Why teaching part time could work for you!

Teaching part-time has a lot of really interesting benefits for both teachers and students. I've been a part-time teacher for a long time, so if you've ever considered taking up part-time teaching let me list the benefits and pitfalls as I see them.

1. CAN YOU COPE WITH LESS MONEY IN YOUR PAY PACKET EACH FORTNIGHT?

This is typically the biggest reason a lot of teachers don't teach part-time. Sometimes they think they can't cope with less income but then once part-time realise they can, if they adjust their budget. Alternatively, many teachers just cannot afford to have a reduction in pay each fortnight so rule part-time teaching out completely. Do the sums and see if you can manage even 3 or 4 days a week rather than 5.

Options:

• Use up your Long Service Leave for the remaining days you don't teach
• See if you can do tutoring after school for extra cash
• Consider selling your teaching products on Teachers Pay Teachers
• Take up relief teaching 1-2 days a week when you're strapped for cash.

2. TEACHING PART TIME GIVES YOU MORE ENERGY

Part-time teaching generally allows you more energy for students and the stresses of the day-to-day issues that classroom teachers face. When you're working on a reduced week, you naturally have more enthusiasm for teaching because your work/life balance is more in-tune with your needs. This isn't to say ALL full time teachers lack energy but from all the teachers I know that have reduced their days, they have far more energy in general for their students, partners and life in general. This energy gets passed on to the students and a love of learning.

3. YOU CAN GO DEEPER INTO A SUBJECT

One option for part-timers is specialist teaching either on several classes within grades or across grades. I worked as a specialist part-time HASS teacher for many years and you can really get to grips with your subject. Even now, as a classroom teacher, both my teaching partner and I can really become masters of the subjects we take charge of. We have both taught the same subjects for many years and know them inside out and sideways! We know the essential skills our students need right from the start of the year and can hone in on them, enhancing our students' knowledge of the subject matter both because we have more time outside of school to prepare material and the energy to do so.

4. PART-TIME WORKERS TEND TO BE HAPPIER

My teaching buddy recently changed to part-time teaching and the first thing she said was 'Why didn't I do this earlier!?'. Teaching part time has really helped her with the demands of being a mother and wife. She can now devote energy to all parts of her life and more importantly HERSELF! Okay I don't have the data to support my statement but I do have first-hand real-life experience and rarely do part-timers wish they were full time again. Ask them!

5. TEACHING PART TIME MAKES YOU MORE RELAXED

The stresses and strains of school paperwork, parents and students are only endured for a couple of days a week. After which, you can unwind and de-stress. Teaching part time is perfect for those who are emotionally worn out or just need a break. You can recharge your batteries and therefore become more relaxed with students and co-workers.

What are your experiences with teaching part time?

How to get the most out of your planning days

Planning days. Every term they are essential to teachers. If you're placed in a very lucky school, you will receive either an afternoon or a whole day off class for planning. During that time it can be difficult to feel like you are progressing with group discussions going off track, time pressures and other distractions slowing your planning day down.

I have attended many planning days, some more successful than others.

Here are my observations of how the BEST and MOST PRODUCTIVE planning days occur.

1. SET AN AGENDA AND STICK TO IT!

Setting an agenda is a must for any meeting and, in order for agendas to work, you need to create a culture within your school of sticking to them. Do NOT let anybody railroad this meeting. Send a request for agenda items out a week before the meeting and let people add items they want to talk about. Then collate the information into one list and send to all who will be attending. If anybody wants to talk about an off-agenda item it can be discussed during 'other business' at the end - if there is time!

2. PICK A MEETING COORDINATOR

Somebody needs to steer the direction of the planning meeting. This could be your HOC or Year Level Coordinator or just somebody who is good at sticking to the plan. Look at the personality types in your year level. Who enjoys the job of leading the group and ensuring everybody sticks to the agenda? It's often easier for a person who is not part of the year level team to steer the meeting and prevent topics falling off course.

3. RECORD DETAILED MINUTES

Minutes are vital for effective meetings and let everybody know what was discussed, what the outcome of that discussion was and who was responsible for undertaking any action and by when. These points are essential for making the most of your planning day. So many meetings I've gone to have not had adequate minutes recorded and we're often left wondering who was responsible for what and when! Select a team member to type minutes as you discuss issues and create action timelines for outcomes. You can download some free templates for minute taking here.

4. COME PREPARED

Ideally a head of subject area should have been selected prior to the meeting and that person is responsible for studying the next term's assessments for that subject. Often year level teams will only have one person for Maths and another for English, however HASS, Science, The Arts, Health and Digital Technology (plus STEM/STEAM) also need some discussion. If you feel your Maths and English are going to dominate the planning day then have some mini-planning meetings on one the other subjects in the lead up to your big planning day.

If you're selected to be responsible for a subject, you need to know that subject inside and out. Understand the good and bad points of assessments (it's great if you can find assessment copies from last year to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the assessment). Research resources that might be useful and bring copies of those along as well. You can find a wealth of free resources on Teachers Pay Teachers but remember that if you are sharing copies of any paid resources around your year level you MUST stick to copyright licensing agreements. You can do this by purchasing extra copies at a reduced rate or your school can purchase copies through the TPT schools program (yes - let your school pay for them!).

5. STAY ON TOPIC

When discussing a subject area, stay focused on what students need to achieve and how they must demonstrate their knowledge of it. Always work backwards from the assessment! Backward mapping is essential in order to cover all the concepts and skills that students must demonstrate.

6. NOMINATE A TIME KEEPER

Agree on one person at the meeting who will keep their eye on their watch. This person should give five minute warnings about needing to wrap up discussions and keep the agenda on track. If more time is needed, agree to adjust the agenda as a group and extend or reschedule the time to discuss that topic further.

7. PARK IDEAS

An effective idea for meetings is to place a large piece of butcher's paper in the middle of the room with a pile of sticky notes. As topics come up that are off agenda, encourage members of the team to write them on a sticky note and 'park' them on the paper in the middle of the table. At the end of the meeting allocate some time to reviewing the sticky notes that have been parked.

8. BE HONEST BUT RESPECTFUL

If you know an assessment item for a particular subject doesn't work for students, now is the time to speak up. Do not sit by and say nothing. It's important that you voice your opinions and suggestions for adjustment of assessments. Team members need to be open to some flexibility. Simply saying "Well my students just loved that assessment last year!" is not productive and doesn't give an air of openness to change. Often what works for your students one year may not work for other students. Be open to change and respectful of other's opinions.

9. CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEAM

Being silent in a team discussion is almost as counter-productive as being dominating. Those teachers that say nothing or very little at meetings are not working as part of a team. Everybody has an opinion so now is the chance for you to have your say. Don't let one or two people dominate the discussions and if this happens, try to open the floor to everybody to hear others' opinions.

What do you think? How do your year level planning meetings go? Do you work in a well-oiled machine or are there one or two personalities that dominate planning meetings?

Quick Guide: Diwali in the classroom

Diwali is an annual celebration held by Hindus around the world. You may have a Hindu student in your class who celebrates this special day and it's important to find out so you can incorporate their annual celebration into your classroom celebrations. Most Hindus do celebrate birthdays but most do not celebrate traditionally religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter so Diwali is a great time to create some inclusivity in your classroom. In addition, you can teach your students about other community celebrations and traditions held around the world.

As a teacher of a student celebrating Diwali this is what you should know:

1. Diwali is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the Hindu month of Kartika so the date changes each year. This year (2018) Diwali will be celebrated on the 7th November.

2. Over 800 million Hindus celebrate Diwali each year around the world.

3. Diwali is sometimes called Deepavali or Festival of Lights.

4. The festival is a spiritual celebration of light over darkness.

5. Diwali is celebrated in different seasons. In the northern hemisphere Diwali is celebrated in the autumn and in the southern hemisphere it is celebrated in the spring.

6. Diwali is founded on an ancient legend about good triumphing over evil (light over darkness).

7. Hindus recognise Diwali as a commemoration for the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom Ayodhya. Traditionally candles are lit to help Lord Rama find his way back.

8. On the same night Jains, Sikhs and Newar Buddhists also celebrate Diwali for different spiritual reasons, so check which religion your students recognise and try to include the correct variation about it.

How to help students make connections with Diwali in your class.

In the past, I've let my Hindu students stand up and give the class a talk about Diwali and they have been so excited to share what this special time means to them. I recall my Prep student telling their classmates it 'feels like Christmas because you get special presents' so it's important to a) recognise these special events in their lives and b) use them as a teaching point for other students.

I often write these similarities on the board as my students discuss Diwali, as these are the key elements of all celebrations.

There are lots of fun ways you can incorporate Diwali into your classroom celebrations such as making some craft, colouring in a poster (free one available here) and perhaps bringing in some sweet traditional foods to share with students.



How to take quick and easy reading running records

In the classroom life can get super busy.

If you're anything like me, doing reading running records can be time consuming and often consists of numerous interruptions!

From time to time an App comes along that can make a teacher's life a little easier. This is a paid App called Running Record Calculator (link here) but you can get a free version here that is easy to use but doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the paid App. 

I particularly love this little App for taking running records and here is why:

YOU CAN RECORD STUDENTS

Listening to running records takes a lot of energy and sometimes you can miss an error or a self correction. This App lets you click Start Timer and it will record your student speaking.

YOU CAN PICK UP ERRORS AND SELF CORRECTIONS AS YOU RECORD

So once you start recording this screen comes up. As the student is reading you can quickly click on Substitution, Omission, Repetition, Appeal or Sounding Out. 

So, for example, your student repeats a word. You click Repetition and are giving the option to click OK. Every time you do this it is recorded at the top (see the little R). Every error, SC etc.. is recorded along the top of the App as the student is reading. 

Then when you have finished listening to them read click Done and it shows you on the next screen the number of SC (Self Corrections) and ER (Errors). 

Then enter the number of words they read.

Adjust any errors or self corrections.

Then at the top (this example was done over different sessions) you can see the total. 

Super fast, super quick and easy to use during a busy classroom day. I love my little running record reading app! 

Do you use this type of app or what other Apps do you prefer for running records?