(no subject)

[nny]

The boundaries of my life are currently marked out by piles of paper as yet unsorted/unmarked, and I really doubt I'm going to have time to take any time off this half term. Which is somewhat problematic since I've already promised to help my little sis with uni applications tomorrow and I'm supposed to be going to Cardiff on Saturday. Er...

Obviously am doin it rong somewhere. I just... it feels unjust that I am in this position because I work so hard all the time, y'know? I'm at work at least ten hours a day and I generally do more when I get home, so how can I still be this far behind myself? Doin it rong, would appreciate advice on how to do it rite...

Inches away from sobbing heapdom. God I want a hug.

Comments

[la_rainette]

*hugs super tight*

You're not doing it rong, you're trying to do it too rite. Cut yourself some slack, please.

*re-reads*

*makes note to follow own advice*

[soupytwist]

*hugs you so very, very much*

I'm sorry, honey, I know how difficult that kind of stress is for you. (if it helps: that you find that difficult does not make you any less of a fantastic teacher. it means that's going to be the bit of teaching that is hardest for you.) And unfortunately, one of the first big things that helps organisation is calming down - given that you are not magically going to get more time, your two options are 'speed up what you're currently doing' or prioritising the time you currently have better. I think both those are going to happen - as you do it longer, you'll get more practice at the stuff you're doing and be able to do it quicker, and you'll also know better what stuff needs to have time spent on it and what you can rush a bit. In the meantime... er... I've found list-making very useful?

*hugs more*

[uninvitedcat]

::hugs you::

My other half's next door neighbour is a teacher - I can ask her for some hints and tips if you want?

(Although, I already know that she'll be spending the first day or so of her half term back at the school getting ahead on all her prep for the future weeks...)

[inappropriately.livejournal.com]

Wow, your workload is ridiculous. Dammit, Nny, I would come and give you the biggest hug if I could.

[pennyplainknits.livejournal.com]

I don't know a single teacher that doesn't take huges amounts of work home. Possibly we expect too much of teachers.

[icedmaple.livejournal.com]

That is madness!

I work 10hrs a day with no lunchbreak, too, but I don't have to take paperwork home (just, y'know... on holiday with me...)

Have you spoken to anyone for advice? Perhaps there's some kind of magic filing system in place?

[mashimero.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry I can't give you any advice, but I can give you hugs! *hugs*

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I haven't been through it myself, but this sounds like the experience of ALL the NQTs I've known. It seems so ridiculous, and absolutely drove them crazy.

Er...that was meant to be more comforting than it sounded, in that it doesn't sound to me like you're doing it wrong AT ALL. The system is just so nuts for you guys, it really sucks :(

Hope you manage to find some hugs and sanity this week <3

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

*agrees* Even if there isn't you might be able to get some kind of support from others.

*hugs anyway*

[essayel.livejournal.com]

*cuddles* just read your post to other half, crusty old veteran comprehensive school teacher with 35 years experience.

First of all *HUGS* from him and he copes by using his free lessons to do as much marking as possible. Lesson plans are a bugger though because the goal posts move so often. The first year is bound to be difficult, exhausting and a bit terrifying because there just so fucking MUCH to do and it's all new and unaccustomed. He teaches science and with some subjects it's easier to organise tests so that you can, say, have multiple choice questions that are much quicker to mark. Essay questions - not so quick.

*hugs* again, love.

[cathalin.livejournal.com]

You are not doing it wrong bb, it's your first year holy heck!!! And as I write this, I'm staring at a pile (literally a foot tall) of grading. Usually I have to shove grading aside just to do planning, and there's hardly time during the actual work day to any of those things, even with me being so much faster now than I was when I started -- there are way too many interruptions and requirements.

It's an impossible job, so it's literally triage. Here's my somewhat but not really tongue in cheek list of the order you do things in:

1. things absolutely required by your administration and personally followed up on by them
2. things involving actual serious health and safety issues regarding students
3. things you have to do or plan to be ready for today or tomorrow
4. everything else

No seriously. And, something I'm still working on myself, creating assignments that YOU don't mark. Instead, more things the students mark as formative assessment pieces, either then to be quickly checked and entered by you as grades, or not enetered at all. More easily graded things when you are the one who has to do it (though on that I just can't go to all objective, I just can't, I feel it's wrong for what I teach and a disservice to students). Etc.

But even these ideas take TIME to create in the first place, and the first year, basically you're just gunning for survival. <333

What level/grade do you teach, again, if you care to share?

[saint-sorrows.livejournal.com]

I'M GOOD WITH HUGS. NOT SO MUCH ADULTHOOD. BUT HUGS. *CLINGS*

[schiarire.livejournal.com]

*big big hug*

Please remind me of your address and perhaps your phone number? :) You needn't text me ever but I may from time to time surprise you with a little hello. ♥

[tacittype.livejournal.com]

Love, is any of the marking electronic? I tutor English up to GCSE and if you have a mark scheme and some emailed essays I can do a few of them for you?