Wet Friday Fun

Thank goodness it's Friday again - I don't know where the week goes, but go it surely does!  As all teachers will know, there is nothing like a bit of wind and rain to really hype the kids up - especially on a Friday and especially for the last lesson of the day.  On top of that I had the joy of a mufti-day today - where the kids (sorry - 'students') have the pleasure of wearing their own choice of clothes for the day - which signals to them that the rules are going to be lapsed for the day too!  The number of students who come into the class and just sit where they want, even though you have a seating plan normally, is quite astounding.  Then you have the 'battle of the chewing gum', because clearly, having no uniform means that you can chew gum throughout the day without any problems!

You can imagine, then, what the scene was like in my classroom during period 5, with my bottom set yr8 group, who are normally pretty wired anyway!   To be very non-p.c. they are the thickest group I've ever had to teach (and that really is quite something, because I've had my fair share of dunces, I can tell you!) - mainly due to a very very very short attention span.  They shout 'don't geddit' before you have even finished your instructions - and before you ask, no, I don't risk giving them in the foreign language (mfl purists, sorry, but I know when to admit defeat!).

 

I'm still struggling with my line manager, but have managed to keep out of his way for the last 2 days, which has helped.  Having said that, I've just discovered that he will be doing my 'performance management' process this year, which means helping to set my targets and observe my lessons - which I find a daunting prospect, as he has not been teaching that long and I have way more experience than him. His teaching style is totally different to mine and he is very grammar focussed, whereas I am very communicative in my approach (i.e. I like to have lively lessons which reach all ability levels).  Ah well, I'm sure it will all be ok in the end - especially as I've just spotted a job to apply for which will be to start in January - so I may complete my escape bid yet!!

 

Well - it is now the weekend and I intend to enjoy most of it - although I will have to spend most of Sunday doing school work - but at least it's in a nice, cosy environment with no germy children coughing and spluttering all over me (how I haven't caught anything so far is a miracle!)