only 4 working days to go :-)

Yes, it's nearly half-term and I can hardly wait.  Despite the amount of holidays we teachers get, I can honestly say that we live for them - if we didn't have them, there would be a huge shortage of people wanting to become teachers and there would be a lot more illness/absence amongst teachers.  The Autumn term in particular is the toughest to get through.  I'm never sure whether it's due to the end of summer, colder weather, darker days, or whether it's because is it the longest term to get through and there seems to be very little respite. 

 

Before I get people muttering to themselves that we have an easy life with all our holidays - I would refer you to www.rantingteacher.co.uk  in 'Lost Weekend' who supports my belief that most teachers give up their weekends and part of their holidays for school work - whether it's catching up on marking, preparing for the coming term, reading around the subject, or catching up on general admin.   

 

Personally, this coming half-term, although I have a lot of coursework to mark and sort through, I have interspersed my work with some 'fun' activites to look forward to - otherwise it really is just school in a more comfortable environment with no kids!  I try to resist the urge (not that it's a great one!) to go into school itself, unless I cannot do the said task at home, otherwise you feel like you have been cheated of some of the holiday.

 

Well - I have a pile of prep to get through today, so I'd better get on with it - this is my punishment for not doing any work yesterday (Saturday)!  Never mind - with only 1 week to go, I can cope - there is light at the end of the tunnel! (well, darkness, actually, as  the clocks go back, but that's another story !)