An action packed day in my life as a teacher, March 2016

 

I rocked up to school at the usual 7:15am, organised my classroom and headed to my 6th form mentor group. I greeted the students as they arrived, they signed exam entries, and there was the usual admin of chasing up homeworks, sick notes and encouraging latecomers to arrive earlier.


Period 1 involved checking over slides in readiness for the five different year groups I would be teaching today. I racked my brain to understand some particularly difficult problems which I would be teaching 6th form after lunch, finally grasping it enough to not go into the lesson confused myself.


Period 2 - Greet the ever enthusiastic top set Year 8s for the return of the previous day tests. More mental maths week fun as the top four battle it out to become class champion. Post pi day excitement to be had, searching the infinite number of digits for dates of birth. Permission given to bring an apple pie next day for a belated celebration of 3.14!


I gobble my fruit salad at breaktime before greeting Year 11 for period 3. The hard work was done during the prior weekend, days and nights: marking their mock exam and preparing review videos, freeing me up to assist individuals. We reviewed 'hall of shame' exam question blunders and mark scheme particulars. I answered Stats coursework diagram and calculation dilemmas.


Period 4 - Year 9s tested their mental skills and the top four students were decided. Next, 'powers of ten' was today's topic, and the internet provided a mind-blowing interactive called the Scale of the Universe to suitably impress students. We finished with a quick fire mini white board practice of questions.


I gobbled chicken fajitas for lunch while marking Year 10 topic tests in time for the last period. I take a two minute breather before launching into Period 5 and the last bit of new AS-level Maths of the year: the sum of a geometric series. Confiscated phone from student. After forty minutes of teacher talk and trolling through some epic problems on the board, I collapse into my chair, satisfied with infinity and beyond, and mission accomplished.


Period 6 - Year 10s final mental maths test of the day and return of previous day’s tests. New topic of probability, and real word contexts discussed relating to weather, farming, business and health. Coins tossed, dice rolled, and quick fire questions to all. Jokes made and appreciated. "Masalamah" (goodbye in Arabic) wished as the clock struck 3.


After school assistance given for Sumdog website sign up. Probability Year 10 trip form completed and teacher assistance gained. Year 10 test review videos made just in time to race for the door at four. Coffee and toast at home is well earned after an invigorating and rewarding day in the life of a teacher!

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