The Thirtieth Republic ( 30! who would have thought) - Is it too soon to book a staff Xmas party?

[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 staffroom password just in case it attracts the wrong sort

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 come with a stick to goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom and you will receive a detention

I quite liked that game. After a few goes I got to 1 min 30. It really did feel like my year 10 nurture group. I spend every lesson with them telling them to sit down, it's like bash a rat (the fairground game).

Have just finished marking the year 13 tests that I couldn't mark yesterday. Full range of marks from only losing 2 marks, down to only getting a couple of marks. I promise they've all been in the same lessons, but you'd never be able to tell that from their marks.

When I'm at work it's coffee all the way until lunchtime and tea after lessons finish. Love coffee, couldn't get through the day without it!

Not a coffee drinker here, although I make a mean latte and cappuccino. I can't fathom how something that smells so nice can taste so different!

Recording a PowerPoint today. Always takes so long to get it right.

I don't drink tea or coffee. I drink water. 3 bottles of it during the day, I'm constantly drinking.

I don't want to go to work today. I'd much rather stay in my comfy bed and read a book.

I know it's already been shared bit the past tense in this article really grinds my gears.

www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1363373/coronavirus-latest-schools-open-gavin-williamson

@SaltyAF, yes, like it's over and we're no longer working quite so hard and no longer at quite the same risk.

www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scots-teachers-back-strike-action-over-covid-safety-fears-3044639

Seen on BRTUS/PAUSS

Morning. Not in school today thankfully

May the force be with those who are.

So, one of our classes has been sent home, and the CHILDREN told me. Stupid. No idea who it is, why they are home.

So glad that I'm 0.8. By the end of yesterday I felt like I'd already done 3 full days! In contrast, today I just need to keep toddler entertained and get a wee sample from the cat. I'll take that over year 9 any day!

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot as in a whole class? WTAF?

On LBC at 9.33/34 caller lambasts Shapps (transport secretary) about the gaslighting in education and manipulation of ONS. Didn't catch callers name. I was cheering from my garage whilst putting shopping away. It will be on repeat.

Shapps' response "We're doing all we can, we are not going to get everything right... increased testing will help teachers yada yada". Inept response. Hastily moved on by Ferrari.

Thank you thank you to that caller!

Replied on totehr thread.

Interesting...

Increased testing, eh?

Yes thanks :) just put it everywhere I was on for maximum impact x

What @monkeytennis97 ??

Oh ok the mention of increased testing....

It says that in the government Winter Plan published yesterday. Think BJ said something about it currently being piloted. Aha! He'll mean in Liverpool, won't he?

Altho don't think they've released any results from the schools included in the mass testing, or not separated out anyway.....

They have begin offering testing to teachers this week in my West Mids region. I'm going to do it weekly. Doesn't mitigate my risk though.

Surely unions are requesting that august???

Sorry to post when I usually lurk but this thread is such a tonic and struggling today.

I've been teaching from home as bubble burst and, though the lessons have gone okay, it's just so isolating - not got a dp. In our new bubbles I miss my old department and though we're all in touch, and a couple of them are in my bubble, it's just not the same and I don't feel the same camaraderie I normally do. It's made worse by staying home, but not much better in school and I don't feel safe there either. Then I just received an email from a parent, via HoY, about how I don't understand her dc, am teaching my subject wrong, she preferred the teacher she had last year etc etc. Don't know how to reply... Would normally talk to department but that's not possible now.

Sorry for pity party - feels good just to write it down though!

This is going to make me sound a bit mad, but last week the local press were reporting every bubble/school closure. This week, nothing and positive headlines only (about covid in general not schools).

Just received the attendance email.

More data

@lurchersrule

Sorry to post when I usually lurk but this thread is such a tonic and struggling today.

I've been teaching from home as bubble burst and, though the lessons have gone okay, it's just so isolating - not got a dp. In our new bubbles I miss my old department and though we're all in touch, and a couple of them are in my bubble, it's just not the same and I don't feel the same camaraderie I normally do. It's made worse by staying home, but not much better in school and I don't feel safe there either. Then I just received an email from a parent, via HoY, about how I don't understand her dc, am teaching my subject wrong, she preferred the teacher she had last year etc etc. Don't know how to reply... Would normally talk to department but that's not possible now.

Sorry for pity party - feels good just to write it down though!

@lurchersrule, sorry to hear you're feeling low, and welcome to the thread. Emotive emails from parents are the worst, I had to deal with one yesterday as well. You can only do so much.

When I get an email from a parent, implying it's me that is doing things wrong, I usually have a sense check - either with my HoD or with any assessed results. If my class is in line with the others, then I know it's not my fault.

We won't always be the right teacher for every child and I know there are pupils who would much prefer to have a different teacher than me. I wouldn't respond to that parent without running it past my HoD first. Can you set up a call with them?

Also, how is your HoY? Were they supportive?

Then I just received an email from a parent, via HoY, about how I don't understand her dc, am teaching my subject wrong, she preferred the teacher she had last year etc etc. Don't know how to reply...

Dear Parent,
I am qualified in my subject. Are you?
We don’t always get the people we want to teach us. Please teach your child that this is a valuable life lesson.
Ta muchly,
Lurchers.

Joking aside, forward to HoD or line manager to reply for you or to get super clear guidance on replying. And don’t feel upset or unsettled by it either. Some parents just don’t consider how their emails make staff feel.

@lurchersrule welcome! Everyone's advice and support is brilliant on here. Hope you are ok x