There's A Chook In My Classroom!
I'm baccckk. . . hahaha I taught the grade two class today. Wasn't the same one I had on Monday, it was the class next to them. They were slightly (ever so slightly!) better than the others.
The day started off well; all seated quietly at their desks going through their work. I had an aide decide that the trainee aide she had following her would be less bored if she was in my class than watching her reading with kids. The kids were so well behaved during literacy. . . and then maths happened. A few decided they didn't want to do anything, others decided they would rather sit and talk and not listen and one lovely little fella decided to play with pieces of wire (don't know where he got it from) while also throwing pencils at others. Seriously! What goes on in their minds sometimes?!? So the ones that finished early I gave a colouring in sheet to but they finished that while the slackers hadn't got far with maths (some didn't even start). So I let the early finishers play a group game, of course seeing them having fun finally made the lazy ones finish their work. We then went out for a game before morning tea.
Morning tea I got to do my favorite thing: duty!!! Aghh I had the grade 2-5 eating area again which is meant to have two teachers doing it but of course noone else shows up so I got to look after them all by myself. AND! The school made today 'treat day' (the other yr2 teacher had no idea what the hell it was lol) which meant everyone that had tuckshop (which are only allowed to sell healthy foods) also had a free slice of chocolate cake (for morning tea) or icecream (big lunch) in their bag! What was the point of it is beyond me. All it did was hype them up! That plus all the candy canes children were handing out and eating (we had to tell them to put them away first thing in the morning) made them go off their rocker.
After morning tea we did a class crossword, which sounds easy except the children kept talking over me and not hearing anything and then calling out because they didn't hear anything (close your mouth and listen! How hard is that!?) Then they had to do a writing task, I told them they had to do a good job by themselves because their grade 3 teachers would be looking at it for next year. After moving some people who still couldn't close their mouths, they were finally quiet again for almost an hour. By lunch time almost all had finished except for three who hadn't even started! So I made them stay in and write it (even while their icecream was melting next to them . . . ) it's amazing how quickly they suddenly wrote! hahaha
Big lunch I actually had the whole time off to eat, was so nice! Highlight of my day hahaha After that both grade two classes came together to do show and tell (most classes I've taught it takes about 15mins to do) but they went crazy together and would not sit still, keep their hands to themselves or shut up! It took us well over half an hour to do! We then had a mother show up with a baby chicken for her son to show (haha like they weren't worked up before!) and the children's behavior got even worse! After that we were meant to split up again to do some art (was looking forward to separating them so it would be a bit quieter!) but the RE teacher shows up and takes them all for RE, which was a nightmare trying to get them to sit and listen to her (they were so rude!) She showed a cool popup book about the birth of Jesus and also explained why we have candy canes at Christmas. I thought it was really interesting because I had never really thought about it before. Then we had 5mins left before the bell so I got them to clean up the room (pig sty!) which may have involved voice raising haha (if there's a big chunk of paper under your desk - PICK IT UP!)
Then the bell went and I instantly felt relaxed haha And that was my day. . .
Miss Snix.
The day started off well; all seated quietly at their desks going through their work. I had an aide decide that the trainee aide she had following her would be less bored if she was in my class than watching her reading with kids. The kids were so well behaved during literacy. . . and then maths happened. A few decided they didn't want to do anything, others decided they would rather sit and talk and not listen and one lovely little fella decided to play with pieces of wire (don't know where he got it from) while also throwing pencils at others. Seriously! What goes on in their minds sometimes?!? So the ones that finished early I gave a colouring in sheet to but they finished that while the slackers hadn't got far with maths (some didn't even start). So I let the early finishers play a group game, of course seeing them having fun finally made the lazy ones finish their work. We then went out for a game before morning tea.
Morning tea I got to do my favorite thing: duty!!! Aghh I had the grade 2-5 eating area again which is meant to have two teachers doing it but of course noone else shows up so I got to look after them all by myself. AND! The school made today 'treat day' (the other yr2 teacher had no idea what the hell it was lol) which meant everyone that had tuckshop (which are only allowed to sell healthy foods) also had a free slice of chocolate cake (for morning tea) or icecream (big lunch) in their bag! What was the point of it is beyond me. All it did was hype them up! That plus all the candy canes children were handing out and eating (we had to tell them to put them away first thing in the morning) made them go off their rocker.
After morning tea we did a class crossword, which sounds easy except the children kept talking over me and not hearing anything and then calling out because they didn't hear anything (close your mouth and listen! How hard is that!?) Then they had to do a writing task, I told them they had to do a good job by themselves because their grade 3 teachers would be looking at it for next year. After moving some people who still couldn't close their mouths, they were finally quiet again for almost an hour. By lunch time almost all had finished except for three who hadn't even started! So I made them stay in and write it (even while their icecream was melting next to them . . . ) it's amazing how quickly they suddenly wrote! hahaha
Big lunch I actually had the whole time off to eat, was so nice! Highlight of my day hahaha After that both grade two classes came together to do show and tell (most classes I've taught it takes about 15mins to do) but they went crazy together and would not sit still, keep their hands to themselves or shut up! It took us well over half an hour to do! We then had a mother show up with a baby chicken for her son to show (haha like they weren't worked up before!) and the children's behavior got even worse! After that we were meant to split up again to do some art (was looking forward to separating them so it would be a bit quieter!) but the RE teacher shows up and takes them all for RE, which was a nightmare trying to get them to sit and listen to her (they were so rude!) She showed a cool popup book about the birth of Jesus and also explained why we have candy canes at Christmas. I thought it was really interesting because I had never really thought about it before. Then we had 5mins left before the bell so I got them to clean up the room (pig sty!) which may have involved voice raising haha (if there's a big chunk of paper under your desk - PICK IT UP!)
Then the bell went and I instantly felt relaxed haha And that was my day. . .
Miss Snix.
Mad Mad Monday!!!
I wasn't going to write a blog today but after the day I've had. . . . I need to get it out! lol My day started a little past 6am when I got a phone call booking me for the day working at the school I was at on Friday (the same one I had the yr4/5 contract and where I work a lot ~ I really need nicknames for schools so I don't get confused about which ones I am talking about on here lol) Anywho it was for a grade 2 class, I have never had a straight gr2 class there before but am prebooked to work with them Thursday, so the kids don't really know me aghh lol
The class works with the other gr2 class next door so the morning was okay with the other teacher doing all the morning/carpet stuff. Although I found it a little rude the children talking over and mucking around while she was talking, but who was I to step in when the regular teacher found this behavior acceptable. When we split up and went to our own classrooms my lot of children just behaved ridiculously! Which resulted in me moving children, giving warnings and the occasional bribery of positive rewards not that it had much affect. How teachers can put up with such horrible behavior in their rooms everyday is beyond me!
Anyway the fun continued at morning tea when just before heading off to do my duty that I was aware of my teaching partner informs me I have to do two duties today (yay), normally a teacher only has one a day but the one I was replacing request to have two for Mondays (who does that to themselves!?) The first duty was during eating time, I was watching all the yr2-5 children alongside the deputy (who last time I saw him left the class he was teaching to come talk to me while I was teaching, drinking his coffee - he's an idiot and full of himself lol The other staff members call him the Principals handbag) So Mr 'I have no brains but sucked up to get a deputy job' (lol I am in a great mood aren't I!?) decided half way through the duty to walk off talking to another teacher and left me with all the year 2 to year 5 children! Do you know how many damn children that is!!! The next duty wasn't as bad, it was just watching the prep and yr1 children play, although the teacher before me was cranky because I was 'late' (I was actually a couple of mins early!)
Back in the classroom the children's behavior was still shocking, during the middle session I had to move three kids to my teaching partners room. One ended up getting a behavior slip that gets sent home because she was that bad. She thought it was funny and wanted to show off the slip to her friends (she is 7 and thinks being in trouble is cool!).
I pretty much just counted down the time for the session to be over. In the afternoon they were actually very settled and sat nice and quietly doing their Santa coloring in, it was so nice!!! Until I heard a barking at the door 10mins before the bell. A mother showed up unannounced with a giant dog! Aghh so I got the children to sit in a circle on the floor and had the child (who was almost smaller than the dog!) in the middle trying to talk about it. The children went berserk! It was ridiculous!!! The dog ran around jumping on kids (some got scratched). Finally the mother woke up and took the dog away leaving us two mins until the bell and a pig sty of a room. The children were so worked up now instead of cleaning up they played up and we had to finish putting chairs up after the bell had went.
Aghh I was so glad to get out of there in the afternoon lol They asked if I could work there tomorrow but I have my dentist appointment (which I seriously thing will be more fun!) and besides I am booked there for Thursday so I need to recharge myself for then!
Walking in this morning I also saw all the gr4/5s waiting at the gate ready to go on camp, I thought to myself if I was still there teacher I would be going with them. At the time I was thinking I am glad I didn’t have too although by the end of the day it didn’t seem like such a bad idea! It’s funny thinking if I had kept my job teaching them things would be so different, I wouldn’t have had any of the experiences I have had since; both bad (like being attacked my a weird parent and dealing with horrible behavior) and good (like teaching the amazing prep class I had a contract with and meeting and getting to know some wonderful people). I guess everything happens for a reason.
I need a rest lol,
Miss Snix.
The class works with the other gr2 class next door so the morning was okay with the other teacher doing all the morning/carpet stuff. Although I found it a little rude the children talking over and mucking around while she was talking, but who was I to step in when the regular teacher found this behavior acceptable. When we split up and went to our own classrooms my lot of children just behaved ridiculously! Which resulted in me moving children, giving warnings and the occasional bribery of positive rewards not that it had much affect. How teachers can put up with such horrible behavior in their rooms everyday is beyond me!
Anyway the fun continued at morning tea when just before heading off to do my duty that I was aware of my teaching partner informs me I have to do two duties today (yay), normally a teacher only has one a day but the one I was replacing request to have two for Mondays (who does that to themselves!?) The first duty was during eating time, I was watching all the yr2-5 children alongside the deputy (who last time I saw him left the class he was teaching to come talk to me while I was teaching, drinking his coffee - he's an idiot and full of himself lol The other staff members call him the Principals handbag) So Mr 'I have no brains but sucked up to get a deputy job' (lol I am in a great mood aren't I!?) decided half way through the duty to walk off talking to another teacher and left me with all the year 2 to year 5 children! Do you know how many damn children that is!!! The next duty wasn't as bad, it was just watching the prep and yr1 children play, although the teacher before me was cranky because I was 'late' (I was actually a couple of mins early!)
Back in the classroom the children's behavior was still shocking, during the middle session I had to move three kids to my teaching partners room. One ended up getting a behavior slip that gets sent home because she was that bad. She thought it was funny and wanted to show off the slip to her friends (she is 7 and thinks being in trouble is cool!).
I pretty much just counted down the time for the session to be over. In the afternoon they were actually very settled and sat nice and quietly doing their Santa coloring in, it was so nice!!! Until I heard a barking at the door 10mins before the bell. A mother showed up unannounced with a giant dog! Aghh so I got the children to sit in a circle on the floor and had the child (who was almost smaller than the dog!) in the middle trying to talk about it. The children went berserk! It was ridiculous!!! The dog ran around jumping on kids (some got scratched). Finally the mother woke up and took the dog away leaving us two mins until the bell and a pig sty of a room. The children were so worked up now instead of cleaning up they played up and we had to finish putting chairs up after the bell had went.
Aghh I was so glad to get out of there in the afternoon lol They asked if I could work there tomorrow but I have my dentist appointment (which I seriously thing will be more fun!) and besides I am booked there for Thursday so I need to recharge myself for then!
Walking in this morning I also saw all the gr4/5s waiting at the gate ready to go on camp, I thought to myself if I was still there teacher I would be going with them. At the time I was thinking I am glad I didn’t have too although by the end of the day it didn’t seem like such a bad idea! It’s funny thinking if I had kept my job teaching them things would be so different, I wouldn’t have had any of the experiences I have had since; both bad (like being attacked my a weird parent and dealing with horrible behavior) and good (like teaching the amazing prep class I had a contract with and meeting and getting to know some wonderful people). I guess everything happens for a reason.
I need a rest lol,
Miss Snix.
Almost Christmas!
Only two more week left of school before the Christmas/Summer holidays! While I am not looking forward to two months without being paid, I am excited to have an official break and not worry about whether I will be called in to work.
Of course I have already had a bit of a break lately. It had been 2 and a half weeks between jobs when I finally got a call on Friday to teach a gr1/2 class. I have taught them several times before (last time they had the prac student I complained in a blog about) so that always makes it easier knowing what type of class you are getting. It was actually a really nice day, I got very lucky! I had them for half an hour in the morning before sending them off on the bus to go swimming for 1 and a half hours. I got to stay behind at school with those that didn't go, three kids! So I let them play on the computers and white boards and all I had to do was sit there and watch them (and get paid for it!), too easy! Unfortunately when they came back during morning tea it was raining so the school declared it a 'wet lunch' which means children eat inside. They were a bit excitable from the swimming and the rain (funny how children's behavior changes as soon as it starts raining!). But after that we went to a special parade for Movember where the male staff members shaved off their mustaches they had been growing. This took a fair while so when we finally got back into the classroom there was only less than an hour before lunch. Come lunch time I was 'lucky' enough to have duty while the children were eating and started playing, during this time it started raining again which gave me a headache (apparently lunch + rain = screaming children) thankfully the second half of lunch I got to eat in peace (and take aspirins lol). Then the afternoon went quickly, they had rotations that I just had to supervise. So overall I had a very easy day, a nice way to get back into work.
This week I already have one booking, at the same school I just wrote about, in a grade two class that I haven't had before so that should be interesting. I also am taking this Tuesday off to go to the dentist (I know - lucky me!!!) I am getting a filling and a cleaning that is going to be expensive (they show you the bill in advance!) but the funny thing is that is the same day I get paid. So basically my pay will go in and straight out of my account that day!
A weird experience I had this past week; I was at the hairdressers, sitting there getting my hair cut when a mother and her daughter and baby come in. The daughter sits next to me and at first I don’t recognize her but I look in my mirror and standing directly behind me is the mother, just staring at me! It was kind of weird, I had a feeling I knew her but couldn’t for the life of me remember who she was until it hit me! She was the mother that a while ago bailed me up before school and verbally attacked me for no reason! And now here she was staring me down! I tired not to make eye contact with her. She tried to get her baby to sit in the hairdressers chair to get her ‘used to it when she needs to get her hair cut’ (the child was almost bald!). The baby started screaming her head off and the mother kept trying to push her into the chair it was ridiculous! So after feeling very uncomfortable as soon as my hairdresser was done I got the hell out of there! hahaha
Have a good week,
Miss Snix.
Of course I have already had a bit of a break lately. It had been 2 and a half weeks between jobs when I finally got a call on Friday to teach a gr1/2 class. I have taught them several times before (last time they had the prac student I complained in a blog about) so that always makes it easier knowing what type of class you are getting. It was actually a really nice day, I got very lucky! I had them for half an hour in the morning before sending them off on the bus to go swimming for 1 and a half hours. I got to stay behind at school with those that didn't go, three kids! So I let them play on the computers and white boards and all I had to do was sit there and watch them (and get paid for it!), too easy! Unfortunately when they came back during morning tea it was raining so the school declared it a 'wet lunch' which means children eat inside. They were a bit excitable from the swimming and the rain (funny how children's behavior changes as soon as it starts raining!). But after that we went to a special parade for Movember where the male staff members shaved off their mustaches they had been growing. This took a fair while so when we finally got back into the classroom there was only less than an hour before lunch. Come lunch time I was 'lucky' enough to have duty while the children were eating and started playing, during this time it started raining again which gave me a headache (apparently lunch + rain = screaming children) thankfully the second half of lunch I got to eat in peace (and take aspirins lol). Then the afternoon went quickly, they had rotations that I just had to supervise. So overall I had a very easy day, a nice way to get back into work.
This week I already have one booking, at the same school I just wrote about, in a grade two class that I haven't had before so that should be interesting. I also am taking this Tuesday off to go to the dentist (I know - lucky me!!!) I am getting a filling and a cleaning that is going to be expensive (they show you the bill in advance!) but the funny thing is that is the same day I get paid. So basically my pay will go in and straight out of my account that day!
A weird experience I had this past week; I was at the hairdressers, sitting there getting my hair cut when a mother and her daughter and baby come in. The daughter sits next to me and at first I don’t recognize her but I look in my mirror and standing directly behind me is the mother, just staring at me! It was kind of weird, I had a feeling I knew her but couldn’t for the life of me remember who she was until it hit me! She was the mother that a while ago bailed me up before school and verbally attacked me for no reason! And now here she was staring me down! I tired not to make eye contact with her. She tried to get her baby to sit in the hairdressers chair to get her ‘used to it when she needs to get her hair cut’ (the child was almost bald!). The baby started screaming her head off and the mother kept trying to push her into the chair it was ridiculous! So after feeling very uncomfortable as soon as my hairdresser was done I got the hell out of there! hahaha
Have a good week,
Miss Snix.
Big Bad Storm. . . And Nothing Else!
Well this was a fun week, I did nothing. Absolutely nothing. Hmm I could end my blog there. . .
I was available all week and was hoping to hear the phone ring but each morning it didn't, so I didn't work. But I got some shopping done lol So instead of making money I decided to spend it; as you do. In honesty I did get a phone call this morning but it was past 8am when they called and I was still in my PJs and had yet to make breakfast and most schools like you to be there before 8.30am so I knew I wouldn't have enough time to make it.
The last couple of days we have had some really bad weather too. Down south from me they have had severe storms and flooding and it doesn't look like it's ending soon. We got a taste of that here last night. There was a severe storm warning out for flash flooding and large hail. Thankfully we didn't get it that bad. All we had was a lot of rain and strong winds as well as thunder and lightening all afternoon and night. But there was no damage to my house luckily. Unfortunately the forecast says we are due for more bad weather tomorrow night.
Speaking of bad weather; it is so hot here! I have sweat dripping off me without even moving. I am dreading Christmas; another hot, stinking one! And to think in some parts of the world it is snowing now.
Anyway let’s hope something more interesting happens to me next week!
Miss Snix.
I was available all week and was hoping to hear the phone ring but each morning it didn't, so I didn't work. But I got some shopping done lol So instead of making money I decided to spend it; as you do. In honesty I did get a phone call this morning but it was past 8am when they called and I was still in my PJs and had yet to make breakfast and most schools like you to be there before 8.30am so I knew I wouldn't have enough time to make it.
The last couple of days we have had some really bad weather too. Down south from me they have had severe storms and flooding and it doesn't look like it's ending soon. We got a taste of that here last night. There was a severe storm warning out for flash flooding and large hail. Thankfully we didn't get it that bad. All we had was a lot of rain and strong winds as well as thunder and lightening all afternoon and night. But there was no damage to my house luckily. Unfortunately the forecast says we are due for more bad weather tomorrow night.
Speaking of bad weather; it is so hot here! I have sweat dripping off me without even moving. I am dreading Christmas; another hot, stinking one! And to think in some parts of the world it is snowing now.
Anyway let’s hope something more interesting happens to me next week!
Miss Snix.
It's Been a Bad Week
I have been meaning to do a blog for the past couple of days but have been putting it off. Teaching wise not a whole lot has been happening. I taught the grade 2/3 class on Monday and Tuesday and they weren't too bad, no where near as bad as what my friend had told me they were for her. I got to briefly see the two prep aides I worked with and the prep teacher I taught next to when I was on contract so that was nice.
I also had a small car accident on Monday after school trying to leave the road the school is on. The car in front of me went to take off from a stop sign, I went to move us, she put the brakes on quickly and so did I but I didn't stop quick enough and bumped the back of her car. We swapped details and I called my insurance and booked my car in to get checked and I thought it was all sorted. Until Thursday night I get a call from her husband (who wasn't there at the accident) saying I have to buy her a new rear bumper bar. I questioned him what their insurance and mechanic said only to find out they hadn't even contacted either! So I told them to contact mine and they would sort them out and not to call me again. There wasn't any damage to the car! So I let my insurance know about them calling me and what they said. I had my car checked and serviced on Friday and all that was wrong was it needed a wheel alignment. There were no bumps, dents, scratches or paint off which is good since I only bought it brand new half way through this year.
Never got a booking Wednesday and then took Thursday and Friday off for personal reasons. My guinea pig stopped eating a few days earlier and had been getting daily needles from the vet to help her but it didn't work and in the end I was told there was nothing more he could do for her and I should think about putting her to sleep. I have had guinea pigs for 12 years and this ones sister had passed suddenly 2 months earlier, so she was my last one. I had a feeling that she didn't have long and something was happening; call it intuition, but the very next day after he said that she went downhill very fast. So I took the Thursday off to spend with her, making sure she was comfortable and getting lots of cuddles in. She lost all physical control in the late afternoon, it was horrible seeing her like that, but kept breathing. I had her in a basket and put her next to my bed when I went to bed so she wouldn't be alone. At 3am my cat started meowing, something she never does so that woke me up and when I returned to bed I checked on her and she had passed on. This meant Friday I had to bury her, so I wasn’t really in the mood to go to work. And I had to take my car to get checked that day. I also decided to move her cage out of sight and put some of her stuff away so I didn't have a reminder she was no longer here.
So last week was a very crappy one for me! lol I can only hope this week is better! There is only a few more weeks left of school for the year and then it's Christmas holidays! yay!
Take care,
Miss Snix.
I also had a small car accident on Monday after school trying to leave the road the school is on. The car in front of me went to take off from a stop sign, I went to move us, she put the brakes on quickly and so did I but I didn't stop quick enough and bumped the back of her car. We swapped details and I called my insurance and booked my car in to get checked and I thought it was all sorted. Until Thursday night I get a call from her husband (who wasn't there at the accident) saying I have to buy her a new rear bumper bar. I questioned him what their insurance and mechanic said only to find out they hadn't even contacted either! So I told them to contact mine and they would sort them out and not to call me again. There wasn't any damage to the car! So I let my insurance know about them calling me and what they said. I had my car checked and serviced on Friday and all that was wrong was it needed a wheel alignment. There were no bumps, dents, scratches or paint off which is good since I only bought it brand new half way through this year.
Never got a booking Wednesday and then took Thursday and Friday off for personal reasons. My guinea pig stopped eating a few days earlier and had been getting daily needles from the vet to help her but it didn't work and in the end I was told there was nothing more he could do for her and I should think about putting her to sleep. I have had guinea pigs for 12 years and this ones sister had passed suddenly 2 months earlier, so she was my last one. I had a feeling that she didn't have long and something was happening; call it intuition, but the very next day after he said that she went downhill very fast. So I took the Thursday off to spend with her, making sure she was comfortable and getting lots of cuddles in. She lost all physical control in the late afternoon, it was horrible seeing her like that, but kept breathing. I had her in a basket and put her next to my bed when I went to bed so she wouldn't be alone. At 3am my cat started meowing, something she never does so that woke me up and when I returned to bed I checked on her and she had passed on. This meant Friday I had to bury her, so I wasn’t really in the mood to go to work. And I had to take my car to get checked that day. I also decided to move her cage out of sight and put some of her stuff away so I didn't have a reminder she was no longer here.
So last week was a very crappy one for me! lol I can only hope this week is better! There is only a few more weeks left of school for the year and then it's Christmas holidays! yay!
Take care,
Miss Snix.
Bit of This - Bit of That
Last week I worked two days, that I can recall lol that's bad I can't remember exactly. I know Monday I took the day off because I was waiting for an electrician to come back (I had a light bulb explode. Apparently it's rare but can happen. And it made a big bang and shattered everywhere!) anyway he didn't come then even though he said he would so the next day I went to work. I remember I worked Tuesday because he came that afternoon after I got home. I taught a prep class at the school I had my last contract with (teaching prep but this was a different prep class this time). I had taught this class before and they also knew me from when I was teaching the other prep class (hope your not too confused!) It was a nice day with them but the regular aide was away so I had a lady come in for her first ever paid aide work, she was a little bit nervous but it all went well. The big event of the day was the children went swimming. We had to get the children changed at school and have an early lunch and then race out to the bus. And of course we were running late so I made the kids eat as quick as they could and rushed them out the door only to find the bus wasn't there. So we waited 15mins in the sun for it to come and then went to the pool, I got to come back with the previous class while the aide stayed with them. After that they got back, we did inside activities and the day came to an end. It was a great day overall.
Then I worked a grade three class at the school I had the yr4/5 contract, that was on Thursday (Can't for the life of me think if I worked Wednesday, don't think I did. Should check my diary) I hadn't taught that class before but they knew me from around the school. They were an okay class (had worse/better), a little bit chatty but all worked without too much complaint (well except for the few boys I kept in at lunch to finish their work). Very different to the last grade three class I taught; no swearing, hitting, kicking, or any vile behavior actually. Very nice for a change but it is eye opening how children in the same year level but at different schools/classes can be so different to each other. I had a teacher aide in the room with me all day who the normal teacher said would help out and know what to do but she just sat at a desk at the back of the room marking things all day and when I asked her to help with the art she didn't have a clue what to do, but she was very friendly.
Didn't work Friday because I had to go to the dentist. It's a month long wait so you have to take any appointment you can get, the news I got from the visit wasn't the greatest but it wasn't really anything I didn't know. It was my first time seeing a private dentist so he told me the truth (unlike the public ones that tell you not to worry about that hole in your tooth - now I get to really worry! And they just ignore and brush over any concerns you have because they don't have time aka couldn't care less) and I know have a 'plan of action'. Unfortunately it is going to take a long time to get done (aghh waiting periods!) and a lot of money, so I really need to start working more to earn money to pass on to the dentist. But hopefully it will all work out and once it's all done it will be much better (can't get worse lol) Also today I have discovered my pet guinea pig (who hasn't been eating lately and I have been so worried about) has a chipped tooth so I am going to try and get her into the vet tomorrow afternoon after work. I just hope I am not too late; last time my other piggy was sick I left her a few days and when I finally decided to call the vet it was too late and she passed away before I even made the call and I was so angry at myself for not doing something sooner. I just hope he can help her, and I already know the bill will be a good one. It's amazing how much one little piggy can cost you!
I already have two bookings this week. I was called on Friday afternoon and booked to work a yr2/3 class where I taught prep last week. My friend has been teaching different yr2/3 classes at the school recently and hasn't really enjoyed it that much so I'm really looking forward to it. No, I have taught that year level there before and some are challenging but there are a couple of lovely classes. I hope I get one of the lovely ones or it's going to be a long two days.
Anyhow it's getting late and I need some rest,
Miss Snix.
Then I worked a grade three class at the school I had the yr4/5 contract, that was on Thursday (Can't for the life of me think if I worked Wednesday, don't think I did. Should check my diary) I hadn't taught that class before but they knew me from around the school. They were an okay class (had worse/better), a little bit chatty but all worked without too much complaint (well except for the few boys I kept in at lunch to finish their work). Very different to the last grade three class I taught; no swearing, hitting, kicking, or any vile behavior actually. Very nice for a change but it is eye opening how children in the same year level but at different schools/classes can be so different to each other. I had a teacher aide in the room with me all day who the normal teacher said would help out and know what to do but she just sat at a desk at the back of the room marking things all day and when I asked her to help with the art she didn't have a clue what to do, but she was very friendly.
Didn't work Friday because I had to go to the dentist. It's a month long wait so you have to take any appointment you can get, the news I got from the visit wasn't the greatest but it wasn't really anything I didn't know. It was my first time seeing a private dentist so he told me the truth (unlike the public ones that tell you not to worry about that hole in your tooth - now I get to really worry! And they just ignore and brush over any concerns you have because they don't have time aka couldn't care less) and I know have a 'plan of action'. Unfortunately it is going to take a long time to get done (aghh waiting periods!) and a lot of money, so I really need to start working more to earn money to pass on to the dentist. But hopefully it will all work out and once it's all done it will be much better (can't get worse lol) Also today I have discovered my pet guinea pig (who hasn't been eating lately and I have been so worried about) has a chipped tooth so I am going to try and get her into the vet tomorrow afternoon after work. I just hope I am not too late; last time my other piggy was sick I left her a few days and when I finally decided to call the vet it was too late and she passed away before I even made the call and I was so angry at myself for not doing something sooner. I just hope he can help her, and I already know the bill will be a good one. It's amazing how much one little piggy can cost you!
I already have two bookings this week. I was called on Friday afternoon and booked to work a yr2/3 class where I taught prep last week. My friend has been teaching different yr2/3 classes at the school recently and hasn't really enjoyed it that much so I'm really looking forward to it. No, I have taught that year level there before and some are challenging but there are a couple of lovely classes. I hope I get one of the lovely ones or it's going to be a long two days.
Anyhow it's getting late and I need some rest,
Miss Snix.
Crazy Days!
This week I had a couple of crazy days! Tuesday I had the grade 1/2 class that I've had before that can some times be wonderful and other times be real hard to teach. Unfortunately they seemed to be very worked up and to add to things there was a 4th year uni student in the room. Which meant I was supposed to be there to supervise the uni student doing all the teaching (sounds so easy lol) but I felt for the poor girl as I could see the classes behaviour getting worse and worse; and before I knew it the teacher in me was coming out and I stepped in to settle them down a few times. They really are a nice class, they are just young and very chatty and a bit cheeky. And they were nothing compared to the class I had on Wednesday!
On Wednesday I was at a different school teaching a grade three class that I have also previously taught. Of course when they called to book me they didn't want to say which grade three class it was until I got there. I knew that was a bad sign! It was one of those days where whatever the worse is you could imagine happening in a classroom - happened to me that one day! The bell rang in the morning they came and sat down for the roll but half the boys decided to hit and swear at each other and backchat me (all within the first few mins of the day!) We then went to parade where on the way one boy (who thankfully spent the majority of the day at SEU!) decided to hit everyone near him and swear at me repeatedly. After that we came back to do some maths, again half the boys decided to act like rude idiots; fighting and swearing at me, so I sent them to the office and gave them detention (which they thought was funny). The principal came down and 'chatted' with them, they in turn back-chatted to him. Before lunch I thought I would be nice and play a game with them but every time they went to sit on the floor the boys were physically fighting each other. So I sent the whole class back to their desks and tried another three times and each time they kept fighting so I made them return to doing their work. After first break they came in more worked up then ever and half the class wouldn't work so I called the office and had some of the boys sent up their and had an aide come into the room to help me (they were rude to her too) and we got a little bit of work done. Half way through lunch I had to call them over the announcements to get them so I could take them swimming. They had been looking forward to this all day so you think they would behave for this but no. They wouldn't sit down, be quiet or keep their hands to themselves. Also the SEU boy that swore at me was back with the class with an SEU teacher to watch him. She was getting angry at the class and they wouldn't even listen to her. The swimming pool is at the high school next to the primary school and takes less than 5mins to get their. But from the time I made the announcement to the time we finally got their (walking with them was hell!) it took over half an hour! But at least I could hand them over to the PE teacher and relax a bit. Watching their lesson was ridiculous though, they were so rude and disobedient to their regular PE teacher that he kicked half them out of the pool. After their lesson it took them 20mins for them to get changed which meant we had to race back to school before the bell went which of course meant a lot of hitting and swearing at each other on the way. These are 8 year olds by the way. Ohh and how could I forget one incident where a boy refusing to do his work decided to cut up his work book and ended up cutting his finger and complaining to me he was bleeding, yeah I was real concerned. Not.
I talked with the teachers I worked with that day, the aid and the principal who all said it wasn't me (after seeing the PE teacher being treated the way he was I know it is true) but they are just a rude challenging class in general and their normal teacher struggles with them. I am just thankful I could walk away and not have to teach them again (and I won't be!). I don't know how anyone could put up with that time of behaviour on a daily basis and still be sane. If that was any other school in the area and children behaved that way there would be serious consequences for them. I don't see how the school can accept that behaviour. And to tell me they struggle to find relief teachers; you wonder why!!!
Miss Snix.
On Wednesday I was at a different school teaching a grade three class that I have also previously taught. Of course when they called to book me they didn't want to say which grade three class it was until I got there. I knew that was a bad sign! It was one of those days where whatever the worse is you could imagine happening in a classroom - happened to me that one day! The bell rang in the morning they came and sat down for the roll but half the boys decided to hit and swear at each other and backchat me (all within the first few mins of the day!) We then went to parade where on the way one boy (who thankfully spent the majority of the day at SEU!) decided to hit everyone near him and swear at me repeatedly. After that we came back to do some maths, again half the boys decided to act like rude idiots; fighting and swearing at me, so I sent them to the office and gave them detention (which they thought was funny). The principal came down and 'chatted' with them, they in turn back-chatted to him. Before lunch I thought I would be nice and play a game with them but every time they went to sit on the floor the boys were physically fighting each other. So I sent the whole class back to their desks and tried another three times and each time they kept fighting so I made them return to doing their work. After first break they came in more worked up then ever and half the class wouldn't work so I called the office and had some of the boys sent up their and had an aide come into the room to help me (they were rude to her too) and we got a little bit of work done. Half way through lunch I had to call them over the announcements to get them so I could take them swimming. They had been looking forward to this all day so you think they would behave for this but no. They wouldn't sit down, be quiet or keep their hands to themselves. Also the SEU boy that swore at me was back with the class with an SEU teacher to watch him. She was getting angry at the class and they wouldn't even listen to her. The swimming pool is at the high school next to the primary school and takes less than 5mins to get their. But from the time I made the announcement to the time we finally got their (walking with them was hell!) it took over half an hour! But at least I could hand them over to the PE teacher and relax a bit. Watching their lesson was ridiculous though, they were so rude and disobedient to their regular PE teacher that he kicked half them out of the pool. After their lesson it took them 20mins for them to get changed which meant we had to race back to school before the bell went which of course meant a lot of hitting and swearing at each other on the way. These are 8 year olds by the way. Ohh and how could I forget one incident where a boy refusing to do his work decided to cut up his work book and ended up cutting his finger and complaining to me he was bleeding, yeah I was real concerned. Not.
I talked with the teachers I worked with that day, the aid and the principal who all said it wasn't me (after seeing the PE teacher being treated the way he was I know it is true) but they are just a rude challenging class in general and their normal teacher struggles with them. I am just thankful I could walk away and not have to teach them again (and I won't be!). I don't know how anyone could put up with that time of behaviour on a daily basis and still be sane. If that was any other school in the area and children behaved that way there would be serious consequences for them. I don't see how the school can accept that behaviour. And to tell me they struggle to find relief teachers; you wonder why!!!
Miss Snix.
Work
After 2 weeks of not working I finally returned to work today. I got a phone call at 6.45am asking me to work at a school. It was the school I had the grade 4/5 contract at but today I taught a grade 3 class that I have taught many times before for relief and at one point was tricked into having a contract while teaching them. Thankfully that won't be the case this time because I spoke with the teacher in the morning and she was only taking the day off to take her son to the doctor. And I won't be able to work five days in a row because I have a family member leaving on Friday so I am taking the day off to see her go. Half way through the day the (acting) deputy principal came to see me (while I was in the middle of teaching) to see if I wanted to teach his (he is taking a class temporarily) year 6/7 class tomorrow. I said no. Felt good too, normally I would smile and pretend to laugh at his little remarks to make a good impression but he is a twat and I am in demand in a lot of other schools anyway I no longer feel the need to suck up (not that I was being rude!) But I told him I am only teaching the littlies these days and since they were so desperate for a relief teacher (personally I don't think he should be discussing so openly that his school is struggling to find teachers when there are so many relief teachers out there fighting for jobs. Says it all really) he said he would see if he could get one of the teachers he had lined up to take a junior class to swap and take his. So a little while latter he returned (again while I was in the middle of trying to teach maths; no it's okay. . . 8 year olds will stop what we were doing and sit there quietly while he talks to me. As if!) and said that he would like me to take the grade 1/2 class. I have taught them before, some days they are wonderful and other days they are little horrors so I agreed to it and off he went on his merrily way sipping his coffee to find where he left his class while I got to settle down 20 eight year olds.
My last post I was wondering if I would get a payslip for not earning any money; I didn't haha I looked up my bank account thinking they might have paid me for my last week on contract but nothing was showing up. So I looked at my last payslip and turns out they paid the last week of my contract before I even worked it so it was all in a nice neat fortnight package. Ohh well, still got the money just before I was expecting it. And just goes to show how closely I look at my payslips! haha I always check off dates for relief work in case they forget a booking but I never really look at dates when on contracts; as long as they pay a fortnightly pay I am happy. But if I get another contract will look closer! Also got a little freaked out when on the notes section of the payslip it said my casual pay (relief work) was about to cease, didn't really understand this but then today I got a form to fill out to continue being a relief teacher for next year. So I guess they were just getting in early (2 months early!) to let me know the end of the year was coming and they weren't going to pay me (duhh!) until next year when I get to (once form is complete) be a relief teacher all over again (yay me lol)
Anywho should be going, need to get ready for an early night. Unlike last night I stayed up until almost 1am watching Walk the Line. I am surprised I was so awake today! When I was at uni I could do all nighters and then still attend class with no worries but these days I need my sleep!
Miss Snix.
My last post I was wondering if I would get a payslip for not earning any money; I didn't haha I looked up my bank account thinking they might have paid me for my last week on contract but nothing was showing up. So I looked at my last payslip and turns out they paid the last week of my contract before I even worked it so it was all in a nice neat fortnight package. Ohh well, still got the money just before I was expecting it. And just goes to show how closely I look at my payslips! haha I always check off dates for relief work in case they forget a booking but I never really look at dates when on contracts; as long as they pay a fortnightly pay I am happy. But if I get another contract will look closer! Also got a little freaked out when on the notes section of the payslip it said my casual pay (relief work) was about to cease, didn't really understand this but then today I got a form to fill out to continue being a relief teacher for next year. So I guess they were just getting in early (2 months early!) to let me know the end of the year was coming and they weren't going to pay me (duhh!) until next year when I get to (once form is complete) be a relief teacher all over again (yay me lol)
Anywho should be going, need to get ready for an early night. Unlike last night I stayed up until almost 1am watching Walk the Line. I am surprised I was so awake today! When I was at uni I could do all nighters and then still attend class with no worries but these days I need my sleep!
Miss Snix.
Contemplating Things
It's been 13 days since I last worked. Originally by choice; I took last week off because I was fairly sick but have gotten somewhat better and feel ready to return to work. Unfortunately work has decided it is not ready for me haha. Monday was a pupil free day which was great! I went to the beach with my mother, sister, her three kids and my dog. I had a lot of fun swimming and playing in the water with niece. I was even good and went to bed early so I was prepared for an early morning call telling me where I was working that day, no call. So last night I went to bed early again (very unusual and hard for me!) and this morning still no call. So now I have 2 days left to get work otherwise my next payslip will be a big fat $0! I have never had that happen before so I wonder if they would even bother sending a payslip out. After this week there is only 7 more weeks left of the school year, which is about 3 or 4 paydays left before we break for 2 months so I need to start working hard and earning some money because I wouldn't be getting paid for the break. Kind of sucks how the one time of the year a relief teacher doesn't get the chance to earn any money is the same time of the year there is a lot of expenses to be paid with Christmas then New Years and then my birthday.
There was an article in my local newspaper's employment section today talking about which carers have skill shortages at the moment. And you guessed it! Education was listed as one of the top jobs where there isn't enough people. Are politicians blind or just plain stupid (please feel free to answer that!) because they are also talking about paying people to go to university to study education (nothing new they have been talking about it for a while) but I want to know how they can just blindly ignore all the fully qualified unemployed teachers there all ready is! The truth is classes are getting more and more over populated and it is not benefiting anyone. Why don't they just bring in more full time teachers so they can have smaller (or at least stay under the legal limit of children in a class many schools seem forced to ignore) classes. That way children get more attention they need and teachers actually get employed. But I guess that would be too easy. I graduated two years ago and in that time only one person that was in our Early Childhood group is now a permanent teacher. Out of the Primary graduates of my year I know only a few of them are permanent too. Some have become so disgruntled at it they have already left the profession. Just today I was talking to a friend who graduated with me and she has decided to go back to university to study for her Masters degree, not because she wants to continue her studies (she is not looking forward to returning to uni at all) but she hopes that when she finishes it will lead to other work opportunities that aren't too far away from what she originally wanted to do.
I have been looking at university courses online too (have been on and off for a while now) but the thing is I don't know what else I would want to do. And I think it would be horrible to just throw away four, long, hard years at uni studying for it. I started studying childcare when I was in year 11 and after high school went straight to uni to study teaching. I wanted to be a teacher and still do. But being a relief teacher can be hard work (don't get me wrong there is great bits too, it's good pay and if you get a bad class at least you only have them hopefully one day) and after a while it does make you question if you really want to keep doing it and if so for how long.
I love how I always think I don't really have much to write about and then it always turns into a rant haha it's very therapeutic!
Miss Snix.
There was an article in my local newspaper's employment section today talking about which carers have skill shortages at the moment. And you guessed it! Education was listed as one of the top jobs where there isn't enough people. Are politicians blind or just plain stupid (please feel free to answer that!) because they are also talking about paying people to go to university to study education (nothing new they have been talking about it for a while) but I want to know how they can just blindly ignore all the fully qualified unemployed teachers there all ready is! The truth is classes are getting more and more over populated and it is not benefiting anyone. Why don't they just bring in more full time teachers so they can have smaller (or at least stay under the legal limit of children in a class many schools seem forced to ignore) classes. That way children get more attention they need and teachers actually get employed. But I guess that would be too easy. I graduated two years ago and in that time only one person that was in our Early Childhood group is now a permanent teacher. Out of the Primary graduates of my year I know only a few of them are permanent too. Some have become so disgruntled at it they have already left the profession. Just today I was talking to a friend who graduated with me and she has decided to go back to university to study for her Masters degree, not because she wants to continue her studies (she is not looking forward to returning to uni at all) but she hopes that when she finishes it will lead to other work opportunities that aren't too far away from what she originally wanted to do.
I have been looking at university courses online too (have been on and off for a while now) but the thing is I don't know what else I would want to do. And I think it would be horrible to just throw away four, long, hard years at uni studying for it. I started studying childcare when I was in year 11 and after high school went straight to uni to study teaching. I wanted to be a teacher and still do. But being a relief teacher can be hard work (don't get me wrong there is great bits too, it's good pay and if you get a bad class at least you only have them hopefully one day) and after a while it does make you question if you really want to keep doing it and if so for how long.
I love how I always think I don't really have much to write about and then it always turns into a rant haha it's very therapeutic!
Miss Snix.
Sick Blah
Still sick. Still miserable. HAHA Thought I would share that. My nose is so blocked up I can barely breath. When I am not sneezing my head off I am coughing to the point of choking. But at least I have the sense this time to do something about it before it gets too bad (well badder than it already is). I took the day off today to see the doctor; I called at the start of the day, was put on hold for a long time and then told the earliest time I can see him is tomorrow. Agh typical! Whenever I get sick so does everyone else. So now I am taking tomorrow off too so hopefully the doctor will give me some happy pills and make the misery go away (far far away). Not overly concerned about taking some time off work, I got paid over the holidays so I can afford to take some time off and get better.
All I can say is thank god for the person who invented Vicks Inhaler; I've had that thing up my nose more times than I would like today but it seems to be providing some short term relief. I highly recommend it to anyone that gets to enjoy the pleasure of having a stuffy nose.
Later,
Miss Snix.
All I can say is thank god for the person who invented Vicks Inhaler; I've had that thing up my nose more times than I would like today but it seems to be providing some short term relief. I highly recommend it to anyone that gets to enjoy the pleasure of having a stuffy nose.
Later,
Miss Snix.
Back to work!
Well I am back at work after the holidays for term four and have already finished one week (only 9 more left for the school year!) and have also finished my contract. I am going to miss it. It is a really nice prep class with some lovely children and a great aide, actually all the staff were friendly and helpful which is so great! My time there went by so quickly it hardly felt like work, I guess it's true what they say 'time flies when you're having fun'. I had some really great experiences there, like a little girl who was afraid of everything (literally!) was freaking out (screaming and crying) everyday doing the obstacle course but on my second last day I managed to get her to try out the monkey bars with the other girls and she loved it! That is something I miss doing relief work; watching a child grow, learn and accomplish things over time. Also getting to know the children on a more personal level; like one child had a wobbly tooth before the holidays and when he came back it was still wobbly, it finally came out on my last day and he ran straight to me to show me and was so excited because we had been talking about it and building the excitement up to this moment for a while. Also on my last day one of the little girls decided to make a picture for me 'secretly' and got the aide to help her, they got all the children to sign their names (they are still learning to write!) during inside time and gave it to me before the aid was about to leave for the day. I thought it was so nice. And the girl in the bottom picture is ment to be me! haha It kind of looks like me too! Very artistic!
The aide was so lovely and thanked me and said she enjoyed working with me, which was more than mutual! The teacher from the class next to me who I worked along with also thanked me and came in to the room before I left to say goodbye and even a grandmother who looks after one of the girls I was teaching (who was away sick that day!) even came in to say a thank you and tell me how much she appreciated having me their. It was so nice because you don't normally get that kind of reaction when you relieve; you're there one day and gone the next and rarely have time to leave any impression so this was very special to me.
Something else I picked up during my last week there; a fresh cold! HAHAHA I think I have been sick more times this year than ever before! It started half way through the week with a sore throat (my aide was coughing all week and the kids were getting sick too) and then my body started aching and I was feeling miserable and now today my nose has started running :( At least if I am still feeling bad by Monday I can now take the day off and it won't affect anyone.
Not really looking forward to returning to relief work, I just hope I get good classes and the time flies by . . . I know it won't but I can dream!
Ciao,
Miss Snix.
The aide was so lovely and thanked me and said she enjoyed working with me, which was more than mutual! The teacher from the class next to me who I worked along with also thanked me and came in to the room before I left to say goodbye and even a grandmother who looks after one of the girls I was teaching (who was away sick that day!) even came in to say a thank you and tell me how much she appreciated having me their. It was so nice because you don't normally get that kind of reaction when you relieve; you're there one day and gone the next and rarely have time to leave any impression so this was very special to me.Something else I picked up during my last week there; a fresh cold! HAHAHA I think I have been sick more times this year than ever before! It started half way through the week with a sore throat (my aide was coughing all week and the kids were getting sick too) and then my body started aching and I was feeling miserable and now today my nose has started running :( At least if I am still feeling bad by Monday I can now take the day off and it won't affect anyone.
Not really looking forward to returning to relief work, I just hope I get good classes and the time flies by . . . I know it won't but I can dream!
Ciao,
Miss Snix.
Holiday Fun
The end of my two week holiday is fast approaching and has me thinking about what I have done during the holidays. Not a whole lot lol I had so many plans, well not really but I imagined I would be a lot more active than I have been but I guess the holidays are all about being lazy and relaxing. Firstly I was going to train my dog everyday with obedience (it's been almost four months since she graduated puppy preschool and then teen school) because she still only does the basics. I was told since she is a small dog she is perfect for learning performing tricks (my very own little circus dog!) and I was impressed with the ones the puppy teacher showed me but I haven't been consistent with my training so these holidays we were going to work on it everyday . . . lol We have done a couple of days and only the basics she already knows. But at least I have been taking her for a walk every afternoon. Exercice! Another thing I was going to do each day LOL I have used my wii fit a couple of times but the damn thing keeps telling me I am gaining weight every time I step on it so we are having some time away from each other lol I suppose it's not its fault I have been eating a lot these holidays. I eat when I am bored, somthing Dr Phil would not be impressed with. Speaking of which I have watched so many talk shows and morning shows and daytime shows and . . . basically I've watched a lot of TV, when I am awake that is lol Normally for work I walk up around 6am, my body gets so used to it most days I wake up before the alarm goes off but not in holidays! No alarm! And suddenly I am sleeping in until all hours of the day. I like sleep. I was proactive some days though, I cleaned my office (well I threw out half the crap sitting around and hid the other half in cupboards) and I took my dog to the beach twice (would have liked to more but got really weird cold/windy weather for several days) and am trying to teach her to swim (she is 7 months) the first time it was a little wavy and she got dunked under a couple of times and the next time we sat in a pool of water next to the ocean (lol no waves) but she had more fun climbing the rocks. Also today I have just booked a bus trip for this Sunday that I am looking forward to. The only thing is I will have to wake up at 5am for it and will get home around 8pm and then I get to go back to work on Monday with 25 revved up 5 year olds that will all no doubt still be on a holiday buzz.
I am actually not minding working the first week as it is the last week of my contract and I enjoy the class and it is nice having the same (well behaved!) class constantly. It is the week after that I am not looking forward to; back to relief work! Hopefully I will be blessed with well behaved classes and parents (LOL excuse me while I laugh my head off . . .) and just keep in mind there is ten weeks in this term and then the year is over and we break for a couple of months over Christmas. Last year I loved working in the last term, I was on contract all term as a P-3 key teacher and yr7 art teacher at the time. It was brilliant! My P-3 years I read Christmas stories and did worksheets related to it and did different Christmas art with the year 7s, I loved it! It was so much fun :~)
Anyway these holidays aren't even officially over and I am already counting down to the next holidays LOL Ten weeks to go . . . :~)
Take care all,
Miss Snix.
I am actually not minding working the first week as it is the last week of my contract and I enjoy the class and it is nice having the same (well behaved!) class constantly. It is the week after that I am not looking forward to; back to relief work! Hopefully I will be blessed with well behaved classes and parents (LOL excuse me while I laugh my head off . . .) and just keep in mind there is ten weeks in this term and then the year is over and we break for a couple of months over Christmas. Last year I loved working in the last term, I was on contract all term as a P-3 key teacher and yr7 art teacher at the time. It was brilliant! My P-3 years I read Christmas stories and did worksheets related to it and did different Christmas art with the year 7s, I loved it! It was so much fun :~)
Anyway these holidays aren't even officially over and I am already counting down to the next holidays LOL Ten weeks to go . . . :~)
Take care all,
Miss Snix.
Holidays!
I am on holidays!!! lol just a little bit happy about that! I had a great day today, well the whole week was good, but today was really nice. I only had 14 (turned into 13 when one was picked up half way through the day) out of the normally 25 children attend, so it was a nice small group. The teacher next to me offered to give me some some of hers to even the numbers out lol no thanks! Unfortunately two children with 'big personalities' (it's my nice way of saying disruptive lol) were there and tried to make their presence noticed but that didn't matter because the rest of the children were so lovely. I thought being the last day they would be very worked up but they weren't. We did a big clear up today, wiped everything over and sent things home. One parent made a joke about getting things (made in 'box construction' area that really only the child can tell what it is) sent home everyday lol well it is their special little treasures. The aide that was filling in for the regular one did a great job cleaning out all the block and paint area and helping with everything, she was so nice and friendly. I felt bad because I never got a chance to say thank you or goodbye because I had to rush my kids off to the library while she was still watching over another class at the end of lunch waiting for their teacher to collect them and when we got back she had finished for the day. But she told me where she normally works in the school so I might go see her first week back to say thanks for everything.
Anyway so happy I am on holidays even though I know it will fly by, always the way isn't it!? lol
Miss Snix
Anyway so happy I am on holidays even though I know it will fly by, always the way isn't it!? lol
Miss Snix
So Tired!
My self imposed strike has come to an end. I am back working; full time! Quite impressed with myself lol So far I have worked three days in a row and am absolutely exhausted! I am on contract at the moment teaching prep. Basically I have 25 five year olds keeping me on my toes all day. But its okay, they are a nice bunch. There are only a couple with behaviour problems and compared to some children's behaviour I have dealt with in the past this is a breeze. The kids were a bit worked up today, their normal aid is away at training so there was a new one in that I had to explain things to (even though I don't really know where anything is myself), it was also free dress day which got them all excitable, and it is very close to the holidays. I can't wait for the holidays!!! Two weeks to just relax (of course I am ignoring the fact that I recently decided to have a gap of ten days between jobs) And the best bit is I do get paid for the holidays as part of my contract! When I got to the school on Monday the register took me into her office and filled out the paperwork for me, most schools give it to you and make you fill out all your details but this is a nice friendly school who did it for me (apparently they can look it all up on the system but other schools are obviously just to lazy to do it) and all I had to do was sign it, while she was filling it out I noticed the dates she put down covered the holidays so I asked and was assured it did cover them. Yay!
The prep class next to mine has a 15 year old work experience girl in it at the moment, quite interesting talking to her. She says when she finishes school she is going to become a prep teacher, nothing else, just a prep teacher. Bless her little heart thinking it is that easy. I remember when I started uni I wanted to be a preschool teacher (back in the day before prep replaced it), it wasn't until the last semester in my second last year of uni that I realised I didn't mind teaching primary years (coincidentaly it was the first time the uni let us have experience with primary classes), it was a good thing I did since most my work is in the primary years. I even get a lot of work in the upper years which I am qualified to teach but personally don't think I am well trained in, ohh well. But it would be nice to say I am going to be teach a specific grade and actually land a job straight away doing that lol In an ideal world maybe but I didn't say anything to her, didn't want to crush her enthusiastic blind dream. Good luck to her lol
I got a letter this week from the department of Education informing me that they are changing the rating system of new teachers. When I graduated I was given a rating of 'S1 outstanding' which meant I was first in line for permanent jobs (two years later, still not permanent hmm). . .excuse me for a moment while I finish laughing my head off. Anywho they have changed all the ratings and there is no more S ratings (not really sure what the S stood for anyway). Instead my 'S1 outstanding' rating has been replaced by 'High Performing Applicant' Sounds good doesn't it? Except I was fairly chuffed being outstanding now I am merely high performing, it is still the highest one but isn't as impressive to me. Ohh well it's not like it has helped my employment situation anyway, and there has been several more rounds of graduates come out after me all fighting for a job as well. The rating system clearly doesn't mean much since it can't guarantee jobs even to the states so called top teachers so why do they even bother rating teachings. I have a friend who only got a S2 rating and yet she gets the same amount of relief work as I do. Pointless if you ask me. Anyway I should be getting some sleep soon, two more days until holidays. Did I mention how much I am looking forward to holidays!?!
Catch you later,
Miss Snix.
The prep class next to mine has a 15 year old work experience girl in it at the moment, quite interesting talking to her. She says when she finishes school she is going to become a prep teacher, nothing else, just a prep teacher. Bless her little heart thinking it is that easy. I remember when I started uni I wanted to be a preschool teacher (back in the day before prep replaced it), it wasn't until the last semester in my second last year of uni that I realised I didn't mind teaching primary years (coincidentaly it was the first time the uni let us have experience with primary classes), it was a good thing I did since most my work is in the primary years. I even get a lot of work in the upper years which I am qualified to teach but personally don't think I am well trained in, ohh well. But it would be nice to say I am going to be teach a specific grade and actually land a job straight away doing that lol In an ideal world maybe but I didn't say anything to her, didn't want to crush her enthusiastic blind dream. Good luck to her lol
I got a letter this week from the department of Education informing me that they are changing the rating system of new teachers. When I graduated I was given a rating of 'S1 outstanding' which meant I was first in line for permanent jobs (two years later, still not permanent hmm). . .excuse me for a moment while I finish laughing my head off. Anywho they have changed all the ratings and there is no more S ratings (not really sure what the S stood for anyway). Instead my 'S1 outstanding' rating has been replaced by 'High Performing Applicant' Sounds good doesn't it? Except I was fairly chuffed being outstanding now I am merely high performing, it is still the highest one but isn't as impressive to me. Ohh well it's not like it has helped my employment situation anyway, and there has been several more rounds of graduates come out after me all fighting for a job as well. The rating system clearly doesn't mean much since it can't guarantee jobs even to the states so called top teachers so why do they even bother rating teachings. I have a friend who only got a S2 rating and yet she gets the same amount of relief work as I do. Pointless if you ask me. Anyway I should be getting some sleep soon, two more days until holidays. Did I mention how much I am looking forward to holidays!?!
Catch you later,
Miss Snix.
On Strike
So this week I have decided I am on strike. I don't know exactly what I am striking but I have just decided I am not working. And it feels so good. I didn't set out not to work this week, it kind of just turned out that way. A couple of weeks ago I told the company that organises relief work that I was taking this Thursday and Friday off. I took Thursday off because I had to take my dog to the vet and Friday because I am going to spend the whole weekend away from home and needed time to get ready for it. And then this past weekend I unexpectedly spent very little time at home instead was very busy so decided to take Monday off to rest from it. I did some shopping and the day went very quickly . . . so I decided to take Tuesday off to spend some time at home. I did that and then had full intention to work Wednesday but decided why bother spoiling a nice relaxing week. So that is how I come to have the week off. I am not overly concerned about it because I start my contract next week which spans over the two week holidays so I get paid for the weeks I work and the holiday weeks in between. And at least I will be nice and relaxed going into my contract job. The past few weeks have not been the greatest for me, professionally and personally. I have had to deal with a lot in my personal life that has not put me in the best mood for work. So my self indulged lazy week has been great for rejuvenating myself.
I got my pay check this week, the wonderful people who pay me made two somewhat big mistakes. First they double paid me one of my supply days (awesome money!) unfortunatly they realised this and called this morning and said it would be taken off my next pay check (hmm damn). They also paid me for two contracts (I only had one so basically they double paid me for it), contract money sucks (I have bitched about it a bit on here lol) but doubling it also makes it the same as supply money. So far they have not realised their mistake with this one and I am not rushing to tell them. After all it was a contract I never wanted to sign and it was also when I had to deal with a certain not so friendly parent so in my eyes I have more than earned the money lol It's like what one teacher once told me "you need to look after yourself in this business because no-one else will" which is so true! The respect level relief teachers (even those on short contracts) is very low I find in schools because we are not 'regular' teachers. Well we would be if the education department would find us 'regular' jobs and not have us rely on being relief teachers because it is all we can do to be paid in the profession we want to work in. So since they are not overly keen on helping us why should we (I) tell them when they make such stupid (on their behalf) mistakes that benefit me. Ohh ranting . . . lol
Anyway, take care all!
Miss Snix.
I got my pay check this week, the wonderful people who pay me made two somewhat big mistakes. First they double paid me one of my supply days (awesome money!) unfortunatly they realised this and called this morning and said it would be taken off my next pay check (hmm damn). They also paid me for two contracts (I only had one so basically they double paid me for it), contract money sucks (I have bitched about it a bit on here lol) but doubling it also makes it the same as supply money. So far they have not realised their mistake with this one and I am not rushing to tell them. After all it was a contract I never wanted to sign and it was also when I had to deal with a certain not so friendly parent so in my eyes I have more than earned the money lol It's like what one teacher once told me "you need to look after yourself in this business because no-one else will" which is so true! The respect level relief teachers (even those on short contracts) is very low I find in schools because we are not 'regular' teachers. Well we would be if the education department would find us 'regular' jobs and not have us rely on being relief teachers because it is all we can do to be paid in the profession we want to work in. So since they are not overly keen on helping us why should we (I) tell them when they make such stupid (on their behalf) mistakes that benefit me. Ohh ranting . . . lol
Anyway, take care all!
Miss Snix.
Verbally Attacked!
Today I had a grade one class and this morning I just walked into the classroom door when a parent came up behind virtually yelling at me that she didn't want me taking her daughters class because I was very mean and nasty to the class (I had them three days last week and her daughter was very well behaved, but they did have a different teacher the day before, so I probably taking the flack for them!) she went on about her not liking me screaming at the kids, I interrupted her and 'politely' told her I have never screamed at a child as I think that is unprofessional and personally I wouldn't do it. She responded "Well. . . maybe you haven't but I have seen another supply teacher do it and I know you lot are all the same" She went on and on about how her child hates me and didn't want to go to school today (the kids didn't even know I was taking them today though). She finished off by saying "I have already spoken to all the other parents outside about you so now I am telling you to your face!" I finally got rid of her and later in the day spoke to her daughter, who is lovely and kept telling me knock knock jokes all day (clearly hating me - not lol) and found out she is being bullied by some girls in the class (but do you think the mother would want to hear that? No! Heaven forbid that is the reason she doesn't want to go to school. No, it's the teacher who hasn't had them all weeks fault!) I told the two SEU teachers who came in to help me today and they were appalled and said they would speak to the normal teacher next time she is there. They also came back before the bell in the afternoon to 'guard the door' for me lol I knew the parents at the school were bad (yesterday at lunch the ones and two teachers who I have lunch with were saying how rude they were) but I never imagined I would be verbally attacked by one over something I never did. It is so stupid but it has really upset me. I was meant to be working there tomorrow but made up a lie about having a dental appointment, The principal wasn't impressed saying I was on contract and I couldn't break it (my contract finished yesterday and I already took the Monday off anyway). Aghh! I am over it. I am going to have a nice LONG weekend and hopefully have a nice, pyhco-parent-free time next week.
Sick of Being Sick!
Well I have done it once again, I have got and found myself another illness. It started Wednesday night. All I did was sneeze which made my throat sore and when I woke up in the morning I felt horrible, and after working all day I realised I had a full blown cold. Aghh I hate being sick! My whole body ached and felt like it was turning against me! I am feeling a little better today; not sneezing but still have a stuffy nose and now have a wonderfully horrible cough that is annoying! At least I have a long weekend to get over it. Friday was a holiday here and I have taken Monday off (have to take my dog to the vet so I thought that deserves a day off).
Last week was an alright week. Monday was actually very nice, it was a TRS day and I taught 3 prep classes and 1 grade three class. The day was fairly easy and flew by. The next three days were a different story. Each day was so long and it felt like the week was never going to end! I had the same grade one class all three days and they were little monsters! All the teacher aids that came into the room kept warning me how bad they were. The majority of the class were wonderful but a handful were just so full on it was unbelievable! And on the Tuesday as I was signing in at the office I was presented with . . . you guessed it . . . a contract to sign! I was not pleased with this since I had been booked for supply work and only took it all because the money would be great going into the holidays. I just don't understand, if they want you to be on a contract then why don't they just ask you! Instead they book you, get you there and then slap you with a damn contract! I have a contract coming up soon and I have no problem with that because that school called and asked directly if I would mind taking the contract; it is nice when they are honest with you. I told her I was unaware it was a contract and I got the response "Well when we book teachers to replace ours that are doing training it is always on contract" . . . well how was I to know I was replace a teacher doing training or that is how their school runs, no-one said anything about that to me when I was booked! And apparently only 6 of the 9 days I was book is on the contract (the office lady started running dates off to me like I had a diary or calendar in front of me!) and when I told her I couldn't work Monday anymore I was told "but that's one of your contract days" . . .bad luck lol so I guess I know that I am at least getting paid supply pay for 3 days. I am meant to be doing more TRS this week, I think this is were they might give me the grade fives I previously ranted about (I know I am getting good at ranting lol) and then the last two days of the week are booked for a year one class (not sure if it's the same or a different one) unless they change their might and do something else with me (wouldn't surprise me).
Anywho that's my little rant of the day lol
It is a very nice day here today, the sun is out shining and the weather is starting to warm up and . . . I sound like Snuffleupagus lol
Only 3 more weeks until the holidays :-) Where has the time gone???
Miss Snix.
Last week was an alright week. Monday was actually very nice, it was a TRS day and I taught 3 prep classes and 1 grade three class. The day was fairly easy and flew by. The next three days were a different story. Each day was so long and it felt like the week was never going to end! I had the same grade one class all three days and they were little monsters! All the teacher aids that came into the room kept warning me how bad they were. The majority of the class were wonderful but a handful were just so full on it was unbelievable! And on the Tuesday as I was signing in at the office I was presented with . . . you guessed it . . . a contract to sign! I was not pleased with this since I had been booked for supply work and only took it all because the money would be great going into the holidays. I just don't understand, if they want you to be on a contract then why don't they just ask you! Instead they book you, get you there and then slap you with a damn contract! I have a contract coming up soon and I have no problem with that because that school called and asked directly if I would mind taking the contract; it is nice when they are honest with you. I told her I was unaware it was a contract and I got the response "Well when we book teachers to replace ours that are doing training it is always on contract" . . . well how was I to know I was replace a teacher doing training or that is how their school runs, no-one said anything about that to me when I was booked! And apparently only 6 of the 9 days I was book is on the contract (the office lady started running dates off to me like I had a diary or calendar in front of me!) and when I told her I couldn't work Monday anymore I was told "but that's one of your contract days" . . .bad luck lol so I guess I know that I am at least getting paid supply pay for 3 days. I am meant to be doing more TRS this week, I think this is were they might give me the grade fives I previously ranted about (I know I am getting good at ranting lol) and then the last two days of the week are booked for a year one class (not sure if it's the same or a different one) unless they change their might and do something else with me (wouldn't surprise me).
Anywho that's my little rant of the day lol
It is a very nice day here today, the sun is out shining and the weather is starting to warm up and . . . I sound like Snuffleupagus lol
Only 3 more weeks until the holidays :-) Where has the time gone???
Miss Snix.
A lot of Work and Very Little Care
Well last week I took three days off and only worked 2 days by choice, it was very nice actually. Unfortunately or fortunately however you look at it, right now I am looking at it as an unfortunate thing, I have been booked to do two weeks straight of supply teaching in one school. It was the school I worked at on Monday, they liked me and I know the office lady when she worked at another school, so they kept calling and calling booking me for different days until the two weeks were full. I haven't taught at the school much, I taught there last year in the uppers and didn't like it but I think this past Monday might have been the first time there this year, it was in a junior class and wasn't too bad. It is good that at least I won't be woken up for two weeks being booked in the morning, and the pay will be good. But I am personally really really really (yes, that much really!) not in the mood for it.
I have had a miserable weekend. I woke up on Saturday morning to find my pet guinea pig had passed away, which has just devastated me more than I realised it would. I am the type of person who gets so emotionally attached to pets and I have been crying nonstop all weekend thinking there was something I should have done. She had been a little down for a few days; not eating much and looking very sleepy. But I thought she was picking up, she was running around and starting to eat a little so it just came as a very big shock. I feel so heart broken at the moment, I miss my little girl. I have another guinea pig, her sister, who is now by herself. On Saturday you could see her looking for her. I am so worried she will fret without her sister, she is three years old and they have been together their whole life but so far she seems to be okay. She is still running around and eating and she has my little dog that visits her each day. My dog lays next to the cage and they look at each other nose to nose. I think she knew her sister was sick and that she is in a better place now. I think she is dealing with it a lot better than I am. I feel like an emotional wreak at the moment.
My TV broke last night. Don't know what happened, pressed the on button but nothing happened. It just stopped working, I have had it since I was a child so am surprised it worked as long as it did. Normally things like this wouldn't bother me, I would just buy a new one. But instead I burst into tears and cried myself to sleep, I know it had nothing to do with the TV. So today I went and bought a new TV. I set it all up but then the damn VCR wouldn't work with it, all I did was take the cords out of the old TV and put them in the same slots in the new one. So I ripped the VCR, top box and PlayStation cords all out of each other (probably not necessary but whatever at this stage!), put them all back (I swear they were in the same slots as before) and the damn thing worked!
I am just feeling so stressed out and like I have no control over anything at the moment. And the last thing I feel like doing is working. I am teaching a mixture of classes, for a few days I am meant to be teaching a grade one class which I hope will be nice and the other days I am doing TRS work which means I will fill in for teachers for a few hours at a time, so I will be teaching different grades in one day. I told the person that booked me that I only teach the early years now (here early years is prep to year 3) her response "that's okay the highest class you will have is a couple of year 5 classes". How on earth is year 5 early years!?! I am doing a TRS day tomorrow. I just pray that the week goes quickly.
Until next time; be well all!
Miss Snix.
I have had a miserable weekend. I woke up on Saturday morning to find my pet guinea pig had passed away, which has just devastated me more than I realised it would. I am the type of person who gets so emotionally attached to pets and I have been crying nonstop all weekend thinking there was something I should have done. She had been a little down for a few days; not eating much and looking very sleepy. But I thought she was picking up, she was running around and starting to eat a little so it just came as a very big shock. I feel so heart broken at the moment, I miss my little girl. I have another guinea pig, her sister, who is now by herself. On Saturday you could see her looking for her. I am so worried she will fret without her sister, she is three years old and they have been together their whole life but so far she seems to be okay. She is still running around and eating and she has my little dog that visits her each day. My dog lays next to the cage and they look at each other nose to nose. I think she knew her sister was sick and that she is in a better place now. I think she is dealing with it a lot better than I am. I feel like an emotional wreak at the moment.
My TV broke last night. Don't know what happened, pressed the on button but nothing happened. It just stopped working, I have had it since I was a child so am surprised it worked as long as it did. Normally things like this wouldn't bother me, I would just buy a new one. But instead I burst into tears and cried myself to sleep, I know it had nothing to do with the TV. So today I went and bought a new TV. I set it all up but then the damn VCR wouldn't work with it, all I did was take the cords out of the old TV and put them in the same slots in the new one. So I ripped the VCR, top box and PlayStation cords all out of each other (probably not necessary but whatever at this stage!), put them all back (I swear they were in the same slots as before) and the damn thing worked!
I am just feeling so stressed out and like I have no control over anything at the moment. And the last thing I feel like doing is working. I am teaching a mixture of classes, for a few days I am meant to be teaching a grade one class which I hope will be nice and the other days I am doing TRS work which means I will fill in for teachers for a few hours at a time, so I will be teaching different grades in one day. I told the person that booked me that I only teach the early years now (here early years is prep to year 3) her response "that's okay the highest class you will have is a couple of year 5 classes". How on earth is year 5 early years!?! I am doing a TRS day tomorrow. I just pray that the week goes quickly.
Until next time; be well all!
Miss Snix.
New Job
I got a phone call tonight . . . or last night since it has just gone past midnight (hmm really should go to bed soon lol) Anyway! I got a phone call from a principal of a school that I had done a bit of supply work for offering me a small contract. I accepted! It is teaching a prep class (that I have taught before; it's a good class) for a week before the holidays and a week after the holidays. It is only a short contract so I am guessing (hoping) the normal teacher will have left planning for me to teach, which would be nice! ALso since there is a holiday in the middle I am guessing (again hoping) that will cover holiday pay. It is a big school that is continually enrolling and expanding so this might be a nice way to get my foot in the door for something further, especially since next term they will be looking at classes and positions for next year! And if you have a job in the first couple of next year then you have a better shot of making it permanent. But I am getting way ahead of myself! It doesn't start for a few more weeks so in that time I might get more work at the school which would be great and give me a chance to talk to the teacher I am filling in for. Aghh I am rambling again. . . I am good at that! lol
I got a phone call yesterday from a school I worked at last week (not one of my favorite schools; very stressful!) while I was at work at another wanting to book me for the next day. Apparently I have become their 'number one relief teacher' because I know how to 'handle' the students (in other words they annoyed me so badly I laid down the law and the principal really liked that - go figure) I wasn't too keen on this so I took the day off and spent the time cleaning at home which was quite nice since I spent all last week and the weekend away from home, my poor dog didn't know what I was doing here! lol Today was actually a nice day, yesterday it was so freeing!!! Aghh I hate Winter! And it seems to be getting colder, it didn't help having wind and rain yesterday either especially when it meant the kids had to have a wet lunch (they eat and then come straight back to class)and were restless and worked up from the weather and being stuck inside all day; didn't blame them!
Anywho . . .I seriously need to get some sleep!
Miss Snix
I got a phone call yesterday from a school I worked at last week (not one of my favorite schools; very stressful!) while I was at work at another wanting to book me for the next day. Apparently I have become their 'number one relief teacher' because I know how to 'handle' the students (in other words they annoyed me so badly I laid down the law and the principal really liked that - go figure) I wasn't too keen on this so I took the day off and spent the time cleaning at home which was quite nice since I spent all last week and the weekend away from home, my poor dog didn't know what I was doing here! lol Today was actually a nice day, yesterday it was so freeing!!! Aghh I hate Winter! And it seems to be getting colder, it didn't help having wind and rain yesterday either especially when it meant the kids had to have a wet lunch (they eat and then come straight back to class)and were restless and worked up from the weather and being stuck inside all day; didn't blame them!
Anywho . . .I seriously need to get some sleep!
Miss Snix
Working Hard to Make a Living . . .
Well it's been a couple of weeks since I last blogged, I am still alive! So I thought I would do a little update. Nothing overly exciting has happened since my last post, I have just been doing supply work around the area. Have had a cold/flu come and go a few times over the past two weeks, my throat is still a little sore. It seems just as I am losing the flu I go and pick a new one up. Got to love working with kids!
Some days are good and other days couldn't end quick enough. Last week started good at a nice school with a good class but then the next three days I was at a different school in a different grade each day but in each class the behaviour of the children was just shocking! I spent about 90% of my time doing behaviour management and felt a real struggle to actually teach anything. Thank goodness they aren't my classes! lol I seriously wonder how some teachers cope when they have to deal with that day in and day out. I actually had a discussion with a teacher this past week how it is no wonder so many teachers are getting burned out and leaving the profession. I don't blame some of them!
I had a weird encounter this past week. Last year when teaching year 1/2/3 at the start of the year I had a final year uni prac student in my class well she has now graduated and has a full time job until the end of the year at one of the schools I was doing supply for. I just find it so weird that last year I was teaching her about teaching and now she has a full time teaching job and I don't. And I will admit I am fairly jealous of that; even though I love doing supply because it is less stressful and better pay I still would love to have my own class.
I turned my mobile on this morning, haven't had it on since last Saturday (yes I am slack lol) and found a message from a district office up north offering me a part time contract. Am not taking it, I have had a few of these types of offers this year. But I figure if I move up there in the middle of nowhere (they keep offering me 1-2 teacher school jobs) when the contract ends I am stuck there and will need to make my own way out and will still be no better off than I am staying here doing supply and getting contracts that come up.
Until next time,
Miss Snix.
Some days are good and other days couldn't end quick enough. Last week started good at a nice school with a good class but then the next three days I was at a different school in a different grade each day but in each class the behaviour of the children was just shocking! I spent about 90% of my time doing behaviour management and felt a real struggle to actually teach anything. Thank goodness they aren't my classes! lol I seriously wonder how some teachers cope when they have to deal with that day in and day out. I actually had a discussion with a teacher this past week how it is no wonder so many teachers are getting burned out and leaving the profession. I don't blame some of them!
I had a weird encounter this past week. Last year when teaching year 1/2/3 at the start of the year I had a final year uni prac student in my class well she has now graduated and has a full time job until the end of the year at one of the schools I was doing supply for. I just find it so weird that last year I was teaching her about teaching and now she has a full time teaching job and I don't. And I will admit I am fairly jealous of that; even though I love doing supply because it is less stressful and better pay I still would love to have my own class.
I turned my mobile on this morning, haven't had it on since last Saturday (yes I am slack lol) and found a message from a district office up north offering me a part time contract. Am not taking it, I have had a few of these types of offers this year. But I figure if I move up there in the middle of nowhere (they keep offering me 1-2 teacher school jobs) when the contract ends I am stuck there and will need to make my own way out and will still be no better off than I am staying here doing supply and getting contracts that come up.
Until next time,
Miss Snix.
Relief Ramblings
Today is the start of the third week of term three and I am not working today. I had an offer to work today, but they called late in the morning and is a school in the town next to me. Which meant it would take me half an hour to get there and I wasn't real sure where the school is so I would probably waste time looking for the school. Glad I didn't take it though, today the weather is horrible; it is freezing and raining on and off. Plus I had a very busy weekend so was very tired. Last week however I worked everyday, it was actually a really nice week. I worked at two different schools. As my last blog said I worked at the school I had just finished a contract, I worked there again in two different classes the next two days. I had taught all three classes before a few times so the kids all knew me. They were nice, easy fun days :) The last two days I worked at a school across town with 2 classes I hadn't taught before, one class was SEU which I enjoy but you always get one child that makes it tough, but at least you expect that and know they can't help it. The other class was a normal class and the behaviour of the kids was not the greatest. I think I take it for granted teaching kids I know previously, new classes and children always love to up their misbehaviour. But thankfully at the end of the day I can walk away and not have to deal with them anymore lol I also got a advance booking for next month at the school I finished my last contract with to teach a class for a day, it is a class I haven't taught before but have taught classes on both sides so the kids have seen me and know who I am so that should be interesting to see how they are. I think I am going to have to end my blog now as my fingers are freezing and can barely move, aghh and this is meant to be the 'Sunshine State' - well show me some darn sunshine!!!
Stay warm everyone,
Miss Snix
Stay warm everyone,
Miss Snix
Back At It!
6.15am *ring ring, ring ring* "Hello Miss Snix, are you available for work today?"
This is how my day started. Wasn't overly impressed but after not getting any work for the whole first week I guess it was about time I got back into working. The school I ended up doing supply for was also the school that had just given me the boot (without actually telling me I was getting the boot). There are over a dozen primary schools in my town and just my luck I get picked to work there for my first job back doing supply. It wasn't too bad, a little weird though. I saw some of my old students during the breaks and it was fun (not) trying to explain to them why I was teaching at the school again but I wasn't able to teach them. I didn't talk to much of the staff, and tried to avoid admin. I saw a couple of teachers I used to work with though. They had confused looks on their faces when they saw me, I think they assumed I left because I had another job else where. The class I taught were lovely, I had taught them for two straight weeks earlier in the previous term when their teacher was sick. So they knew me which helped because they were all really well behaved. I was fairly tired after today, I wasn't expecting to get work so I stayed up a little too late. . . as usual lol. Ohh well at least now I know I have some money definitely coming in now, although I wouldn't mind another day off to once again embrace my nothingness. There is nothing better then staying at home being lazy err I mean being productively house bound. Nahh I mean lazy lol I had a ticket in last weekends big $50 million lotto, didn't win so I guess I will just have to keep working. . . for now :-)
See you later,
Miss Snix.
This is how my day started. Wasn't overly impressed but after not getting any work for the whole first week I guess it was about time I got back into working. The school I ended up doing supply for was also the school that had just given me the boot (without actually telling me I was getting the boot). There are over a dozen primary schools in my town and just my luck I get picked to work there for my first job back doing supply. It wasn't too bad, a little weird though. I saw some of my old students during the breaks and it was fun (not) trying to explain to them why I was teaching at the school again but I wasn't able to teach them. I didn't talk to much of the staff, and tried to avoid admin. I saw a couple of teachers I used to work with though. They had confused looks on their faces when they saw me, I think they assumed I left because I had another job else where. The class I taught were lovely, I had taught them for two straight weeks earlier in the previous term when their teacher was sick. So they knew me which helped because they were all really well behaved. I was fairly tired after today, I wasn't expecting to get work so I stayed up a little too late. . . as usual lol. Ohh well at least now I know I have some money definitely coming in now, although I wouldn't mind another day off to once again embrace my nothingness. There is nothing better then staying at home being lazy err I mean being productively house bound. Nahh I mean lazy lol I had a ticket in last weekends big $50 million lotto, didn't win so I guess I will just have to keep working. . . for now :-)
See you later,
Miss Snix.
Hmm. . . How Do I Feel?
I though this was pretty cool and a great resource! The site has each emotion in boy and girls faces and can be downloaded free from http://www.feelingfacescards.com/
So, how do you feel?
Miss Snix.
Teachertube
A few weeks ago while in a staff meeting a fellow teacher showed a couple of videos to 'inspire' us. Turns out the videos were off http://www.teachertube.com/ I had never seen the site before that. It's like youtube for teachers. I highly recommend others check it out. Videos range from being educational, inspirational and just plain humorous. I have been looking on it again recently and thought I would share one of my favorite videos.
Enjoy,
Miss Snix.
Enjoy,
Miss Snix.
Nothingness
The two week holidays are over and school has been back for 2 days now, so far I haven't got any work or heard anything. Not really surprised, it will take a little while for teachers to get sick or have days off after the holiday period and that is fine by me. I have really been enjoying the the nothingness lately. It has been nice spending time at home, resting and relaxing, and actually spending some time with my pets. It's a shame they weren't human babies, at least then I could stay at home and be paid by the government. That is something I am missing, my paycheck! In the past two weeks I have bought a brand new car, gone on a road trip and done more than my fair share of shopping, all of which has not come cheaply so a paycheck would be very nice. I think I have become a little to used to and accustomed to my current lifestyle of staying at home, I almost don't want to return to work. So I have come to the conclusion that all I need to do is have a big lotto win and I will be able to continue my nothingness in happiness. Too easy. Yeah right.
Catch you later,
Miss Snix.
Catch you later,
Miss Snix.
Kindness of Kids
Well my last post was not a very happy one but a little time has passed and I have calmed down about the situation and would like to take some time to write about some nice things that happened during my last week at the previous school so later on I don't forget about them.
While we were on the excursion the children were looking at flowers (weeds actually lol) and were picking a few, a few of girls actually climbed up high on some rocks to pick some very pretty looking ones and a couple of the girls gave little bunches to me because they wanted me to have some. Also I was in charge of first aid for the day which meant I had to carry a very heavy box of first aid supplies around the island the whole day, one of the boys (not in my class) offered to carry it for me. Several other boys also shared carrying it. I found it very heavy but these 9/10 year olds wanted to help me out :)
The day after the excursion one of my girls came to me in the morning and said she had a gift for me. She handed me that days newspaper and a brand new box of tea. I don't drink tea but I thought it was a very sweet gesture!
On my last day at the school after the children found out I was leaving they all made cards to surprise me. Okay not really a surprise, they did it during silent reading and asked me for paper. One even asked me to fold the paper for her lol and I could hear them talking about it but I played along :) Everyone in the class signed everyone else's cards and did drawings for me it was so sweet.
I am glad I was given the opportunity to teach the class, even if it was only for a short time. They were a great bunch and the teacher they are now getting is very lucky.
There is one more week of school holidays left and after that it looks like I am returning to relief work and that is okay, one day it will be my turn to have my own class on a longer full term basis (maybe even permanent - what a shock of a thought lol) But until then I am lucky I get to go into others classroom and gain a lot of great ideas that I wouldn't have going into my own straight off. I also get to meet a lot of wonderful children who remind me of the good (and at times shockingly bad) things about teaching.
Until next time, peace out!
Miss Snix.
While we were on the excursion the children were looking at flowers (weeds actually lol) and were picking a few, a few of girls actually climbed up high on some rocks to pick some very pretty looking ones and a couple of the girls gave little bunches to me because they wanted me to have some. Also I was in charge of first aid for the day which meant I had to carry a very heavy box of first aid supplies around the island the whole day, one of the boys (not in my class) offered to carry it for me. Several other boys also shared carrying it. I found it very heavy but these 9/10 year olds wanted to help me out :)
The day after the excursion one of my girls came to me in the morning and said she had a gift for me. She handed me that days newspaper and a brand new box of tea. I don't drink tea but I thought it was a very sweet gesture!
On my last day at the school after the children found out I was leaving they all made cards to surprise me. Okay not really a surprise, they did it during silent reading and asked me for paper. One even asked me to fold the paper for her lol and I could hear them talking about it but I played along :) Everyone in the class signed everyone else's cards and did drawings for me it was so sweet.
I am glad I was given the opportunity to teach the class, even if it was only for a short time. They were a great bunch and the teacher they are now getting is very lucky.
There is one more week of school holidays left and after that it looks like I am returning to relief work and that is okay, one day it will be my turn to have my own class on a longer full term basis (maybe even permanent - what a shock of a thought lol) But until then I am lucky I get to go into others classroom and gain a lot of great ideas that I wouldn't have going into my own straight off. I also get to meet a lot of wonderful children who remind me of the good (and at times shockingly bad) things about teaching.
Until next time, peace out!
Miss Snix.
Unemployed
Well I wanted to write a blog at the end of last week but nothing overly interesting happened, it was just a normal regular week. The complete opposite of this past week! It seems so much has happened this week. The week started out with a fun mini excursion to the golf course as a reward for the kids great behaviour. The next day was a very big day, we had an excursion to an Island and were there all day walking around (it is a national park and has no buildings or walking tracks!) all day. It was so beautiful over there! And the kids had such a great time exploring it. Then we also had sports day, which meant another whole day in the sun. I now officially have some of the weirdest suntan marks lol
The teacher who I have been replacing also came to visit this week, and I accidentally overheard her talking with another staff member about how nice it was that her friend will be taking over her class (the one I've been teaching!) for the rest of the year. I was a little stunned hearing this since the whole time I had been told I was most likely to be offered the job for the rest of the year. I was surprised at how upset I got over this (a lot of tears were shed!) I don't think it was so much not being offered the job that got to me but more the fact that a decision had been made and I hadn't been told. The next day at school parade I was thanked for teaching the class and the school was told a new teacher would be taking over next term (at this point still no one had said anything to my face and this was how I was officially being told!) All of my kids looked straight at me, and a few got upset later on. I don't think it was fair to spring it on them on the last day but then again I think it would have been nice to have told me at some point too! The teacher replacing me came in for an unexpected visit and expected me to tell her about how everything runs while I was in the middle of teaching the class. I stopped and explained things to her and introduced her to the class. After saying hello to the class she went on about being good friends with their original teacher (like I don't know how she got the job and as if it didn't tick me off!) I did however get some nice flowers and enjoyed a special morning tea with the other staff (a few other staff members were leaving too).
So now I am on holidays, which I thought I would be very happy about but I am still a little bit sad. It was hard saying goodbye to my class, I had only been there a short while but after being with them everyday it will be hard not to miss them. I also am now officially unemployed again. When school returns I will go back to relief teaching, which most the times I enjoy (love the pay!!!) minus a lot of the attitude you get because the kids know they only have you for one day.
Until next time, may all your days be teaching days!
Miss Snix.
The teacher who I have been replacing also came to visit this week, and I accidentally overheard her talking with another staff member about how nice it was that her friend will be taking over her class (the one I've been teaching!) for the rest of the year. I was a little stunned hearing this since the whole time I had been told I was most likely to be offered the job for the rest of the year. I was surprised at how upset I got over this (a lot of tears were shed!) I don't think it was so much not being offered the job that got to me but more the fact that a decision had been made and I hadn't been told. The next day at school parade I was thanked for teaching the class and the school was told a new teacher would be taking over next term (at this point still no one had said anything to my face and this was how I was officially being told!) All of my kids looked straight at me, and a few got upset later on. I don't think it was fair to spring it on them on the last day but then again I think it would have been nice to have told me at some point too! The teacher replacing me came in for an unexpected visit and expected me to tell her about how everything runs while I was in the middle of teaching the class. I stopped and explained things to her and introduced her to the class. After saying hello to the class she went on about being good friends with their original teacher (like I don't know how she got the job and as if it didn't tick me off!) I did however get some nice flowers and enjoyed a special morning tea with the other staff (a few other staff members were leaving too).
So now I am on holidays, which I thought I would be very happy about but I am still a little bit sad. It was hard saying goodbye to my class, I had only been there a short while but after being with them everyday it will be hard not to miss them. I also am now officially unemployed again. When school returns I will go back to relief teaching, which most the times I enjoy (love the pay!!!) minus a lot of the attitude you get because the kids know they only have you for one day.
Until next time, may all your days be teaching days!
Miss Snix.
Aghh Netball - Who Needs It!!!
So far I have been to two interschool sports netball events and I am so over it. Which is good since today was the last day for it. They actually made be umpire a match today and I couldn't get any help as both my teams were playing at the same time on different courts. I had absolutely no clue what I was doing but luckily the groups I was umpiring for didn't seem to either. It lasted for 24mins and I think I was more relieved than the kids were when it was over. Until the second round when neither of my groups had a game so we were going to play around on a spare court only to be interrupted my another school wanting to play us. We agreed but their teacher said I should umpire aghh! So I did and this time had one of the more experienced girls helping me out only to have half way through the match the other teacher say "I think it would be better if I umpire" Well duhh! lol I happily moved off court to watch from the sidelines where I had a mother to one of my girls come up to me in front of the kids and ask fairly rudely why the team was so bad. I smiled and replied every so friendly "They are still learning and it is all just for fun" while secretly thinking they would be better if her daughter would actually keep her eyes on the ball or at least stay on court instead of wondering off to chat with people while she was still meant to be playing. To top of our fun netball afternoon the last match my girls had was against a team who was being umpired by their own teacher who blantantly made bad calls in favour of her team. I don't know a whole lot about netball but I had two mothers complaining to me about this and my girls getting upset. The icing on the cake was when she made a wrong call against one of my girls all the girl said was "what" and the umpire kicked her off the court. Which left me to deal with and calm down a girl bawling her eyes out for something she didn't do. But netball is all over now. Don't think I will miss it anytime soon.
On a more brighter side I have been rearranging my room over the past two days. I have had so much fun! I intentionally did it to have more space in front of the computers (previously they were squashed in corners) but I got so carried away I started moving bookshelves. My kids were so excited about changing things, they pulled everything off the shelves and helped move the case and pack everything back again. But after dropping them off at PE I decided I still didn't like it, so I pulled everything out again and moved it right across the room. It looks so much better now! And today we moved the other computer next to the other one and it is actually looking like a computer station and my kids could actually sit in their project groups (4/5 kids) in front of each and work. I was so excited! lol Now all I need to do is hunt down the tower to go with my third computer and I will be ecstatic.
This past week has been fairly nice. It seemed to really fly by, if only all school weeks were four days long. Not long now until the holidays. Haven't heard anything about who is taking the class next term or if they would like me to (still don't know if I want it long term or not).
Anywho. . . until my next rant, ciao!
Miss Snix.
On a more brighter side I have been rearranging my room over the past two days. I have had so much fun! I intentionally did it to have more space in front of the computers (previously they were squashed in corners) but I got so carried away I started moving bookshelves. My kids were so excited about changing things, they pulled everything off the shelves and helped move the case and pack everything back again. But after dropping them off at PE I decided I still didn't like it, so I pulled everything out again and moved it right across the room. It looks so much better now! And today we moved the other computer next to the other one and it is actually looking like a computer station and my kids could actually sit in their project groups (4/5 kids) in front of each and work. I was so excited! lol Now all I need to do is hunt down the tower to go with my third computer and I will be ecstatic.
This past week has been fairly nice. It seemed to really fly by, if only all school weeks were four days long. Not long now until the holidays. Haven't heard anything about who is taking the class next term or if they would like me to (still don't know if I want it long term or not).
Anywho. . . until my next rant, ciao!
Miss Snix.
Two Weeks Already!
Well I have been in my current job for two weeks now. At times it has felt like the time is dragging out and other times it feels like time is flying by.
The first week was a very long week, getting to know the kids and all the stuff I need to know and do. The week ended with miserable weather causing us to have two days in a row of 'wet lunch' which meant I got to spend every single minute with the kids inside the classroom (I value my lunch breaks! lol) We also lost our afternoon inter-school sports on Friday. I only had half my class show up that day anyway (it was flooding) so hello video in the library! I also got to have fun of doing bus duty in the rain (just to make the day even more fun!) and then had to walk across the school to get to the car park, normally I park in front of the school but with the rain parents decided to be nice and drive their kids to school, so after going around the block three times I surrendered and parked in the staff car park which had minor flooding.
Thankfully the rain stopped and this past week was a nice one. I also am starting to enjoy my duties, I think I have the easiest one in the school. I am rostered on three times a week for 'first aid'. Basically I sit in the office answering any phone calls (haven't been any yet), give children ice, bandaids or decide if they get to have a lay down. It is a lot better than wondering around watching children and having to deal with their squabbles and telling them off for breaking rules. This week we also got to actually go to inter-school sports, so along with about twenty 9/10 year old girls I got to go to netball for 2 hours. Fun in the sun. I was meant to umpire a game but was lucky I was able to talk my way out of it (I used to play in primary school but haven't seen it since) but I think I might give it ago next week. The girls were actually really good, we had two teams and they won three of the four games they all played. Yay us.
Ohh and another 'fun' part of my week was when a teacher aid came and told me one of my students (he was in another class at the time) put his tooth through his tongue. I told another teacher about it and they were so shocked and concerned, and asked if I was worried about him. I wasn't though lol I know that's bad but I was busy teaching and oddly enough it didn't really surprise me. He was alright, he came back about ten minuets later with a great big hole in his tongue. Personally I thought it was impressive lol And it's been bugging me how he can eat without food getting stuck in it. He says it doesn't but I don't believe that lol Anyway that was the biggest highlight of my week.
Only three more weeks until the holidays and this is a long weekend, so there is only four days for this week. Have been asked if I would be interested in teaching the class for the rest of the year if the teacher they have lined up can't take the job. Most days I enjoy teaching the class and it is so nice to teach my own planning (not trying to make heads or tails of others plans) and know where I am going everyday. But at the same time I am working longer hours now (I even brought a box of books home to mark on the weekend!) and am getting more stressed at times I am making only half of the money I was as a supply teacher. Sometimes I miss supply; you walk in at 8.30am teach someone else's stuff (they normally make it easy for supply teachers) and then walk out a few minuets after the bell goes and don't have to worry about the class anymore, and get darn good money! I don't know what I'll decide, if the other teacher takes the job than it is nice and easy for me and I won't have to feel guilty for taking or not taking the job any longer.
Aghh it feels good to ramble lol
Catch you all later,
Miss Snix.
The first week was a very long week, getting to know the kids and all the stuff I need to know and do. The week ended with miserable weather causing us to have two days in a row of 'wet lunch' which meant I got to spend every single minute with the kids inside the classroom (I value my lunch breaks! lol) We also lost our afternoon inter-school sports on Friday. I only had half my class show up that day anyway (it was flooding) so hello video in the library! I also got to have fun of doing bus duty in the rain (just to make the day even more fun!) and then had to walk across the school to get to the car park, normally I park in front of the school but with the rain parents decided to be nice and drive their kids to school, so after going around the block three times I surrendered and parked in the staff car park which had minor flooding.
Thankfully the rain stopped and this past week was a nice one. I also am starting to enjoy my duties, I think I have the easiest one in the school. I am rostered on three times a week for 'first aid'. Basically I sit in the office answering any phone calls (haven't been any yet), give children ice, bandaids or decide if they get to have a lay down. It is a lot better than wondering around watching children and having to deal with their squabbles and telling them off for breaking rules. This week we also got to actually go to inter-school sports, so along with about twenty 9/10 year old girls I got to go to netball for 2 hours. Fun in the sun. I was meant to umpire a game but was lucky I was able to talk my way out of it (I used to play in primary school but haven't seen it since) but I think I might give it ago next week. The girls were actually really good, we had two teams and they won three of the four games they all played. Yay us.
Ohh and another 'fun' part of my week was when a teacher aid came and told me one of my students (he was in another class at the time) put his tooth through his tongue. I told another teacher about it and they were so shocked and concerned, and asked if I was worried about him. I wasn't though lol I know that's bad but I was busy teaching and oddly enough it didn't really surprise me. He was alright, he came back about ten minuets later with a great big hole in his tongue. Personally I thought it was impressive lol And it's been bugging me how he can eat without food getting stuck in it. He says it doesn't but I don't believe that lol Anyway that was the biggest highlight of my week.
Only three more weeks until the holidays and this is a long weekend, so there is only four days for this week. Have been asked if I would be interested in teaching the class for the rest of the year if the teacher they have lined up can't take the job. Most days I enjoy teaching the class and it is so nice to teach my own planning (not trying to make heads or tails of others plans) and know where I am going everyday. But at the same time I am working longer hours now (I even brought a box of books home to mark on the weekend!) and am getting more stressed at times I am making only half of the money I was as a supply teacher. Sometimes I miss supply; you walk in at 8.30am teach someone else's stuff (they normally make it easy for supply teachers) and then walk out a few minuets after the bell goes and don't have to worry about the class anymore, and get darn good money! I don't know what I'll decide, if the other teacher takes the job than it is nice and easy for me and I won't have to feel guilty for taking or not taking the job any longer.
Aghh it feels good to ramble lol
Catch you all later,
Miss Snix.
Good Times
I had such a great day today! Which was so different to yesterday, yesterday was just a rotten day. The kids were all hyped up all day and then we had sport with other classes in the afternoon which was a nightmare to organise, didn't help another teacher had held my class up so we were running late joining it. I went home with a headache and absolutely hating my job. But today was the complete opposite, I had a nice relaxing day. Even though it was wet lunch both times so the kids had to stay inside all day, they all seemed to be very settled which was nice since I had a child return to class after a suspension who I had not met before. I was a little worried with how she would fit back in but I layed the law down with the other children about their own behavior before she even arrived. I was pleasantly surprise, she was such a sweetheart! Did her work, was quiet and even cleaned the bookshelves without asking. If her and the rest of the classes behaviour stays like this I think it will all be good :D
Until next time, class is dismissed.
Miss Snix.
Until next time, class is dismissed.
Miss Snix.
First Day
I survived. LOL That's pretty much all I can think of to sum it up. Okay, so it wasn't as bad as I had imagined it. Maybe I was a little neurotic in that sense. The kids weren't nearly as scary as I thought they were going to be in fact most of them seem really friendly and willing to learn and do what ever they are told. There are of course a few that I can already see are going to be a pain hmmm Mean Miss Snix may have to come out for them! One of the kids actually said I was fun, but that was only after two hours with me. And one was sad that I was only teaching them for the rest of the term and said she wanted me for the rest of the year, I'm sure she'll change her mind lol I had a bit of a topsy turvy morning when during our first activity, pre-spelling test, half way through I realised I was doing the wrong list and made the kids rub it all out and start again oops lol The day with the kids went fairly quickly which was nice, the two hour staff meeting after school however is a whole nother story! At the end of the day I did have a headache and for some reason very sore feet and I am so tired. Aghh only four more days to the weekend. . . I know that's bad to think that way but it's been a long day!
Anywho thanks for reading my ramblings!
Until next time,
Miss Snix.
Anywho thanks for reading my ramblings!
Until next time,
Miss Snix.
Day before 'the day'
Well today is the day before I start my new job. I am so nervous it is ridiculous. I have taught so many different classes this year alone and never given them a second though. But I think the thing playing on my mind is that they are older kids than I've been teaching this year and last year I had a few bad experiences with the bigger kids. Younger children are so much easier to deal with, even when throwing tantrums and acting like monkeys; I utter the words "Simon says . . ." and they forget what they are doing and focus all their energy on that. Big kids aren't that easy. I've done the planning and yet still feel so unprepared. I can only pray that it is not as bad as I am thinking it will be in my head. I think I think too much.
Wish me luck, I need all I can get.
Miss Snix.
Wish me luck, I need all I can get.
Miss Snix.
Introduction
Hello!
Welcome to my blog :D
I am a teacher, lucky me I know. I graduated from uni two years ago and have since had a lot of different experiences. I graduated with a Bachelor in Education (Early Childhood) because I did early childhood my wonderful university never let us do a practicum with any class past grade three. In fact out of four years at uni I only ever had 2 pracs in a primary class, the rest of the time was in child care which has been a real help in the 'real world'. Not. But it's okay, I like primary children and apparently I am good with them too. In my final prac I was given an 'S1 Outstanding' rating which means I was in the top of the field compared to other students. At uni this was considered a big thing as we were all blindly led to believe that this would also translate into being guaranteed a job once we graduate. It didn't.
But I was lucky that after a few weeks of being unemployed in my first year in the 'real world' I was offered a contract job at a one teacher school teaching years1-3 literacy three mornings a week for two hours, only problem was it took me an hour to drive there and another hour to drive home. This job gave me some great learning experiences when the actual main teacher had days off and left me to teach all of the gr 1-7 kids by myself (yes, including children past year 3! My uni would be shocked! lol)
After doing this for two terms I felt it was time to move on and was lucky (at least that's what I thought at the time!) to get a job 30mins from my home as a music teacher 2 whole days a week. Never mind the small detail I had no clue how to teach music. This job was teaching all years in the school, which I didn't mind too much. But I had 'issues' with the management of the school. Well actually the principal was very nice and helpful, it was when the acting principal took over some days and let their ego get the better of them that I had problems with and I was fairly miserable by the end of the term.
Thankfully (and I truly mean that!) I was offered another job also 30mins from home for three days a week teaching prep-year 3 an hour each to give classroom teachers non-contact time and I was also the year 7 art teacher. I absolutely loved this job! The staff were so friendly and I have never met more polite children. I even had my own own pingeon hole and a badge with my name on it (after the last school these little things excited me beyond belief! lol) I also had my own office that included 2 desks, a fan, a sink, a phone, a whiteboard and 3 chairs; all for me! I was very spoilt lol
My beloved office, it was so big and all mine:
But the inevitable happened, the school year came to an end, just as I had found a job I loved it all came to an end :(
During that year on my non-contract days I was doing relief work around my own town which I didn't mind too bad except for when I had to teach upper grades. Aghh I can't list how many days I came home with a headache and was fed up with pre-teens attitudes. So this year I had decided I was only going to work with the littlies (and special ed because they are great to work with!) I was lucky that the schools in the area got to know me quickly and I was soon doing relief almost every day and loving teaching the littlies (also relief gets paid double per day than what you get on a contract).
Well after doing this for a term and a half I have now accidentally accepted a full time contract job 2mins from home. Teaching years 4/5! As soon as I realised what I had done I had visions of all the worst possible things that could go wrong lol But I have decided it is only for 5 weeks, although the teacher I am replacing is away for a year, kind of hoping they don't ask me to continue on, but who knows I may end up loving it. And that is why I am writing this blog; to recount the good, the bad and the inevitable ugly adventures I have from here on.
Until next time, good afternoon class!
Miss Snix.
Welcome to my blog :D
I am a teacher, lucky me I know. I graduated from uni two years ago and have since had a lot of different experiences. I graduated with a Bachelor in Education (Early Childhood) because I did early childhood my wonderful university never let us do a practicum with any class past grade three. In fact out of four years at uni I only ever had 2 pracs in a primary class, the rest of the time was in child care which has been a real help in the 'real world'. Not. But it's okay, I like primary children and apparently I am good with them too. In my final prac I was given an 'S1 Outstanding' rating which means I was in the top of the field compared to other students. At uni this was considered a big thing as we were all blindly led to believe that this would also translate into being guaranteed a job once we graduate. It didn't.
But I was lucky that after a few weeks of being unemployed in my first year in the 'real world' I was offered a contract job at a one teacher school teaching years1-3 literacy three mornings a week for two hours, only problem was it took me an hour to drive there and another hour to drive home. This job gave me some great learning experiences when the actual main teacher had days off and left me to teach all of the gr 1-7 kids by myself (yes, including children past year 3! My uni would be shocked! lol)
After doing this for two terms I felt it was time to move on and was lucky (at least that's what I thought at the time!) to get a job 30mins from my home as a music teacher 2 whole days a week. Never mind the small detail I had no clue how to teach music. This job was teaching all years in the school, which I didn't mind too much. But I had 'issues' with the management of the school. Well actually the principal was very nice and helpful, it was when the acting principal took over some days and let their ego get the better of them that I had problems with and I was fairly miserable by the end of the term.
Thankfully (and I truly mean that!) I was offered another job also 30mins from home for three days a week teaching prep-year 3 an hour each to give classroom teachers non-contact time and I was also the year 7 art teacher. I absolutely loved this job! The staff were so friendly and I have never met more polite children. I even had my own own pingeon hole and a badge with my name on it (after the last school these little things excited me beyond belief! lol) I also had my own office that included 2 desks, a fan, a sink, a phone, a whiteboard and 3 chairs; all for me! I was very spoilt lol
My beloved office, it was so big and all mine:
But the inevitable happened, the school year came to an end, just as I had found a job I loved it all came to an end :(
During that year on my non-contract days I was doing relief work around my own town which I didn't mind too bad except for when I had to teach upper grades. Aghh I can't list how many days I came home with a headache and was fed up with pre-teens attitudes. So this year I had decided I was only going to work with the littlies (and special ed because they are great to work with!) I was lucky that the schools in the area got to know me quickly and I was soon doing relief almost every day and loving teaching the littlies (also relief gets paid double per day than what you get on a contract).
Well after doing this for a term and a half I have now accidentally accepted a full time contract job 2mins from home. Teaching years 4/5! As soon as I realised what I had done I had visions of all the worst possible things that could go wrong lol But I have decided it is only for 5 weeks, although the teacher I am replacing is away for a year, kind of hoping they don't ask me to continue on, but who knows I may end up loving it. And that is why I am writing this blog; to recount the good, the bad and the inevitable ugly adventures I have from here on.
Until next time, good afternoon class!
Miss Snix.
