St. Patrick's Day by gosh

Blog 4.
Not feeling very energetic today and as I was sitting in period 6, behind the desk, looking at the kids doing very little work and thinking mostly about "porn and gays" (as they put it) I realised there was a direct correlation between tiredness and control-losing classes. (Control-losing meaning on the way to lost control but not quite). I had 5 on today and I was too tired to command, project my voice and gain control, let alone stand up! But all the kids were in their chairs and most had books open so that's a start. And compared to the class next door who had kids spewing out into the corridor, I felt quite okay with the whole situation. Anyway, I am not here to justify my "slack teaching", simply noting that it can be very difficult to perform at your best all of the time. I suspect that once Seamus' little tips and rules are entrenched in my classroom and the students are used to the systems, then it will become less of a battle P6 on a Thursday.

I'm definitely noticing my teaching from more of an outside point of view now, ever since I returned to reflection each day. Two things that were paramount in pointing out the differences between now and last year and also my teaching style/experience and that of other teachers were:
1. Two ex-students of mine from last year lied to their teacher saying that they were with me for the start of P3 and then came to me at lunchtime to ask if I would go along with it. Had this been last year, my reaction would have been "sure" because I was really in a mentality of the students and I versus the "nasty" staff. But today I was like, no way, now they are just abusing the positive relationship we had from last year and I don't even teach them anymore. So when the teacher who they had lied to questioned me whether they were with me P3 I said no. And then I told the girls and they really didn't seem too worried. So I saved my reputation as an "easy" teacher who lets you get away with anything and sticks up for you and they really got no real punishment anyway. Happiness all round.

2. One of my Year 9 Animation students did a typical skateboard death Flash creation, but then added homosexual pornographic frames at the end. He was caught by another teacher because he was working in the computer pod and she then verbally disciplined him and has since taken it further. He might be getting expelled. The students know that I do not approve of such things, however, I wonder how I would have reacted if I had seen it. I certainly would not have suspended him so I think I would have just said something like "that's not suitable, get rid of it". But is that enough? In the back of my mind I am thinking, well at least he knows how to use the program??? I guess that's not enough. Anyway, I haven't seen any similar images like this before and I suspect the kids will avoid adding them to their work for fear of being suspended themselves. Or not ???

I had this really great idea for SOSE- an International Convention with all continents represented and major countries represented and this is the assessable task for the Countries and continents Unit. Students have to research about issues affecting their country and then present these as a report and an oral presentation and then we will have a civilised debate on topics and each student has to give the opinion of their country. I will get mints and glasses of water and they can have name tags and place tags (the little folded bits of cardboard) and then they get to do their research and learn some oral presentation skills and have rich, thinking tasks because of the debate that will stem from this. They will have to think of the position it places them in. I will try to show some of Star Trek/Wars (can never remember which one) where they have the convention with all the nations represented (ties in with Seamus' Looks Like, Sounds Like idea). Great! Happy about that too.

Ok, end of blog. 80's dress up day tomorrow. Have the best boots! And have heard some others are getting involved too so should be good.

Bye,
M x