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... and I'm doing my damnedest (How did this word come about?) to relax; I quite deserve to, given my efforts over the last little while, which included formal planning for quite a few lessons and loads of marking after-school in an attempt to get the department into reasonable shape. I wound up getting observed with my shittiest class of pupils, but the observer was kind enough to take the abysmal attitude of the pupils into account and gave me a satisfactory for the lesson. He even complimented me on my efforts to deal with the pupils, especially that I chose to constantly chip at them to get on their work, rather than shouting. He saw me for another lesson the next day, where I was borderline between good and satisfactory and would have gotten the good if I had been a bit more realistic with what I had hoped to accomplish with the lesson (didn't get to explaining subroutines). The year 9s for that lesson, bless 'em, were, for the most part, very well behaved (so much so that methinks I'll have to reward 'em next class). The deputy head-teacher stated that, given all that I've gone through, in starting at a new school and working to clean up a huge mess not of my own making, I can be content in achieving a satisfactory.
Next week begins a reprieve from the year 11s until the break; in an attempt to sufficiently kick their asses enough to get them working, the head of department will be taking over that class whilst I assist another teacher with another problematic class. Normally we wouldn't go to this extreme so quickly, but these pupils are well out of time; they need to have been working hard from the beginning of the term and they're already behind. However, there are still pupils in this class who stubbornly believe that they are to be doing work from an alternative course program, rather than IT.
In other news, the weekend's been quite entertaining. First, I went out for drinks with a few of the teachers from my school to celebrate the birthday of one of 'em. Then, I went with a fellow Canadian teacher to go see Serenity. Loved it!!! Jos out-did himself on this one! The rest of the weekend was spent in the delightful company of a number of my flatmate's dearest friends, who came to spend a few days in celebration of her birthday (Happy Birthday, D.!).
'Course, at some point, I have to see to the lesson plans for tomorrow, but, fortunately, Monday is the lightest day of the week for me, with only two lessons to teach. Tuesday is the second, with one of the three lessons being a PSHE lesson with my delightful tutor group (The Heavenly Sevens). It's good to have a schedule that eases you into the week!
Next week begins a reprieve from the year 11s until the break; in an attempt to sufficiently kick their asses enough to get them working, the head of department will be taking over that class whilst I assist another teacher with another problematic class. Normally we wouldn't go to this extreme so quickly, but these pupils are well out of time; they need to have been working hard from the beginning of the term and they're already behind. However, there are still pupils in this class who stubbornly believe that they are to be doing work from an alternative course program, rather than IT.
In other news, the weekend's been quite entertaining. First, I went out for drinks with a few of the teachers from my school to celebrate the birthday of one of 'em. Then, I went with a fellow Canadian teacher to go see Serenity. Loved it!!! Jos out-did himself on this one! The rest of the weekend was spent in the delightful company of a number of my flatmate's dearest friends, who came to spend a few days in celebration of her birthday (Happy Birthday, D.!).
'Course, at some point, I have to see to the lesson plans for tomorrow, but, fortunately, Monday is the lightest day of the week for me, with only two lessons to teach. Tuesday is the second, with one of the three lessons being a PSHE lesson with my delightful tutor group (The Heavenly Sevens). It's good to have a schedule that eases you into the week!
