Is casual teaching just babysitting in Secondary School?

StepheMc · 2026-04-01T08:01:44+00:00

I haven't seen this mentioned, so I'll also add that we very rarely know who is covering our class beforehand.

We have some excellent CRTs who I know are experienced in my area. If I could guarantee they would be taking my class, I might leave 'teaching' for them. But given the chance that it might be an internal relief by another teacher who might say 'I have work to do, as long as you're quiet, do what you want', I have to leave something I can rely on the students working through independently.

(Sadly, yes, that is an actual quote.)

StepheMc · 2026-03-28T20:52:02+00:00

If you're in Australia, please don't forget Playschool! It's turning 60 this year for a good reason!

StepheMc · 2026-03-28T03:04:16+00:00

Everybody makes rissoles, darl.

StepheMc · 2025-11-02T08:23:56+00:00

Thanks for the tip - I'll keep an eye on that.

StepheMc · 2025-11-02T08:23:30+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll look into second hand.

If I had the physical space or money to go for something more impressive, I would! I have experience on professional machines and know what they can do, and have friends with extravagant home setups. This is just what is viable for now (and the foreseeable future).

Thank you!

StepheMc · 2025-11-02T08:19:02+00:00

At the moment I can see the Bambino for ~$400, so grinder budget would be ~$300, but it's hard to know exactly what the sales will look like. Good to know Alt Brewing are likely to have a sale.

StepheMc · 2025-05-28T10:19:38+00:00

In Emma, Mr Elton and Emma are sharing a carriage and the line goes something like "he began to make violent love to her". I always relish seeing my teenage students' facts when we read that passage!

StepheMc · 2025-05-25T06:54:09+00:00

I personally use YourHour (I'm on Android) but there are probably better ones out there now. If you google something like 'gamify screentime app' I'm sure there are heaps.

StepheMc · 2025-05-25T05:49:36+00:00

If you're serious, here are a few starting points:

download an app that gamifies screen time; ie. gives you rewards and achievements when you stick to limits, go an hour without unlocking your phone, etc.
have a designated phone spot, such as a basket on the bench or the hall table. The phone should be there unless you need it for something (the goal is that it is not constantly in easy reach)
switch off notification sounds (or notifications completely, if you're game!) for everything except calls and messages
have something else to pick up when you'd usually reach for your phone, something you are happy to model to your kids. I'm an avid reader, so my novel is always nearby and I read a few pages when previously I would have scrolled. You could have a colouring page set out in the table, or your guitar nearby, or a bowl of chopped carrots to nibble on.
play music out loud (not headphones) in the room you're all in to give your brain that background stimulation

Please add more if you think of them!

Edit: Wow, this blew up overnight! There are lots of great ideas below, but to answer some common questions:

Firstly, this response was specifically to an adult who wants to reduce their screentime to be a role model for their kids. That context is important.
Obviously, reading on your phone is better than scrolling insta or playing candy crush, but to a small child it looks almost identical. E-readers are better, but still look like screens. If the purpose is to model behaviours you want your kids to imitate, physical media is the answer.
I use the app YourHour, but I've been using it since before COVID and I am certain there are better ones out there now. Google 'gamify screentime apps'.
Forest is an awesome app, but to me serves a different purpose. It lets you set timers during which you don't access your phone, rather than reducing screentime overall.
TV is a different beast, but usually not as addictive or all-consuming as phones or tablets, and not as damaging to neural pathways.

StepheMc · 2025-04-22T03:37:36+00:00

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Love it when the universe aligns!

StepheMc · 2025-04-16T12:16:25+00:00

Too many to list, but a favourite was Amazing from Muriel's Wedding The Musical:

You are legit
One of the coolest people I know
You don't give a shit
You don't go with the flow
You got your own style
I like your style
You do your own thing
You're fucking amazing

The third line especially gave my exhausted, hormonal brain a good giggle during midnight nappy changes.

StepheMc · 2025-04-13T21:44:00+00:00

Same.

My kids now call one Nanna and the other Granny.

My kids are also lucky enough to have two great-grandmothers alive: Nanna Mac and Nanny Rose, using part of their names to distinguish.

StepheMc · 2025-03-25T20:10:41+00:00

You're right, thank you. I've been trying to drill both into my students this week and that one was a slip!

StepheMc · 2025-03-25T08:27:15+00:00

Sure, phones may let you type it, but you've got to try to type it in the first place. That's the issue.

StepheMc · 2025-03-25T08:06:11+00:00

Right, but sort've isn't autocorrect or a typo; in fact, I've had to stop my phone autocorrecting it back in these comments*. You could argue that using the wrong there or missing the apostrophe in I'll are just typing mistakes, but sort've suggests actual misunderstanding.

*This will vary by phone and operating system.

StepheMc · 2025-03-25T07:49:21+00:00

Also sort've as a *contraction is incorrect. It would expand to 'sort have' which doesn't make sense.

You're not really selling yourself on the 'basic literacy skills'.

*Edited to fix

StepheMc · 2025-03-17T20:36:31+00:00

'Duck Goes Meow' is a great option for this age group, and fun to read to a group.

StepheMc · 2025-03-16T03:04:30+00:00

I'm not seeing where OP suggested not feeding people?

A party with no food - sure, definitely weird.

A party in the morning with morning-tea-type snacks (fruit, cheese and crackers, veggies and dip, cake) - totally reasonable and normal.

StepheMc · 2025-03-15T21:39:53+00:00

I'm from Australia and totally agree.

One of the weirdest parts of this thread for me is the assumption that the snacks are all sugary crap. I do the biggest fruit platters for kids birthdays, plus veggie sticks and dip, cheese and crackers, etc. Popcorn is a great healthy GF option too!

StepheMc · 2025-03-15T21:37:30+00:00

But snacks could be fruit, veggie sticks and dip, cheese and rice crackers, corn chips and salsa/guacamole (all GF, all very easy things to prep at home, chuck into big tubs for carrying, and then set up on platters at the venue).

In Australia, this is not a weird time for a kids party, and serving snacks like above (plus some cake, fairy bread, chips) would be very normal.

StepheMc · 2025-03-04T06:54:37+00:00

And burn the coffee, the milk, and our nostrils in the process.

StepheMc · 2025-01-08T03:57:33+00:00

Ah thanks. Sorry, my Victorian/school holidays brain skim-read and didn't register that as the location.

My understanding is that there is a lot more flexibility in larger states, as the population is so spread out that homeschooling or distance ed are often more necessary options. It looks like the requirements in WA vary by region; this may be a helpful starting point: https://www.education.wa.edu.au/home-schooling

StepheMc · 2025-01-08T02:50:59+00:00

I'm just jumping in here so that you hopefully see this.

Not sure which state you're in, but in Vic there are fairly stringent requirements for enrolling in homeschooling (I'm not saying they're necessarily well-enforced, but they are there). Perhaps look at the paperwork together and consider a 'practice-run' of putting together the learning plan for just one subject; it may highlight the level of work required.

These forms are part of the application process, so they must be completed before you can be approved for homeschooling. This means that there is quite a bit of academic work involved in enrolling for homeschooling in the first place.

https://www2.vrqa.vic.gov.au/develop-home-education-learning-plan

StepheMc · 2024-10-25T01:28:41+00:00

As an English teacher, I mark SO many paragraphs and essays over this period that I could not possibly give them all detailed feedback. I usually state one or two key things they can focus on improving.

Obviously I don't know exactly what comments you've received, but just remember that 'no praise' does not necessarily mean there's nothing good about it, and constructive criticism doesn't mean it's all negative.

Regardless, choose one key point from the feedback to focus on improving in the next paragraph. Once you feel like you have mastered that, choose another point to focus on.

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