This time last year, at the business end of my PGCE, if you showed me someone who claimed to be the busiest person alive i'd have shown you a liar. How wrong was I.
6 months ago, at the NQT conference in London, same story.
Now sat here typing on a Thursday evening, approaching 10pm, with several books to mark, a lesson plan to tweak (my new way of saying 'start from scratch') and a 'to do' list which has no end in sight i can honestly say i have never been busier - but i've never felt more in control. And i'm still smiling. Quite a lot actually.
Here are some highlights of my academic year so far:
- Leading GCSE field trips to the Dorset coast.
- The GA NQT conference (of course).
- Working in a brilliant department which may as well have glass walls such is the culture of sharing, support and mickey taking.
- Having a Year 7 tutor, who make me roar with laughter every day, perfect on those dark cold January mornings.
- Friday beer meetings in the local after school with the department. The best ideas happen here.
- The GA conference in Manchester, where i also spoke about the use of free Microsoft applications in the classroom.
- Microsoft Camp.
- Microsoft Fun Free Forum.
- Year 8 'eco-challenge' residential trip to FSC Juniper Hall in Box Hill, Surrey.
- Having the BBC film our London 2012 Geo-Caching project in Box Hill, which i launched across the whole of year 8.
- Escorting two Year 11 Sports Council Leaders to the Olympic Park where they interviewed Lord Coe for BBC School Report day in the Copper Box (Handball Arena).
- Launching a school Ski trip to Europe for Easter 2014.
- Taking this years PGCE student under my wing.
- Getting 'outstanding' for an Ofsted observation.
There's plenty more i could add, but i don't have time ;-) When i do have a bit more time i'll elaborate on one or two of the events in my list. I'll also share some lesson ideas, resources and some pupil work from my classes since September.
As Alan mentioned, i produced some self assessment mountains for our pupils a little while ago, which i was delighted for him to include in his book. I've shared them with you on this post. One is aimed at KS3, the other at GCSE. I'm not a fan of bashing children over the head with levels and grades, this is not about that, from experience Ofsted care more about children being able to put into words what they can actually do well and how to do it better. They don't care (as much) about children being able to say 'i'm a level 4c'. FYI i hate sub levels. Perhaps i'll post about everything i wish i could change about teaching next, that sounds like fun.
I'll leave it there for now, i hope you're all doing well and looking forward to a well deserved half term. I'm taking things easy by cycling to Paris from Portsmouth :-/
Thanks
Sam
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