The Twenty-Eight Republic - Lockdown Light

[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 booze is stashed - Thirsty Tuesdays, Fizz Fridays now in operation.

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 and you will receive a detention

This has reminded me of a trainee from years ago who'd done a placement in a school with an attached behaviour unit. She was being observed by the tutor but little Jonny had decided not to cooperate "because I know that bitch in the corner is here for me"

I wish i could have an extra person in the classroom as i have 2 children constantly fighting for my attention (LSA) so i could send one to work with one of them whilst i worked with the other.

@MrsHamlet I had that during an observation my first year, the child i was working with was often in trouble so when a member of SLT came he was convinced that they were there to remove him, had to get them to show their clipboard so that he would listen and behave.

I think I just need to hide some threads on MN atm. I am so tired of us doing everything we can to keep schools open with no funding and the most useless public health officials in history. MNers knew covid was a risk when Chris Whitty was still saying it was only a mild threat. There is no leadership on masks in schools, on ventilation, on distancing in classrooms. Basics that would help keep schools open.

I'm just so tired. Every part of the job is harder now and it's like a social conspiracy to make it harder week on week.

I thought about replying and just couldn't muster up the energy. There's no point. Some people don't read the words written but what fits their narrative.

I'm so bored of marking this weekend. I've got a half finished crochet square and the Lakeland Limited Christmas catalogue within arm's length but I need to keep going!

I'm just so tired. Every part of the job is harder now and it's like a social conspiracy to make it harder week on week.

I feel like this at the moment too, AllDoneIn. Told my boss last week that every additional thing that we are instructed to do now just makes me feel resentful. The insulting thing is when it is dressed up as "for our benefit". So every day has been extended by 10 - 25 minutes depending on which yeargroup we are teaching last lesson, lunch was shortened last week and we've just been told that the next parents' evening will be split across two evenings instead of one. Both of which are on my unpaid days. I've never complained about coming in to do a parents' evening on my unpaid day, but at the moment it really grates.

Mental health has gone down the swannee here, as evidenced by having a glass of wine on a Sunday lunch.

Placement has gone ever so slightly tits up. Mentor now at home as ECV, so this week ive had two supplies observe me ( both were lovely). This week I'm being moved to another class so I'm effectively starting placement again. Have to leave my gorgeous class (only been there 4 weeks - how can I be do attached already?) I Have 34 chn to get to know this week. Then all the work that needs to be done for my evidence file for December. Oh and a reflective writing piece and start next assignment. No idea what new group are doing topic wise, mentor won't be my class teacher as they don't fancy the paperwork. Oh and because of this the scitt director is raising a cause for concern for my file so that it's documented.

But no idea what that means in practice or for the future? Feel like I'm drowning. Have no planning to do for this week (yet) so been fiddling with my CPD file. Feeling anxious, and completely lost

Oh namechanged that sounds so difficult for you and none of it within your control.

I hope the SCITT is putting the cause for concern because of the school and not you. You have done nothing wrong.

Have you got a new mentor?

Keep trying your best. Reflective writing do after you've done something you have lots to reflect on. Eg this week getting to know a new class could be perfect and you'll have plenty to say so shouldn't take long.

You aren't starting again. You've had some experience and you can use that. I'm assuming you won't be teaching this week so that's a good opportunity to get any other stuff up to date as possible.

Be kind to yourself. This term is a hard one traditionally anyway. This year it already feels worse.

You sound caring, conscientious and proactive when you post on here. Just keep swimming!

Agree. It's not starting again and your writing can reflect the challenge of getting to know a new class quickly and what strategies you've employed.

Feel super crap today. Insomnia followed by sleep of the dead. Woke up with school worries going round in my head.

Meant to be going to support bubble friends house for lunch today but feel like hiding in a bed with my book tbh.

@WhyNotMe40

On that line, on my way home yesterday I saw one of our students out of uniform and in a mask waiting for his mates to come out of school. (I had PPA period 5 so left early). Turns out he is supposed to be self isolating due to a positive result! I mean, at least he was wearing a mask to protect his mates (who were not wearing masks), but.... Ffs

LOL

@CallmeAngelina very true. I'm sure it's a tactic used by umpteen administrations over the years

@Hercwasonaroll yes the mentor will be the HT who quite frankly is too busy to be mentoring a student. Have no idea how they think this will work?
The reflective piece has to be on a series of lessons which I've obviously not planned yet

I think the cause for concern is about the situation rather than me, as I've only had a couple observations so far.

Feeling very behind, stressed and absolutely dreading this week. I'm over eating and over drinking and that's never a good thing.

Use it name. Use the series of lessons with the new class and the theme of that. You've had one practice run of starting with a new class and now have a second chance and can reflect on what went well with the first class that you'd like to replicate and what wasn't successful and you've learnt from. You've been put in an awkward situation so you don't have to pretend you haven't but show how you've addressed that iyswim.

If you struggle it's not your fault if you work with it and make explicit how you did it it's very much to your credit and will be impressive.

Cause for concern will for sure be about the situation. Not you.

@namechangedyetagain regardless of the reason, cause for concern is still stressful. While reflecting on the lessons, refer to the quick adaptations you made as they were a new class. Just to highlight the disruption to your teaching practice for the assessor. And I hope the HT is a nice supportive mentor for you.

There really isn't such a thing as behind on ITT at this time of year. As long as you've been in front of a class, that's about all that's required.

Can you reflect on something done with your old class?

The HT will have to find time tbh! If they aren't strong enough to delegate the task then they'll have to do it properly. Presumably the class teacher will have to do some of the day to day stuff anyway? It's not the paperwork that takes time with mentoring! But it is always time I'm willing to give up for a trainee who tries.

Tomorrow I have year 11, some of whom are on their fourth period of self-isolation, some will be in class. Parents are obviously angry about this. I'm very concerned that as it stands, they'll be taking the same exam as candidates who've not had to self isolate at all, and who will obviously be at an advantage. I'm thinking of an AIBU from this angle in another vain attempt to illustrate that something has to change!

I'm thinking of an AIBU from this angle in another vain attempt to illustrate that something has to change!

Do it.

Hi all. I’ve worked all day and STILL haven’t got everything done.

Yes, do.

A friend's ds in another school has had 3 periods of SI. Other students in his year none.

And year 13 in a friend's school - some students are also on 4th period of SI and others again none.

It is demonstrably unfair.

I predict that most people won't give a shit - unless it adversely affects their child.

Ah but that’s only because of teachers refusing to do zoom lessons.

Blimey, noble, you had your work cut out over there earlier! You on the yet?

name

That sounds really stressful. What is the number 1 thing making you anxious?

Yay monkey - glad DS is all clear.

I just marked an assessment where the child had copied a piece of exemplar writing as the first part of his assessment. Honestly, I think he must think I'm completely stupid 😂😂

Which thread has our noble been practicing her debate skillz on? I could do with an argument

On and off today on this one www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4066725-AIBU-or-are-the-lives-of-school-staff-worthless?pg=8

I am not on other threads as we just keep having to explain ourselves to the same people every time who are doing their key-board best to turn people against teachers/the teaching profession. They clearly have a bee in their bonnet about teachers and I think for some it is one or more of the following factors:-

they hated their own time at school
they were not made prefect/head girl
they were not picked for the netball/hockey team
the head of their child's school has told them off for crap parking
they failed the 11 plus
they did not get the post they wanted on the PTA
they did not get into the uni they wanted
they have been turned down for a PGCE course
they have failed their PGCE course
they failed their NQT year
etc

their child/ren failed the 11 plus and are not at a grammar
their child is very bright and they wished they lived in an area with grammar schools
their child is not in top English/Maths set
their child has not been picked for the sports team
their child has not received enough stars

@SmileEachDay I think my main worry is that I'm not going to have enough evidence in my folder/ trackers at the end of the term. Also that my mentor hasn't been ticking things off and that the head may not know me that well. I feel like I haven't the smoothest of starts, though when is it ever? I've done what I can to help out in absences, covered lunch and break duties for TAs etc

Just feeling a bit down about it I guess.