't it? I get almost as nervous about the feedback as I do about the lesson. I have the niggling fear that people will have seen through my disguise and realise that I'm actually a bit rubbish I know in my head that I push the kids to get good results but in the pit of my stomach I am constantly worried someone is about to rumble me.

[petalpower]

My HT seemed fine as she left - I feel more cross than upset over it now. I just can't see what was wrong with the lesson. I haven't had the written feedback yet and will be interested to read that. (And probably pissed off too ....)
Glad your observation went well AntiJamDidi - good luck with the feedback. That's a long time to wait!

[AntiJamDidi]

Aw petal that's tough. I had an RI last year and it really really sucks.

My observation seemed to go well, I think it was Good but I won't get my feedback til Friday because we just aren't free at the same time. She seemed quite happy as she left, and she did say that the kids were all very positive about me.

I truly despise observations. I end up almost paralyzed with anxiety when I'm planning, and even the kids noticed I was shaking at the start of today's lesson

[petalpower]

Will SN education be any better? Presumably Gove can still tell them which ever idea he has whilst eating breakfast too? SN ed seems to be very paperwork heavy from what I hear.
I'm sitting here now trying to muster up some enthusiasm for planning tomorrow's lessons now. Feel like putting my feet up on the sofa and necking a large quantity of wine instead.

[stillenacht]

I know. Am seriously considering getting out of mainstream and going to SN education (as DS has severe autism and attends SLD school I am pretty au fait with many areas of SN).

[petalpower]

Thank you stillenacht. I do feel really crap because I know the pressure will really be on for the next observation. I don't think I can keep jumping through these hoops for the next 20 years.

[stillenacht]

Oh petal its so shit Its everywhere atm. Sorry you are going through feeling like crap. Xxx

[petalpower]

I just got RI on my lesson observation too (as did another colleague). Feels like there's a hidden agenda . I don't agree with their feedback about progress in the lesson and thought it was pitched correctly. They didn't listen (HT and another HT). Feel totally demoralised. What's it all for?

[stillenacht]

Its ridiculous. I just can't carry on like this. Full day teaching, windband at lunchtime, home with autistic (low functioning) son and pick up other DS,9pm attempt to do marking,10.30pm give up.

[AntiJamDidi]

I have finally planned my observation lesson . It only took 3 hours to plan one hour's lesson, and I bet the pupils won't actually learn any more than the lesson I taught them today that took approx 20 mins to plan . But we all have to play the game of trying to be outstanding (I think I will be good but don't think I'll make it into outstanding).

I'm absolutely knackered already. I missed break yesterday because I was out doing primary outreach so all of breaktime and part of lunch was taken up by travelling to and from the primary school. Then I had a meeting at lunch today (a full and busy day anyway) and a year 11 revision session after school tonight because their mocks are very soon. I definitely won't be able to keep up this pace for the next 34 years until I can retire.

[petalpower]

I think I must have done about 6 hours prep, planning, making resources etc for my 1 hour lesson observation. It's just ridiculous. Feels like the half term break never happened. Reading Tawdry's list it makes you realise how much we all do when it's written down.

[stillenacht]

I hate this. It's slave labour. Got to get out.

[TawdryTatou]

That's not to say my workload is particularly heavier than any other teacher's...it just makes me feel better about stopping to see what I've actually achieved written down.

We do work hard, don't we?

[TawdryTatou]

Exhausted already.

So far in two days I have taught six lessons and an intervention session, attended two meetings and a joint planning session, marked two sets of books, marked three GCSE essays for standardisation, standardised two colleagues' marking, made a differentiated worksheet going through the PEED technique, marked five of the twenty five yr8 assessments that are waiting for me, had to reformat and print off data sheets for all classes (that took an inordinate amount of time), sat with a student through lunchtime while he finished his controlled assessment, printed off and photocopied thirty year 8 reading tests, done a bus duty and a break duty.

Not to mention replying to emails, supplying work for pupils in isolation, registration work and monitoring form members on report.

All for about £200. Bargain.

And I'm feeling guilty about stopping now...

[barebranches]

2 days in and its like we never had a week off

[Ihatespiders]

Tomorrow is inset. I still have time ... don't I?

[AntiJamDidi]

Yes bullshit I think we were. How are you doing?

I am just going to do what I can by 11 and then leave it. I have a free tomorrow so I can plan my lesson then or leave it til Tuesday night and I'll do more marking at lunchtime and after school tomorrow. I just can't get motivated in the holidays

[petalpower]

Thank you ThisIsBULLLSHIT, all ideas welcomed!
Stillenacht, glad I don't teach secondary - the marking sounds horrendous. It was bad enough marking literacy when I was in Year 5/6.

[stillenacht]

Composition homework takes 15 minutes per gcse pupil to mark. I have 72!

[stillenacht]

Petalpower music secondary and part time too!!! 3 yr 7 classes,3year 8s, GCSE yr 9 and 10 and 11 and AS and A2.

[ThisIsBULLSHIT]

Ooh didi think we were on a thread last year together I have nc'd was checkpoint!