I know many colleagues will be dreading the first day back at school, doing their best to enjoy what's left of the 6 week summer break.
However, I am looking forward to starting again. I have found myself twiddling my thumbs, bored at home. I don't have the distraction of my own children, my girlfriend works through the holidays and my friends are in the same situation, they are also working. I have done most of my preparation work for next term and my classroom is good to go.
I would be in favour of only a four week summer break and then a longer break over Christmas, probably after new year. This would make sense if you think about it, especially with the snow we have had in recent January / February times forcing some schools to close anyway.
What do other young teachers do over the summer? I would be interested in finding out.
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Monday, 29 August 2011
PPA - a waste of time?
The title of this blog may be a surprising comment to teachers who look forward to their time away from their classroom - a weekly respite session to catch up on all those little jobs you've not quite got round to doing.
The reason I am questioning PPA is that for me it is often more hassle than it is worth. The Creative Learning Agency (2011) suggest that:
'...PPA time has presented an opportunity for other organisations and individuals, for example, artists, sports coaches, etc., to work with schools to provide enriching activities for pupils during PPA time...'
An interesting proposition it has to be said. However in reality what PPA has come to mean to me is a time where I constantly worry about what is going on in the classroom I have left - a TA is forced unwillingly into a role they are not paid for, delivering something I have had to plan, something they are not trained to do. Quite the opposite of the curriculum enriching PPA dreamed up by the government. Schools are forced to trim budgets so drastically that PPA cover in the form of another teacher, a specialist or an outside company is one of the first things to be culled.
Yes it could be argued that PPA time is a valuable time to sort planning, preparation and assessment but I wonder how many teachers actually find the time used for that purpose? Another issue is finding somewhere quiet and suitable to do this work. The staff room is a constant distraction with support staff loudly discussing the local gossip or their never ending women problems, the ICT suite is booked out all week with classes having their computer lessons and all other available space is being used for small group work, the school nurse, outside professionals coming in for meetings or to do assessments.... the list goes on.
Furthermore, enriching the curriculum I fully understand but how does this actually work. One of my favourite things to teach is PE but I know a lot of my colleagues dislike it. Does that mean that I should have to miss out on teaching a subject I feel I do well, so that a specialist (aka two lads who liked PE at school and have decided to start up a company) can come in and teach the children in the school their PE?
I wonder whether PPA time is a waste of time and should be either re-thought and properly funded or scrapped completely saving the school some money for other activities.
Resource: What is PPA time? - available here:
http://www.creativelearningagency.org.uk/metadot/index.pl?iid=23989&isa=Category
The reason I am questioning PPA is that for me it is often more hassle than it is worth. The Creative Learning Agency (2011) suggest that:
'...PPA time has presented an opportunity for other organisations and individuals, for example, artists, sports coaches, etc., to work with schools to provide enriching activities for pupils during PPA time...'
An interesting proposition it has to be said. However in reality what PPA has come to mean to me is a time where I constantly worry about what is going on in the classroom I have left - a TA is forced unwillingly into a role they are not paid for, delivering something I have had to plan, something they are not trained to do. Quite the opposite of the curriculum enriching PPA dreamed up by the government. Schools are forced to trim budgets so drastically that PPA cover in the form of another teacher, a specialist or an outside company is one of the first things to be culled.
Yes it could be argued that PPA time is a valuable time to sort planning, preparation and assessment but I wonder how many teachers actually find the time used for that purpose? Another issue is finding somewhere quiet and suitable to do this work. The staff room is a constant distraction with support staff loudly discussing the local gossip or their never ending women problems, the ICT suite is booked out all week with classes having their computer lessons and all other available space is being used for small group work, the school nurse, outside professionals coming in for meetings or to do assessments.... the list goes on.
Furthermore, enriching the curriculum I fully understand but how does this actually work. One of my favourite things to teach is PE but I know a lot of my colleagues dislike it. Does that mean that I should have to miss out on teaching a subject I feel I do well, so that a specialist (aka two lads who liked PE at school and have decided to start up a company) can come in and teach the children in the school their PE?
I wonder whether PPA time is a waste of time and should be either re-thought and properly funded or scrapped completely saving the school some money for other activities.
Resource: What is PPA time? - available here:
http://www.creativelearningagency.org.uk/metadot/index.pl?iid=23989&isa=Category
Friday, 26 August 2011
What shoud a male teacher wear?
This thought often passes through my mind. Female teachers have much more flexibility in what they can wear to work compared to their male counterparts. Women can dress in a range of items but the selection for men is much more limited.
I personally choose to wear a shirt, tie, smart trousers and shoes - pretty much the standard outfit for men in schools. However I often wonder if I should be wearing something more casual, especially in the summer months when I see female colleagues floating down the corridor in a skirt and vest top while I'm still wrapped up in my year round attire.
The main reason I choose to wear what I do is that it makes me feel professional. I think it looks good when I open the door in the morning and it gives me the right to demand a pride in appearance from the children I work with.
PE lessons give me chance to change into a t shirt and shorts and I don't feel I have any less respect from the class when I am in this outfit - in fact the first few times the children see me dressed like this it is a scene of wonder and amazement that I don't live in my school clothes all the time!
The nature of my role in reception is really the heart of this issue because teaching further up the school a shirt, tie etc is perfectly suitable. When I am trying to encourage the children in their child initiated time, joining in with games, helping build dens or paint a fire station - i wonder then if there is a more suitable outfit for me to wear which maintains a professional look?
People have suggested wearing linen trousers but then the dilemma of footwear rears its beasty head - normally I would opt for a flip flop but I don't think that is really suitable in a school setting. I could wear polo shirts with smart trousers but then run the risk of looking like a golf instructor. Quite the dilemma I am sure you'll agree.
I would love to hear some suggestions from people who read this - what do you / other men in your school wear? Is looking smart in a reception classroom even necessary? Would be good to hear some thoughts.
I personally choose to wear a shirt, tie, smart trousers and shoes - pretty much the standard outfit for men in schools. However I often wonder if I should be wearing something more casual, especially in the summer months when I see female colleagues floating down the corridor in a skirt and vest top while I'm still wrapped up in my year round attire.
The main reason I choose to wear what I do is that it makes me feel professional. I think it looks good when I open the door in the morning and it gives me the right to demand a pride in appearance from the children I work with.
PE lessons give me chance to change into a t shirt and shorts and I don't feel I have any less respect from the class when I am in this outfit - in fact the first few times the children see me dressed like this it is a scene of wonder and amazement that I don't live in my school clothes all the time!
The nature of my role in reception is really the heart of this issue because teaching further up the school a shirt, tie etc is perfectly suitable. When I am trying to encourage the children in their child initiated time, joining in with games, helping build dens or paint a fire station - i wonder then if there is a more suitable outfit for me to wear which maintains a professional look?
People have suggested wearing linen trousers but then the dilemma of footwear rears its beasty head - normally I would opt for a flip flop but I don't think that is really suitable in a school setting. I could wear polo shirts with smart trousers but then run the risk of looking like a golf instructor. Quite the dilemma I am sure you'll agree.
I would love to hear some suggestions from people who read this - what do you / other men in your school wear? Is looking smart in a reception classroom even necessary? Would be good to hear some thoughts.
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Doing a GTP
This blog will describe my time as a GTP and I will list some tips I would give a new trainee .
I started my GTP in Year 2 after a year in the same school as a Teaching Assistant, so I already had some idea of the school environment, routine and staff. However, the jump from TA to GTP student is quite substantial and is understandably daunting.
I was fortunate enough to have a very supportive team around me to help me through my year as a trainee. At school my school-based-tutor (SBT), the class teacher I was working alongside and my TA were excellent, always happy to lend advice or look over a piece of work I had completed. It is also important to have support away from school. At the time I was still living at home and had the members of my family and also my understanding girlfriend to help guide me through the year.
The workload is substantial. My advice would be to use your time at the start of the year to get the fiddly bits out of the way first.
Please leave me a comment or a question below.
I started my GTP in Year 2 after a year in the same school as a Teaching Assistant, so I already had some idea of the school environment, routine and staff. However, the jump from TA to GTP student is quite substantial and is understandably daunting.
I was fortunate enough to have a very supportive team around me to help me through my year as a trainee. At school my school-based-tutor (SBT), the class teacher I was working alongside and my TA were excellent, always happy to lend advice or look over a piece of work I had completed. It is also important to have support away from school. At the time I was still living at home and had the members of my family and also my understanding girlfriend to help guide me through the year.
The workload is substantial. My advice would be to use your time at the start of the year to get the fiddly bits out of the way first.
- Getting your skills tests booked and passed as soon as possible will help avoid any unnecessary panics come the summer term.
- Get observations of other teachers booked in (more about this below) because as soon as you start to teacher more of the lessons your time will just disappear and there may be gaps in your folders of work.
- Plan out your year roughly in September, allowing yourself plenty of time to meet deadlines - use the holidays effectively, I found that to write an essay during school time when you have marking and planning to do was tough.
- Make use of 'testimonials' - these are an easy way to demonstrate you have met a Q standard simply by typing out the standard, explaining how you've met it and then getting a senior member of staff to sign it.
- Try and arrange with your visiting tutor to have your observation visits early each term. This may cause slight panic at the time but come the final visit in the summer term, you will be finished earlier than other people on the course who book in a late observations. This is also an advantage if there are any problems as it leaves you time to book in additional observations.
- Get a second school placement at a school which is very different from yours if possible. I went from a rough school in the middle of a council estate to a small village school, attended by the sons and daughters of millionaires. This experience is invaluable, especially when it comes to applying for jobs at the end of your year.
- On that theme - apply for jobs early - from Easter time if possible. Getting a job position sorted will again take off some of the pressure come the end of the term.
- Make the most of your training days away from school. Use the time to network and let off steam with other GTP's and grab as many free resources as you can.
- Invest in some sturdy ring binders - i knew one girl who had flimsy ones and the day of her final assessment she dropped her folders and the paperwork went everywhere!
- Cross referencing will become the bane of your life - but do it, it makes your folders easier to navigate and an assessor will not miss out on any work. Each thing that goes into your folder needs to have at least one Q standard on it - otherwise why is it there?
- PRIORITISE - you wont always be able to do everything. Make a list of your jobs and do the most important thing first. Making lists is a really good way of organising your thoughts - during my year I actually kept a notepad by my bed to jot things down so they weren't floating around in my head while I was trying to sleep
- Spend time doing other things. It would be easy to neglect all other areas of your life whilst doing a GTP but for your sanity try and book things into your schedule which you will enjoy. Spend time with friends and family regularly to take your mind off the work.
- Use a diary. I never used a diary before i started teaching and it is a simple way of organising things. Take it to staff meetings and note down what is happening in school - something you might not think is relevant to you may still affect you - do Year 3 need the hall on the day of your PE observation? Is there an empty room for your assessor to use or is the school nurse in? You get the idea.
- Don't let the school use you as emergency cover - sometimes this can be helpful but try not to let them just use you as cheap labour - it's not what you are there for. If this does happen, tell your visiting tutor or training provider
Please leave me a comment or a question below.
The build up to September
I have procrastinated long enough (although some would argue adding to my blog is still avoiding the inevitable..) - it is time to officially start with preparations for the new term. I have done bits and pieces over the first few weeks, but a quick glance at the calendar tells me that it may be time to start seriously thinking about what needs doing.
Planning for the first few weeks in a Reception class, in my opinion is all about PSED. The main focus of all the activities and the structure of the day will be about making the children feel comfortable in their new environment, helping them to nurture relationships in the classroom and to make the transition from home to school as smooth as possible. Obviously there will be opportunities to explore the other areas of learning available to the children at all times, however as the teacher in the class, I believe that the first few weeks are vital for getting the children settled and familiar with the adults in the room, the daily routines and probably most importantly - becoming comfortable with each other.
The main job before the children arrive is getting the room ready. This involves creating new labels - pegs, resources etc, thinking about new display boards and preparing all the paperwork necessary to accurately observe, record and asses the children.
I am interested to know how other Reception teachers use self registration. I use this method:
Autumn Term - Children take their laminated photograph from a pile and stick it on the attending side of a 'register board'
Spring Term - This photo is replaced with a card which has their name on
Summer Term - Use the Interactive Whiteboard to self register.
How do you do it?
Planning for the first few weeks in a Reception class, in my opinion is all about PSED. The main focus of all the activities and the structure of the day will be about making the children feel comfortable in their new environment, helping them to nurture relationships in the classroom and to make the transition from home to school as smooth as possible. Obviously there will be opportunities to explore the other areas of learning available to the children at all times, however as the teacher in the class, I believe that the first few weeks are vital for getting the children settled and familiar with the adults in the room, the daily routines and probably most importantly - becoming comfortable with each other.
The main job before the children arrive is getting the room ready. This involves creating new labels - pegs, resources etc, thinking about new display boards and preparing all the paperwork necessary to accurately observe, record and asses the children.
I am interested to know how other Reception teachers use self registration. I use this method:
Autumn Term - Children take their laminated photograph from a pile and stick it on the attending side of a 'register board'
Spring Term - This photo is replaced with a card which has their name on
Summer Term - Use the Interactive Whiteboard to self register.
How do you do it?
Monday, 22 August 2011
Teaching is a lifestyle - not a job
"Teachers get it easy. They work from 9am till 3pm, have every weekend off and then a huge 6 week holiday in the summer, plus half terms and time off at Christmas".
Many people have said something similar, if not identical to me many times. I thought a good way to start this blog would be to discuss this opinion.
Yes, we do get those holiday times off throughout the year, but what does 'off' actually mean? If it simply means not having to get up every morning and go into school for the school day, then yes I believe we do get it off. However, if 'off' is used to describe my time during the summer, at weekends, half terms or at Christmas as time when I can stay in bed all day, watch Jeremy Kyle and not think about school at all, then the opinion is slightly warped.
I always say to people 'teaching is a lifestyle choice, not simply a job'. I say this because without being a teacher or spending a lot of time with a teacher you wouldn't know what it is like. A simple shop to the supermarket becomes the weekly food shop plus an opportunity to stock up on boxes for your junk modelling area, a chance to quickly grab some extra Pritt Sticks because some little swine has left the lids off of your new glues and they have solidified, a moment to get the bread, jam, butter, Marmite, honey for tomorrow's toast making session..... You get the idea.
Teaching is the best job in the world and in my opinion to be a successful teacher you need to 'live' the role. Always thinking, always planning and always on the lookout for things that can improve your practice. To live the role you simply cannot just have time 'off' - you have to become it.
Work/life balance is important and I always try to make sure I have the time to do thing other things I love doing - watching football, spending time with my girlfriend, watching films, but it is very tough to not have a constant to -do list buzzing around your head.
Many people have said something similar, if not identical to me many times. I thought a good way to start this blog would be to discuss this opinion.
Yes, we do get those holiday times off throughout the year, but what does 'off' actually mean? If it simply means not having to get up every morning and go into school for the school day, then yes I believe we do get it off. However, if 'off' is used to describe my time during the summer, at weekends, half terms or at Christmas as time when I can stay in bed all day, watch Jeremy Kyle and not think about school at all, then the opinion is slightly warped.
I always say to people 'teaching is a lifestyle choice, not simply a job'. I say this because without being a teacher or spending a lot of time with a teacher you wouldn't know what it is like. A simple shop to the supermarket becomes the weekly food shop plus an opportunity to stock up on boxes for your junk modelling area, a chance to quickly grab some extra Pritt Sticks because some little swine has left the lids off of your new glues and they have solidified, a moment to get the bread, jam, butter, Marmite, honey for tomorrow's toast making session..... You get the idea.
Teaching is the best job in the world and in my opinion to be a successful teacher you need to 'live' the role. Always thinking, always planning and always on the lookout for things that can improve your practice. To live the role you simply cannot just have time 'off' - you have to become it.
Work/life balance is important and I always try to make sure I have the time to do thing other things I love doing - watching football, spending time with my girlfriend, watching films, but it is very tough to not have a constant to -do list buzzing around your head.
An introduction...
It is mid August and I am in the middle of the summer holidays. I have decided to start a blog to document some of my thoughts, experiences and ideas linked to my profession.
So who am I?
I am a 24 year old Reception teacher living near London in the United Kingdom. I teach reception aged children in a leafy middle class school and just finished my NQT year.
Why write a blog?
Several reasons really.
I plan to keep this blog confidential so no real names will be used in posts.
So who am I?
I am a 24 year old Reception teacher living near London in the United Kingdom. I teach reception aged children in a leafy middle class school and just finished my NQT year.
Why write a blog?
Several reasons really.
- I am interested in the Internet and have been considering a blog for a while.
- I think in my profession where everyday is different, I will have plenty of ammunition for interesting and amusing posts.
- I am slightly unusual in that I am a man who teaches in Reception and therefore might be able to discuss issues in a different way to women.
- During my training I read a lot of blogs and forums and feel I now have some experience that I can use to help other people.
I plan to keep this blog confidential so no real names will be used in posts.
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