We all do it: as soon as we step back in the door after a holiday, we're counting down to the next.
And it's tough: we know we have up to eight weeks of non-stop lessons, marking, admin and the unexpected heading our way. It's normal to be a little wanting of the rest when you know you won't see a clear evening for weeks! So my question is, what do we do to combat this? Every teacher will have something, and we'd love to hear your countdown combatants, but here are ours in the mean-time... 1) Full day? Plan at least one 'rest lesson' for yourself - personal reading, timed essay question practice, group work or preparing presentations - they all work in giving you a little time to repose and recollect before beginning again! 2) Plan the event of the half term - for me, it was the BBC Live Lesson launching the 500 words competition in school, and it was so much fun to enjoy it. Have something to look forward to at work! 3) Have a chat! Whether you take five to talk to the kids or make a point of having some staff-room time, make sure you talk and don't just teach. 4) TEA. It's vital, and needs no explanation. 5) Stick the radio on. It sounds daft, but I love having something a bit upbeat on in my free lessons or at lunchtime to stop things becoming monotonous. What are your countdown busting tips? Do get in touch and share!
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A post title that looks incredibly philosophical, but I promise it's not all about the grand design of the universe and beyond!
There is, however, an element of a grand design in here - ours. Why did Literacy Stars become a thing? It's something I mulled over for a while - what do I enjoy the most about teaching? And it hit me: the creativity. What do I not like the most? The time constraints and commitments; sadly, there is very little time to actually do this creating, to plan outstanding lessons, amongst the myriad of admin, marking and other tedious tasks. But the resources, I like: they can make a huge difference between an alright lesson into a fab one. And I couldn't help but wonder whether it could become something bigger than just a personal enjoyment; a way of helping out other teachers. Hence Literacy Stars began - something to save others time and to make my teaching life even more enjoyable! And that's all we're here for: to spread the teaching resources and possibilities. We aim to keep our resources mixed in terms of cost; we'd like as much as possible to be free, and charges are literally only existent to keep the various sites and other inputs at a negligible cost. We're also here for you: we want to be adaptable, and we want to give you what you need. Got a lesson and not sure what to do? Get in touch. Covering a topic we've not got to yet? Let us know! At the end of it all, why are we here? Because we want to help you, and have fun ourselves at the same time! I'm one of a lucky few who have a short week this week - I get to dip my toes in the water before next week's shock to the system of five whole days working (man the violins).
And before the start of every new half term or term, I sit with the nervous butterflies in my tummy - why, you ask? Because the job is so full on, and like many teachers I just want to do it well. The start of term means limiting your loo breaks, planning for anywhere in the region of four to ten presentations a day, inhaling some lunch if you're lucky...the list goes on. But let's not forget, in this year where many are partaking in 365 days of happiness and writing down their best moments every day, the positives that can expel those butterflies. The kids come back refreshed and ready - it's a unique time where they'll be at their most receptive. We might lose loo breaks or lunch, but for what reasons? Running a club that even the shyest child can attend, helping grateful pupils with coursework, looking after a child who's just having a rough day of it and sees you as help. And yes, marking will never go away and by definition is a task that can never be completed, but we have to think about every future we are moulding by helping pupils develop, and showing them we care. Teaching is hard; we can't ever lie about that or deny it. But it's challenge is met with its reward, and its why many of us persevere in spite of stress, workload and other things trying to knock us down. So it's 2017 and the start of the Spring Term, and I guess the culmination of these mindful meanderings is this: go in, stay positive, and be the change to these kids. |
AuthorLiteracy Stars is the creation of a secondary school English teacher who loves nothing better than a good resource and seeing kids enjoy reading and writing. Archives
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