DELTA blues...

So here I am with my DELTA blues... only 6 or so weeks to go and I have a block that I can't seem to shake off. I need to write around 22,500 words in 12 days and I can't find the motivation I need to get on with it. Timing is very important in module 2 due to the fact that we have to teach two observed lessons before we can write the second part of our R & A assignment (Reflection & Action) so even though that feels like an easier job to be getting on with, I can't as I haven't been observed for the second time :( Despite promising myself that I will get work done, I get home and feel shattered. A slightly comforting thought however, is that I know I am not the only one. I talk to friends from the same group and they are suffering from the blues, too. It must be a mid-DELTA life crisis! Module two keeps you on your toes and makes you question each move you make and every word that you write. I looked at my feedback for my previous background assignment and decided to pinpoint all my weaknesses so I wouldn't make the same mistakes in this assignment. So, I do have an action plan. I know what I need to change which is a positive thing although not having the motivation, nope wrong word, the energy to write it up is the problem. I want to pass this so bad and want to be a better teacher. Advice for module two students; don't stress out about it. I stressed myself out for two days and felt sick to the stomach and so naturally couldn't face up to what I need to know and the second piece of advice would be to keep a blog, I feel like I might be able to close this blog and start correcting my assignment :) So, why am I here writing about doing something instead of just getting on and doing it? Good question! Answers on a postcard please!

Resources...to ICT or not to ICT...

Resources, resources, resources...endless, limitless, infinite resources. How nany resources can a teacher have and can a teacher have too many resources?

The thing I admit to struggling with the most are most definitely resources. The first question is Which one? Then How many? Then In what order....the list never ends. But the biggie is for sure...How many ICT resources do I use?

ICT resources can be split into two categries...one being the resources we get from the Internet, the other being the ICT resources we produce or use with the students.

I like to browse the net for ideas on what I can do with the children as an activity but I seem to spend to much time on actually looking and browsing than actually planning. This is a problem with the WWW. It can give us too much to look on and when one idea is better than the next!

Teachers spend a lot of time planning as well as assessing and marking and all the lovely time spent outside of the classroom. It`s not to say that tine is a waste of time, on the contrary we need that time to know what were doing inside the classroom but people often forget what work we drag home and God help the spouse and children of the teacher!

I think we should search for a limited amount of time and spend more time on the content of the lesson. We should also be able to define what we are looking for in the first place. Teachers look for resources to save time then spend hours googling the topic itself! We need to look for specific tags on Google rather than trawl through thousands of pages.

ICT is a necessity in the classroom in this day of age where technology is the source of our lifestyles. So how much needs to be used in the classroom???

We have a wide range of Smartboards, projectors, laptops, media and internet access in schools today yet some teachers never seem to be able to use them or don`t want to use them. The answer to this lies in the teacher. Some go with the old school manner, which is not to use ICT too much probably stemming from the lack of knowledge and ability to handle it themselves.

Other overuse ICT (if thats possible!) and do every songle thing on technology.

Personally I try to take a mix of old school, good old pen and paper, and ICT resources. I would like to use ICT more than I do at present but with all the paperwork needed I cant spend my entire life planning when not in the classroom!

So how do I achieve ICT based lessons in short and simple planning sessions?

Ive yet to find the answer myself so if you know, let me know!

ah..paper, paper, paper...

Paper..we go on and on about recycling yet all the paperwork that teachers do is incredible!
I seem to be swamped by paper at the moment and there's no end in sight!
Why do we do so much paperwork anyway?

I think we'd all be better off focusing on the paper we use for the children in the lessons than all the writing we do for OFSTED!

I can understand some of the things but in this day of age...it's a bit too much paper for my own liking! I do believe in recycling and the school I work at does a lot of recycling, however depite many attempts to cut down it seems imnpossible.

In the age of technology, we as teachers. can`t get away from printing out things. For some reason, printing things makes them real and lets us know that we have done what is expected of us.

So why do we use so much paper? PLans, worksheets, assessments, books the children use, passing on information to other colleagues and managment, note taking, observations...the list is endless.

But we need to make sure the paper we do use is recycled and that we dont use paper we DONT need to use!

The End