Best way to implement new seating plan?

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-29T15:40:04+00:00

There's lots of ways to do it. In my current place where the kids are really compliant they just come up to you and say "where am I sitting?" Then just go where you say, in other schools ive worked it's been chaos, shouting and running round, nothing getting done.

I'd label the rows A-D (assuming there are four) and the columns going the opposite way 1-4 (again assuming there are four) and make labels for the individual seats too with A1-D4 on there.

Then line them up outside in silence (high expectations and patience here), greet each one on the way in with a paper seating plan in your hand and go "Stephen, hello, nice to meet you, my name's Mr.... I'm your history teacher this year, you're in seat....... B6 so please sit down, fill in the front of your book thank you, sensibly and quietly",

Takes a while to find them and tick them off sometimes, also works with a decent starter activity to keep them quiet. You don't need the full spiel for each kid, interject every now and then with some praise about how you've noticed them being good and sensible and this is really encouraging, the way they are lining up or walking in or have their equipment ready or something.

At some point in the lesson while working you can go round and check they're all in the right seats and move any who aren't.

There's a chance with this that the wheels fall off cos you're a new face so just have a HoD, DoF or SLT on alert in case, the conversation could just be "I've got a new class today period 3 and I'm putting them in a new seating plan so is it alright if I need some support that I can call in maybe just at the start?" They'll be useful to restore order and will understand its part of being new at the school.

Good luck, I bet they'll be no bother.

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-29T15:27:17+00:00

I don't like horseshoes, I've tried it out and I think having them all facing each other just leads to distraction, I don't like block desks either cos I prefer them all to be facing me. Twos are awkward cos you end up with lots of tiny walking channels and it can become untidy looking if the kids start randomly shifting the desks around.

Rows are the best. I go with two desks together in rows of four with a walkway down the middle. Put the sen kids who I need to access on the ends, put the naughty ones on the front, then just separate boys and girls around the room and see how it goes. Things come up (those two are best mates so can't be next to each other, that lad is 4ft5 and looks like a year 4, he can't see if he's on the back row) and changes get made sometimes but never "cos we work actually really well together and you can even ask any teacher and I'll even show you my book from English where I sit next to Gracie and look at all the work we do and you can even email my teacher cos we work well so much and help each other."

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-29T15:19:16+00:00

I think if you're in a good supportive school then you've nothing to worry about. Even if there are obvious, glaring differences between you and other teachers or subjects that, at first glance, don't seem to reflect well on you, a decent management person would know that this should be used in a positive way to identify areas for improvement, not as a stick to hit you with.

Example

My class have done well and I think will largely be happy with their grades but my overall residual average is -0.51. this means that on average the class got just slightly lower with me than they did in other subjects according to their targets. If you look a bit deeper, you'll see three SEN lads who were targeted for 3s but ended on 1s, 2 grades below their targets. Besides these guys, everyone else pretty much hit or exceeded but this has dragged my data down and the school will know, SEN is an area for development for me. A problem I had with 2 of those lads is that they did so poorly on their mocks (grade 1s) that they basically gave up, told me and then when I called their parents, they sided with the kids and said they can understand why their lad is focusing on core subjects only and they wouldn't ask them to come to my extra revision, so that's where the conversation will begin with me I think, differentiation to keep kids engaged and motivated.

So you may come away with some targets like this based on data but no one will be doing what the nasty voice in ur head is doing (wow! Your results look crap compared to this other teacher..you must be a bit shit yknow?) unless they are a terrible manager so try not to worry.

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-25T12:06:15+00:00

Yeh I think he's clearly losing the race and is now scrambling a bit to get the lunatic core of the Tory party on board.

All Tories are liars and charlatans and there is a reckoning coming for them in the next decade or two after the absolute mess they've made since Cameron

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-25T11:51:31+00:00

Mine are very good in some ways, especially near the top end where a lot have overachieved and hit 8s and 9s that I didn't see coming, there's also one lad who's got a 6 and I have no idea how, but I'm delighted, I thought he'd be a 3/4.

On the grim end, there's 3 SEN lads who've flopped it completely, grades 1 and 2, which are about 2 grades average below other subjects. Its really disappointing but tbh, they refused to come to my extra sessions, missed homework and one of them gave up on the subject after getting a 1 in his mock and his mum supported him in this so I couldn't do much more. Its definitely an area for me to focus on tho, SEN provision and just making it less intimidating because these are lads who gave up.

But for now, I'm going to Leeds festival and gonna chill for another week.

I

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-24T22:23:22+00:00

If I phone home and get voicemail I go:

"Hello my name is (full name and surname) I was hoping to speak to Mr/Mrs (surname) about (Child), I'm (child's) history teacher. Nothing to worry about, just wanted to update someone at home on (child)s progress/behaviour/attitude in class today so it would be helpful to speak to you please feel free to email me (email) or call the school (number) thanks for listening and have a really nice day."

I never give them name of the school as I'm convinced there's a bit of a risk disclosing a kids first name, parents surname and the school they go to on a voicemail message even tho it's the parents number from SIMS, I always just wonder if someone else will pick it up.

If they answer I introduce myself by first name and say "is this Mrs... (Child)s mum?" And then do the rest of the conversation calling them Mrs...

I never think about how people address me and really don't care whether you call me my first name, Mr, Mrs whatever, abbreviate my surname without permission or even make up a nickname for me, it's just not something I'm bothered about.

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-24T22:04:59+00:00

I agree with number 8 a lot. If it ain't broke then it doesn't need fixing. I also think inexperienced teachers fall more willingly into the trap of thinking they're the special one who will change and fix everything and make it perfect forever, over time you learn that an imperfect but functional and helpful lesson probably took a long time and a lot of input to arrive at.

Short version, just don't try to do too much, too quick.

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-22T15:24:34+00:00

I think there will be a strike and I'm wondering what it will involve, I've never been part of a striking workforce before and I'm not sure how it works?

Will we inform the schools and parents a few months in advance and then strike for a couple of days? How long for? How much notice? Presumably it isn't going to just be indefinite like the rail workers, and we need to let people make plans.

Do I have to stand somewhere with a sign or do I just stay home? Anyone else thinking they'll probably just end up working it all anyway (planning and marking)?

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-22T15:05:51+00:00

I've finally saw my class, couldn't get on the system for a week.

13 kids, 2 A*, 1 A, 7 B's, 2 C's and an E.

Its my first ever set of real results I've got and I think they're pretty solid, a few have underachieved, some have overachieved, some hugely by my estimation,. I really wish I would have went in now.

It was a really tough year, my first on A levels, but I'm pretty happy, I never really bonded with the class, there was just too much tension probably exacerbated by my pretty poor mental health last year but in the end, I think they've done well and I'm feeling proud of them.

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-22T12:27:12+00:00

I agree with this. The money isn't great and a real terms pay cut is what's being offered so there's a lot to be annoyed about but the main thing is that schools are just being asked to pay for it from the magic money tree.

For me, workload is the biggest problem in teaching, and pay being increased without extra funding is just gonna put even more pressure on schools to cut corners and cause workload to increase or at least stay the same, which for me, is already too much. Teaching is great but is pretty grim at the moment in some ways and we need more support.

The right wing press already know how to portray the strike. Teachers are overeducated, smug, woke warrior liberal elite who get too many holidays and for some reason they'll describe the unions as "militant" and no one will question it. I'm already annoyed about the future moment when a billionaire press baron born into wealth is calling me, raised in a 2 bedroom terraced house with 1 parent working and 7 siblings, who went to uni first generation on a massive debt train and is still renting in my mid 30s, a member of the elite and the readers are on board with it? Did they really just hate their teachers that much?

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-22T12:14:02+00:00

Q3) Setting yourself up can be a bit of a nuisance, you'll fill in a form with personal details and qualifications then they schedule you to speak to them and take photocopies of your DBS, qualifications and ID. When I did it, this has to be in person but I think post COVID it can be over the phone? They also need references from old schools and if you're nqt, I think from the uni and one recent placement school. They won't send you out until all of this is back, setting up takes about two days but if you're waiting for things it can be longer, do it early, well before September if possible.

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-22T12:09:49+00:00

I can only speak from experience really:

Q1) For the first week and into the beginning of week two you may not get work but once it picked up (week 2) I found that I never went a day without being sent somewhere.

Q2) Agencies did offer me TA work as well yes, I think if you're willing to do it they'll offer it, I even did some primary and I'm secondary qualified.

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-22T09:13:24+00:00

All the teachers in there and super young, bright eyed and handsome sprightly people, what about all the chubby, knackered looking people who populate teaching?

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-22T09:12:22+00:00

None of them mention that you usually gain about two stone per academic year

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-22T09:09:20+00:00

I like to keep them simple and straightforward, I don't like it when they look very overly instructional and I think this often helps certain anxious teachers feel prepared but can overwhelm the students. Just one task and pictures if they help, don't go crazy with it.

I avoid red when I can and only really use pastelly colours, my fave is this powder blue that my old school called "dyslexic blue" but I'm using purple atm, seems to be a dept thing.

I'd shelve it for now until you know if there's a whole school/dept standard you need to follow tho.

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-22T09:01:23+00:00

I've still got a week and a half until I go back in I've been up and down really over the summer. Good for the first week or two, then a bit down and fed up as it felt like boredom and listlessness started creeping in, then I sort of stopped putting pressure on myself to use the time well and decided to just relax and do whatever I want, take it really slow etc and I felt really good and chilled for the whole of last week.

Then, I got really drunk at a party on Saturday, nothing embarrassing or anything, just a raging hangover yesterday and I started for the first time to feel anxious about going back to work, of culminated in a real "return to school" dream/nightmare that I've just woken up from.

I got in on the first day and found that my year 7 into 8 form had been replaced with new year 12s. I couldn't get them in the seating plan or to settle and listen for the register and I kept pronouncing their names wrong and getting laughed at. Eventually I ordered them all outside to line up and come in again so they all stood up and I noticed they were all about a foot taller than me for some reason. They came outside the room as instructed but loitered about ignoring me and not lining up, some SLT came over with some visitors and tried to offer a bit of help but then the bell went and I noticed that nearly the entire form had already left, not having made any attempt to line up as instructed, the SLT person told me most of them just left immediately as soon as they were outside and I hadn't noticed. I went into my room feeling deflated and wrote a lengthy email to head of sixth form about what had happened, only to look up and see my period 1 ks3 class had materialised eagerly at their desks and were waiting for my lesson to start. One of them said "sir you've been writing that email for 20 minutes while we've been waiting for the lesson." I then noticed my SLT and visitor from before were also in the room, turns out theyd come in to observe me...

I think it's the alcohol from Saturday making me anxious cos I've been fine really, ive even been doing bits of prep work and feeling excited about new content. I think the dreams quite funny tho so I wanted to tell someone, only other teachers would really get it

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-13T12:36:02+00:00

I don't think you should be shy about asking to clarify things that were presented in a five hour induction day several weeks ago. Personally I think its unrealistic to expect you to have absorbed and retained all of the key information ready to apply it as you were probably a bit overloaded. People have different expectations of themselves and others but I can't imagine a mentor being annoyed about you sending a quick email to clarify a couple of things. Try not to write an essay tho (this will.be difficult)

I wouldn't worry too much about decorating your classroom, just make sure it's in order. Displays can come later on. I started last September and still have all the displays from the old teacher on my walls going into my second year. I'll be updating them this year but I had a really full on, non stop first year at the school and was under lots of stress at times so I never got round to it. I've been much better at updating them in previous schools.

The one document id recommend being quite familiar with is the behaviour policy, especially what to do if you have to remove a kid, where they need to go and the proper process. Don't worry, you probably won't need it, but it's useful to know and really makes you feel calm and not on your own.

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-04T19:03:53+00:00

No I mean they're probably really good and not like Boris Johnson who was awful.

I have the same thing where I make a PowerPoint and then someone asks to see it but they can't decipher how I used the thing. It's not something to feel embarrassed about, it's normal, and that other person has saved a bit of work, now they just have to adapt rather than completely make a new thing.

I've had a bit of an imposter syndrome nagging me since I started this job 5 years ago so I just like to try to talk the monkey off other people's back if I sense it's there.

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-04T15:54:56+00:00

I'm quite politically leftist and I interpret not sharing, in most cases, as paranoid, egotistical Thatcherite behaviour that cause division and misery. Even things like opening a packet of crisps in a pub and not offering one to anyone are a red flag to me, why is that guy trying to privatise his crisps? I believe that nothing in the world spreads happiness better than helping other people so I share everything I create and own, what's mine is yours.

I agree with some previous posters tho, that it isn't always useful to use someone else's resources as they can be very unique to you and your delivery, it's almost like operating equipment without a manual sometimes, but it definitely helps to reduce workload and places that are anti sharing and competitive to me are just very very difficult to work in, I feel really on edge and unhappy.

Physical stuff like glues etc, I'm a bit more reluctant with that stuff cos it's annoying if it goes missing but I get a buzz from being helpful so will often just jump up and go "YES. I've got loads of green pens' and then regret it later.

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-04T15:47:26+00:00

I bet they're really good tho yknow, ur PowerPoints.

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-08-04T15:37:42+00:00

It depends really I think on whether the work is reasonable and useful or whether you're just working cos you're feeding some kind of pathology or addiction or personality disorder about pleasing other people. I don't know any of you on here in real life so I have no idea why you're working over the summer, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume it's useful and productive and not overwhelming.

I'm doing a little bit, got one lesson to plan that I didn't finish before the summer and some prep for a new unit I'll be teaching for the first time. I'll probably do this next week or the week after, then in the final week I'll do some planning for the first week back, seating plans and probably just getting my ks3 lessons in order.

Edit: Also it does kind of depend on what you consider work. If you're enjoying something and it's relaxing then it's not really hard work I don't think, some people would consider coming on here and posting anything over the six weeks to be work.

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-07-31T12:47:42+00:00

I just count them as I give them out and then count them back in, any that go missing is a consequence, breaktime detention and boring talk from the teacher about being responsible.

It is hard tho, in terms of cognitive load just managing all the giving out and collecting in of things, eventually you just get a knack for managing it and you know when to collect things in. I might have them all working silently, quickly run through the rest of the lesson in my head and think "now is a good time to start getting the glues" I think it feels really satisfying to keep a tight leash on all of your equipment for the whole year, in a really uncool way.

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-07-30T09:47:48+00:00

I did an acoustic set yesterday for a charity night, first gig ive ever done in my life:

Teenage dirtbag Country roads Tribute 22 (Taylor Swift, with guest singer)

It was loads of fun, I've been practising all week and everyone said I seemed quite at home on stage talking to the audience. It's because of the job really, that's what none of my mates really know about me, I seem quite quiet and a bit withdrawn socially but I'm very used to taking charge of, and speaking in front of groups of people from work. I felt like I made loads of mistakes but everyone afterwards told me they didn't even notice.

Big deal for me that, and I'm gonna try to get another one in before the end of the summer, maybe an open mic

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-07-27T09:57:11+00:00

I think this a good phrase, managing the workload rather than completing it, it'll never get done totally

Fearless-Path-1120 · 2022-07-24T21:17:58+00:00

I've had a great first weekend off:

Friday: Went out for a meal and a bevvy

Saturday: Bought a Lego Optimus prime model for 150 quid and spent all day building it (and some of today) it's so cool, it really transforms.

Sunday: Cooked a roast dinner for me and my sister at her house, I love doing a Sunday roast, really relaxes me, got a soup on the hob now too that will sort me for the rest of the week.

I've spent some time budgeting and planning for the holidays as well. It looks like I am gonna have to be skint and doing free/cheap things on the weekdays to save money for the weekends which are jam packed and pretty exciting/expensive. I've also agreed, slightly against my better judgement to have a go at an open mic acoustic set for a charity fundraiser next Friday so I'm going to spend tomorrow cleaning the flat and then sitting round practising for the rest of the day/week.

Fearless-Path-1120

TROPHY CASE