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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 69th Staff Republic

392 replies

TheHoneyBadger · 18/12/2021 11:26

Just in time for the Christmas break. As it's the holidays we're allowed chairs and everything. I believe even buffets are permitted currently? No going to see Bond films though obviously.

Stolen from previous threads…
'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 for school staff to let off steam.

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.

Do not give the staffroom password to non-staff as it attracts the wrong sort of crowd.

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.'

OP posts:
Mistressiggi · 12/01/2022 06:49

That's embarrassing!

Appuskidu · 12/01/2022 07:03

600!

I’m sure the vaccines minister lady said it was ‘in the thousands’ in the Xmas holidays. She wasn’t lying, was she?!

MrsHamlet · 12/01/2022 07:07

480 something in the end, according to radio 4 🤦🏼‍♀️

LolaBear66 · 12/01/2022 14:21

Hi all, I am a primary teacher and a long time lurker but sipping in and out of the Staff Republic over the course of the pandemic has really helped me keep sane! I have an interview soon for an outdoor teacher post and wondered if I could see if anyone had a suggestion for an activity please? I’m really sorry to highjack the thread like this, but I would love the job (but little experience in this area)

cornercupboard · 12/01/2022 19:56

Hi LolaBear
I teach Forest School. Do you know what age children you'll have in your interview? How about making a rain gauge (pleastic bottle, masking tape, scissors, string, sharpie) - combination of maths (relatable to various ages), science, DT and of course Forest school ethos of small achievable tasks with outdoor focus.

LolaBear66 · 12/01/2022 20:54

Thank you for your response, I do really appreciate it. It’s for a SEN school, 14 years olds with vocab from 6 to 14 years of age. I need to teach the concept of honesty 😬. I was trying to think of an activity with scope to suit a range of abilities. Haven’t done an interview for years. So not with the ‘on trend’ language. Don’t want to look like a right banana!

cornercupboard · 13/01/2022 21:25

Blimey - that's a tough gig, LolaBear!
How about a telling the truth game like the one where you have to guess "who am I?" with a post it note on your forehead. But instead you have a pine cone, stick etc to describe.
I'll keep on thinking....

BitterTits · 13/01/2022 22:02

Nearly 60% of a class absent today!

Proudplantowner · 15/01/2022 04:25

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a great Christmas! It's been a while since I have posted.
Has anyone had a PGCE/trainee constantly contact them at weekends? I've told my lovely student I will have a look at her plans on a Sunday over email. I'm finding that she also rings me, sends voice notes and texts me about non-urgent things. It's making it difficult for me to switch off but I'm not sure how to handle this without offending her...

namechangedyetagain · 15/01/2022 08:45

Ok i was a little bit like this (as I really needed to know what i was doing was ok) and my mentor kindly said that whilst she doesn't mind, in my career, other colleagues might! So to send emails rather that whats app etc and then they can choose when to respond.

Have to admit, as an ECT I'm no longer that enthusiastic and if something in my lesson isn't perfect there's always another day Grin

Proudplantowner · 15/01/2022 09:45

@namechangedyetagain I can completely understand wanting to know what you are doing is fine. Yes I think what your mentor said is good advice! Perhaps I should say something similar.
Yes, there's always tomorrow Grin

CarrieBlue · 15/01/2022 09:54

@Proudplantowner - that’s why my private phone number isn’t shared with colleagues unless they are friends too and temporary acquaintances like trainees are definitely not added! Insist on school email contact only and make clear you will only answer it on Sunday evening (or whenever you decide). Ignore any other contact. Whilst it’s nice to be friendly and helpful a trainee is there for 12 weeks or so, it’s a professional relationship only and the trainee needs to remember that too.

cornercupboard · 15/01/2022 10:19

Gaslighty twat head continues to irritate me, is currently on a "when the adults change" vibe. I haven't read it - but have heard various views. Can you lot give me yours? We are a Thrive school and do lots of positive reinforcement stuff, are told to say "remember to walk" rather than "don't run", etc etc but behaviour is not good. Gaslighty twat is big on respect but slow to follow up incidents where respect not shown.

MrsHamlet · 15/01/2022 10:21

Oh god. We had one like that last term.
In the end, I told her that she needed to contact the mentor only by email and that she couldn't expect a reply outside of certain agreed hours.

Proudplantowner · 15/01/2022 10:24

@CarrieBlue yes I will do that. Shouldn't have given her my number really, she asked and I felt too awkward to say no.
We're out for my partner's birthday whisky experience today so I definitely won't be thinking about work!

Proudplantowner · 15/01/2022 10:26

@MrsHamlet did they listen once you said that? I just feel like I've worked hard in the last couple of years to not think about work at the weekends and getting a text or call makes me stressed.

MrsHamlet · 15/01/2022 10:35

She did when she realised we meant it! Mentor would check email at an agreed time and reply then.
If you don't want contact at the weekend, then make that a rule. I'd back a mentor over that. It's easier when they're in school full time but I've got much better this term at not checking email or teams once I've left the building, and I'm trying to stick to it.

CarrieBlue · 15/01/2022 11:05

@Proudplantowner - I’d block her number on your phone too, then she can only contact you via email

Proudplantowner · 15/01/2022 11:47

@MrsHamlet I'm actually not her mentor, just the class teacher of the class she's in. But yeah, i think I need to make that a rule.
@CarrieBlue I've muted her at the moment which has helped as I don't check my phone that often

MrsHamlet · 15/01/2022 11:58

If you're not the mentor, then there's even less reason to have to be available to her 24/7

Proudplantowner · 15/01/2022 12:27

That's true

Beachhuts90 · 15/01/2022 23:05

@cornercupboard

Gaslighty twat head continues to irritate me, is currently on a "when the adults change" vibe. I haven't read it - but have heard various views. Can you lot give me yours? We are a Thrive school and do lots of positive reinforcement stuff, are told to say "remember to walk" rather than "don't run", etc etc but behaviour is not good. Gaslighty twat is big on respect but slow to follow up incidents where respect not shown.
My old school used the 3 school rules only (ready, safe, and respectful) which is something that book advocates. I thought at the time it was fine, and now that I'm at a school that has a more convoluted list of rules I can really see the benefit of it.
twinkletoesimnot · 16/01/2022 08:13

We have an outbreak in our R/KS1 class. As does my daughters school in YR/1.
Anecdotally, does it seem more little ones are getting it?
Or just being tested? (Ours started with a staff member)

twinkletoesimnot · 16/01/2022 08:40

Actually I should clarify that. It was picked up in a staff member - who quite possibly got it from their class who then subsequently were asked to test and more cases have been found.

JanglyBeads · 17/01/2022 16:43

Omicron hits children much more - up to 30% of some countries' cases are kids now - although vaccination has something to do with that as well of course. More children are getting sicker too, and some sadly dying.

Of course the vast majority still sail through it though! Hope yours are (all) ok