Had my first teaching day last Wednesday, was only for three hours while the teacher went to training but a job is still a job. I got to have the prep class. This is the age group I love teaching the most so was happy with that. I also had a teacher aide with me for the first hour and a half which was helpful. Most of the children were very well behaved except for a couple who thought they’d push their luck and not do as I asked. But it is also the start of the year and they are just getting used to being in a school environment, some may not have been to childcare before I don’t know, so it is understandable they weren’t as settled as they will be latter in the year when they are used to school. And I guess I am the first relief teacher they had for the year so all new for them. Anyway, it was nice. Haven’t had any work since but neither have my other relief teacher friends (actually they haven’t had any work, so I am a little lucky there) but I assume (hope!) it will start to pick up soon.
Miss Snix.
Showing posts with label prep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prep. Show all posts
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.
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.
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.
Back to work!
Well I am back at work after the holidays for term four and have already finished one week (only 9 more left for the school year!) and have also finished my contract. I am going to miss it. It is a really nice prep class with some lovely children and a great aide, actually all the staff were friendly and helpful which is so great! My time there went by so quickly it hardly felt like work, I guess it's true what they say 'time flies when you're having fun'. I had some really great experiences there, like a little girl who was afraid of everything (literally!) was freaking out (screaming and crying) everyday doing the obstacle course but on my second last day I managed to get her to try out the monkey bars with the other girls and she loved it! That is something I miss doing relief work; watching a child grow, learn and accomplish things over time. Also getting to know the children on a more personal level; like one child had a wobbly tooth before the holidays and when he came back it was still wobbly, it finally came out on my last day and he ran straight to me to show me and was so excited because we had been talking about it and building the excitement up to this moment for a while. Also on my last day one of the little girls decided to make a picture for me 'secretly' and got the aide to help her, they got all the children to sign their names (they are still learning to write!) during inside time and gave it to me before the aid was about to leave for the day. I thought it was so nice. And the girl in the bottom picture is ment to be me! haha It kind of looks like me too! Very artistic!
The aide was so lovely and thanked me and said she enjoyed working with me, which was more than mutual! The teacher from the class next to me who I worked along with also thanked me and came in to the room before I left to say goodbye and even a grandmother who looks after one of the girls I was teaching (who was away sick that day!) even came in to say a thank you and tell me how much she appreciated having me their. It was so nice because you don't normally get that kind of reaction when you relieve; you're there one day and gone the next and rarely have time to leave any impression so this was very special to me.
Something else I picked up during my last week there; a fresh cold! HAHAHA I think I have been sick more times this year than ever before! It started half way through the week with a sore throat (my aide was coughing all week and the kids were getting sick too) and then my body started aching and I was feeling miserable and now today my nose has started running :( At least if I am still feeling bad by Monday I can now take the day off and it won't affect anyone.
Not really looking forward to returning to relief work, I just hope I get good classes and the time flies by . . . I know it won't but I can dream!
Ciao,
Miss Snix.
The aide was so lovely and thanked me and said she enjoyed working with me, which was more than mutual! The teacher from the class next to me who I worked along with also thanked me and came in to the room before I left to say goodbye and even a grandmother who looks after one of the girls I was teaching (who was away sick that day!) even came in to say a thank you and tell me how much she appreciated having me their. It was so nice because you don't normally get that kind of reaction when you relieve; you're there one day and gone the next and rarely have time to leave any impression so this was very special to me.Something else I picked up during my last week there; a fresh cold! HAHAHA I think I have been sick more times this year than ever before! It started half way through the week with a sore throat (my aide was coughing all week and the kids were getting sick too) and then my body started aching and I was feeling miserable and now today my nose has started running :( At least if I am still feeling bad by Monday I can now take the day off and it won't affect anyone.
Not really looking forward to returning to relief work, I just hope I get good classes and the time flies by . . . I know it won't but I can dream!
Ciao,
Miss Snix.
