Day 274 - Teacher Swap

Friday January 15th

Got a little manic today as I was a little under-planned for my first 4 lesson day. To add to the excitement the teacher I am swapping with for three weeks was in to meet everyone and observe my lessons. Part of our training is to go to a second school and experience something different.

In our case we have gone for something very different. She is coming to a large mixed comprehensive with class sizes of 30+, a strict behavioural policy and high academic standards. I am going to a small private boarding school for boys with learning difficulties who have failed in mainstream education and class sizes of 8-10. Teacher swap is coming to a TV station near you. Worth watching.

My first full day was exhausting and I barely made it through but I did. The lessons themselves went in a blur and I did not stop to eat, drink or pee. This is not healthy and to be avoided but I will need to find a way to manage this when I am on a full timetable. Everyone else seems so relaxed or else they've learnt to suck it all in from 8.45 to 3.15. It's only 6 and a half hours after all.

Day 273 - The Literacy of Numbers

Thursday January 14th

The snow melted as quickly as it had come this time, which was a shame because Winchester looked beautiful with its trees and roofs laden with virgin white snow. Still no teaching for me today as I hopped on the Number 1 bus for a day at University. even that wasn't straightforward as St Cross Rd is closed to traffic and I had to slog up Battery Hill to intercept it on its detour.

Today we learn about literacy in learning. If I might translate into simple words. We learnt that children have to be able to read in order to progress at school, not only in English but in all subjects, including Maths. This took a whole day.

Joking aside, it does seem that doing well in a Maths exam in 2010 depends significantly more on your ability to read than it did in the 1980s. In their efforts to make Maths more relevant and functional, simple maths problems of yesteryear now come with a whole story attached to them before you get to the Maths bit. This means there is a bigger chance of misunderstanding or incomprehension through (lack of) literacy. Losing interest before you get to the end of the question is also highly probable. Bring back the purity of solving problems with numbers and symbols, that's what I say.

Day 272 - Delayed Start

Wednesday January 13th

Would you believe it? A bit of overnight snow and it's delayed start, 3 year groups and no lessons for me. Brilliant! That's what I call a day at work. Tough call at 6am but in hindsight the whole school could have opened with a delayed start. Now we have a bunch of Year 9,10,11s feeling hard done by as they are in school and the others aren't. Lots of Year 11s did not come in at all.

As it stands, I haven't had a lesson with my Year 8s yet and once we get through the exam we will be pretty close to half term. Basically, that means getting behind on our scheme of work for the year and when they look at their teacher next year with a blank look when asked whether that have covered area of a circle, it will be my fault...or is that the snow's fault.

Not one lesson today, so used the time to sit with the other teachers and ask their advice on lesson plans and resources. A day like this a week would be perfect. This is what a lesson plan looks like for a half term.

10.2.2 Spring Term H1 Plan 12 Lessons

Representing Data/Surds/

AQA Book Module 1 & 3

#	Lesson	Learning Objectives	Resources	Homework
1	Mon 4th Jan. Computer Room	New Topic - Surds Surds (1/3) Recognise and simplify surds	Starter: Factorisation of 2010 Main: MyMaths Surds lesson and homework	None
2	Tues 5th Jan.	Surds (2/3) Rationalise the denominator of a surd	Starter: MyMaths sq. numbers Main: 10 ticks worksheet	AQA Mod 3 Ch 3 Apply 1 and 2
3	Mon 11th Jan. Observation	Surds (3/3) Solve problems including surds	Starter: Main: Malcolm Swan activity GCSE questions	None
1	Tues 12th Jan. DVS away	Representing Data (cont. from H2 Autumn) Construct a time series graph and plot the moving averages	Starter: Main: Power Point lesson and 10 ticks L7-8 Pack 6, Page 37
2	Mon 18th Jan	Construct a histogram (1/2)	Starter: Main: Power Point or MyMaths. Construct 2-3 in books	Finish
3	Tues 19th Jan	Interpret a histogram (2/2)	Starter: Main: 10 ticks Level 9 Pack 3 Page 37	From AQA book
1	Mon 25th Jan	New Topic – Probability Review – simple probability, listing outcomes, adding to 1, solving problems	Starter: Dice Bingo Main: Pack of Cards activity (as for 9.2.2)	None
2	Tues 26th Jan	Use relative frequency to find probabilities Compare to theoretical	Starter: Main: MyMaths lesson, compare results
3	Mon 1st Feb	Complete a tree diagram for successive independent events (1/2)	Starter: Main: 10 ticks L7-8 P1 Page 15	Finish worksheet
4	Tues 2nd Feb	Complete a tree diagram for successive independent events	Starter: Main: Class activity to complete diagram and calculate probability	Self Assessment on Mod 1 and 3
1	Mon 8th Feb NCL away 2nd Placement*	Catch Up Lesson		None
2	Tues 9th Feb 2nd Placement	Exam Revision		None

*2^nd Placement GTP Teacher is Frances Hudson from More House School in Farnham. First week before half term will be observation. Two weeks after half term, Frances will be planning and teaching

Day 271 - Chariots of Fire

Tuesday January 12th

The threat of more snow has everyone excited today - delicious anticipation of another day off tomorrow or at the very least, less kids to teach. It's funny how that already appeals to me! More Surds with 10.2.2 - it's amazing how difficult it is to grasp them and yet how simple they really are. It's about the language you use and the fact they are (almost) completely irrelevant in real life.

Pounded round the circuit in Bar End tonight, just as it started to snow. It was spectacular - a temporary 400m track lit by torches, catching the snowflakes in their beam as we pounded past like rickety old racehorses. All very Chariots of Fire like.

Day 270 - Indolent Pupils

Monday January 11th

This truly is a big chill. The temperature remains below freezing so nothing is melting and they are not sure how many teachers are going to make it in so......only Years 9,10,11 today and no uniform. It feels like Christmas week all over again.

Everyone is lethargic today, especially the kids, I can hardly rouse my Year 10s to do anything which is a shame as I am being observed. In the end, it goes quite well and DVS gives me a good rating. She is looking for more involvement from the LSA (Learning Support Assistant) in the class room. This is a fair point. I have lofty intentions of doing this but they are currently falling short as I barely have the time to organise myself let alone anyone else. Taking the time is worth it as they are a essentially an extra teacher who can help with classroom management, differentiation, focusing on some pupils so I can get round the rest.

Day 269 - Enforced Hibernation

Sunday January 10th

We were meant to go to M&D's for Ted's birthday lunch today but decided against it. It has warmed up a little but Christchurch Rd is still covered in ice.

All my outline plans are written for the first half term so I fell really good about that. it makes a big difference to discuss a lesson with the class teacher in advance. It means I am not panicking the night before with no-one to talk to. Sorry. Not panicking MUCH.

Day 268 - Forced March To The Pub

Saturday January 9th

Philippa and I have decided that all this snow and enforced hibernation means that we should be able to have a drink so I enjoyed a glass of wine or two last night. The roads and pavements are still pretty treacherous and there is no sport.

We finally made it to The Bridge in Shawford with the Dewars. It was a great walk in the end and we had to navigate the raging Itchen. The pub was OK (I know I shouldn't but when I saw the barman generously dip the tap spout into the beer as he was pouring, I was itching to leap over the bar and tell him how to serve a perfect pint) but the whole experience was definitely worth it. Everyone got some fresh air and we bumped into people we actually knew.

Day 267 - The Ancient Art Of Thinking

Friday January 8th

Years 10 and 11 in today and so I had a very relaxed day. Gave my Year 11s a past paper and then sat in the Maths workroom, drinking tea and praying for more snow and sub-zero temperatures.

Someone asked me the other day whether my goal is to be a head teacher. When I said no, I got the sense that he didn't understand why not and therefore what is driving me to do this or indeed where the challenge is.

Right now, striving to be a reasonable teacher is challenge enough. My goal is to be a great classroom teacher, someone who the children respect and engages them enough to pay attention, work hard and do the best they can, maybe even achieving something they didn't think possible. Given some of the experiences I've had so far, it's a very tall order. The vast majority of the classes I teach are passive - not in the sense of being quiet and well-behaved (I wish), but in the way they approach learning. Most of them want you to do the work for them and if they "don't get it" then they give up and blame someone or something else for their inability to figure it out.

The reality is that they don't know how to think for themselves. My overriding memory of school was not having the option - you had to think for yourself. No-one was going to do it for you and if you "didn't get" something, then you kept trying until you figured it out. It sure as hell wasn't anyone else's fault.

Day 266 - Sledging Is Skiving

Thursday January 7th

Happy Birthday Ted and another day off school. We now have two teenagers in the house.

The weather continues to be icy cold and the snow and ice have packed down on the roads and pavements. I walked up to school to see if it was open so I could pick up some books but everything was closed.

Comparisons are being made to 1963 and there was an interesting paragraph on the contrast between going to school then and now:

SCHOOLS

On Wednesday about 9,000 schools were shut across England, with 950 in Wales, and at least 250 in Scotland and 16 in Northern Ireland.

While some schools were forced to close in 1963, Peter Hennessy, professor of contemporary British history at Queen Mary University of London, said the large number of closures this week indicated the UK had become a "health and safety nation".

But he said people usually lived within walking distance of their schools in 1963 - while more parents and staff drive to school now - so snow on the roads has more impact on closures these days.

Wading to school through inches - not centimetres - of snow is something Christine Hewitt, 64, from Prudhoe, Northumberland, remembers well.

She said at the age of 18 she had no choice: "You put wellies on and walked. If you could get on a sledge, you went to school. Sledging was skiving."

Cultural historian Christopher Cook said the "technology of schools" had also changed.

He said: "You don't hear of frozen loos - heating is much more efficient.

"In 1963 my brother was at primary school and had to break the ice in the toilets - he was told not to hit it too hard with the stick in case he broke the porcelain too."

Day 265 - School Closed

Wednesday January 6th

THEY CLOSED THE SCHOOL! I cannot believe it. No more than 2 inches on the ground and they've closed the school. Wouldn't have happened in our day. Wouldn't have happened in Hastings. It has here and as I lay in bed I thanked my good karma for giving me a day back to plan some lessons.

I didn't waste it either. While the rest of Winchester was outside building snowmen and toboganning I slaved over my laptop and churned out medium term lesson plans for all my classes.

I found this satellite image on the internet - very impressive shot of the UK under snow.

They are talking about a "big freeze" on the news and it certainly is cold. The snow has packed down on the roads and pavements and it does look like a winter wonderland out there. With very little snow clearing equipment, grit or salt, the only thing that will shift this lot is a thaw and that's not happening for a while. Time to hibernate.

Day 264 - Absurd Surds

Tuesday January 5th

This is not what I was expecting - felt very tired today and was not looking forward to teaching, simply because my energy levels were low. Surely I should be rested, energised, eyes shining with pedagogic zeal? I suspect my next holiday will involve a slightly more disciplined approach to "doing some planning".

Taught a second lesson of "Surds" to my 10.2.2 class today. I had never heard of surds before going to Kings' but I assume I must have done them for O and A Level. They are basically irrational numbers in the form of square roots - V2, V3 etc. Unfortunately, the very name strikes terror into the hearts of 15 year olds and they run screaming from the room, forget the basic laws of arithmetic and utter the immortal words "I don't get it".

It has started to snow in earnest

Day 263 - Full Body Ache

Monday January 4th

I must admit to a fair amount of trepidation going back to school. This was a little surprising as the last few weeks of term had gone so well. I don't feel part of the school yet so the nerves aren't a surprise. My two lessons were adequate at best but the best thing is, they are done, I've learnt from them and I move on.

All the talk amongst the teachers is about the weather and if school is going to close. I was just glad to get through the day and crawl into bed. 1 day back and my legs ache.

Day 262 - Panic On The Streets Of Winchester

Sunday January 3rd

I'm becoming a little obsessed with the xfm Top 1000 songs so song titles and lyrics are rattling around my head. Sat in my study and tried to work but it was no use - music and three FA Cup games spoilt my concentration and I barely managed to plan two lessons for Monday.

Time ticked away and suddenly the two weeks is over and I have to teach tomorrow. Gulp

"I know it's over, still I cling

I don't know where else I can go"

Top 3 songs

No.3 Live Forever by Oasis

No.2 I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor by Arctic Monkeys

No.1 Mr. Brightside by the Killers

Good songs all but the best ever? I don't think so and as for the Killers. They are from Las Vegas. How can a self-respecting UK indie music station vote a band from Las Vegas as number 1. Might as well be Elvis.

Day 261 - Staring At The Screen

Saturday January 2nd

Now it's wearing off....only kidding

I have done no work up to now and so attempted to put some hours in today. The enormity of what I should have done weighed down on me and I ended up doing very little. My aim was to write outline plans for all my classes up to half term so that the lesson plans themselves would not be so onerous and more importantly, I could consult with the class teacher well in advance and get ideas for the lesson itself.

Listening to xfm top 1000 songs and a song by Elastica came up. It's called 'Waking Up'.

I'd work very hard
But I'm lazy
I can't take the pressure and it's starting to show
In my heart
You know how it pains me
A life of leisure is no life you know
Waking up and getting up has never been easy

Oh woah-ah, i think you should know

All too often last term I would be sitting at my computer the night before without a clue on how to teach a particular topic, too late to ask for help. The trouble is, I left all my books at school and was enjoying my holiday too much. So, I went for a run instead....

I did a brisk 8 mile loop up through Shawfford and Otterbourne, sticking to the roads as there is still alot of mud around.

Day 260 - Happy New Year

New Year's Day

This time last year was the first day of Part 2...can't believe I left it so late. We hadn't really told anyone up til now, certainly not in Hastings. Once we started telling people, the reality of changing career and moving back really kicked in.

An enormous decision but (and I know this sounds like it comes straight from a cheesy American self help motivation book) by setting a very specific goal and telling everyone about it, there was really no option than to see it through. How many times in the past have I said I'm going to do something and then let it slip away through fear of failure, laziness or the safe option of going with the flow.

It's still early days and the next few months will be critical as the weather gets crappier and the novelty of everything wears off. However, I haven't felt this relaxed or optimistic on New Year's Day for a while. Yeuch.

Day 259 - Meat And Two Veg

New Year's Eve

Walked into town and showed the Litvins "our" cathedral. I was fascinated (what a surprise) by the number of memorials to soldiers and regiments inside. The military presence is gone now but the barracks must have been quite a significant presence here back in the day.

A very quiet New Year's Eve but we managed a quick Skype with the Tarricones before tucking into a finely balanced meal for meat lovers (a magnificent Boeuf Wellington) and vegetarians (cheese and sage lasagne, Yorkshire Puds) before seeing in the New Year....just...with fireworks on the TV. It's been quite a year

Day 258 - The Black Boy

Wednesday December 30th

The Litvins arrived today and we had a fantastic evening with them. We fed the kids pizza and then walked into Winchester through the old town. It was cold, crisp and quiet, a glorious night. As we walked we heard the cathedral bell ringing and joked that it was warning the residents that there were Jews within the city walls.

We took them to the Wykeham Arms for a pint and then wandered through the High Street and stopped at the Black Boy. Now, you could look at that name and wonder at its insensitivity in this day and age, especially in the company of our liberal minded friends from New York. Perhaps it should have been renamed the African American Boy or, given this is England, the Afro Caribbean Boy.

The truth, as I discovered in the pub itself, was that it was named for the juvenile chimney sweeps in the 19th Century. Their size made it easy to send them up and down chimneys, from which they appeared black as the soot they encountered. The pub itself is a bit of a labyrinth with big wooden tables and randon stuff, including 1970s thriller novels (Maclean, Deighton, Francis etc.) and various stuffed animals. Fascinating.

Day 257 - The Super Athlete Tribe

Tuesday January 29th

Started reading a book called Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. Absolutely fascinating read about crazy ultra runners, a remote Mexican hill tribe, the origin of our species and how running barefoot is much better for us. The foot is a brilliantly designed part of the body that is built for long distance running. Putting cushioned shoes on causes the very injuries they are meant to prevent because they stop the foot feeling the ground, making them weak and unfit for purpose. Bloody marketing.

I am inspired by this and have decided to go for the marathon after all - perhaps Paris in April and a gentle 3:15. I need to start training now but my foot is still sore. Maybe I should try barefoot....

Day 256 - Mouths To Feed

Monday December 28th

I am definitely beginning to crack at the seams - so much for two weeks of quiet reflection, calmly filing all my GTP evidence, writing cogent and inspiring lesson plans and catching up on a few relevant articles in the TES. I barely make it out of bed before our next visitors arrive - The Goulds from Essex. More presents. More mouths to feed.

Day 255 - There Ain't Nothing Like The Mighty Quins

Sunday December 27th

Finally took my lardy arse out for a run and got a good 11 miles in with Neil. Unfortunately my big toe is playing up and I hobbled around all day after that. Punishment for lack of exercise and over indulgence.

Drove up to St Margarets and joined in the pre-match parties before heading off to Twickenham to watch Harlequins v Wasps. Very impressive - 76,000 filled the stadium, 3 X Factor finalists (Ellen was impressed), an eagle soaring in from the roof top to deliver the match ball and fireworks. The match was close and then a fine evening at the Thrumbles to finish off a long day.

Day 254 - Marble

Boxing Day

No sooner had Charles left to go diving in the Maldives than the Spensers arrived. We celebrated Simon's 50th birthday, ate loads of turkey and then they laid into poor Mabel, when she came over to see Ellen. It certainly is entertaining when they come over.

Day 253 - Where Is Moses When You Need Him?

Christmas Day

Awoke to the frenzy that is present opening and was very pleased with my haul. A digital radio so that I can listen to Radio 5 without the in and out crackle of MW. I also found xfm and they are doing the Top 1000 songs of all time.

We all went for a walk while the turkey was cooking, with the intention of having a drink at The Bridge in Shawford, some 2 miles away. Having negotiated the thick mud and sullen cows we were forced back by the flooded Itchen. No-one had wellie boots on so in the absence of divine intervention we were forced to turn back. We came home to tea and mince pies which was probably better for the liver.

We had an excellent turkey and all the trimmings. Dad surpassed himself with a Christmas Quiz and then we all drifted off in an alcoholic haze.

Day 252 - Christmas Eve

Thursday December 24th

And finally Christmas Eve. It seems to have been a long time coming but finally everyone got here. We served up a big hunk of roast ham and enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine and that was that.

We missed out on the Christmas Eve trip into New York. Anthony and his hip flask boycotted it because I wasn't there which was nice. We have our memories.

We managed to persuade Mrs N to come down to The Bell for a pint before last orders and then the usual last minute wrapping of presents

Day 251 - Camp Lions

Wednesday December 23rd

Managed to get out for a run today and felt very fat. The weather was miserable underfoot with ice everywhere on the pavements so I had to run on the road into traffic. That kept the heart rate up.

M&D came over and we went to the theatre to see Wizard of Oz. The pantomime is something you cannot explain to anyone that doesn't live here. Next year we will have to persuade some of our American friends to come over just for the panto. What would they make of camp lions, "Oh, no he isn't" and "it's behind you". Great fun.

Day 250 - Pomegranate Pot Pourri

Tuesday December 22nd

Big shop in JS today with Ellen. Joke of the day from Ellen.

Me: Can you go and get some new potatoes?

Ellen: Why? what's wrong with the old ones?

Boom Boom. Trouble is, she didn't realise she was making a joke

Drove her around trying to get her some work experience in a hotel over the summer and then got ready for the big party...well, a small party. It went very well with all the food hand prepared and Prosecco & Pomegranate cocktail enjoyed by all. Dave enquired about the pot pourri. It was almost as if Anthony was there.....

Day 249 - Rest Day

Monday December 21st

A day of rest before the final onslaught of Christmas. It started snowing again and that caused havoc on the streets. Ted had to walk home from Worthy and I had a very festive walk into town for a pint with Kevin.

It's amazing what we got used to in Hastings. A small snow storm in Basingstoke and the whole city shut down with people abandoning their cars. I couldn't get 100 yards down the road without slipping, sliding and getting caught up with other cars doing the same thing. No snow ploughs, no gritting.

Day 248 - Hungarian Chocolates

Sunday December 20th

Still very cold but managed a final trip in to the Winchester Christmas market with the Wood-Martins. I am very impressed by the whole thing and it's great to take visitors into town and show them "our" town in all its festive glory. We all had to spend 50p on a Secret Santa present and everyone managed to get something. I got Hungarian chocolates...not something they are known for, should have been hot goulash.

Now, what about all that work I promised myself I would do over the break...

Day 247 - Come On You Rs

Saturday December 19th

My birthday and my present to myself was....I went to see QPR play at Loftus Rd for the first time in over 5 years. It was bitterly cold but great to be back. We went 1-0 up in the first minute but it was not to be and the final score was 1-1

I got some nice presents as well

Day 246 - Let It Snow

Friday December 18th

Woke up to snow and the last day of term was fantastic. No uniform, chocolate, quizzes and general good humour all round. The day flew by and I played scattergories with my two classes. They enjoyed it and so did I.

Slipped and slid my way into town to meet up with Mrs N and finally got to the Christmas market and watched Ted ice skate.

Got home and collapsed - I have made it through my first term and feel really really good. I am definitely exhausted but only physically. Emotionally, mentally, spiritually, I am still in good shape so a good night's sleep and I'm ready to go again. I have churned through a mountain of new experiences, learnt a massive amount and, most importantly, got the balance right, in the past 14 weeks. I'm going to sit back, relax, reflect and head back into the fray on Jan 4th.

Day 245 - The 4th Emergency Service

Thursday December 17th

An unexpected half day as our day of Maths at university finished at 1pm. This was perfect as we were all flagging after a long term. Unfortunately my plan to meet up with Mrs N was ruined by a puncture on the M3 and spent the afternoon waiting for the AA. Got back in time for a pint with Year 10 tutors and then Alice's carol service at St Cross. M&D came along and it was well worth it. A stunning church and our youngest reading a lesson with an impeccable English accent.

Headed off to the Maths department Christmas party at the Golden House chinese restaurant. Light years away from similar occasions at Diageo but enjoyed it, possibly more because of the absence of excess. Early finish, early bed...good for the soul.