Day 218 - Inches

Friday November 20th

Unscheduled fire drill this morning just as we were celebrating our Assembly triumph in tutor group. We were investigating a 24 hour ration pack to see what the army eats when they are in the field. Brought back happy memories of CCF at Epsom and cycling around the Dordogne with those packs and a gas burner.

Nervous day as I had a new Year 11 group who are retaking their Mod 3 paper in March. They were on their best behaviour but obviously thought I was lame. I showed them the clip from "Any Given Sunday" where Al Pacino gives his speech about inches and suggested that the difference between a D and a C could be the matter of a few marks here or there. We were together to find those extra marks. No idea what I was talking about

Watch Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_iKg7nutNY

9.2.2 and 8.1.3 were OK after lunch but nothing special. Very hard to keep them focused on a Friday afternoon so find myself working a little too hard and tired by 3.15. Always remember 3.15, not 8.15!!!!

Out to the pub for a couple of pints with Kevin. Tidy

Day 208 - High Praise Indeed

Tuesday November 10th

The house is quiet again after our visitors have left and one thing I can guarantee as a teacher is the same classes come around week after week. On both the down and up side, I know what to expect! This morning I embarrassed Ellen as I went up to the front and answered a question in Year 10 assembly. She'll get over it.

A brilliant afternoon, when I did a group task with 10.2.2 on prime factors, which they seemed to enjoy and stay focused on, followed by a shiny new 7.2.1 class. This was interesting as it was my second attempt at teaching sequences. I learnt a lot from my first experience and it went very well. In fact, OSM loved something I did so much, he stole it for his class. That felt very good.

Day 190 - I Made It

Friday October 23rd

Got my head together and headed in. First up was rehearsal for Year 10 Assembly. Not brilliant but first rehearsals never are. I think it will go well.

Next up were my Year 11 retakes. Surprisingly, they were not ecstatic at the thought of Maths standing between them and lunch but I managed to get Emily to not only laugh but then admit it was the Maths that made her happy. Result.

Made it through 9.2.2 (painful) and 8.1.3 (fun) before packing everything up, coming home and collapsing. 1/6th of the way through. 9.2.2 troubles me as I put together a fun lesson that obliquely got them into algebra. They did not appreciate it and messed about the whole time. Chatting to my mentor afterwards, she suggested that I legislate for the fact that it is Friday afternoon and go easy on them with a few games. PAH! wouldn't have happened in my day.

Day 183 - Space Camp

Friday October 16th

Today has been a bit of a whirlwind but I think I performed relatively well in the circumstances. First up was first rehearsals for our Year 10 Assembly. It's coming along nicely but needs a firm hand from Mr Nichols. Grrrr.

Next up was my favourite 11.2.4 and another formal observation. It threatened to kick off a bit with a couple of the boys but fortunately calmed it down and got on with it. After lunch I had 9.2.2 which was relatively straightforward as we were quietly looking through the topic test and then I finished with my first teaching of 8.1.3 which I did a little blind as I hadn't checked the scheme of work. I came up with a "It's a Knockout" style game with decimals and they seemed to like it. Whether they learnt anything is another matter.

School wants me to chaperone a trip to Space Camp in Alabama. This is a dilemma. On the one hand, I would rather have my balls chewed off slowly by a sadistic piranha than wear the proposed "Space Camp 2009" t-shirt on the way over. On the other hand, if I'm in Alabama, how hard is it to either get on a flight to New York OR invite the book club down to Talledega for a weekend of turkey legs, Bud and NASCAR racing? You see, it's a dilemma.

Day 173 - A Major Contribution to Road Safety

Tuesday October 6th

Sat with Year 10 in their assembly and they had a talk about road safety. Scared the hell out of me but I'm sure didn't make much impression on the kids. The man presenting was from the Fire Department and was very good, with some viscerally effective TV ads to show. The trouble is, and I know we were all the same as teenagers, the kids believe it will never happen to them. You really want them to grow up and behave responsibly, and the majority will do, just as most of us have. 3 or 4 of them will be in a horrible but preventable car accident in the next few years.

I am now very mad - both Kevin and my brother have broken 20 minutes for 5k before me. I need to smash it now.

Day 152 - Pastoral Care

Tuesday September 20th

The cold is definitely taking a hold but I needed to get through the school day. Unlike working in an office taking a sick day means the school has to pay to cover your lessons. In my case that's not a big deal as I am only supporting the main teacher but it does put a huge burden on teachers to not take a day off.

Today was Year 10 Assembly. I am learning about pastoral care. In other words, what does the school do other than churn out A through C grades at GCSE? Kings' seems to have it covered with tutor groups, assemblies, houses and loads of sport and other after school activities. For a school which is big on discipline and results it has an amazing amount of other stuff going on. I introduced myself to the Head a few days ago and remarked on the size of the school. She said that it operates as 5 schools on one site with the Head of Years running a school of 330 kids each. A school within a school. I think that's the route I want to go. Can't see myself as head of Maths!