To Do before going back to school ...

1. Mark Year 11 exams (2 sets plus one third of two other sets)
2. Mark 2 sets of Year 11 books
3. Mark 2 sets of Year 10 books
4. Plan A level lessons on Sex and Relationships
5. Write Year 11 reports
6. Write revision notes for A level students
7. Produce homework booklets for Years 7 to 11
8. Enjoy Christmas!

Right. So I really ought to get cracking then ...

Added on Saturday 10 January: I didn't manage to get much done ... I am half way through marking the first set of Year 10 books, and I still have most of the Year 11 reports to get finished. They are due in on Monday. I have made homework booklets for Years 10 and 11.

Terrific

I spent all weekend planning an A Level lesson for an observation on Monday. Then I was told that the person who was supposed to be observing me was not in; however, it had also been arranged (inadvertently, mistakenly, I think) for another senior teacher to observe me later this week. The teacher who told me this then agreed to stay and watch my lesson, which I had prepared, as long as he was not needed elsewhere. Which turned out to be all but the final ten minutes.

Later, I asked if that would count as my observation. "Terrific lesson!" I was told. But, no, it would not count as an observation because he had not written anything down!! But it would be used to help write the report about the sixth form ...

Gee, thanks! Terrific!

This week

I am trying to get rid of a cold. I have been taking Vitamin C tablets, drinking lots of water, eating satsumas, covering myself in Vic, eating chicken soup, drinking Innocent smoothies packed full of vitamin C, having extra sleep ... hope it shakes itself off soon.

Enjoyed the peace and quiet at lunchtime after the final pupils had left! Decided to come home early to try and get rid of the dreaded lurgy!

A2 had their exam today. My final one. GCSE Year 10s and Resits yesterday - most pupils seem quite happy with it, and I thought it was a fair paper. Most of the topics that came up were ones that were expected.

When we were visiting a friend on Saturday night, quite late, I heard a strange, unearthly screaming sound. I looked out the window, as our friend told me it was foxes. Outside there were at least six foxes, chasing each other through the streets. They were quite aggressive, and our friend's sister was attacked by them once. So I was a bit scared when we left, but it was okay!

Sports Day on Friday. Was a bit offended in the staffroom today at lunch ... a couple of colleagues were discussing who would run in the women's relay team, and were asking loads of women, and mentioning the names of many women on the staff - but not me! Eventually the man sitting next to me suggested "What about NL?", but there did not seem much interest. The original girl discussing it then phoned over to someone else, and mentioned who might take part, "Me, Miss X and -" (here she laughed a bit) Mrs NL"! I know I don't ever take part in anything sporty at school, but I was in the relay team at primary school! (Although I'll definitely not be doing it this year, since I can hardly breath when I'm not moving, never mind trying to run!)

Half way through half term update

It's Wednesday, H and I have spent the last couple of days getting the studio ready for the Open Studio, and the car passed its MOT this morning. I went to school yesterday for some A Level revision. Can't believe their exam is next week. I'm really nervous. With my GCSE group, I had never felt so prepared. With this group, I've never felt so unprepared. Oh dear.

Well, better get back to holding up shelves and pictures.

Busy day ...

I think this is the busiest day of the week ... Two pupils eventually arrived for my AS class. I then had my new Year 9 class ... the boys were really disruptive, but I made the conscious decision to carry on teaching the pupils at the front of the class. It was an introduction to the new topic, the first of the GCSE topics that they'll study. During break, I managed to find an empty ICT room, so that was my Year 7 sorted - they are marginally better in an ICT room, because the badly behaved ones get on with playing games, while those who want to learn follow the instructions, listen carefully to what they have to do, and get on with the task. Period 4 should have been my Year 10s, but they are on work experience. During lunch a couple of Year 8s came and played on my computer, creating talking animations, in preparation for the lesson on Friday. After lunch, I had my A2 class, which went on after the bell, and also included tidying out one of our store cupboards and emptying the recycling bin.

So all in all, my busiest day has been a not too bad one.

Tomorrow should be interesting ...

Thursday

Bit of a mixed bag day. Good Year 11 revision lesson. Used my new DigiMemo. Then two lots of Year 10s. Ugh. Then AS class. Okay. Printed off reports. Then - swimming! Fun. Very tired though, after a few busy days.

French Philosopher

What an interesting day today. In the morning I did three hour-long slots of marking as part of my research and my pupils' GCSE revision. Then my AS students arrived, with lunch, for some Utilitarianism revision. Then I came home, got changed, and we headed to the British Library to listen to Alain Badiou, the leading living French philosopher. The talk was held in the very comfortable conference centre, and the combination of this, Alain's soporific voice, and my lack of knowledge and understanding of the topic, meant that I had a very cosy 20 minutes or so snooze. Since this came after a very clear introduction, and before a fairly clear summary, I managed to catch the gist of the message, which was that existence is appearing to be, in a place. I think. The question session afterwards was not so clear, but perhaps that was because I was reading the "What's on" guide. Lots of interesting talks as part of their "Sacred" exhibition throughout April and May. I think we'll be back. But hopefully to something that I understand more!

Ofsted

So, the day has finally come. Ofsted will come to school next week. And, being responsible for RE in a Catholic school, I will have my very own interview, and the department will have its very own inspection, by the Diocese. Fun! I have a busy weekend, then a busy Monday and Tuesday, so I'm not entirely sure when I'm going to finish my marking and make sure I have all the statistics at my fingertips ... I will try and finish one set of marking tonight. And maybe complete a departmental review.

Other than that ... had a good Bible study meeting last night, very informative and interesting, as always. Then H and I went onto an exhibition opening, that we then realised was last week, so we headed home via Canary Wharf.

Today was my first not so great day ... the Year 11s were not too great, and a few of the Year 10s kept talking and interupted the learning of others. Must move them next lesson ... I was yawning during the A2 lesson, so imagine how they felt. My only free was taken with the third cover of the week, and lunchtime was taken up with a nice conversation with an eloquent Year 7, discussing how she feels the walls are closing in on her, her frustration at the continual disruptions of her class in a variety of lessons, and then I went to a meeting about new technology, which is really exciting. But the cover took away the lesson I had planned on having lunch and making phone calls in, so I'm still hungry, and the calls had to take place at the end of the day. Which is how I learnt about the inspection ...

Right. Let's hope next week is a positive one ... and I'm sure you'll understand if you don't hear that much from me until Thursday at least!!!

Coins, windows, observations

Felt more rested today ... just as well, another busy day!

Had a really nice AS lesson ... shame the attendance was rotten. We were learning about Utilitarianism and I think the students would find it much easier than some of the other ethical theories we have studied. Year 7s were (trying to) complete the work we started yesterday ... I wish they'd realise that it would be so much easier if they stayed in their seats and listened quietly to the instructions. Sent three to the Referral Room, because they were throwing coins about. Then I had my Year 10 class ... very little work done, but I then refused to let them go for lunch until they had completed a certain amount of work. It took some of them 15 minutes, some almost half an hour, because of their procrastination. One boy climbed out of the window, fell and got covered in dirt, the rest of the class got up and laughed at him, I pointed out that that was an automatic letter home, he said that was okay, his mum was late in on Fridays, when the letter would arrive, so he would get it first, I commented that in that case I would need to phone his mum to check she had received the letter, he looked sheepish while everyone laughed again, so I suggested he come back round (through the door this time) in order to complete his detention and we'd forget about it this time. So he did, and stayed for half an hour, which also gave me the opportunity to talk to him about the sort of support he'd like me to provide for his writing in class. There were about five boys who pushed their way out of the door ... I followed them up later with extra homework, and tried to call home, but couldn't get through to any of them. I've written up so I can discuss it with their Head of Year tomorrow ... I will keep on at them until I can crack them! (That's the plan, anyway!)

Also observed another lesson, my second this week. It's really hard giving feedback, especially when it's on the borderline between two "judgements". Lots of good things happening in the lesson, but could there have been more? At least it's done now. I should have two more observations tomorrow, but I think one of the teachers may still be off. Then I'll just have a couple left ... and someone should really observe me. But I'm keeping that quiet for now ... ! (I hate being observed!)

Must go now ... I have to plan my Year 11 lesson, a Year 10 cover lesson (for when I'm observing another teacher), and I need to read some documents and write a report for a meeting I can't go to tomorrow, and do some reading in preparation for the meeting I am going to go to tomorrow ... Must also get the salmon on the grill, and peel the potatoes!

Finally ... I can tick something off my list!

At last, a productive day.

I produced a ppt for form tutors to show their forms to introduce Lent (Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving ...).
I have proofread our Self Evaluation document. (Must pass that onto the DHT to update.)
I've finished marking my Y11 Assessments - and have put their grades, and my Y7 levels, into our database.
I've put together a basic SoW for Y9s about Jesus. (Needs to be completely finished, but since I'm working on it with someone else, and we don't actually start teaching it for another couple of weeks, I think that's acceptable.)
I have planned two lessons for my A Level classes that can be used when the inspectors are around. Hopefully.
I've done the laundry. Although I better take it out the drier and put it away!

Now, all I have to do is:
* Review and finish my research questionnaires.
* Write a SoW for Y11s that will be part of my research - Marriage and Family Life.
* Plan the final lessons for the Y10 unit, Worship and Celebration.
* Plan a few more AS/A2 lessons ... I've started SoWs for these groups, I should add more to them.
* Go through my briefcase, filing certain documents at home, and sorting out what needs to be filed at school, and what can be filed in the bin.
* Add all the SEN/EAL/G&T data to my lesson plan templates so I'm ready for Ofsted.
* Get a MAC code so I can switch servers.
* Tidy the house.

So, not much left for me to do tomorrow, is there?!

Hurray for the Holiday!

I've finally made it! I'm on holiday! I'm not quite sure that it's sunk in yet ... I was still busily beavering away in the office at 5pm last night, trying to decide what to take home and what to leave. It's all because the Call has still not come ... Frankly, I think it's rather unfair of Ofsted leaving us hanging on like this ... The short, sharp shock of inspection is supposed to make it easier, so that teachers are not planning for weeks on end for their inspection, but instead we've been on 72 hours notice of an inspection since September, and it's going to loom over our half term too. Anyway, at least it is the holiday, and although some teachers are running classes and going in over the holidays, I am not one of them. I've even been good at not bringing home all my boxes of marking this time. I've only got my Year 11 end of unit tests that I should mark today so I can update their predicted grades.

So, what are the plans for the week? Well, some are unfortunate and mundane tasks - after finishing the washing up and the laundry I need to arrange to get a new windscreen, since there are two rather large cracks in it ... a by-product of pupils throwing stones, perhaps? I can't be quite sure, but I suspect they may be the culprits. Only noticed it as I arrived home last night. I can be sure about the providence of the scar along my glasses, though ... you're not supposed to use the edge of your top in order to clean your glasses. Especially if that top has small diamontes sewn on. So that is my next chore, to book an appointment with an optician. Especially since I've not had my eyes tested for about 18 months, either. I'll probably try to book that for Monday afternoon, so I can go straight there after my dentist appointment. Another unhappy visit, I fear. The last time I saw him, my dentist told me I'd need to have my wisdom teeth taken out. They've been fine recently, it's okay, they can stay there ... So I'm not particularly looking forward to that.

The next category of things to do involves my research. I must complete my questionnaires, both for the pupils and the teachers. My tutor is having a look at them this week, to see if they look suitable. I should also try and use this opportunity to complete my Methods and Methodology Review, and it would be great if I could get started on my Literature Review, which is due in after Easter. I also need to write the Marriage and Family Life Scheme of Work, which needs to involve lots of Assessment for Learning.

This leads me onto my next category - school stuff. I am jointly responsible for the next Year 9 SoW, Jesus in the Gospels. I need to do some work on that, in conjunction (via email) with a colleague. I think I will also try to make sure that there are at least three lessons planned for Year 7 (Reconciliation) and Year 8 (The Paschal Mystery) in case the colleagues responsible have not managed to complete those for the first week back. I will also try to write a SoW for Year 10 ... Living the Christian Life. And I should plan a few lessons for my A Level classes too. So, as you can see, my main aims this week, school wise, revolve around one of my favourite parts of teaching - planning lessons. But it's been such a long time that I've had to write one that I'm worried they'll all be rubbish! I also have some admin-y things to do, too, such as checking over the SEF and making sure the handbook is up to date. So all that should keep me busy.

Finally, the most important category ... H and I having a lovely holiday, using the opportunity to visit museums and galleries, or simply wandering around the shops, or sitting at home getting some reading done. Relaxing. Resting. Enjoying life, and each other's company. I'm looking forward to it. Hope I can manage to fit in some of those other things around this most important task!