Pick Wellbeing

 Last week was the first week back at school after a couple of weeks off. I felt for the first time in a long time that I crossed my T's and crossed my I's... I know I've used the expression wrong but in a way that is what teaching is.   I've done my planning for the next couple of weeks but I know things will change on the day.  I've communicated with all my students about behaviour and our expectations but I know an argument is brewing somewhere in between some of my students.  My class admin is ready and filled out but I know more things will added to the list.  It is the work of a teacher, knowing you are done but never done.  Where do you find balance? What really helps? Raising your heartrate 💓 any way you can! Gardening hits the spot ⚘, cooking soothes my soul 🍲 and other things have exorcised some demons.  If you are not sure what helps you... what helped in the past and can you start doing it again? Why not do it again? It is not too la...

Courage. Pride. Resilience is our schools' core values.  It  allows us to have a golden thread run through what we do for the students. The WHY behind all we do.  I am curious...  Do you know your own core values?  Below is a list of values, some of them stand out more than others  Which 3 really stand out?  Professional Excellent Loyal Daring Reliable Helpful Humble Honest Bold Adventurous Kind Knowledgeable Open-minded Resilient Courageous Self-controlled Dependable Challenge Encourages Enthusiastic Optimistic Competitive Creative Friendly Generous Inspiring Humorous Nurturing Integrity Consistent Positive Responsible Cooperative Ethical Health Collaborative Family Happiness Thoughtful Fun Self-respect Resourceful Freedom Involved Partnership Satisfaction Community Delight Transparency Quality Caring Friendship Ambitious Support Accountable Balanced Efficient Best Passionate Consistent Curious Transformation Decisive Flexible Innovative Diversity Res...

It was my turn to do our virtual assembly yesterday and this assembly worked really well. I thought it would be interesting but our students really enjoyed the interaction. I work in a Special Needs Secondary - it could work work for primary and secondary students.  This might work for your school as well.  The theory behind this assembly is that you care about the students as you know their special interest...   Here is the 'recipe': 1. Make a PowerPoint of all the interest of your students.      - Ask the teachers for a list 2. One picture per slide 3. Introduce the Assembly linking to the Value of your school, one of your school values will link to this, it should. If not, let's have a talk about your school values.       - I linked the slides to our value 'courage'      -   I also linked it to a Makaton sign for brave, it was a treat seeing the students afterwards sharing the sign with me and other teac...