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.

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.

Busy Working!

My contract with the prep/one class got extended until Monday and it looked like it might be extended for the week but their regular teacher decided to come back Tuesday. They are a really lovely class and hopefully I will get to work with them again throughout the year.

I wasn't expecting to get work today since it is only the 5th? week back at school and still fairly early for regular relief work to kick in. But I got a call this morning booking me for a year one class at a different school. It was replacing a teacher I replaced on contract last year for a month when she was teaching prep. A lot of her kids this year I taught last year as well, and most remembered me. I recognised a lot of faces but wasn't too good with names! I have taught that many children doing relief work it is hard to learn and remember all of them! Anyway, they were very differnt to the prep/one class I had just been teaching. Today they were so talkative, and kept moving and figiting and I struggled to keep them focused for long periods of time. But they are only 5/6 year olds! And a few good games of 'Simon Says' always comes in handy!!!

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.

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.

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.