The October half term comes as a welcome relief to many teachers. The initial enthusiasm for the new school year is a distant memory and the work load returns with a vengeance.
Half terms serve many purposes. For me I tend to use them as a catch up week - a week where I can catch up on chores, catch up on banking, catch up on to do lists, catch up with friends etc.
The week does often speed by but I always look forward to the second half of the autumn term because it is a lovely time to be in a primary school. The mood is generally nice and the children are excited and as December nears the Christmas madness begins to take over them.
Use your first half term wisely if you are reading this as a GTP. Have you done your skills tests? Have you at least booked them?? Have you identified where the gaps are in your folder? Get these things in check as very soon you will start to notice your time disappear and before you know it you'll be off on your second school placement and then back into full time teaching.
Monday, 24 October 2011
Sunday, 9 October 2011
The Pressure of the NQT year
So you've done it. The gruelling year of managing planning, collating evidence to meet Q standards and dealing with numerous critical observations is over and you are a qualified teacher.
The bad news I'm afraid is that the hard work is just beginning. It's time to go it alone for the first time, your first job. No longer can you hide under the protective cloak of 'trainee' - you are now the teacher. The only teacher. Just you and a TA (hopefully) against the masses.
What I found most difficult is the 'being thrown in at the deep end' sensation. I was used to a schedule that had been prepared by someone else. Now it is me making the schedule. By passing the training year you are obviously capable of working as a teacher (how some people slipped through that year I will never know!) but it's the bits they don't train you for that come as a surprise. Are you prepared to fight tooth and nail for your hall slot? Are you aware of the expectations of doing a parent's evening on your own? I hope so because that is the reality.
Having a good mentor in your NQT year is important. I was lucky and was working alongside somebody who had been teaching for 5 years and so had a pretty good grasp on the role and expectations. Use the mentor wisely. They will be able to offer advice on school related issues as well as suggestions on how to effectively maintain a work life balance.
Ensure you are given all the time you are supposed to have. PPA and NQT time is a requirement and the school will be breaking LEA codes if you are not given this time out of the classroom.
A stressful home life will affect your classroom performance and so keeping a healthy balance of work and home life is vital. Allocate pockets of time and at least 1 day off at the weekend to recharge your batteries and spend time with friends and family. I know it is hard but also try to avoid talking about school - the people around you will be sick of this conversation and you will not be totally switching off of you are talking about work.
At this time of year I can imagine many NQT's will be feeling seriously under pressure. The new term is speeding by and there is still loads to be done. Relax, prioritise and ease yourself towards half term. Only another 2 and a half to go!
The bad news I'm afraid is that the hard work is just beginning. It's time to go it alone for the first time, your first job. No longer can you hide under the protective cloak of 'trainee' - you are now the teacher. The only teacher. Just you and a TA (hopefully) against the masses.
What I found most difficult is the 'being thrown in at the deep end' sensation. I was used to a schedule that had been prepared by someone else. Now it is me making the schedule. By passing the training year you are obviously capable of working as a teacher (how some people slipped through that year I will never know!) but it's the bits they don't train you for that come as a surprise. Are you prepared to fight tooth and nail for your hall slot? Are you aware of the expectations of doing a parent's evening on your own? I hope so because that is the reality.
Having a good mentor in your NQT year is important. I was lucky and was working alongside somebody who had been teaching for 5 years and so had a pretty good grasp on the role and expectations. Use the mentor wisely. They will be able to offer advice on school related issues as well as suggestions on how to effectively maintain a work life balance.
Ensure you are given all the time you are supposed to have. PPA and NQT time is a requirement and the school will be breaking LEA codes if you are not given this time out of the classroom.
A stressful home life will affect your classroom performance and so keeping a healthy balance of work and home life is vital. Allocate pockets of time and at least 1 day off at the weekend to recharge your batteries and spend time with friends and family. I know it is hard but also try to avoid talking about school - the people around you will be sick of this conversation and you will not be totally switching off of you are talking about work.
At this time of year I can imagine many NQT's will be feeling seriously under pressure. The new term is speeding by and there is still loads to be done. Relax, prioritise and ease yourself towards half term. Only another 2 and a half to go!
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Stereotypes
As a male working in the Foundation Stage of a primary school I often find myself tarnished with stereotypes. All are simply wrong.
I will use this blog to address some of these theories.
1. You work with young children - you must be gay?
WRONG. I am 100% straight, in a happy heterosexual relationship with my girlfriend.
2.You work with young children - you must be a pervert?
WRONG! I am 100% not a pervert, i simply enjoy working with the younger children because I love seeing the dramatic rate of progress they make and I feel it is important to have male role models lower down the school, especially with the high number of single parent (usually mothers) in my local area.
3. You work with young children - you must not be able to cope with older children?
I also spend time running after school clubs and trained in KS2 so clearly have the skills and ability to manage the behaviour of older children.
4. You are a man - you must be available for lifting / general DIY tasks?
WRONG! Yes I am the only male working in the school but that does not mean I automatically want to do handy man tasks. The worst case of this stereotype is when it is assumed I will happily lift huge constructions at the drop of a hat! I do have other jobs to do you know!!
Parents and colleagues share some of these views. I just wanted to set the record straight.
Rant over.
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