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

[Staffdontblowitnow]

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 will catch up in the morning but today I've had an amazing lesson observation (which I wasn't expecting) AND I've found out that there are 2 jobs going in the spring term.

Have had a little wine tonight, but really need to be thinking about applying for those jobs

I do. Don't I?

[quote Piggywaspushed]www.tes.com/news/please-look-after-yourselves-duchess-tells-teachers[/quote]
Will schools prioritise mental health? I think they'll prioritise pushing kids so they aren't too impacted by ofsted and league tables

@namechangedyetagain

I will catch up in the morning but today I've had an amazing lesson observation (which I wasn't expecting) AND I've found out that there are 2 jobs going in the spring term.

Have had a little wine tonight, but really need to be thinking about applying for those jobs

I do. Don't I?

You so need to apply ( maybe tomorrow after the wine) Congrats on the lessons observation

Definitely need to apply.

You really do need to apply name. They like you, you like it there, it sounds perfect.

[quote Piggywaspushed]www.tes.com/news/please-look-after-yourselves-duchess-tells-teachers[/quote]
Wise words there Duchess!

Oh..It so does. The weirdest thing is, I wasn't even supposed to be placed there! But ive loved every single minute❤

Can I come back and ask for help with my personal statement?

I need this so much x

Great news name.

Is it bad that I apparently speak at twice the rate my vicar uses to estimate how long something's going to take in a service??

Written tribute, worried it might be too long as crem slots time-limited of course, I read it out loud in half the time he thought. OK I know 'declaiming' takes longer, but it is only in a medium sized chapel and to 8 other people (spaced of course).

I do speak very fast in conversation, esp if it's emotional....

Congratulations @namechangedyetagain - you definitely need to apply!

Hope you're all ok - I have to catch up properly with the thread but my eyes are stinging like hell from too much screen gazing. Back tomorrow!

@namechangedyetagain

I will catch up in the morning but today I've had an amazing lesson observation (which I wasn't expecting) AND I've found out that there are 2 jobs going in the spring term.

Have had a little wine tonight, but really need to be thinking about applying for those jobs

I do. Don't I?

Congratulations namechanged 👏👏.

It's an unusual year, but I feel that February is often the month when things seem to "fall into place".

Good luck!

That's lovely to hear name! hoorah!

name your school will be already have their fingers crossed for your application to land on their mat.

I know we all are big Michaela fans here but Katharine Birbalsingh just posted an extensive list of tips for zoom teaching that are actually quite good. It also suggests they have issues with zoom bombing, kids being asleep in lessons or logging in then pissing off, which is strangely reassuring.

It also had this tip which reminds me of the earlier discussion in here:

“As time goes on, participation and submission rates will drop. Sometimes, less compulsory homework can mean more work uploaded, i.e. pupils sometimes produce more work in total when an assignment isset as half compulsory/half extension, as opposed to entirely compulsory. The motivated pupils do all of the work regardless, plus extensions. However, the less motivated are more likely to feel intimidated or put off by the huge amount of compulsory work, and so not start. They were more likely to do some work if the minimum standard was lowered. It’s counter-intuitive, but can be useful if your number of submissions is dipping”

twitter.com/miss_snuffy/status/1357787566293069828?s=21

Bloody hell! Has anyone else had an issue with having to address the behaviour of a parent on an online lesson? They called across my group today to make an innappropriate comment about another child on the group. Pretty sure they just thought they were being funny.
Definite that they came across as being a dick!

Oh well done name you absolutely do deserve this.

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation yes please to desmos.

We’re still really getting to grips with it but happy to share the links to our collections we’ve been hobbling together between us. There are errors though in some 🤦‍♀️🤣

Also search Desmos bank for some ready made ones and you. Can share them on there too... I’ll maybe find the link!

JanFeb hope everything was ok today. You did well getting through your tribute at any speed.

@DrMadelineMaxwell

Bloody hell! Has anyone else had an issue with having to address the behaviour of a parent on an online lesson? They called across my group today to make an innappropriate comment about another child on the group. Pretty sure they just thought they were being funny. Definite that they came across as being a dick!

Yes also had a parent unmute this week mid lesson but not to comment on another child that’s awful. Also had someone in the background recording us. Am so done with this its exhausting dealing with all of this and teaching in class at the same time. Not a good week.

I really think they could easily reduce the expectations in the curriculum.

I'm in Wales and it's glaringly obvious that some of the maths expectations in England for y4 don't come up til y6 and some of England's y6 skills aren't in Wales until y8.
And the Spag stuff is simply ridiculous, obviously.

I have no words DrMadelineMaxwell. Shocking behaviour from a parent.

I’ll take a look noble at Twitter thanks! I’ll try anything at this point!

Petty parent email was my one bug bear today. Enjoyed my lesson with year 7 kwv kids answering ridiculous questions like you know in the history in that thing where is in the corner? I don't get it

Lots of my engagement starts with, yep you're definitely going to have to use your words more because my psychic powers are on the blink. What lesson are you doing? History. Yes but which lesson? Dunno, Michael what was that lesson with the thing in the corner? History.

I had achievement coach in me who I was sharing looks and shaken heads with. Sometimes it's things like, miss I dunno what to do for science. Err what does it say to do? It doesn't say anything it's just got a link thing. What happens when you click on the link? Oh! Should I click on it?

They are amusingly but bewilderingly lacking in initiative.

I used to hate teaching younger kids when I started out as I did my first couple of years in an upper school and I had very little patience for their neediness. Weirdly I now like it and would love a job with responsibility for ks3 and working better with feeder schools and training secondary teachers on eye opening revelations about what's expected of them in year 6 nowadays. Ks3 is like the poor ignored cousin though as we pretend exam results are all just about exam years shortsightedly.

When I rule the world... When you take over the dfe Noble I want ks3 powers and funding please

So many missing words and incoherence sorry. Tired and discombobulated

@MsAwesomeDragon

Dd1 is a prolific reader. Dd2 less so, although she does read every night at bedtime. She's chosen war horse as her bedtime reading at the minute, which I think is a pretty decent standard for a 10yo. She'd never read Terry Pratchett or Anne McCaffrey though, they're not her style at all.

Your kids sound great enemy.

I haven't read warhorse - is it quite dark? My kids are indeed awesome. Despite of me

Name - yes go for it! When I was a head of subject we bloody loved it when the good trainees applied!

DrMadeline - funny you should say that but today and in a previous lesson I've had a parent hovering and obviously making comments about me. I had them muted but could see them gesturing etc. Put me right off I have to say.
I expect I will be notified of a complaint cone Monday. Don't actually care though as I only do teaching because I'm addicted to it!

Btw I'm a bit pissed so please skim over anything I say! Had an awesome night with my wee ones living Friday night up in style (Mexican music, dobble, chess, tip trumps, wine for me, lemonade for them, dancing to cheesy music etc). Got them to bed, and I finished the bottle off. Oops!