Yes, on Monday I return to school (properly- I've been in over the break as so many others) for the first of two Inset days, followed by the return of the children on Wednesday.
It is a momentous time for the school. Next week sees the launch of a huge restructure of our two-form entry school. Many support staff have gone, and in their place are a string of 'additional teachers' who will provide a third level of streaming in each year group for Maths and Literacy. We have several new members of staff. It's the start of the first full year for our Deputy Head. Only three teachers are staying in their previous classrooms, and only two are staying in the same year group.I'm pleased to say I'm one of them- no year group, no room move for the first time since I joined the school. I do, though, have my fourth year-group partner in as many years. I am assured this is nothing personal.
The last school-related advert I saw was this one:
Now I'm seeing ads about the usual pre-term rituals- buying stationery, shirts, shoes and such like.
Which got me thinking about the rituals and essentials I will have to ensure I have for my own sanity before going back next week.
1. Check the shoes. Yes, it sounds odd to say it, but I got through at least 4 pairs of shoes last year despite only using them at school. The sheer amount of pacing, striding and occasional playing football (still proud of my 20-yard left-footed lob on that 7 yr-old into the 'goal'- a gap in a fence). This year I am determined to avoid the feeling on that first rainy day where I realise I have a hole in my shoe.
2. Know where the stock is. Every year I am about 15 minutes into a lesson when I realise that despite hours of preparing all sorts of fancy laminated stuff I've forgotten something obvious and crucial, like sharpeners or felt tips. Cue 10 mins of chaos while I try and find them and mentally panic at the potential to cost all future behaviour management of the brief loose time it takes to find the sharpeners.
3. Make sure my Allan Ahlberg and Roald Dahl poetry books are at the ready. I don't know how many awkward gaps in the timetable I filled last year with poems such as The Ghost Teacher, Scissors and Supply Teacher.
4. Remember the names of the new staff. Hence the title pictures. So far I have already mixed up two colleagues repeatedly, and it's not even the first day back yet. Hopefully Ann/Shirley/Elaine/Tara/Barbara/Lizzie is an understanding person.
5. Use the time on the Inset days. Every year, 2 days. Every year, hours to tidy a classroom. Every year, still rushing about at 8.50am while the children line up outside.
6. If you've worked at the school before, remember that fact. The children do still know who you are. Ramping up the appearance of being strict and humourless doesn't work if the same kids saw you cracking horrendously bad jokes or missing the hoop eight times in a row during a rowdy Staff vs Pupils netball game the previous term.
7. Be positive. A serious one, this. Our restructure caused a huge amount of negativity to fly about last term, which really just made everything far worse for everyone. Nothing is perfect, but if it's not serious enough to warrant an attempt to leave the school, it's so much better to try not to get roped in by the complainers. Letting off steam is one thing, but constant criticism and moaning of how the place is so awful is the ultimate parasite for morale and success. This year I plan to keep my head down as much as possible and just try and have a great year of teaching my class and keep sensible enough hours in the building to avoid resentment of the place, especially in the winter!
8. Know your sources of inspiration. The three things that most kept me going during harder times last year were R.F. Delderfield's book (and the DVD of the TV series), To Serve Them All My Days, which restored my faith in keeping the value of sticking to your principles in teaching but also playing the game where necessary; Gareth Malone's The Choir series and his other shows, which showed how you can try something ambitious, freak out several times along the way but achieve (and get the kids to achieve it, most importantly anyway); and the output of rap artist/workshop runner BREIS, whose book, Brilliant Rappers Educate Intelligent Students gives great material for poetry and performance in the classroom but also has some lyrics that could motivate you as you go along. I recommend it highly.
What are your back-to-school rituals? What resources will you just have to have ready on Day 1?
To finish, some links. First, the Gareth Malone piece that inspired me to recreate it on a smaller scale with my class in a special Singing Assembly. We just used the original Stand By Me track, and adjusted the timing of Sean Kingston's Beautiful Girls to fit right over the instrumental. It was seamless by the end, though it took lots of practice for them to get the pitch right as they were essentially harmonising. Most of us had heard the two songs before, but I hadn't realised the bass line was exactly the same, or that the chorus to the latter song fit so well over the instrumental.
http://www.studentoflife.co.uk/
and a video to his own song, Identity- not necessarily ideal for primary classroom use, but an indication of his talent:
Have a great start to the new year, everyone!
