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#WBDApril

28/4/2018

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It's time for the April instalment of my Well-Being Diary! You can catch up on last month's here. Like last time, I'm using the #Teacher5ADay prompts to help me. So here we go...

#Connect
This month I got to visit India with some wonderful friends and the most amazing tour company: Tamarind Global! It was unlike anything we'd done before and I can't recommend them highly enough. At every single point, we were met by helpful guides, taking us round the most beautiful sites (including the stunning Taj Mahal). We visited several locations across 13 days, with an amazing hotel in each one, driven by our own chauffeur - the kindest man I've ever met, Prem, who sorted absolutely everything we could ever have asked for.

#Exercise
I told you last month that I've got into running. I also can't lie to you, I missed it for about 2 weeks, and I found it genuinely affected my day! As usual, I'm using Twitter to try and hold myself accountable. Ask me over there how it's going, and hopefully I'll not embarrass myself too much. Join in and we can motivate each other. In addition, I've come home to a HUGE car service bill, which has naturally caused me to look at what I spend. This includes a gym membership. What do you think, use it or lose it?
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#Notice
I'm still on my mission to spread positivity in our profession, and in the last 2 months, I've been sharing a weekly #TeachingHero. They've got great advice on well-being and resilience in our profession. What's more, they're a better read than the life-sucking misery that you'll find in some media outlets these days. I guarantee they'll brighten your day:
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six

#Learn
This month I've been reading 'The Unofficial Teacher's Manual'. It was sent to me by the lovely author, also a teacher, writing from a wealth of experience. It's hard-hitting, brutally honest and absolutely relatable. I'll be posting a dedicated review very soon!

#Give
​This month, I'd like to celebrate teamwork! Drop me a message on Facebook or Twitter, with some details of a member of your team, and I'll send them a thank you gift from the both of us!
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#TeachingHero

25/4/2018

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Our latest #TeachingHero is @emmagriff3006. Thank you so much for taking part in the interview, and if you would like to join her, get in touch!

What motivates you to work hard?

My motivation is to improve and further myself and my career. When I think back to my nqt year, I could cry with embarrassment but actually I’ve learnt so much. My first 2 years were in an extremely tough school and looking back, that was a blessing in disguise as it taught me so much and keeps me very positive! Now I have just completed the National SENCO award and get to spend lots of time meeting people and visiting other settings. I’m always stealing ideas and taking them back to my school!

Where do you go for personal and professional support?
I have the most amazing KS1 team and we all bounce off each other throughout the year. The KS1 leader in my school is particularly special and although we all have our off days, she is totally amazing at keeping us motivated. We have a what’s app group (named The KS1 massive) which involves all teachers, TAs and 1:1 support staff. The worst bit of the profession is the sheer amount of work. I’ve got much better at managing my time and setting small targets. I’m always at work till 5pm at least and often spent a lot of that time chatting. Now my contact time is less in my senco role so that makes it easier but I set small goals. I give myself a set amount of time to mark a set of books, assess etc and when the time is up, that’s it. I now manage to bring virtually nothing home.
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What strategies do you use to manage workload and protect your well being?
Setting small achievable targets works well for me. Also, I give myself 5 things per week to achieve, 1 per day. I don’t leave on a Friday till it’s done which works out 90% of the time. My school isn’t brilliant for wellbeing but our KS1 team are all fab. We do an exercise class ran by a professional instructor once per week for all staff. We all go out together at the end of each term. Birthdays are celebrated etc. There’s still some way to go for us as a school but we are a working progress!

What advice would you give anyone who felt like giving up?
My advice is to look at what it is that is causing you the most difficulty and stress. Don’t try to fix it quickly, Rome wasn’t built in a day! Think of small achievable things you can do to help you. And don’t be afraid to ask for help, there’s no such thing as a silly question. A few times I’ve learnt that the hard way!! Obviously we all have our down days. If I feel like I’m having a bad one, I tend to go home early and take my mind off it. Go out for dinner, catch up on TV, a drink with friends etc. I’m 7 years in now and still learning to manage each day at a time.

Sum up our profession in 5 words.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
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The Miracle Morning

21/4/2018

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I would like to think it's clear from this hobby that I enjoy writing, in many forms. And I've always said one of my favourite things about teaching is the problem solving (so I feel like that covers Maths too). Can you tell where I'm going with this yet?

I need to read more. It's all well and good having Booked users around the globe, making great progress in reading, but my own education is important too, and I can't remember the last time I read a whole book for pleasure... 

...which is why I was so happy when the lovely Dr Glenn Mason sent me a copy of this; The Miracle Morning, by Hal Elrod. And it might have changed my life.

It would be too easy to classify it as a 'self-help' book; it's more than that. It's an inspiring tale of a man whose life was turned upside down on multiple occasions, leaving the reader to consider what they're waiting around for in the mornings.

By staying in bed, you're essentially telling the world you don't want to live that day. Imagine how much more you could accomplish with a more get-up-and-go attitude.

The book guides you through a process to start each day with a solid routine of 6 practices that will help you reach a Level 10 life - the life you dream of, the life you deserve.
It's a careful mix of goal-setting, mindfulness, healthy living and holding yourself to account for the choices you make. Hal accurately describes your thought process as you talk yourself out of doing something great, with the simple conclusion of, 'why aren't you bothering?' Did you know that 95% of people settle for mediocrity? Would you like to be one of the 5% that goes above and beyond?

He sets out a simple acronym, S.A.V.E.R.S as a way of starting each day right, organised in a way that could last 6 minutes, or 60 minutes, depending on how busy you are!

I can't recommend this book enough. It really will motivate you to deliver your best self.
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#TeachingHero

18/4/2018

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Your next generous #TeachingHero is @fod3! Thank you so much for your honesty, enthusiasm and positive thinking! If you would like to become a #TeachingHero, and spread some motivation, get in touch!

What motivates you to work hard?
I've been a workaholic from a young age so unfortunately it's part of my makeup. I want to slow down but there is always the need to improve what we do to ensure our pupils get the very best and I can't stop until that is the case. Taking our results from 44% A-C to 63% was a stand-out. Now we've just got to do the same with the new specs.

Where do you go for personal and professional support or advice?
For personal and professional support, I come to Twitter. It doesn't matter how long you have been teaching or what role you have, you will find someone on Twitter who will happily answer your queries, guide, advise, support, console etc. I think many more teachers would have left the profession had it not been for the sounding board of Twitter. We are the best of teams. The worst bit of the profession is the sheer volume and the lack of time to do everything (or anything) well. I don't cope too well with this and feel I'm on an emotional rollercoaster most of the year. However, I live by lists and at the moment one main focus each day.
What strategies do you use to manage workload and protect your well being?
To manage my workload I make lists and prioritise with what I'm teaching always coming first. I commute so try to maximise work time then. I never work Friday evenings.

What advice would you give anyone who felt like giving up?

Never give up. Look at things from a different angle. I think the most important thing is that you know yourself. I know when I am losing control and take steps to cope. I speak with my line manager, go for a long walk to clear my head and find some pupils who I know will give me some perspective. Never ever lose sight of how brilliant you are - I'm brilliant but I am working in the hardest of situations and that is going to get me down from time to time...being down is ok - don't let anyone tell you otherwise but as a wise woman once said to me 'You can visit pity city but you can't stay too long.'

Sum up our profession in 5 words.
​Vocation. Love. Knowledge. Life. Rollercoaster. Never the same. (That's six)
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Q&A

14/4/2018

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Recently I was lucky enough to be invited back to university, to lecture Student Teachers on aspects of Planning and Assessment in practice, just before they embark on their next placement. In a similar way to how  our learners make progress through explanation to their peers, experiences like this have the same effect on me; I learn too (and I simply pray it's somewhat useful for those who have to endure my voice for the hour!)

Thank you to the university for the kind invite, and a bigger thank you to the students for such a warm welcome - you made it so much easier for me, and I'm so grateful. In the days since, thank you for your kind feedback and generous messages of support. I loved meeting you.

Then, having arrived home, I get this message from lovely Georgia, who popped up in my Facebook inbox.
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My response is purely my opinion, and you're welcome to comment below with changes you would make. But this is what I'd advise personally:

A specific 'ice-breaker' isn't going to be necessary, especially as you're the new one, not them. Even when you have a class full-time, my advice would still be to get into the learning as soon as possible, setting the long-term standards, and learn about each other along the way. I'm sure there are many teachers that give out a neatly compartmentalised grid with the children's hopes, food dislikes and favourite subjects scrawled across, but I doubt they do anything of any value with it; I'm pleased you're ambitious, I won't be cooking for you anyway, and you can love or hate every subject, it's still going to be taught to you!

You must keep in mind that, at some point, you're going to be responsible for the progress of these children (whether it's a placement or an employed post), so while you obviously want to get to know everyone, and for them to know you, you must ensure that you keep control of your image. By this, I mean that we are so keen to tell everyone our quirkiest talents, best adventures and funniest stories in an understandable bid to be liked, and all these episodes build the picture someone has of us.

With this in mind, consider the picture you want (and ultimately NEED) the children to have of you. Eventually, you're going to need them to feel safe with you, listen to you, in order to create the best outcomes with regards to learning. My advice would be, everything in moderation:
  • During your serial days, ask them about themselves, but not in the middle of the assembly line - otherwise they'll associate you with chatting. Maybe pop to the playground during lunchtime for a few minutes each day instead.
  • By all means, tell them about your own pets, but not when you're supposed to be supporting the group - or they'll not pay attention in your lessons either. Chat during those random transition moments as an alternative.
  • Use humour as often as you can, but let them know you'll be looking out for those who can have a good time, but also stay on task.
  • Show them that you value students who are keen to contribute in a positive way, who are resilient, and can manage themselves in different situations. Use simple but meaningful praise, and compliment the one listening well, working hard, being a good friend. Then, once they follow suit, you can start to share some of the laughs we all crave, so that you become their 'best teacher ever'.
  • What is it you actually want them to know about you? You're never going to know everything about everyone. Focus on what needs to be known, and then leave yourself open to surprise when the most quiet child turns out to be a martial arts genius, so-and-so keeps pet dragons, or the football mad kid also took centre stage in a musical at the weekend.

Being their friend first, and teacher second is never going to work. They're going to fall in love with you regardless. They want someone who is going to work hard for them, and they'll work just as hard for you. Best of luck!
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#TeachingHero

11/4/2018

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Our latest #TeachingHero is @Peter_M_Higgins. Give his interview a read below, and if you'd like to get involved, let me know!

What motivates you to work hard?
Knowing that I have the potential to make or ruin a child’s day helps me stay focussed and keep striving to do the best I can for the children in my care. Remembering how I supported a child to turn around their school experience last year reminds me to keep looking for the good and cut myself some slack on the tough days.

Where do you go for personal and professional support or advice?
I am blessed to work at a school with a strong and support SLT. I know that I can be honest and open when asking for advice or support. The School SENCO is a good person to talk through challenges with and seek advice/reflection from without judgement.
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What strategies do you use to manage workload and protect your well being?
Our School promotes cooperation and supportive relationships within both year group and Keystage teams. I don’t know where I’d be without my colleagues. We share planning, discuss judgments, and have a laugh. I try to work hard in the week so I can play hard at the weekend with my family. I go running and attend the staff bootcamp at school on Wednesday after school.

What advice would you give anyone who felt like giving up?
Listen to feedback/advice from SLT. Find a friend at school who you can be totally honest with and support one another. Help each other to identify and choose a couple of key targets within the area that feels tough (time management, work-life balance, behaviour strategies, etc)- and work on those a few at a time. Be honest and accountable.

Sum up our profession in 5 words.
Living love to see growth.
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#TeachingHero

4/4/2018

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Your brand new #TeachingHero is @Oggs26, spreading positive thinking and celebrating the hard workers of our glorious profession. If you'd like to feature as a #TeachingHero, get in touch!

What motivates you to work hard?
My motivation to work hard is the idea that I can make a difference. Stand out moments when I see ex students who talk to me. When I see a student suddenly get something or when they choose not to react a certain away. (I work in semh school so that’s important).

Where do you go for personal and professional support or advice?
I go to my colleagues as they are at the heart of school. You know who you are so thank you. Unltimately I go to my closest friend who's an ex teacher, however I can see already here on twitter I could seek support. Bits I don’t like about the profession when it looks like all that matters is academic progress. That we don’t want progress on all levels. How do I manage this, I believe in what I’m doing and try to challenge narrow thinking.
What strategies do you use to manage workload and protect your well being?
My strategies to manage work load is do the important tasks first, create a list with only three things on it and then do them. Then create three more things. Schedule time to relax bath and a good book (work in progress).

What advice would you give anyone who felt like giving up?
Anyone thinking of giving up think of someone you are making a difference to, someone you’ve made a difference to, surround yourself with positive people. I battle negativity by reading positive blogs, using twitter and TES community, going for a walk, doing human things.

Sum up our profession in 5 words.

This is a hard one............. we are helping to change the world, sorry it’s over the word count.
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