Sunday night .. had put off marking some writing assessments all week so spent 4 hours ploughing through those
Monday INSET Normal day 8.30- 6pm plus 1 hour in the evening
Tuesday 8.30-6, no lunch break (art club) and a planning meeting after school so reading tests plus prep had to be taken home. Am supposed to be writing reports but can't quite get started.. put off marking tests. One hour prep (seasoned teacher, saved resources from a previous year doctored and improved)
Wednesday 8.15- 6 lunch spent marking, left school with IEP folder and literacy books to mark + 2 hours
Thursday 8-5 lunch spent marking but still bought home literacy and maths tests
...have decided that this is terribly boring to read, so will stick to the facts!
My salary is based on a 6 hour day.. plus some directed time to include planning and staff meetings. I will record any additional time spent preparing and marking on top of the 6 hours.
Teaching isn't a one dimensional job, this week I have had a child tell me that their parents are getting divorced and subsequently I have lent a listening ear .. that's not just a casual conversation but two break times. Should I count those as "working"? I believe so, it's my responsibility to look after my class's welfare and I'm pleased they feel they can confide in me. I certainly can't teach and deal with situations where children need to talk to someone in a lesson, so I'll be adding in listening to musical instruments, running clubs, dealing with poor behaviour, phoning parents and .. under "emotional support".
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Holiday time
Day 1. Risk assessment. Met up with my year group colleague, researched the route from Orpington to the Thames Barrier, things to do and see, risks we feel the children need to avoid, came back by train. Total time taken 5 and a half hours: 10.30- 4pm. Beautiful day, great company but it was also a day of my holiday.(and hers)
I guess there is an outside possibility we could have used some of our ppa time, but in our school we don't get the time together and it is only half a day - still not enough to research a trip safely. Budgets being what they are, requesting supply cover for a trip costing £2 per pupil makes a nonsense of trying to choose suitable outings that don't use up school funds.
Day 2. Weekend... Saturday today, so far no school work, but I have been marking the KS2 science tests that the government is still sampling. Started that as CPD 17 years ago and still do it every summer.. one of the few jobs teachers in the UK can earn extra money at without taking on private tuition.
I guess there is an outside possibility we could have used some of our ppa time, but in our school we don't get the time together and it is only half a day - still not enough to research a trip safely. Budgets being what they are, requesting supply cover for a trip costing £2 per pupil makes a nonsense of trying to choose suitable outings that don't use up school funds.
Day 2. Weekend... Saturday today, so far no school work, but I have been marking the KS2 science tests that the government is still sampling. Started that as CPD 17 years ago and still do it every summer.. one of the few jobs teachers in the UK can earn extra money at without taking on private tuition.
Friday, 3 June 2011
Initial Thoughts
Having just checked twitter I noticed Dannynic has posted http://bit.ly/juBa3s from Charles Ripley. An American teacher who is posting his time usage during his coming year of teaching, starting from his summer vacation.
I am a teacher in the UK, not the USA, but like him, I have concerns about the numbers of teachers who study, train and enter the teaching profession with ambition and enthusiasm, only to leave within a few years. My current concerns in the UK are not only linked to the loss of our newly qualified teachers, but also to the current government proposals that teachers should work until they are 68.
I qualified in 1987 and over the last 24 years have been fortunate enough to have a variety of jobs across the education sector; classroom teacher, L.E.A. advisor, ICT trainer and back to classroom teacher. I LOVE my job but the idea of having to work until 68 maintaining enthusiasm, fresh ideas, patience and the physical stamina to be on my feet all day is really depressing.
As a parent myself I would not wish my children to be taught by someone who has not chosen to be in the classroom, or has not got the requisite physical and mental acuity to cope with groups of pupils who are living and dealing with totally different issues and worldly situations from those they have experiences of. Charles's blog aims to highlight the number of hours he puts in as a teacher, he does so "in the hopes of demonstrating that a ten week break this summer does not mean I work or am worth less than any private sector job." In emulating his blog from this side of the Atlantic I aim to show those of you who might interested enough to follow that the face to face time with the students is the tip of the iceberg.
I believe my salary is greater than my American counterparts, and I am fortunate enough to have a stable partner with an income higher than mine. It's a "vocational" job.. as my head teacher pointed out the other day. Hmmm. But I seriously doubt I'll be as vocationally enthused in 21 years time and that isn't good for me, the teaching profession or, and I believe this is the crux of the matter; the children I will be teaching.
Look around you at 68 year olds you know... hopefully they have a love of life and the ability to live it to the full. Look at the children you know. If they have teachers who are caring, knowlegable and enthusiastic those children will want to learn, they will respond to new opportunities and engage with the world. If I am forced to teach until I'm 68 I hope I will be able to provide that support, but in all honesty I can't say I will. I'll log my hours over the coming months, support Charles in his request and consider my options.
I am a teacher in the UK, not the USA, but like him, I have concerns about the numbers of teachers who study, train and enter the teaching profession with ambition and enthusiasm, only to leave within a few years. My current concerns in the UK are not only linked to the loss of our newly qualified teachers, but also to the current government proposals that teachers should work until they are 68.
I qualified in 1987 and over the last 24 years have been fortunate enough to have a variety of jobs across the education sector; classroom teacher, L.E.A. advisor, ICT trainer and back to classroom teacher. I LOVE my job but the idea of having to work until 68 maintaining enthusiasm, fresh ideas, patience and the physical stamina to be on my feet all day is really depressing.
As a parent myself I would not wish my children to be taught by someone who has not chosen to be in the classroom, or has not got the requisite physical and mental acuity to cope with groups of pupils who are living and dealing with totally different issues and worldly situations from those they have experiences of. Charles's blog aims to highlight the number of hours he puts in as a teacher, he does so "in the hopes of demonstrating that a ten week break this summer does not mean I work or am worth less than any private sector job." In emulating his blog from this side of the Atlantic I aim to show those of you who might interested enough to follow that the face to face time with the students is the tip of the iceberg.
I believe my salary is greater than my American counterparts, and I am fortunate enough to have a stable partner with an income higher than mine. It's a "vocational" job.. as my head teacher pointed out the other day. Hmmm. But I seriously doubt I'll be as vocationally enthused in 21 years time and that isn't good for me, the teaching profession or, and I believe this is the crux of the matter; the children I will be teaching.
Look around you at 68 year olds you know... hopefully they have a love of life and the ability to live it to the full. Look at the children you know. If they have teachers who are caring, knowlegable and enthusiastic those children will want to learn, they will respond to new opportunities and engage with the world. If I am forced to teach until I'm 68 I hope I will be able to provide that support, but in all honesty I can't say I will. I'll log my hours over the coming months, support Charles in his request and consider my options.
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