Today, I turned to a Year 6 pupil and asked the killer question: "What will you miss most about primary school?" He made an 'oooh, that's hard' noise and considered this question for a few seconds. He then turned to me and earnestly muttered, "I'll miss the teachers. They do so much for me and… Continue reading “I’ll Miss The Teachers”
The One Resource That Every Classroom Needs
I love a good IKEA shop. I live for a browse around Tiger. Wandering around a Wilko makes me ridiculously happy. Why? Because they are a goldmine of fantastic teaching resources. There's one resource, however, that I recently purchased that is my most invaluable piece of equipment: the visualiser. Read on to find out the… Continue reading The One Resource That Every Classroom Needs
Honesty Is The Best Policy
Marking, e-safety and behaviour. These three are a mere snippet of the policies necessary to allow a school to run consistently and smoothly. Perhaps the most important policy, though, is one of honesty. Throughout my NQT year, I've been struck by the benefits of just simply telling the truth to enable myself, other staff members,… Continue reading Honesty Is The Best Policy
Success Criteria for a Staff Social
I've been relatively quiet on the blogging front for the past couple of weeks. This is partly due to the excitement of half term taking over my very soul. However, it's also because my brain has been a little pre-occupied by pre-hosting nerves. (Or, perhaps more accurately, overwhelming panic.) My worries were the typical 'What… Continue reading Success Criteria for a Staff Social
“You Can Read!?”
"You can read!?" cried one of my students, rather incredulously, today. I'd just finished a discussion with a group in guided reading which had come to a natural conclusion so I decided to join in with the independent reading myself for fifteen minutes until lunchtime. I grabbed my book from my bag, popped on my sunglasses… Continue reading “You Can Read!?”
ITAF – Interim Teacher Assessment Framework or Inanely Ticking Any Features? My thoughts on the end of KS2 writing assessment.
"Okay, your time is up. Please put your pencils down and close your booklets. Well done Year 6 teachers; you have survived the SATS," utters the invigilator matter-of-factly. All the teachers breathe out a sigh - or whimper - of relief. As they grin around the classroom, giving thumbs up to their fellow comrades, a… Continue reading ITAF – Interim Teacher Assessment Framework or Inanely Ticking Any Features? My thoughts on the end of KS2 writing assessment.
It’s About Time
8 weeks. 40 school days. That’s all that stands between me and the completion of my NQT year. I’m excited and relieved to see the summer holidays waving at me from the finish line with the promise of sunshine, lie-ins and no desperate home raids for green and orange highlighters to satisfy the marking policy. However,… Continue reading It’s About Time
