I worked the full day with the grade five class and I had a student teacher with me so I made him teach for most the day...until he flipped out at the children over minor chatting ekk. They were not the best class but I've had worse. A few of them remembered me from last year, not that it helped.
And the student teacher was so weird and serious and not chatty but I found out he is doing a grad-dip in Ed. so only studies for one year and does one ten week prac and that's it, then he's a teacher! And to do his one and only prac in a private school (and he lost his temper at something not so big), I wish him well teaching in state schools!
In the end I never applied for the librarian job but did apply for the inclusion job and had an interview but don't think it went that well. Two ladies interviewed me and one of them I worked with on a prac in a child care centre back in uni, I remembered her. There was about 7 pages of full on questions and took them a few mins just to get through asking/reading out the questions and I barely understood them. They kept asking me about childcare legislations etc. And what experiences I have had with QR and ELF (What the!?!) they explained what they were but I haven't been in a childcare centre since 2005 at uni. And they asked me a question about children "of a minority" so I started answering "...minority groups..." they stopped me and said they don't like to be called that (THEY JUST SAID IT). The very first question I had was to tell them about where/what I would like to see myself working in the future so I said I was passionate about children and the early years was where I really love being. They were concerned then because the job would be working with teacher/carers/parents not children (didn't read that way in the ad or on their website). And they wanted to know how I felt about driving up to 8 hours a day to visit places in all the area and sleeping over ect. Said I would find out in about 2 weeks but it'll probally just be a rejection call which after hearing about the actual job is okay but I'd rather they not bother calling lol
I also now only have 2 assignments and 33 days until I finish my Masters degree :)
Miss Snix.
Showing posts with label contract. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contract. Show all posts
First Full Day of 2010
This is the second week of term 2 of the year and I have finally been booked to work my first full day of the year. I got a phone call about 8pm tonight from a private school principal asking me to work tomorrow, I agreed to it only to then find out it was with a grade 5 class. I taught the grade 4 kids at the school last year and really did not enjoy it one bit but since work has been non-existent this year I agreed to it. As soon as I hung up the phone though I have had this nervous, anxious feeling about it and my first thought was to call him make and say I'd change my mind. But as my mother and friend (who he called before me and she turned him down - says it all lol) keep telling me to just think about the pay, but private schools in Australia pay supply teachers greatly less than state schools do and I have had a lot of problem with this school not paying me in the past (had to spend a lot of time sorting it out so I did get paid). So I am just hoping the day goes really quickly, the kids have a lot of classes (music, library, pe etc.) away from me and most importantly they behave well for me!
On another note this week I have found two, non-teaching, jobs to apply for. The first is a three month contract working as a librarian in the public library. Personally I doubt I'll get the job but can't hurt to put in for it. The second is full time 'Inclusion Support Facilitator' with organisation called Noah's Ark, they are wanting an Early Childhood trained teacher to work with special needs children. I graduated as an Early Childhood teacher in 2006 and am 2 months away from graduating from a Master of Special Education. So this job is more up my ally.
So please wish me well for tomorrow (I need all the luck I can get) and with the job applications :)
Miss Snix.
On another note this week I have found two, non-teaching, jobs to apply for. The first is a three month contract working as a librarian in the public library. Personally I doubt I'll get the job but can't hurt to put in for it. The second is full time 'Inclusion Support Facilitator' with organisation called Noah's Ark, they are wanting an Early Childhood trained teacher to work with special needs children. I graduated as an Early Childhood teacher in 2006 and am 2 months away from graduating from a Master of Special Education. So this job is more up my ally.
So please wish me well for tomorrow (I need all the luck I can get) and with the job applications :)
Miss Snix.
Update from Last Post
After sending emails to both my union rep and the head of the teaching department in my area I finally got an email back in regards to the letter I was sent, however I was not given any explanation as to why I got the letter or why I was being deactivated. So I sent an email straight back using the email given to me asking once again for an explanation but as yet have no reply. I find the whole thing very odd. I have friends who graduated at the same time as me who do supply work while still looking for permanent work (the exact same situation as me!) but have not been sent this letter! So why me???
New Update! (day after previous bit was typed)
Got a phone call this morning from a man at the office who called to double check that my 'issue' had been sorted out. Well no it hadn't since no explanation was given as to why this was all happening! He explained to me that every teacher gets sent this letter every year in November. But firstly, I have never been sent the letter and secondly as you can all clearly see on the last post the letter was only sent in January! He response everytime I disputed his explanations was "ohh that's odd" I even told him about my friend who is in the same situation not getting the letter "ohh that's odd" AHHH After going around and around in circles with him I realised it was no good. I am 'activated' until December this year at least and he claims I should get another letter sent to me at the end of the year like I have always had...even though I never have before! The whole matter is just way too stressful and quite frankly way too stupid. Hopefully for now at least the matter is resolved. I hope!
Miss Snix.
Studying and (rarely) Working!
Yet again it has been a long time since I blogged. I didn’t mean to leave it this long, I felt like blogging before, but have been either too busy or too tired to actually write anything. Anyway I worked the contract I talked about in my last post.
They were a lovely class of grade two. There were a couple of little challenging children but nothing compared to some of the children I have come across in the past. Looking back on it now it was one of the better contracts I have taught, even when returning from playground duty one day I found the classroom door locked with two of my children locked inside running around. Not that they learnt from the consequence they were given as they repeated this the very next week. But even the little challenging ones were absolutely lovely to chat with on a one to one basis. The contract was only meant to be for the last two weeks of term three but the teacher I was replacing was unable to return directly after the holidays so I was offered to continue the contract for the two and a half weeks after the holidays. I was unable to take the class for the first week back as I was busy finishing off uni assignments, they all like to be due at the same time! But I took the class again after that. The teacher I was replacing didn’t leave any set planning only boxes of photocopy work and text books that I was meant to teach however and whenever I like and coming back after another teacher (three different teacher had them the week I couldn’t be there) so I had no clue what they had and hadn’t been taught. So when I managed to work all through the box I thought I had done fairly well. Only to have the teacher I am replacing come in towards the end and ask me to collect a range of booklets from the children for her to mark and use as part of their final reports she wanted to write before she returned. After collecting all the booklets there was apparently one set I hadn’t collected because they weren’t there. I can’t collect something that wasn’t there! She didn’t seem overly happy that the work in the booklet had not been taught, but again it was never left for me and if it was so important you would think she would make a point of pointing it out or leaving some form of planning for it for me to teach rather than a box of resources for me to use as I please.
I was also left to run a ‘play day’ where children had to get a bunch of sporting equipment out, set it up and then play different games in front of their parents that had come for the day to watch. I wasn’t really left any instructions on what I was meant to do, rather the class had to tell me. While in theory they all had their ‘jobs’ to do in reality this didn’t really pan out and left one very stressed out Miss Snix trying to do it all while keeping things on track, while stopping unhappy children having tantrums, while also trying to save face in front of parents. Ahh fun times, not.
While I was there, there was also a ball games day for the whole school which each grade had to play two different ball games. Myself along with the other regular grade two class teacher the week before had to teach the games to the kids and run through it several time which was fine. But on the day the other teacher was away and the relief teacher didn’t know what to do so when it came time for the grade twos to play their games I had to run around like a headless chook trying to set it up, organise children and save face this time in front of the whole school. Again fun times hahaha
I wasn’t able to finish off the last half week of the contract because I became very ill but all in all I really enjoyed my time with them. That was back in October and unfortunately was the last time I worked this year. I took a couple of weeks off to finish off uni assignments. Was studying four master level classes at once which was very stressful but thankfully passed all classes with flying colours and am now half was through my Masters!
And now it is holiday time and while most teachers are enjoying their break, I am enrolled in two more uni classes. I wanted to enrol in four classes so I could finish my Masters at the end of this semester but wasn’t able to do that. I am not enjoying studying during the Christmas holidays, normally I love Christmas but this year have been so busy and stressed out with assignments I have barely had time to enjoy it at all. But hopefully will be able to finish my first two assignments within the next couple of days so I can at least have one week before Christmas to enjoy it! Also I have a friend I have not seen in three years coming to staying with me for about three weeks so I want to be free to spend time and have fun with!
The bad thing about not working that much in the past year (had a letter from the union about fees and for the first time I had to tick the box that said “worked less than 50 days this year” so my fees are reduced) is the lack of money that comes with it. While I get payments from the government because I am studying again it really is not much, especially when each fortnight straight after I get paid more than half the money goes out to make payments on my car (that I bought when I was working full time and thought I would continue to be doing!) not to mention other bills that keep popping up in the end I am paying out more money each fortnight than I have coming in. Which has lead me to look for work in other fields away from education. But so far I have had no luck, I never thought it would be so hard to get any paying job! I have a bachelors degree, a post-grad certificate and am half way through my masters and yet can not find a job. It just sucks.
Anyway, until I remember to blog again hahaha Have a Happy Holidays everyone!
Miss Snix.
They were a lovely class of grade two. There were a couple of little challenging children but nothing compared to some of the children I have come across in the past. Looking back on it now it was one of the better contracts I have taught, even when returning from playground duty one day I found the classroom door locked with two of my children locked inside running around. Not that they learnt from the consequence they were given as they repeated this the very next week. But even the little challenging ones were absolutely lovely to chat with on a one to one basis. The contract was only meant to be for the last two weeks of term three but the teacher I was replacing was unable to return directly after the holidays so I was offered to continue the contract for the two and a half weeks after the holidays. I was unable to take the class for the first week back as I was busy finishing off uni assignments, they all like to be due at the same time! But I took the class again after that. The teacher I was replacing didn’t leave any set planning only boxes of photocopy work and text books that I was meant to teach however and whenever I like and coming back after another teacher (three different teacher had them the week I couldn’t be there) so I had no clue what they had and hadn’t been taught. So when I managed to work all through the box I thought I had done fairly well. Only to have the teacher I am replacing come in towards the end and ask me to collect a range of booklets from the children for her to mark and use as part of their final reports she wanted to write before she returned. After collecting all the booklets there was apparently one set I hadn’t collected because they weren’t there. I can’t collect something that wasn’t there! She didn’t seem overly happy that the work in the booklet had not been taught, but again it was never left for me and if it was so important you would think she would make a point of pointing it out or leaving some form of planning for it for me to teach rather than a box of resources for me to use as I please.
I was also left to run a ‘play day’ where children had to get a bunch of sporting equipment out, set it up and then play different games in front of their parents that had come for the day to watch. I wasn’t really left any instructions on what I was meant to do, rather the class had to tell me. While in theory they all had their ‘jobs’ to do in reality this didn’t really pan out and left one very stressed out Miss Snix trying to do it all while keeping things on track, while stopping unhappy children having tantrums, while also trying to save face in front of parents. Ahh fun times, not.
While I was there, there was also a ball games day for the whole school which each grade had to play two different ball games. Myself along with the other regular grade two class teacher the week before had to teach the games to the kids and run through it several time which was fine. But on the day the other teacher was away and the relief teacher didn’t know what to do so when it came time for the grade twos to play their games I had to run around like a headless chook trying to set it up, organise children and save face this time in front of the whole school. Again fun times hahaha
I wasn’t able to finish off the last half week of the contract because I became very ill but all in all I really enjoyed my time with them. That was back in October and unfortunately was the last time I worked this year. I took a couple of weeks off to finish off uni assignments. Was studying four master level classes at once which was very stressful but thankfully passed all classes with flying colours and am now half was through my Masters!
And now it is holiday time and while most teachers are enjoying their break, I am enrolled in two more uni classes. I wanted to enrol in four classes so I could finish my Masters at the end of this semester but wasn’t able to do that. I am not enjoying studying during the Christmas holidays, normally I love Christmas but this year have been so busy and stressed out with assignments I have barely had time to enjoy it at all. But hopefully will be able to finish my first two assignments within the next couple of days so I can at least have one week before Christmas to enjoy it! Also I have a friend I have not seen in three years coming to staying with me for about three weeks so I want to be free to spend time and have fun with!
The bad thing about not working that much in the past year (had a letter from the union about fees and for the first time I had to tick the box that said “worked less than 50 days this year” so my fees are reduced) is the lack of money that comes with it. While I get payments from the government because I am studying again it really is not much, especially when each fortnight straight after I get paid more than half the money goes out to make payments on my car (that I bought when I was working full time and thought I would continue to be doing!) not to mention other bills that keep popping up in the end I am paying out more money each fortnight than I have coming in. Which has lead me to look for work in other fields away from education. But so far I have had no luck, I never thought it would be so hard to get any paying job! I have a bachelors degree, a post-grad certificate and am half way through my masters and yet can not find a job. It just sucks.
Anyway, until I remember to blog again hahaha Have a Happy Holidays everyone!
Miss Snix.
Rare Work and Strike!
Have been a bit slack with updating my blog lately, mainly because nothing has really been happening. I didn’t work last week but the week before that I did two days in the same grade three class. They were a fairly nice class, had a few little challengers but nothing too bad. I had a different mother each morning in the room to help which was nice. My first day I walked into the room and found a very neat teachers desk with absolutely no planning on it! I asked the other grade three teacher who came in and looked around with me, we asked another teacher who didn’t know anything about it and then rang the office who couldn’t help. Eventually (just as the bell rang) the teacher who I was replacing partner came in and gave me the two days plans. Was happy to have it but by this time the bell had gone and all the children are sitting there looking at me while I am quickly trying to read and decode the planning and figure out what needs to be done and where things are. The second day I thought I might have a little free time because the children had PE, Music and Dance lessons and since I have taught at the school and had children go to other lessons and been allowed to have the free time I assumed that was going to be the case, it wasn’t! First I was sent to the library to cover books, something I have never done before and took me half an hour just to do three but I kind of enjoyed the peace. Then I was sent to another grade three class (that I have taught before, were so much better behaved this time!) to watch them read and then I read a book to them. And then after that was sent (felt like I was the parcel in a game of ‘pass the teacher’) to another grade three class where I watched them do a find-a-word, I started doing it myself but those 7/8 year olds are quick at them and beat me to finishing! So then I did good old show and tell with them and the bell rang and so ended my time there.
Just heard on the news today that next Tuesday state teachers are striking because they want better pay! Try being a supply teacher who if she is lucky gets two days work a fortnight and then complain about lack of pay!!! I don’t even get the choice to strike and have my voice heard – I strike I don’t get paid; they strike and still get paid! I am a union member, I am a fully qualified teacher but it feels like I don’t have any rights because the education department won’t/hasn’t given me permanency or a full time job! I am merely an ‘on call casual’ to them, hardly seems fair! But anyway since they are striking I am going to guess that I will get work that day to cover for them. Will be interesting to see what (if anything) happens from it all.
Miss Snix.
Just heard on the news today that next Tuesday state teachers are striking because they want better pay! Try being a supply teacher who if she is lucky gets two days work a fortnight and then complain about lack of pay!!! I don’t even get the choice to strike and have my voice heard – I strike I don’t get paid; they strike and still get paid! I am a union member, I am a fully qualified teacher but it feels like I don’t have any rights because the education department won’t/hasn’t given me permanency or a full time job! I am merely an ‘on call casual’ to them, hardly seems fair! But anyway since they are striking I am going to guess that I will get work that day to cover for them. Will be interesting to see what (if anything) happens from it all.
Miss Snix.
Union and Dream Classroom!
Well we are now into Term 2 of the school year and one week down and no work yet, not overly worried as it has given me time to work on my uni assignments. But hope it does pick up soon, I seem to have more bills than payslips which is never good. Also the union guy that responded to my email I wrote last term has sent me a form to fill out to look for permanent work. Didn't know I had to keep filling forms out to look for it, I naturally assumed I would still be on the list of teachers looking for it until I was offered somewhere. . .guess I was wrong. And it's a little odd that I have to fill the form out with the union and not the department of education. The union is not compulsory, so how do people get on that aren't with it!? I still haen't heard from the department so I am happy at least I am with the union to look out for me!
Been looking at online blogs of other teachers, love seeing what others are doing in their classrooms and gives me great ideas for when (or should I say if!) I ever get my own. Anyway, I came across this one which looks like a dream classroom:
http://blogs.scholastic.com/3_5/2008/08/tour-angelas-4t.html
Until next time,
Miss Snix.
Been looking at online blogs of other teachers, love seeing what others are doing in their classrooms and gives me great ideas for when (or should I say if!) I ever get my own. Anyway, I came across this one which looks like a dream classroom:
http://blogs.scholastic.com/3_5/2008/08/tour-angelas-4t.html
Until next time,
Miss Snix.
Half a Day Never Felt So Long!
Today I had a grade four class for half the day. The first hour was okay, they rotated around maths games and I just had to supervise, they were all fairly well behaved and I didn’t really have to do much. Then at lunch I got to do duty (don’t I always!? lol) with the grade 6 and 7’s.
After lunch I took the class to watch the younger grades run their cross country. All they had to do was sit and cheer while the little children ran past, that’s it! Of course they rolled around, mucked around were just played up! I couldn’t take them back to the room either because we were surrounded by parents and other classes and were stuck on the wrong side of the running track. One of my girls even ran off into some bushes to ‘help the little ones run’, she never asked me and when I sent responsible girls to get her (several times) she told them she wasn’t coming back and didn’t care. I had to send a note to the office to get help and as we were finally going back to the room the deputy principal came down to look for her. Meanwhile back at the room I put a dvd on for the last 20mins and they sat there quietly watching it. . . why couldn’t we have just done that all afternoon!? The runaway also quietly snuck back into the classroom and the deputy came looking for her.
I only worked for three hours today but it was the longest three hours I have had in a long time! Thankfully there are only two more days until the holidays!
I also wrote an email tonight about my frustrations over still being a supply teacher after 3 years while I am seeing new graduates get permanent positions and full time contracts and how hard it is to survive on the lack of pay due to lack of work. I sent it to the head of my districts union and the state district officer, I doubt it’ll do much but I felt I needed to get my frustrations out. I know I am not the only one feeling this way, there are so many other teachers in my position. Anyway, will wait and see if I get a response. Miss Snix.
Split days!
Last week I worked with four classes in two days at one school. Sounds fun doesn’t it! I could have worked an extra day but when they pre-booked me I turned down the year 6 and 7 classes. It was a little weird actually, the agency that books my work has been told I only work to grade 3 so why they were offering me grade 4, 6 and 7 are beyond me! I did accept to take the year 4 class though because it will only be half a day tomorrow and I figured it’s still early in the year they would still be young.
The first day I started with grade one, many of whom I had taught last year. Faces I remembered, names I didn’t! They weren’t too bad I guess, a little chatty but they did their work not that the teacher I was replacing left much so I had to drag things out a bit to fit the time. Half way through my day I went to the grade threes. The majority of them were well behaved too, except for a few that thought they would try and act silly and get out of work, that didn’t work too well. I had one girl that wouldn’t do any work, wondered around the room taking other peoples things and bugging me to go to the toilet. I eventually let her go (she just wanted to get out of work!) so while she was gone I called the office, packed her stuff up and handed it to a well behaved student who stood by the door. So when she walked in one door I instantly sent her out the other, and she didn’t have time to throw a tantrum! This class were also very chatty and noisy!
Two days later I was back at the school and started with grade two. They had parade first up which was nice; I just had to walk them there, sit down and watch the parade for about half an hour. After this we went back to the room to do work, and they were yet another chatty class! Aghh am I attracting them this year!? haha I also had a couple of grade three children in the room who weren’t allowed to go on their excursion – they were so annoying! They wouldn’t do their work and kept annoying the grade two students. I also had one annoying grade two child though who kept calling out the answers during their spelling and math tests. I spoke with their teacher during lunch and she thought it was funny that they are a chatty class hmm I personally don’t find it funny but then again I like it when children actually listen to me, but each to their own! Half way through my day I was so glad to be leaving and I got to go to the preps! I love the preps!!! I had a month contract last year teaching prep at the school and had done relief work in all the other prep classes so I know all the teachers and aids. But the one I replaced was new and treated me like I knew nothing about preps which was annoying! Anyway it was the first time I had taught preps at this school this year and they are a lovely bunch! I had fun building box dinosaurs with them and then taking them outside to play. We even mixed with the prep class next door to watch a video and they were just as nice!
As I said before tomorrow I am working half a day with year four, I think (hope I’m wrong though!) they will be chatty like the other primary classes I had last week (how can they be so lovely in prep and then change once they move up!?) This is also the last week of term one (I have had a very slow start to the year!) and hen we have a week of holidays for Easter. Looking forward to the holidays! Am going on another mini-roadtrip!
Take care all,
Miss Snix!
Stressful and Wonderful in the Same Week!
Last week I worked two days at the same school. ANd the two classes could not have been more different to each other!
I worked Wednesday in a grade one class, next door to the prep/one class I just had a contract with. They were so different to the p/1 class! They were very chatty the whole time and lost focus easily! I had one child (thankfully I was warned about prior) who refused to do any work and at one point I thought had ran off, well he did but he just went to the drink taps without asking but came back - this set off the panic in me which I had to keep covered since it was a few mins before the bell went and the parents were all outside waiting. . .and watching. Was a very long day!
I got home that night and had a very sore throat, haven't had to raise my voice in so long! Thankfully I had Thursday off to recover.
Friday I was back at the school teaching a prep class. They were so lovely!!! We mixed with the other prep class and we did rotations so I got to meet them all and they were all so nice and lovely! I am going to love teaching them in the future this year. We actually had to quickly change our plans for rotations because my group was meant to be outside and as soon as we get out there it starts raining! Normally when it rains children's behaviour turns bad but they were so well behaved and we just went inside and read a story. Inside activity time is also normally a stressful time as the children are all over the place doing whatever they feel like but they all played quietly and there were no dramas. To end the day the teacher I replaced left a video for them to watch, so we joined the other prep class and ended the pleasent day. If only all days could be so wonderful!!!
Miss Snix.
I worked Wednesday in a grade one class, next door to the prep/one class I just had a contract with. They were so different to the p/1 class! They were very chatty the whole time and lost focus easily! I had one child (thankfully I was warned about prior) who refused to do any work and at one point I thought had ran off, well he did but he just went to the drink taps without asking but came back - this set off the panic in me which I had to keep covered since it was a few mins before the bell went and the parents were all outside waiting. . .and watching. Was a very long day!
I got home that night and had a very sore throat, haven't had to raise my voice in so long! Thankfully I had Thursday off to recover.
Friday I was back at the school teaching a prep class. They were so lovely!!! We mixed with the other prep class and we did rotations so I got to meet them all and they were all so nice and lovely! I am going to love teaching them in the future this year. We actually had to quickly change our plans for rotations because my group was meant to be outside and as soon as we get out there it starts raining! Normally when it rains children's behaviour turns bad but they were so well behaved and we just went inside and read a story. Inside activity time is also normally a stressful time as the children are all over the place doing whatever they feel like but they all played quietly and there were no dramas. To end the day the teacher I replaced left a video for them to watch, so we joined the other prep class and ended the pleasent day. If only all days could be so wonderful!!!
Miss Snix.
Busy Week of Nothingness
So this week I have been busy but not with work. I actually haven't worked since my last post. So far this year I have had one contract for 6 days and one relief day, and there is only three weeks left until the holidays! This year hasn't got off to a good start work wise :( I can only hope it picks up for the rest of the year!
This week I actually took Monday and Tuesday off because we had a cyclone flying around in the sea that went past us, so was not too keen to go out in that type of weather. The cyclone never actually hit us but we got strong winds and very heavy rain. Unfortunately I did have to go out in it on Monday, but that was unavoidable. Anyway my friend actually worked both these days, it was the first time she had worked in a state school all year! Today I was available and more than ready to work but of course no one wanted me! My friend didn't get booked either - aghh slowest year to start regular bookings I've ever had!
I was also going to be available for work tomorrow until my dentist, well not my dentist because he is on holidays, called and gave me an earlier appointment than the one I had. I had trouble last week when my mouth got very painful and I had a lump appear (never a good sign) so I called my dentist and had to book with a different one but being in so much pain and not being able to see him for almost a month I called my doctor. . . who is also on holiday! Aghh just when you need them; they're not there!!! Thankfully I got a good replacement doctor (I have had some shocker of replacement doctors!) who told me it was infected and gave my some pills. The pills have worked a charm! I called back at the dentist and was put on the emergency list, which meant if someone cancels then I get their spot. So someone must have cancelled and now I get to go tomorrow. I'm not really in any pain at the moment but I guess it's better to get it checked and make sure it didn't spread or do any damage. So because of this I am not going to be able to work tomorrow, but I am very thankful I just got paid! Dental visits are never cheap :(
The reason I went out Monday and today was because I am currently getting government payments for being unemployed (apart from my 1 contract and 1 relief day I haven't worked since the start of December) but since I am starting study I had to change my type of payment over. I thought it would be simple, all my information is on their computer and all they have to do is click and change it but NO! Paperwork! I have to fill out endless paperwork and after three long waiting, boring visits to them I think I have finally sorted it out! It is such a pain! The payment I am on now is twice as much as the one I am trying to get on (they said it will take up to a month before it changes over!), you think they would be happy to pay me less!!! Not that I plan to be on it a long time. I relief day pay is more than what they will be paying me a fortnight on my student payments! So as soon as I get some good constant work coming in I won't even need it!
I am trying to be good with money thins year! I would love to save and go on a really nice holiday somewhere. At the start of the year my friend wanted to go on a cruise with me, probably still does but like me isn't making too much at the moment. My Mum is going on holiday soon with my sister and her three kids and are going to all different amusement parks. . . yeah I'm jealous!!! I get to stay at home with my pets and pray for work to get money to one day fulfill my dream holiday. . .or at least enough to pay for my next dental visit!!!
Until my next ramble,
Miss Snix.
This week I actually took Monday and Tuesday off because we had a cyclone flying around in the sea that went past us, so was not too keen to go out in that type of weather. The cyclone never actually hit us but we got strong winds and very heavy rain. Unfortunately I did have to go out in it on Monday, but that was unavoidable. Anyway my friend actually worked both these days, it was the first time she had worked in a state school all year! Today I was available and more than ready to work but of course no one wanted me! My friend didn't get booked either - aghh slowest year to start regular bookings I've ever had!
I was also going to be available for work tomorrow until my dentist, well not my dentist because he is on holidays, called and gave me an earlier appointment than the one I had. I had trouble last week when my mouth got very painful and I had a lump appear (never a good sign) so I called my dentist and had to book with a different one but being in so much pain and not being able to see him for almost a month I called my doctor. . . who is also on holiday! Aghh just when you need them; they're not there!!! Thankfully I got a good replacement doctor (I have had some shocker of replacement doctors!) who told me it was infected and gave my some pills. The pills have worked a charm! I called back at the dentist and was put on the emergency list, which meant if someone cancels then I get their spot. So someone must have cancelled and now I get to go tomorrow. I'm not really in any pain at the moment but I guess it's better to get it checked and make sure it didn't spread or do any damage. So because of this I am not going to be able to work tomorrow, but I am very thankful I just got paid! Dental visits are never cheap :(
The reason I went out Monday and today was because I am currently getting government payments for being unemployed (apart from my 1 contract and 1 relief day I haven't worked since the start of December) but since I am starting study I had to change my type of payment over. I thought it would be simple, all my information is on their computer and all they have to do is click and change it but NO! Paperwork! I have to fill out endless paperwork and after three long waiting, boring visits to them I think I have finally sorted it out! It is such a pain! The payment I am on now is twice as much as the one I am trying to get on (they said it will take up to a month before it changes over!), you think they would be happy to pay me less!!! Not that I plan to be on it a long time. I relief day pay is more than what they will be paying me a fortnight on my student payments! So as soon as I get some good constant work coming in I won't even need it!
I am trying to be good with money thins year! I would love to save and go on a really nice holiday somewhere. At the start of the year my friend wanted to go on a cruise with me, probably still does but like me isn't making too much at the moment. My Mum is going on holiday soon with my sister and her three kids and are going to all different amusement parks. . . yeah I'm jealous!!! I get to stay at home with my pets and pray for work to get money to one day fulfill my dream holiday. . .or at least enough to pay for my next dental visit!!!
Until my next ramble,
Miss Snix.
Back at Work!
First time this year I got a phone call asking if I was available for work! Phone scared the living daylights out of me – agh back to 6am phone calls waking me up! It was for a prep/one class at a school I have had a lot of relief and contract work before. Plus I had seen all the grade one photos in the paper and recognized most of them from prep last year. Anyway once I got there the school asked if I could work the whole week, I agreed thinking it would be good money until they said I would have to go on contract! I hate contract money! You only get paid half of what relief payments are even though I am doing the same work.
And on top of that I got a letter from my insurance company saying I had to pay a large sum of money ($100 more than I was actually making this week!) for a car ‘accident’ I had back in November. Not sure if I have wrote about this or not but at another school a mother was taking off infront of me around a bend and I went to go after her, she slammed her brakes on and so did I but I didn’t stop quick enough and slightly bumped her car. There was no damage because we both looked at the cars. I took mine to be checked out and all it needed was a wheel alignment, no paint even came off! But her husband starting ringing me saying I had to personally pay them, he wasn’t even there! The insurance company ‘took care of it’. I called the insurance company asking why it took almost four months for me to get a bill and they said it was because they didn’t get the car checked until December and then didn’t get it fixed until January but it had a bit of damage (but not enough to stop driving it or fix it straight away!?) I demanded to have a copy of the report sent to me and am waiting for that before I make the payment but since the insurance company has already paid them I have to pay no matter what.
Anyway back to teaching! I thought it would be a nice way to get me back into the swing of teaching and I like having continuity in teaching especially when it is with a nice class and I get to know the children. The first day wasn’t too bad, they were a little bit chatty and took a while to follow instructions but yesterday and today they have settled down so much. I think they realize I am there all week so they need to behave which is so nice! They are a lovely class though. The preps (there are only a few of them) go off to play with the other prep classes during first and second session so I really only get to see them for an hour in the afternoon.
The teacher I am replacing had to take leave suddenly because a family member fell sick and she had to look after them. She left a timetable for Monday which was helpful but nothing for the rest of the week. I went to the office and all they had was a general one for the week. Literacy first session, maths second session and theme work in the afternoon – doesn’t say what to actually do for any of it though! But it hasn’t been too bad; I have been able to work out what they have been doing and made my own work for them that seem similar to where they were headed.
I also discovered a girl I went to high school with and who only graduated last year from uni has landed herself a full time job there. Lucky her. Also the teacher that took my job from me (she only got the job because she was friends with the lady I was replacing and I was meant to get the full time job before she came along) told me her son is in my class and wanted me to watch him because he doesn’t play with anyone at lunch. What does she expect me to do, stand out there every lunch watching him!? I am here for (as far as I know) one week- she works there, she can do it!
Well I am half way through my week and except for the lack of pay I am having a really nice time, couldn’t ask for a better way to start my teaching year.
Ohh! And I got my uni information this week, now all I need to do is pick and enroll in my classes. Not as excited about going back to uni now I have started working. I feel so tired at the end of the day so am not sure how I will go with writing assignments again and I have to try and remember how to reference and all that ‘uni stuff’ again. Hmmm not sure what I have got myself in for.
Miss Snix.
And on top of that I got a letter from my insurance company saying I had to pay a large sum of money ($100 more than I was actually making this week!) for a car ‘accident’ I had back in November. Not sure if I have wrote about this or not but at another school a mother was taking off infront of me around a bend and I went to go after her, she slammed her brakes on and so did I but I didn’t stop quick enough and slightly bumped her car. There was no damage because we both looked at the cars. I took mine to be checked out and all it needed was a wheel alignment, no paint even came off! But her husband starting ringing me saying I had to personally pay them, he wasn’t even there! The insurance company ‘took care of it’. I called the insurance company asking why it took almost four months for me to get a bill and they said it was because they didn’t get the car checked until December and then didn’t get it fixed until January but it had a bit of damage (but not enough to stop driving it or fix it straight away!?) I demanded to have a copy of the report sent to me and am waiting for that before I make the payment but since the insurance company has already paid them I have to pay no matter what.
Anyway back to teaching! I thought it would be a nice way to get me back into the swing of teaching and I like having continuity in teaching especially when it is with a nice class and I get to know the children. The first day wasn’t too bad, they were a little bit chatty and took a while to follow instructions but yesterday and today they have settled down so much. I think they realize I am there all week so they need to behave which is so nice! They are a lovely class though. The preps (there are only a few of them) go off to play with the other prep classes during first and second session so I really only get to see them for an hour in the afternoon.
The teacher I am replacing had to take leave suddenly because a family member fell sick and she had to look after them. She left a timetable for Monday which was helpful but nothing for the rest of the week. I went to the office and all they had was a general one for the week. Literacy first session, maths second session and theme work in the afternoon – doesn’t say what to actually do for any of it though! But it hasn’t been too bad; I have been able to work out what they have been doing and made my own work for them that seem similar to where they were headed.
I also discovered a girl I went to high school with and who only graduated last year from uni has landed herself a full time job there. Lucky her. Also the teacher that took my job from me (she only got the job because she was friends with the lady I was replacing and I was meant to get the full time job before she came along) told me her son is in my class and wanted me to watch him because he doesn’t play with anyone at lunch. What does she expect me to do, stand out there every lunch watching him!? I am here for (as far as I know) one week- she works there, she can do it!
Well I am half way through my week and except for the lack of pay I am having a really nice time, couldn’t ask for a better way to start my teaching year.
Ohh! And I got my uni information this week, now all I need to do is pick and enroll in my classes. Not as excited about going back to uni now I have started working. I feel so tired at the end of the day so am not sure how I will go with writing assignments again and I have to try and remember how to reference and all that ‘uni stuff’ again. Hmmm not sure what I have got myself in for.
Miss Snix.
Bullies!
Well I got an email today saying that I was accepted into the uni course - yay! But aghh back to study lol I will be getting a letter in the mail next week to officially tell me I have been accepted. Now I need to pick out 4 wonderful (better than picking boring ones!) classes to study!
Something that has been upsetting me for a while now is one of my nephews who is 11 years old and in grade 7 has been getting bullied at school. He is a really nice, friendly, normally happy-go -lucky boy but has been so upset by it all he has become very withdrawn and quiet. It seems 2 girls in his class have been picking on him for his weight (he is not over weight; just a bit bigger but he is also fairly tall) and since the principal was made aware of it didn't really do much to stop the situation but seems to have turned a blind eye to it, it has grown with other children following these girls lead thinking they are cool. My nephew was so upset and worried about it yesterday morning he was in absolute tears at the thought of going to school, so my sister (his Mum) allowed him not to go. I spent parts of yesterday and today with him, and it is like speaking to a different child; his confidence is just shattered to the point my sister is thinking of taking him to a councilor to talk about it (he tends to bottle things up until he gets that angry he just lets it out). I am just so upset that it has got this far and he is feeling this way and I also feel very angry that his teacher and principal know this is happening and have not made it stop.
School is meant to be a place children are able to go to and feel completely safe both physically and emotionally. Unfortunately there seems to be more and more bullying going on in schools these days and teachers/principals are kidding themselves if they think it is not happening in their school; I don't know what they think they are achieving by not putting a stop to it. In my nephew’s case it is happening in primary school, I can only imagine how bad things are in the high school years. I think children should be taught (which they are as far as I can see) that bullying is not accepted and that if they bully there will be consequences (which as far as I can see either there aren’t or they are light and the bullies just continue their behavior) so it does not gradually lead to getting out of hand.
Miss Snix.
Something that has been upsetting me for a while now is one of my nephews who is 11 years old and in grade 7 has been getting bullied at school. He is a really nice, friendly, normally happy-go -lucky boy but has been so upset by it all he has become very withdrawn and quiet. It seems 2 girls in his class have been picking on him for his weight (he is not over weight; just a bit bigger but he is also fairly tall) and since the principal was made aware of it didn't really do much to stop the situation but seems to have turned a blind eye to it, it has grown with other children following these girls lead thinking they are cool. My nephew was so upset and worried about it yesterday morning he was in absolute tears at the thought of going to school, so my sister (his Mum) allowed him not to go. I spent parts of yesterday and today with him, and it is like speaking to a different child; his confidence is just shattered to the point my sister is thinking of taking him to a councilor to talk about it (he tends to bottle things up until he gets that angry he just lets it out). I am just so upset that it has got this far and he is feeling this way and I also feel very angry that his teacher and principal know this is happening and have not made it stop.
School is meant to be a place children are able to go to and feel completely safe both physically and emotionally. Unfortunately there seems to be more and more bullying going on in schools these days and teachers/principals are kidding themselves if they think it is not happening in their school; I don't know what they think they are achieving by not putting a stop to it. In my nephew’s case it is happening in primary school, I can only imagine how bad things are in the high school years. I think children should be taught (which they are as far as I can see) that bullying is not accepted and that if they bully there will be consequences (which as far as I can see either there aren’t or they are light and the bullies just continue their behavior) so it does not gradually lead to getting out of hand.
Miss Snix.
New Year - New Beginnings?
Well the holidays are over and the new school year has started; it actually started about three weeks ago but as of yet I haven't had any work. It feels like a lot has changed since my blogging last year, and a lot has also stayed the same (still trying to figure out if that is good or bad!).
Holiday
Holidays were great! I had a friend come stay with me for about 3 weeks and was here for Christmas and my birthday. The lead up to Christmas is always a fun time, I love seeing all the Christmas decorations come out everywhere and going and seeing others houses all decorated with lights at night. I bought a brand new tree too, so that was fun putting it together and decorating it. The day was nice ad fun with family, and not too hot which was really nice! My birthday wasn't as fun, rather boring really but I did have a lot of luck playing the pokies after a dinner out which was a nice change!
Working
Before school went back I updated the resume and sent it off to all the schools in the area (with all the range of relief/contract work I've done it actually is looking very good; I'm impressed anyway lol). I also resigned up with the relief agency all the schools go through, but so far haven't heard from them.
I don’t know why but I got all excited about ‘day 8’ thinking after all the hard work I put in last year I would finally get an offer. Day 8 is the day all the schools count how many children they have and if they have too many in a class then the schools have to employ extra teachers and make new classes. I didn’t get a call.
I have had a few phone calls offering work but for one reason or another they just have not worked out. First I got a phone call just before the school year started offering me a job on the other side of my state teaching SEU, sounded good except they wanted me there in 2 days (it's flooding up there and no way to get in or out of the area - and it's only 2 days!) so I turned that offer down.
Next I got a call from a principal of a school I do not have listed with the agency as one of my choices because quite frankly the school is disgusting! I worked there last year and had grade 3 children swear their head of at me, call me every name under the sun and bash each other in front of me (bashing heads into cement!) and then the principal not really caring (he had no control!!!) not to mention other horrible experiences I have had at the school. . . anyway he called me offering me 3 weeks work doing relief while teachers are at training; they way he was talking sounded like a young class so I agreed thinking they might not be as bad until he said it was the grade 4 classes. . . who were the swearing holligan grade 3s from last year. . .crap!!! So I am going to call them back in a little while and pretend I have other work and unavailable those dates. I am NOT putting myself through that hell again (and it would only be on contract pay; not worth it!)
The other call I got was actually tonight from a principal of a private school. I have only worked in their kindergarten and that was not enjoyable. Anyway he wanted me to take a grade 6 class but I told him I am only working with the little grades this year. I feel rude turning it down, but I feel more confident with the littlies and have done that many upper grades I just feel like I want to have a good year. Anyway, doubt I will be hearing from him again!
Changing Careers. . . maybe
After last year I felt very drained from teaching. I love being with kids and in the classroom but not knowing where or what or who I'll be with the next day gets a bit stressful, especially when you get a class that has very little respect for a relief teacher (than again most 'regular' teachers don't seem to show much respect for relief teachers either!). This is my third year out teaching and I know that is not a long time but there has been that many new graduates since I graduated that come from uni and seem to land a full time job straight away, I don't get why they have and I seemed to have slipped through. . . I got high marks at uni, I got an S1 rating as an excellent teacher in the eyes of the education department (you can't get any higher!) and I have worked very hard to prove that I enjoy and am good at what I do but it just doesn't seem to matter and I do get very jealous of others getting their own class while I am still merely a 'relief teacher'.
Anyway. . .I thought instead of continuing to be miserable with things I would try and gain some new skills and try something different. So after looking through TAFE and uni websites for different courses I finally found a business course that sounds interesting. It is an external course so I can keep working (when I get work! lol) during the day and study at night or weekends plus it is only 1 semester full time so the whole thing is only 4 classes that I can choose from all the master business classes. Was all excited about it until I got a phone call today saying to get in I need to have at least 2 years work experience which in a way I do but my contract work does not add up to 2 years so I had to resubmit my resume with exactly how many days I have worked at each school over the past two years. . .so after counting them all I sent my resume back off and am hoping I get in! I don’t plan on quitting teaching! But I figure it will be good to learn something new and different to education plus the classes that I want to take are management and organization ones which I think will also help in my teaching anyway. But with the way things have been going if I do feel the need to change careers (I’ve been working with children for 9 years and love it but wouldn’t mind trying something different) at least I will have some knowledge and countable qualifications.
It feels so good to write a blog (or in my case novel! lol) again and get it all out, hopefully over the span of this year my blogs are more positive (lol I pray for non-swearing, non-bashing, respectful classes! lol), last years got a little depressing at times but thinking back about them now at least I can say I have been having an adventure!
Miss Snix.
Holiday
Holidays were great! I had a friend come stay with me for about 3 weeks and was here for Christmas and my birthday. The lead up to Christmas is always a fun time, I love seeing all the Christmas decorations come out everywhere and going and seeing others houses all decorated with lights at night. I bought a brand new tree too, so that was fun putting it together and decorating it. The day was nice ad fun with family, and not too hot which was really nice! My birthday wasn't as fun, rather boring really but I did have a lot of luck playing the pokies after a dinner out which was a nice change!
Working
Before school went back I updated the resume and sent it off to all the schools in the area (with all the range of relief/contract work I've done it actually is looking very good; I'm impressed anyway lol). I also resigned up with the relief agency all the schools go through, but so far haven't heard from them.
I don’t know why but I got all excited about ‘day 8’ thinking after all the hard work I put in last year I would finally get an offer. Day 8 is the day all the schools count how many children they have and if they have too many in a class then the schools have to employ extra teachers and make new classes. I didn’t get a call.
I have had a few phone calls offering work but for one reason or another they just have not worked out. First I got a phone call just before the school year started offering me a job on the other side of my state teaching SEU, sounded good except they wanted me there in 2 days (it's flooding up there and no way to get in or out of the area - and it's only 2 days!) so I turned that offer down.
Next I got a call from a principal of a school I do not have listed with the agency as one of my choices because quite frankly the school is disgusting! I worked there last year and had grade 3 children swear their head of at me, call me every name under the sun and bash each other in front of me (bashing heads into cement!) and then the principal not really caring (he had no control!!!) not to mention other horrible experiences I have had at the school. . . anyway he called me offering me 3 weeks work doing relief while teachers are at training; they way he was talking sounded like a young class so I agreed thinking they might not be as bad until he said it was the grade 4 classes. . . who were the swearing holligan grade 3s from last year. . .crap!!! So I am going to call them back in a little while and pretend I have other work and unavailable those dates. I am NOT putting myself through that hell again (and it would only be on contract pay; not worth it!)
The other call I got was actually tonight from a principal of a private school. I have only worked in their kindergarten and that was not enjoyable. Anyway he wanted me to take a grade 6 class but I told him I am only working with the little grades this year. I feel rude turning it down, but I feel more confident with the littlies and have done that many upper grades I just feel like I want to have a good year. Anyway, doubt I will be hearing from him again!
Changing Careers. . . maybe
After last year I felt very drained from teaching. I love being with kids and in the classroom but not knowing where or what or who I'll be with the next day gets a bit stressful, especially when you get a class that has very little respect for a relief teacher (than again most 'regular' teachers don't seem to show much respect for relief teachers either!). This is my third year out teaching and I know that is not a long time but there has been that many new graduates since I graduated that come from uni and seem to land a full time job straight away, I don't get why they have and I seemed to have slipped through. . . I got high marks at uni, I got an S1 rating as an excellent teacher in the eyes of the education department (you can't get any higher!) and I have worked very hard to prove that I enjoy and am good at what I do but it just doesn't seem to matter and I do get very jealous of others getting their own class while I am still merely a 'relief teacher'.
Anyway. . .I thought instead of continuing to be miserable with things I would try and gain some new skills and try something different. So after looking through TAFE and uni websites for different courses I finally found a business course that sounds interesting. It is an external course so I can keep working (when I get work! lol) during the day and study at night or weekends plus it is only 1 semester full time so the whole thing is only 4 classes that I can choose from all the master business classes. Was all excited about it until I got a phone call today saying to get in I need to have at least 2 years work experience which in a way I do but my contract work does not add up to 2 years so I had to resubmit my resume with exactly how many days I have worked at each school over the past two years. . .so after counting them all I sent my resume back off and am hoping I get in! I don’t plan on quitting teaching! But I figure it will be good to learn something new and different to education plus the classes that I want to take are management and organization ones which I think will also help in my teaching anyway. But with the way things have been going if I do feel the need to change careers (I’ve been working with children for 9 years and love it but wouldn’t mind trying something different) at least I will have some knowledge and countable qualifications.
It feels so good to write a blog (or in my case novel! lol) again and get it all out, hopefully over the span of this year my blogs are more positive (lol I pray for non-swearing, non-bashing, respectful classes! lol), last years got a little depressing at times but thinking back about them now at least I can say I have been having an adventure!
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.
