Some days the kids make you feel great

There are moments when you wonder if teaching is worthwhile.

I had a grade 6 class today where 4 pupils did nothing. So I told them they had to come back in their time during break. Unfortunately only 2 of the 4 came, the other 2 were given a break time detention by their next class, Art, and chose to do that rather than say they already had detention with me. This is where the system doesn't work well because they now think they have got away with my detention. Except I was so fed up I just reported them straight to head of year so they can have either internal suspension or week end detention. I have to ensure that grade 6 know that if they don't do as they are told they get into trouble. This is the same class that spent a lunchtime with me last week. When I check the Mid-Term grades due the end of this week I note that this class have 14 out 28 pupils on the margin of failing the current project. Yet the other 4 classes I take only have 1 or sometimes 2 pupils in the danger area. It looks like I have one complete class of time wasters, who dont put the effort in or prefer to talk than work. I will definitly have to look at how to handle them.

In the break meeting we were informed that "Bullying" is unacceptable from pupils and staff - if any staff are deemed to be bullying pupils they will be suspended. I guess that stops me shouting at Grade 6 then. That said I can see now that getting into a state of annoyance with Grade 6 isn't worth the worry and instead I will start a stream of kids going to the heads of year, That as they reminded us today is what they are there for.

So you would think I would be feeling pretty down after today but I'm not, because at the end of the day 3 pupils from grade 8 came in with a problem and I solved it. This immediately rocketed me to a god like status. (well its nice for the short time it lasts.) But while solving the kids problem they told me how great Technology classes are how they really enjoy working as a team instead of individuals and how I am the best teacher they have (Yes I know I had solved their problem.. If I had failed I would have been the worst teacher ever.)

But its true in some respects approaching Technology as a subject that incorporates many skills rather than individual subject areas I feel provides a greater challenge and a better learning experience than standard lesson styles.

So over all I feel quite good about today, especially when the kids from grade 8 tried to talk me out of leaving next year. Its always nice to know that the kids like what you do even though I have not gone out of my way to be everyones buddy (Mental note must stop bashing the desk with the metal bar, 1. because its damaging the desks, 2 Because its bending the bar and 3 Because someone somewhere will decide its bullying). Political correctness is reaching here too.

Oh as an update to my job apps I sent in the other day one school has taken up references from the head master here... That surprised me as the normal sequence for schools is to take weeks sometimes even months rather than days to seek references. I am hopeful that this is a positive interest and is an opening to a new post next year. Its a long way off yet but I feel quite elated that another school would show interest so early in the recruiting cycle.

So there we have it a day of mixed fortunes, and tomorrow is yet another, fortunately its mostly Grade 8 classes which is a bonus as they are good fun to work with. The down side is with Diana away I can expect to be on cover for at least 1 lesson tomorrow making the teaching feel long without a break. But with a smile and a kind word I will approach the day and if anyone annoys me... Guess where they will be going.. Yes.. Head of Year.