Minimum effort

Just finished marking my Y8 books. A lovely procrastinated jobbie. My new strategy of getting the kids to mark in class, and me just do the comments in my frees, is working a treat - I almost have some time back in my life. Combined with my 50% effort as a teacher, well, school life is going pretty well. I am just either stamping down on things straight away and being super efficient, or just ignoring them entirely.

It's time to start counting days to half-term. Six more teaching days, plus one training day. Annoyingly I can't go to the HSBC maths day this Friday due to stupid bureaucracy in my school, and the megalomaniac tendencies of the one ultimately in charge, meaning I was led on a silly wild goose chase, and thus my kids have to miss out on the trip. Boo. On the plus side, this means I'll be around for our PGCE student's last day in school, and the maths' department curry in the evening, which will be good fun, despite all the DRAMA of our department (both in and out of school) recently.

What else is new? I'm being a hermit this week, returning to relaxing, which is wonderful. It's good to spend some time by myself, thinking a bit about some things. Not too much thinking, obviously, this will only lead to worrying and then stressing. Some gentle pondering and daydreaming is ok though. I am also addicted to Radio 4 now that we have no TV. It's ace, I feel like I am just accidentally passively absorbing all this stuff on American law while typing this, weird. I started listening simply for a news fix at 6pm, then kept listening for the 6:30pm sitcom, and now I've taken to leaving the radio on.

I had peanut butter on toast for dinner. I'm not sure this counts as a proper dinner, and I can smell chicken and mushrooms downstairs, so I shall go investigate.

Happy Half-term

It's half-term! There's no better feeling than knowing you have a glorious week of lie-ins and time to spend as you choose.

Right now I have been up for about an hour, am sitting in my pyjamas, catching up on emails and phone calls. Usually on a holiday I tend to go a bit mad i.e. party a bit too hardy almost every night of the week and then return to school not quite rested. This time I am going for the calmer and more mature option, taking it easy :) Aaaah it'll be grand.



I just found this picture and quite liked it. Hasn't got much to do with the next paragraph but anyway.

Refereed a football match yesterday after school, completely impromptu, did it in my work clothes and borrowed trainers, how unprofessional! The game was our staff vs the staff from Warwick School for Boys (another local comp). Hilarious game, loads of the kids were there supporting, and the staff put in a really good show, lots of comedy football and silliness, a nice game indeed. We won 3-1, made a coupla dodgy decisions, but it went pretty well, really enjoyed it. Maybe I should get myself back into refereeing? Actually, no chance, like there's any time for that this season.

Speaking of seasons, have entered my fantasy team into our school's league in the Schools Fantasy League, a lovely idea whereby kids, teachers and parents from across the UK set up fantasy leagues and compete within and between schools. For teachers there are supposedly lots of associated resources, particularly for maths, citizenship, business and IT. Am yet to find these but anyway. Very cocky about my team, already told all the kids in my tutor group that I will beat their teams. Those of you who have seen my past fantasy footie performance will realise I am all talk and no points, heehee. Still, The Magic Numbers aren't too bad a side, we will definitely not sink this weekend.

Well, time to get on with the day, i.e. piss about and then enjoy the rugby :) Happy half-term!