What a day.

Still sore head - off to bed soon - after a day that had some good points (year 9s were not aggressive, and were fairly good natured, although still LOUD!) and many low points ... Year 7s in particular. Throwing paper balls at me. Then being very aggressive when I kept them for detention. So not too happy. But still going. Glad Year 9s were good ...

A full day

It surprises me that pupils do not own coloured pencils. Fair enough, some pupils might not want to bring them to school in case they get lost, and perhaps year 9 students might think that they are too old for colour pencils (although whoever is ever too old for colour pencils?!). However, for year 7s to claim not to have colour pencils at home is a sad state of affairs indeed.

One of the features of a Catholic school is the prayer at the beginning of each lesson. One year 11 decided to interupt this twice by calling out that he was Muslim so was going to pray a Muslim prayer, trying to say "Salaam Alaikum" (but failing), then lying down on the floor. Not even close, mate! When he was sent to the referral room he decided to kick up a fuss, and it took three teachers to eventually move him. He can work, but the amount of chaos that he causes in between his bouts of working are too disruptive.

Year 10s were also quite chatty today. Three very noisy pupils in particular. And the top set Year 9s also surprised me by their attitude. A few did not seem to come prepared to learn. A similar case with some of the Year 8s. Three girls were 20 minutes late, their excuse not exactly watertight (we were with Miss ... don't you believe us?), and were still complaining at their detention. At least they turned up, of course. One year 8 and one year 9 didn't. So some chasing up to do ...

My legs are aching - they were out of the habit of heels and standing on my feet all day! Hardly stopped - a full complement of lessons, a pupil came to see me at break, detentions at lunch and after school, a whole school meeting (boring!) after school, notes about pupils in other teachers' trays after that - school is well and truly back!

1000 visits!

I've finally reached the 1000 visit mark, as shown on my cluster map! Not sure who is visiting, though - I presume mostly my Dad and I! Hello to anyone who is visiting, though!

Bit tired today. Every class seemed to be such hard work; but I think it's the same all over the place. We think it's a combination of the two weeks away from authority and rules, and the weather. Pretty hot. I had to call for an on-call person three times during my Year 7 class - eventually the Head himself arrived. I've written up the incidents (mostly involving paper and elastic bands ... ) and hopefully they'll get followed up severely.

Sent two letters, and made four phone calls. Spoke to two parents, left one message, couldn't get through to one.

Sent out 250 trip letters, have loads of forms to fill in, and may have to make quite a few phone calls on Monday if the money hasn't been brought back!

Wrote up an incident report about a skiving boy who through the seat from a computer chair out the window at a group of skiving girls.

Had over three quarters of the Year 10 class back for detention in order to finish the work set in class that they had ignored.

Sorted out cover work for days that I have off in the next couple of weeks.

Have now checked all my email and blogs and am off to do the dishes, grill the fish (actually, maybe I'll steam it ...) and have a relaxing shower. Only have Year 11 lesson to fully plan for tomorrow, the rest, I think, is organised ... Goodnight!

Good morning!

Just a short note before school. I was too tired to blog yesterday. Or do much else, for that matter. My Year 7s were down in the hall again, and I suddenly had to have a departmental meeting without really being able to prepare for it. But I had just enough to cover the 45 minutes or so, and we know what needs to be done in the next meeting.

I have been invited to give a presentation with another girl who is doing her Masters. I have a meeting today about my research, and have a detention with the Year 7s after school. I'm giving an additional lesson to my AS group who have their exam tomorrow.

Another busy day!

The Joy of Computers

It took me a double lesson to download and print out a Scheme of Work today.

Other than that, my compulsory RE lesson was okay, my Year 10s had moments of quietness that were not interupted by someone saying "Why's everyone stopped talking?" (although there were moments of one miss at the back screeching loudly at another master), and my Year 7s ... well, it's windy. And we had surveyors in the playground.

Took them 20 minutes detention to realise that the lesson would end when I had finished teaching it, which would only happen once it was quiet.

Last lesson of the day, three adults in the room.

There goes the microwave bleeping at me again ... time for dinner! (H is out watching Apocolypto ... as he said to me, "You're never going to watch it, are you?" True. True.

Another day ...

I've sent out a few letters today inviting a number of year 7 parents to their child's detention next week. We'll see if that makes any difference to their behaviour ...

Had a good meeting tonight looking at Performance Management but also the difference between leadership and management. I need to try and think of my vision for the (read 'my' in the future ...) department. When I do, I should post it on here ...

Had an early night last night, but have managed to stay up later tonight. Accidentally.