The Twenty-first Republic - All back but for how long? Why is Big Gav still in post?

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff only – a sort of room of requirement. Baiters, haters, goaders and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

You can play here if you are a member of one the following groups-

-ABBA - anti bashers and baiting association
-SWAB - school workers against bashers
-SWOT - school workers opposing teacherbashers
-STARS - schoolworkers together against ranting + slurs

Do not give ‘The Every twat for Themselves mob’ the staffroom password as a number of them are operating in an alternative reality.

No DfE muppets allowed

Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the toffee vodka is hidden.

If you are fed up with cakes and biscuits there is now a cheeseboard on offer

If you come with a stick to goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom, especially if you have not used the hand gel. Close the door quietly on your way out and put your mask on.

Noble, you are the wisest person I've never met.

Needed to read that tonight!

Have to agree with that last point! Have upped vitamins already. Thanks all.

Thank you @noblegiraffe needed that.

I read that guardian article too piggy. I feel for the Italian teachers - i'm in the same boat but at least I have a paddle being 50. I can't imagine being 60 plus and working as a teacher in this.

And, thanks goats, for imposing a 10.30 bedtime on us all. I have four minutes to read my book left .

I can't imagine being 60 plus and working as a teacher full stop tbh!

every day that we are in school teaching is a win

Yep, that's what my Head has said. This is mad, but if they do a bit of maths, a bit of English, a bit of reading and a bit of playing with their mates and having conversations, most of them are doing better/having more fun even, than they were over the last 5 months.

@Danglingmod

And, thanks goats, for imposing a 10.30 bedtime on us all. I have four minutes to read my book left .

10.30 is just the time to be in bed. What time is lights out?

I've finished my marking with only a minute or two over Made much quicker by most of the students having not done the work!

That’s such a lovely post noble

I’m just hoping this week is better than last week.

Epic fail at the early night thing. Such an owl.
Good luck for the week ahead, everyone!

Piggy, that Italian article was interesting as it says their desks have been moved to be 1m apart. So either their classrooms are much bigger, class sizes are smaller or they only have kids in part time.

Ah Noble that post was great.

Under 4hrs sleep.

Son's school have year group sent home.

I'm not sure I can do this much longer. I think I need to get a different job.

@noblegiraffe 👏 👏 👏

Love that post.

Lovely post Nobel!

Guy, is your son old enough to stay at home alone or will you have to juggle care? 4 hours sleep makes anything seem impossible. One day at a time at the moment. If you need to take some time off, don't hesitate to see your Gp.

Good morning all! I'm also getting 'the panic'.
I've had one decent nights sleep sine we started back (2 weeks). Every other night I wake up multiple times with my heart racing. It's not Covid (I'm resigned to catching that), it's the work load. Everything has to be redone from scratch. Plus 3 high needs pupils in the class (ta from about 1hr 30/day).
Plus parents evenings every night this week.
My pay is part time but the hours aren't !!

I know this is not a sustainable solution but can I suggest a dose of Nytol to help with the insomnia? You might start to feel better on a couple of nights' decent sleep.

This is the day I am supposed to have a lesson added to, so it will go forma day with lots of lovely frees to a day which looks less pleasant.

How are you doing the parents'' evenings Robert?

count what they have done is bought loads of exam style desks . I think I could manage that in my room and get about 20 in, maybe more. The small desks make a difference. It's another factor of British schooling!

I have just discovered "this works sleep spray" and that seems to help a bit - melatonin is my go-to though. My GP reckons that if you can get three decent nights in a row, that can be enough to reset your sleeping pattern.
I also take a cup of teapigs sleepy tea to bed in a thermos so if I do wake up I can sip that. The threat of it (it's like licking old ladies) is enough 😂

@RobertsUncle - I have a fit bit so do the relaxation/mindfulness exercises on that before bed. It definitely makes a difference to sleeping better. I can do them again if I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep.

Have already read two threads this morning about how schools aren’t providing enough for self isolating children. We’ll be back to ‘can’t they just live stream from the classrooms’ comments before we know it.

Happy Monday everyone

We've got a confirmed case in school, waiting to hear what's happening with that in staff briefing this morning (via Teams in our classrooms). Questions have been raised by the Union about when school knew and why staff weren't told immediately so we can risk assess our own weekend activities (ie don't visit elderly relatives if it's a child you've taught!!)

I am having no problem getting to sleep at the moment (although still going to bed at my lockdown time of 11 pm, it is creeping to more like 10.30) but keep waking up at about 4. Grr. Started grinding my teeth again.