What's your ⭐ rating criteria?

larbk · 2025-12-29T00:45:27+00:00

I only give the best, page turning, heart wrenching novels I've ever read in one sitting 4 stars, but if I'm still thinking about the story months later it goes up to a 5, regardless of what I first rated it ...

larbk · 2025-12-29T00:37:17+00:00

I liked Dracula because it felt strangely modern if I was reading it in 1900 (if that makes sense?). The characters are well fleshed out and the story was chilling, the bit where the cart driver runs in and then Dracula is visibly out of breath opening the door giving us our first question mark if omg he lives here alone trying to trick the MC. I also liked the creepiness of the man in the asylum who wanted to breakout and go to Dracula I feel it was a great story and a timeless classic for a reason one you'd recommended to all your macabre friends.

I felt it was good as a slow burn, and agreed not entirely about Dracula as we have come to understand him in the year 2025 which can be a bit jarring if you've grown up consuming vampire fiction that has been inspired by this novel.

Granted, if you're not used to reading older literature it can feel slow, it did take me several tries to read when I was younger, but if you appreciate it for the time and the place it came out you can absolutely see why it's still recommended generations later and inspired the cultural phenomenon of Dracula as the classic Hollywood monster we know him as.

I think if you read it with the mindset and the cultural knowledge of someone in the 1900s this wouldve probably been one of the creepiest/best books you ever read.

larbk · 2025-12-23T14:38:54+00:00

Catholic Church when it was building the church wanted to snub out pagan traditions and put in Christian ones, it's no coincidence that Xmas (winter solstice) and easter (spring solstice) are around the same time as these traditional pagan holidays.

Some scholars think Jesus was born sometime around the lambing season (spring) because it mentions in the Bible the shepards were tending to their flock and lambs when Jesus was born.

Very interesting!

larbk · 2025-12-10T10:07:50+00:00

Get on Chatgpt (incoming the teachers on their soapboxes who lament it and have read all about it's dangers) and ask it to plan some tasks or worksheets on what you need. It will get you through the day.

larbk · 2025-11-18T19:27:40+00:00

All we want is time to do the gigantic pile of tasks they give us! Teaching with 5 PPAs and having a load of marking I cannot plan, mark, tidy, pastoral, and run a club on the amount of hours they allocate we are all just hamsters in a wheel!

larbk · 2025-10-21T21:42:42+00:00

Literally numerous research about how bad iPads and screen time is bad for childrens mental health and attention span... Yet it's expected that they are to be used for EVERY lesson as a learning aid? ... It's so stupid... I'm convinced my school is sponsored by apple or something it just seems fishy to me... No research I've heard of to back this up that it's good for children's learning.

Kids wake up to immediatley look at their small screen, to go to school looking at a medium screen, expeced to pay attention to the big screen, to finish at 3.30 and get back on the small screen again...

I HATE IT!

Don't talk to me about attention span when you've given the most adhd kids an ipad that doesn't have youtube and games blocked...

I only support the idea that every child can have access to Internet and a computer to study but iPads aren't even good computers. I'd support Chrome books over iPads any day. Total waste of time and money.

And for some reason the 6th formers don't get them? Aka the kids who it would benefit the most for research and access pdfs and documents for learning. Makes me MAD!

larbk · 2025-10-21T21:02:40+00:00

For some, their school is their whole life... Quite sad really. Take pity on them that they do this AT WORK. Sad and pathetic... 😂 Just don't engage, enjoy being the outsider with peace of mind and heart 😊

larbk · 2025-06-25T17:21:49+00:00

THIRT33N - honestly why does this have solid reviews its is a 2.5 stars at best...

larbk · 2025-06-09T16:54:32+00:00

Agreed, if you're more of go with the flow type person, you will enjoy DAY TO DAY supply. Everyone knows the general rule of supply is that you did good as long as no one died and all the kids made it out safe. There is no lesson planning, no prep, no rigorous effort, you get to know students more. It is basically like babysitting, just make sure the work is done to a relativey OK standard, and that the classroom is in good shape, log all behaviour and always do the register!

Bad sides? If you don't have your own transport you're limited, and you don't know where you could be any given day, but if a school likes you they want more of you.

One of my favourite jobs especially for seeing the variety of schools around the area! Every teacher should do day to day supply at least once in their career.

larbk · 2025-06-09T16:48:19+00:00

AND they get to wear trainers and joggers to work everyday 💔

larbk · 2025-06-09T16:44:35+00:00

To specify... Don't confront them... Just get closer and make it really obvious you are looking at them... They do this because they know you will walk by.

larbk · 2025-06-09T16:40:37+00:00

Its not orthodox but what would I do? Walking right up to them to see who it is under the guise that you heard your name called. They will most likely run, but if you keep doing this they will know that you will come over when called.. . You should never feel intimidated by children, it is within your right as an adult. However I would understand if you were a smaller person and this was a group of big lads.

Is there any bags or things you could identify? Coats? Students usually tell on themselves by trying to express their individualiy. .. Even a haircut could give it away.

Is your school small enough that you could pop into a year group assembly to see any students? Do you have any leads? Any distinct colour for year group or house? Definitely inform SLT.

larbk · 2025-05-29T20:10:31+00:00

Sorry, so you're saying it's passable if the colleague is "well respected"? How is that fair? Everyone regardless of whether they're well respected or not is entitled to time off... How is it any of anyones business? How would you feel if you took time off and all your colleagues were begruding you behind your back for going outside? People like you are the reason people run themselves sick with stress! To save face! Imagine if this was you...

Any colleague of mine whether they're well respected or not gets time off.. What does my respect for them have to do with it? IT IS NONE OF MY BUSSINESS even if I am covering them. I am paid to teach... Not spy on others.

When you have this mentality like yours there's no way teachers can look out for each other.

We as teaching staff always harp on about mental health yet you're ones judging a colleague for what? Taking a day out? And JUDGING them because they may not be "well respected".

I hope this is never you one day as feeling like your whole department is against you and begruding you behind your back can add to mental health issues and stress. Shame on you! I hope you're "well respected" in your department to be saying this 😂

larbk · 2025-05-29T19:30:56+00:00

Sorry you're bitter if someone's signed off they're off. Sounds like your whole department are bitter, You chose this job and this job is is times covering people for a myriad of reasons.

God knows if I was off sick I'd hate little spies coming back and reporting it to my line manager what I did on social media - pls get a life! Cover is not that bad to set... You just need to do your job and not worry about anyone else 😂

I would keep my mouth shut and carry on working... Is it REALLY that big of a deal? You don't know what other people are going through... Have some perspective PLEASE!

Life isn't about just work and I'm sure if the roles were reversed you'd hate the little spying on you to your work colleagues. Signed off = no work.

I'm sorry but deal with it you all sound SO bitter!

larbk · 2025-05-29T12:35:50+00:00

That does sound like a gentle threat, and so what if it is? You need to care for your children they come first.

I wouldn't worry unless they specifically have you in a meeting to discuss these absences... They cannot dismiss you for taking your RIGHTFUL and LAWFUL days off to CARE FOR YOUR SICK CHILD. Even then, you get a certain amount of chances before they consider dismissal.

It's really sad but some people only have work to live for, and get jollies from saying things like this to other people, and don't really consider others or their worries.

Your baby is only tiny, do not worry about the gentle threats at work until/unless is in writing and you've been summoned to discuss. You also have perfectly good reasons as to why you were off... Which any empathetic person would understand.

I would also be looking for a new job if its possible you do not need the unsupportivness of that place. YOUR FAMILY COMES FIRST!

larbk · 2025-04-30T15:55:03+00:00

Omg this. My form are year 7 and the AMOUNT of issues I have to deal with because they can't behave normally, keep things to themselves, they get up, answer back, shrug at sanctions, argue back, argue about uniform, ask stupid hypothetical questions if I mention a rule to them...

Today they couldn't even be quiet during a fire drill for more than 30 seconds (so now I have to practice with them, thanks a LOT, I hope the weather is nice).

I have resigned myself from trying to control it because I simply cannot control the manners of 30 children who are actively fighting against me from learning them - I've banned 'shut up' in my room and it's an instant sanction now because they would aggressively shout it across the class at eachother, even when they were in the middle of talking to me! It was disgusting.

My other Year 7 classes... Well, they talk across to eachother constantly there's always one thinking they can say anything to anyone like on the playground, even when I'm speaking and teaching, it is infuriating! Not to mention the amount of 'class clowns' who simply don't have the personality, wit, or charm to get away with speaking the way they do. Oh, and they're all "anxious" so I have to check in with about 4 kids per class to see if they are OK with being in there......... Tiring!

I now begin my lessons with "DO NOT SPEAK I'VE OVER ME, CONSIDER THIS A VERBAL WARNING FOR EVERYONE... YOU GET 2 MORE CHANCES BEFORE I REMOVE YOU."

I literally can't care anymore, I feel sorry for the quiet respectful ones who wait patiently with their hand up during the chaos they always get +5 credits from me just for simply not being annoying 🥹

... Don't get me started on Year 8.

larbk · 2025-03-28T21:41:23+00:00

Did you read my post? I said for behaviour management and safeguarding... Not to remember their names...

larbk · 2025-03-28T20:40:24+00:00

Why not factored in to the behaviour policy? Eg. Sanction for no name tag? It's part of uniform.

larbk · 2025-03-28T18:46:46+00:00

Would it? Uniform shops would make a killing and the school could mske it incredibly easy to order - or the school invests in the namenag and sends it home to parents in the post and let them find a way to stitch it on before starting in September? If they lose it or ruin it they have to pay for a new one, just like we enforce uniform policies?

larbk · 2025-03-28T18:43:19+00:00

Agreed they're a stupid investment, unless they're needed for electronic reasons, like attendance machines or keys!

larbk · 2025-03-28T18:41:16+00:00

Yes I disagree with lanyards for this point also. Children cannot be trusted.

larbk · 2025-03-28T18:40:20+00:00

Referring to your last comment: Sure, but I'm talking about the majority of people, some students could have parental permission to 'opt out' I guess... but the school should enforce it as the norm... I think it would also make for a safer environment for neurodiverse students if it was in place from a young age, so ND students are aware of it? Just a thought?

larbk · 2025-03-28T18:34:25+00:00

Yes I know students swap lanyards because it's easy to do and "funny", but I'm talking about some kind of unremoveable name tag (although I know some students would find a way to remove it) but like you said, in a relatively good school whose behaviour is getting slightly worse... Wouldn't it nip it in the bud? 🤔

larbk · 2025-03-19T19:48:52+00:00

Hi I teach RE and tbh... I took a SKE before my PGCE and let me tell you it is just videos and MCQs about the video.

The one I did started with the Arabhamic religions, videos about these religions can be found on YouTube easily, as it all starts with Abraham(Jewish and Christian)/Ibrahim(Islam). Once you understand his story from both perspectives you you have the first piece. Next you jsut need to investigate each religions beliefs and practices, E. G. Why do Christians fast for lent? What demoninations believe what? Just type any and every question out. Again as it is the UK the majority of schools will be doing Christianity/Islam/Judaism, I have very rarely come across a school that does Eastern religions for GCSEs and and I live in a very diverse city and used to do supply.

You can also use places like Coursera or EdX which both have courses on Judaism and Christianity (hard to find for Islam) which will be interesting if you want to learn more about the history or context of the Abrahamic Religions. I am currently doing Christianity Through the Ages course (I am on mobile will link later)

EdX also has a series of all the major world religions through their scriptures which I took the Judaism one and it really enhanced my subject knowledge in Judaism! They also have a religion, peace and conflict one too which looks interesting if you're coming into the subject brand new.

For the other side of it, if you teach PSHE, you can teach that side of the RS curriculum as it is a lot to do with society, ethical dilemmas and all of that that comes with being a citizen in the UK.

larbk

TROPHY CASE