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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.

Original poster

The Forty-fifth Republic - Is there anyone there? Surely time for half term

999 replies

Staffdontblowitnow · 02/02/2021 12:46

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
noblegiraffe · 03/02/2021 15:40

Lots of mathematicians only do three including FM piggy, it’s only some medical courses that are picky about it I think.

noblegiraffe · 03/02/2021 15:42

I’m excited about half term because it won’t contain any twinkl worksheets or late nights planning lessons. I’ve got a book I might be able to get round to reading.

Piggywaspushed · 03/02/2021 15:46

That's what the general feeling was, noble. I think some schools teach it is such a way that they end up doing ma, FM, and 2 more.

It seems very narrow to me, but then I am not a mathematician!

Would there be an advantage to Ma, FM and ,say, physics?

TheHoneyBadger · 03/02/2021 16:03

Oh btw my trainee who I've moaned plenty about turns out to be really good remotely! Sat in on one of her lessons today and she is so much better when she doesn't have to be in the room with them. She was properly engaging and running with any answers they gave her and checking in and developing ideas and all the bloody things I was trying to get her to do in the classroom. I think it's removed a whole layer of social awkwardness that she struggles with.

TheHoneyBadger · 03/02/2021 16:04

I'm just waffling away to myself because I don't know anything about maths Grin

MrsHamlet · 03/02/2021 16:12

I once had a whole form of nerds mathematicians. One of them said to me one day that his was very specific and useless knowledge and then asked me whether I liked Agatha Christie novels.
He's now doing a phd in something nerdy.

DreamingofBrie · 03/02/2021 16:16

In my limited experience, the pupils in the schools I've taught at who do Further Maths tend to do it as a 4th A-level, but they tend to be the ones going on to study Maths, Engineering etc. I think that 3 including FM is ok with most universities though?

MrsHamlet · 03/02/2021 16:22

That sounds right: often maths, FM, physics or comp sci.
PhD boy (Dr Nerd now) did AS maths in year 10 and the A level in year 11, then the remaining modules that he hadn't done in year 12 alongside FM, Chemistry and physics. So "only" 4 a levels.... we talked him out of the EPQ.
Lovely lad. Turns out he left in 2012. Where does the time go???

MsAwesomeDragon · 03/02/2021 16:33

@TheHoneyBadger

Oh btw my trainee who I've moaned plenty about turns out to be really good remotely! Sat in on one of her lessons today and she is so much better when she doesn't have to be in the room with them. She was properly engaging and running with any answers they gave her and checking in and developing ideas and all the bloody things I was trying to get her to do in the classroom. I think it's removed a whole layer of social awkwardness that she struggles with.
You've just described my dd1 there. Although she's not a teacher/trainee as she's still at uni (and depressed/anxious to boot). She's so much better at engaging with people remotely. By text if possible but she can cope with teams/zoom as well, in a way she just can't do in person. We think she's autistic, but still on the waiting list for assessment.

I'm looking forward to half term because I won't have to plan lessons, record videos, do live lessons (have now had to lock down teams so year 11 can't talk without putting their hands up) or persuade dd2 to do some work. She's quite happy she's got a maths teacher mum because maths is proving difficult for her through the white rose videos. AND we're getting our friends dog again for 3 days of half term, so dd2 will be happy, and we can go out on decent walks without her moaning.

BigBobBoots · 03/02/2021 16:34

Hello all, slight name change, have been avidly following your thread still, despite my silence.
Just popped in to drop this

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/03/covid-scientists-warn-against-bringing-forward-english-schools-reopening

chocolateisavegetable · 03/02/2021 16:50

I cried at work today. Without wanting to out myself too much, a colleague was off sick which meant my day was way, way more difficult than it would have been otherwise. I can't bear the thought of her being off sick again tomorrow, let alone the rest of the week, let alone the rest of the half term. I was already close to breaking point, but this has finished me off Sad

WhenSheWasBad · 03/02/2021 16:53

@TheHoneyBadger

Oh btw my trainee who I've moaned plenty about turns out to be really good remotely! Sat in on one of her lessons today and she is so much better when she doesn't have to be in the room with them. She was properly engaging and running with any answers they gave her and checking in and developing ideas and all the bloody things I was trying to get her to do in the classroom. I think it's removed a whole layer of social awkwardness that she struggles with.
I think for trainees (and NQTs) it suddenly takes away the behaviour management bit of teaching.

Frees up loads of brain space for actually teaching well.

MrsHamlet · 03/02/2021 16:56

Anyone after lovely free writing resources... EMC havE made some of "just write" free to download

Malbecfan · 03/02/2021 16:57

Hello everyone. Sorry I hardly ever post on these but I enjoy reading.

Today was one of my afternoons in the primary school with the y5/6 bubble. Most are lovely but there is one very challenging boy and a girl who my mother would have described as "a right little madam". I'm back in there tomorrow afternoon for more of the same, but they have an hour of PE in the middle so at least I can get a break!

Yesterday was 5 remote live lessons in a secondary school. The kids are nice but the prep took bloody hours. I spend so much more time preparing for remote teaching than teaching in person. I can't wait until half term when I can actually take a couple of days off...

TheHoneyBadger · 03/02/2021 17:19

MsAD - I think the same about the trainee as you're thinking about your DD. It's unfortunate that she's chosen not to disclose this to us or her training body because we could address it and come up with strategies etc to help her navigage the social side but as it is it's like the elephant in the room that has to be tiptoed around.

Whereas many of us suffer without the nuances of seeing faces and body language and all the non verbal cues she seems to be thriving without the distraction/barrier of those things.

How's DD doing since she's been home?

JanuaryChill · 03/02/2021 17:21

Re conversation earlier about addictive nature of teaching - really interesting.

As some may remember from a discussion we had months ago, I'm working in a student-facing support staff role currently. However am a qualified (infant) teacher, but couldn't cope as a NQT. Now have more confidence and find myself relishing any opportunities to get up in front of a class. Am always seeking more opportunities to do this, it gives me a real buzz!

Is it the power?!

I'm very extrovert but not always hugely confident. I love people though - IYKWIM!

Whitty talking about schools in briefing atm...

WhenSheWasBad · 03/02/2021 17:22

Sorry chocolate that sounds really tough, hope you aren’t on your own tomorrow.

JanuaryChill · 03/02/2021 17:23

He says rates are coming down but still incredibly high. We need to reach the point where we feel "the line can be held" and opening schools won't make infections rise too much. But that's a ministerial decision.

Piggywaspushed · 03/02/2021 17:27

Boris said ' we fought for so hard and so long to keep schools open.'

Who did you fight, Boris...and why?

noblegiraffe · 03/02/2021 17:29

They fought anyone trying to make it known that secondaries were a disaster area.

Monkeytennis97 · 03/02/2021 17:36

@Piggywaspushed

Boris said ' we fought for so hard and so long to keep schools open.'

Who did you fight, Boris...and why?

I just shouted 'bullshit!' at the tv when he said this.'Fought so hard'... you didn't, we did.
Monkeytennis97 · 03/02/2021 17:37

@noblegiraffe

They fought anyone trying to make it known that secondaries were a disaster area.
Exactly
thecatfromjapan · 03/02/2021 17:37

chocolate Please have a virtual hug. I'm so sorry it's so tough. 💐

JanuaryChill · 03/02/2021 17:38

When Boris says me he believes... or is it he wants to sound as if, teachers and him are on the same side

JanuaryChill · 03/02/2021 17:39

Btw, congratulations to piggy and monkey, both representing teachers' predictive powers on the Data thread very well!