that menu and wine list is a thing of beauty…I am def jealous.
good work on oushing through that run
mmm. some of those things do sound good. others sound odd to me (to put it mildly), but since once only gets to live once I think one should do things like that when possible. Glad you had a nice day, sorry to hear your bod was a bit cranky.
Yeah I have some reservations about some of them (snail porridge?!!! I don’t even like regular porridge) but then I’ve eaten silkworm pupae in Korea so I’m sure I’ll be fine. And face it, if it was horrible, they wouldn’t keep selling it.
Today wasn’t a good day - I had arranged a netball match between my school and another local school which was then cancelled due to heavy rain (despite it being lovely and sunny earlier in the week. Grrr). Then horrible journey home from work and also the knowledge that I have to see the headmistress for another appraisal meeting tomorrow, on my busiest day when that is the only break I get. I know these things must be done but things are a bit stressful right now (especially knowing that I also have a house netball competition and a swimming gala to arrange next month). I guess you could say the novelty has worn off, rather.
A meeting with the headmistress! Hope it goes well and you have a better day today. You’ll surely feel better about your position after it’s over. It’s amazing how subtly stressful any evaluation process is.
Yea no one wants to get evaluated or nit picked over about how they are doing their job, but it will be over in no time and then you can move right along in life again.
Well it’s a new job - I’ve only been in it since September and I’ve had a lot to learn and still have a lot more to get to grips with. Essentially the problem is my handling of the class and discipline. It’s purely inexperience but because lack of discipline in a PE environment can lead to health and safety issues, then it’s paramount that I get it sorted. And I have to get it sorted quickly or I won’t have a job. That’s how critical it is. So yes, it’s all a bit stressful at the moment.
On the positive side I’ve been recognised as punctual and a team player, and have a lovely relationship with the girls (they like me, basically). The problem is that whilst they like me, they don’t have sufficient respect for me, and that has to change. Like I said, quickly.
I do have half term coming up to recharge, and then I am going to another school to watch the PE teacher there for a day which will help me. But obviously, if anyone has any good tips for keeping children under control, I’d be pleased to hear them.
I am going to my oly lifting workshop tomorrow - hope I am not too much of a spacker! And them gymnastics Sunday. I’ll try and fit a run in before the class, but we’ll see how it goes.
I bet you can already point out your weak spots, I usually can for myself. My trick is to be a little prepared. Plan some proactive ways you can work on those weaker spots so that if/when she asks about them you can say you are doing something about it and get her input on your plans.
Make a negative into a postive, sounds corny but usually works.
However you don’t want to only be negative. Try to finish it on a positive note.
scenario:
HM: I see you are having a little difficulty maintaining class order due to a few rowdy kids that need discipline.
Cal: Yes I’ve been struggling somewhat in handling a few children. So far I have tried “wxy” but I am also planning to implement “z”. Do you have any suggestions? How do other teachers handle it?
HM: goes on a long tirade about handling children that will allow her to show you just how much she knows and hence boost her ego and such…
Cal: Well I’m glad to say that dispite these issues I have managed to bring a few shy kids out of their shells, kids that are not only participating but excelling.
/end scenario.
funny - our posts appeared at the same time. lol
Cal:
I used to coach gymnastics. But, I suspect my job was substantially easier than yours is because I worked at a club and all of the kids were there because they wanted to be. We also had a fairly small student teacher ratio–6 students for 1 teacher for preschool ages 3-5 and 12 to 1 for 6 and up. And we had trampolines–6 of them. So, if the kids didn’t listen. They missed their tramp time, which I always saved for the end.
With that said. Here’s what I know. Tone of voice is huge. Clear expectations. Clear consequences. Be matter of fact about discipline–no listen, no turn, no exceptions. EVER. Use peer pressure to your advantage. I always hated doing this, but sometimes you have to punish the whole group to get a single kid on board.
Keep as many kids moving at any given time that you can. Good Curriculum is important. The more active and engaged the kids are in your class the less discipline problems should arise.
At the same time, you ALWAYS want some basic predictability in your routine. This will help the kids know what to expect. For instance, if you do the same warm up every day you can have different kids “lead it” freeing you to move around the class and correct form. So, for every class I’d start with running, forward, backward, jumping, hoping, skipping, bear walks, crab walks ect. Get em moving fast first. Then a little stretching. Make paying attention a game.
So part of my stretching routine was going through basic body positions–tuck, pike, straddle, straight line–whatever. I’d go very fast and try to trick them. Or I’d make mistakes and allow them to catch me at them and correct me. This is a fun way to assess–are the kids learning the terminology that I’m trying to teach them.
Laugh. Have fun.
Remember to Reward listening. Note when the class is doing well and at least comment on it. “you guys are doing such a good job listening today.” If you can occasionally give a greater reward–stamps, stickers, free time… all the better.
Do not show fear.
Good luck!
Thanks Nadia. I don’t show fear although I do have to raise my voice quite often. I think I started out too friendly, perhaps, and now they see me more as one of them instead of an authority figure.
One of the issues I had was with a lesson observation. I usually line the girls line up to start and have them going down the mats doing bunny hops and the like. Headmistress didn’t like that they were stood in line - she wanted them sat down observing each other so good performances could be rewarded and mistakes pointed out.
I tried this today and it “sort of” worked in so far as it kept them out of mischief, but the year 2s particularly got restless and I had to stop and verbally reprimand them for kicking shoes off and sliding on to the floor (year 2 is a lively class and the biggest in the school - but it’s still only 14 girls so I don’t have the excuse of having to manage an unruly bunch of 30 children from disadvantaged backgrounds).
Some strategies seem to work with some girls and some classes but not with all. I’m slowly figuring it out as I go but unfortunately I’m now under a lot of time pressure. Headmistress also said she wasn’t seeing actual improvement in the girls and this was as a direct result of lack of discipline.
I will say that some girls are improving but apparently the older girls are not doing so well at netball because they were drilled pretty tight by the last PE teacher, and I let them get away with more (again, down to lack of experience since I don’t know as much about netball so I let more things fly).
It must be tough learning all this stuff as you go, but you seem to not have any other complaints and are enjoying it for the most part?
Yes. The issue is if I don’t get the discipline down in a few weeks, that’ll be the end of that. And I don’t want that, obviously. The pressure makes it less enjoyable, obviously. I’m going to do my damndest, but otherwise it’s back to the drawing board.
Cal, best of luck in getting the discipline situation sorted out. I have great confidence that you can attack this problem and figure it out.
I didn’t sleep particularly well - I did nod off pretty quickly but then woke at 5am and mind was on overdrive so I couldn’t go back to sleep. Not a problem on a weekday when I have to be up by 6am anyway, but it’s Saturday for crying out loud!
Anyway, I have my oly workshop at the Crossfit gym today, but as it’s not until this afternoon and I figure I’ll just be practising form with PVC pipe, I decided to fit a gym workout in first.
Did a few complexes with the oly bar to warm up (clean, press, back squat, press, front squat, SLDL, rinse, repeat) then on to:
Military Press
Bar x 10
25kg x 10
30kg x 5 (wasn’t in the mood to try for 10)
35kg x 3
37.5kg x 1
40kg x 1
I decided to retest my max - been several weeks since I last did it and have had a nasty cold in the interim. Took a lot of effort and it went up slowly but I kept telling myself “you’ve got this” and I locked it out.
Back Squats
4 x 40kg x 8
Man these are hard. It’s not a strength thing, exactly - I just find them bloody knackering. I persevered though.
Negative pull-ups
4 x 3
Been a while for these too. Hands were an issue - will need chalk now it’s not so effing cold.
Superset:
Hyperextensions: 3 x 20
Bridges (held for a count of 10 or more - tried to work on bringing feet closer together)
No rest between sets.
Then worked a bit on my rolls (and tweaked my neck somewhat on a backwards roll - that move is a bugger for tweaking lev scap) and headstand before stretching.
Weight is still 11 st 2 (156). I suspect I put a bit on after the orgy of food at my godmother’s, then lost it again. I need for the scale to go down, though. Grrr.
I say screw the weight for now and focus on what’s essential. You can always worry about those few pounds when you find yourself overcoming the discipline issue.
Nice work on the presses! You certainly put to good use the extra hours today you weren’t sleeping.
Thanks.
I just got back from the oly workshop at Crossfit London. I’m knackered. Even though it was mostly playing around with PVC pipes, three hours of standing, testing squat position and then learning technical moves (snatch, C&J) that my postural muscles are fried. Gymnastics is going to be fun tomorrow!
The workshop was pretty good considering they were ramming it all into three hours. It did feel like a long time though. I did a four hour kettlebell workshop last year (with London Kettlebells, rather than Crossfit) and there was a break halfway through. I think three hours straight is pretty hard going, really. Good though, especially as it was only £45.
[quote]Cal Jones wrote:
One of the issues I had was with a lesson observation. I usually line the girls line up to start and have them going down the mats doing bunny hops and the like. Headmistress didn’t like that they were stood in line - she wanted them sat down observing each other so good performances could be rewarded and mistakes pointed out.
[/quote]
I agree with your teaching instincts–sit and watch and one at a time turns is lameo–but you gotta do what the boss lady wants. Hang in there. And nice training. You were a busy and productive girl today.
you always seem to figure it out and find good things… just sucks that you hafta stress about it in the meanwhile.
Yeah I hope so.
DOMS were already kicking in last night and by the time I woke up my body was raising hell. I half considered cancelling my gymnastics class, but as I missed last week’s (due to visiting my godmother) I sucked it up and went. And it was tiring but good. Worked mostly on handstands and cartwheels. Handstand does need work but I can kick up into one against a wall. Haven’t quite managed to hold it there, under my own steam, but it’s improving. Cartwheel is still spastic but less so than it has been. I definitely feel as though I’ve made a lot of progress.
Even if I don’t keep my job at the school, I’d like to continue with the gymnastics class because it’s fun and being able to do various moves - even basic ones - is pretty cool. Of course, I may have issues paying for it if I suddenly find myself unemployed. Hopefully it won’t come to that.