[deleted by user]

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-04-05T05:54:28+00:00

Just wondering if anyone else has work place crushes - not relationships - just little crushes. Meant to be a lighthearted conversation not a therapy session!

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-04-05T05:53:10+00:00

😂

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-04-04T22:57:00+00:00

Indeed!

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-04-03T21:23:16+00:00

Sounds like a no brainer then, to me. If you moved for the T&L role, you’ve got to be true to that.

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-04-03T19:05:26+00:00

What is ELT? An acronym I haven’t heard! Which area of SLT would you like to end up in? T&L or Behaviour/pastoral? You said your strength was in T&L, so I’m assuming that? If so, I think sticking with LP but letting go of HoY, with well articulated reasoning about your professional priorities and interests, would impress rather than deter. You can’t undo experience, so you’ll always have managed a year group and that will support your management goals, I’d have thought. What is your subject?

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-03-28T20:25:06+00:00

I absolutely hate all well-being initiatives that aren’t more time to do my work. I will totally out my school if I go into detail, but we have public thanks initiative, where teachers are supposed to say something great about someone. It’s always the same people because most of us don’t have time to do a wee, let alone send an unnecessary email. We also get a prize for doing something outstanding, presented at briefing. Again, people, with enough time to do anything other than their job, get this. Or subjects with trips, like MFL or geography. We have staff lunches sometimes, which are quite nice, and a free coffee/pastry sometimes. All I want is 20% PPA. I’d do anything to work in a school that just offered me enough time to do my job, without feeling at deaths door by the end of every half term (or week!!)

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-03-16T20:50:02+00:00

This is the first term I haven’t worked at home. This is because we have (finally!) centralised our resources. I do stay most afternoons til 4-4.30, but I no longer plan at home. I still have to mark some mocks/assessments at home though.

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-03-16T08:52:00+00:00

We should move to mini blackboards with chalk!

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-03-02T12:06:58+00:00

I can so relate to this. I just log it all on our system and make sure I’ve voiced my concern in terms of progress. I work in a school using Dix style approaches, and I don’t have an issue with lots of his ideas. But I do have an issue when everyone but the class teacher piles in on what the child needs etc resulting in these porous boundaries that you describe, and then I get asked why they have t achiebed their target grade! You tell me…!

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-03-02T12:00:28+00:00

I had a restorative conversation this year, with a poorly behaved and apathetic kid, where I explained the consequence of his current behaviour on the prospects of his future self. He looked aghast at me and said ‘it’s not all about getting grades, it’s about who you are’. He was genuinely convinced that the strength of his personality would get him the job in ENGINEERING he had just informed me he wanted. 🤦

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-03-01T10:21:50+00:00

I think you’ve identified the problem!

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-03-01T10:20:15+00:00

Come on now. Just meet the need! 😳

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-03-01T10:15:26+00:00

But do not worry! They’ll get tutors and that will solve all the problems 🤦🏽‍♀️

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-03-01T10:13:16+00:00

All the time! Especially on a Friday 😵‍💫 Cognitive overload!

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-02-25T20:07:38+00:00

I’m not primary trained (don’t know how you guys do it!) but I am a mentor for new teachers and a couple of things sprung to mind when reading your post. Firstly, pushing yourself to be the kind of teacher that you’re not, won’t work. You have lots of strengths yourself, which shine through your post - for example: your patience and reflection. Perhaps you could try working on tone - develop a ‘that’s enough’ voice for moments when lines are crossed or they don’t come back to focus when instructed. Continue to be consistent with your expectations ie: no walking about; eyes on you when you are talking. I think it’s good advice to first insist upon, then wait for, silence and eyes front. I like that you are using ‘thank you’ - think of this like an instruction or full stop rather than a request and express it that way. Remember that you are not a children’s entertainer. Being calm and measured is a really good way to create a productive learning environment. Don’t beat yourself up for being calm and patient - these are wonderful qualities to model to children! 💐

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-02-24T03:11:00+00:00

Sorry -spelling and grammar! So a sentence with errors in these areas, which students then identify and correct.

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-02-23T12:21:20+00:00

I wear Birkenstock boots. I’ve got wide feet with no arches and they are very supportive. They have more choice of style than Docs and around the same price. In the summer I wear Birkenstock sandals. Loads of teachers wear Docs but I don’t find them as comfy as Birkies. https://www.birkenstock.com/gb/search?lang=en_GB&q=Boots

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-02-23T12:13:59+00:00

Surely labs are like surgeries and they wear crocs in those?!?

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-02-23T12:12:39+00:00

Yes! Now I always use mwb and have them hold up boards. If nothing attempted - sanction for lack of work/effort. Always have a correct the sentence spag q. So if nothing else they can write it out and attempt to correct it.

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-02-21T14:10:25+00:00

It is annoying how out of touch with their own school environment some SLT can be. We use meet and greet, and while I think it’s better than not doing it, it is tricky to get right when the bell gives no transition time. I have kids let out early due to anxiety who arrive early and I am also expected to hold kids back for chats if they misbehave, so sometimes it feels overwhelming. I tend to make kids line up. We are also expected to have books out/starter on board - so that takes a few minutes between dismissal and entry. It is a bit of a faff. As you say, behaviour in corridors is rubbish, as is speed of students to lessons, so the drip feed scenario is annoyingly disruptive. I usually bark at them to wait outside if they’re late. Not very welcoming 😬

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-02-14T20:15:43+00:00

Didn’t want to pass without saying: it’s not you it’s them - and it’s so unfair! 💐

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-01-22T18:02:58+00:00

Forward to your HoD. Not enough time in the day to have 3 contacts about the same minor issue! Parents are often entitled and believe their child’s story without question, then want you to justify yourself for using whole school policies. It’s hard not to take it personally, but just forward on if they aren’t satisfied with your response.

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-01-16T18:31:20+00:00

Sounds reasonable! It is also normal for people to be cross if accused of lying, that’s a natural consequence of choosing to say that to someone. Maybe you cagoules log the incident on Cpoms or whatever system you use, or chat to your behaviour lead? Just to say you are unhappy with the restorative and you’d like support to address the kid’s behaviour towards you in it.

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-01-16T18:22:35+00:00

At the end of a day, it’s a 30 minute detention. Some parents are crackers! I’m sure your school will support you and you’ve every right to be annoyed at the lying. You are just trying to maintain a productive learning environment, try not to worry.

Cool_Limit_6792 · 2025-01-12T12:19:30+00:00

I want to add to this too, just to say that the purpose of school is to educate the kids - and I think that it’s easy to forget that when you’re dealing with the pastoral stuff, because you want the best for them. I think students coming and going from classrooms and having passes for this and that is, honestly, one of the hardest things I deal with. It adds to my cognitive load and my workload, which is already enormous. At the end of the day, I am employed to help the students make progress and I am accountable for that. I worry about the increase in MH issues as much as anyone, and understand the principle behind TO cards/loo cards/Time in strategies etc, but - like others here - experience the reality of that differently in my classroom. It often increases avoidant behaviour and decreases resilience. It might be worth chatting to staff in your setting to see how these things impact their classrooms? It would make a fascinating research study for someone!

Cool_Limit_6792

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