The Teachers Building Society has produced a set of podcasts and resources for teachers. These include:

• Podcasts – the most recent podcast gives tips for saving money and information on ISAs.
• Moving Home Checklists – A very handy list for those who are moving house in the near future.
• Articles – A set of interesting articles to help teachers, and others, to manage their money.

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Why the shortage of posts this last week?  I’ve been filling in the NPQH application form.

Wow – is it any wonder that there is a shortage of headteachers!  Filling in the NPQH application form is hardly a quick process.  You may not have to write more (600 characters per example) but it’s difficult to say everything you want in so few words.

Anyway it’s all completed now.  For those that are thinking about applying this round I suggest you take a good look at it – it has to be completed by noon on the 7th – including your supporting statement from the headteacher.

My beautiful baby daughter was born on Saturday evening at 9.13 after a very stressful day!  All is well with both mum and baby!  I hope you will excuse the lack of posts this week while things settle down.  Normal service to resume as soon as possible.

Just got back from out first evening performance of Lights, Camera, Action! This was really well received by the parents.  The script, which is available from Edgy Productions, is funny and really allows the year 6 to enjoy their acting.  There are a number of other scripts available as well which look equally fun for coming years!

For each script you can see the storyline, view the characters in the performance and listen to extracts from the songs.  For each play you get a CD with all songs (with words and as a backing) and all sound effects.

Well worth the £30.

Link: http://www.edgyproductions.com/

As regular readers will know I had some exciting news that I wasn’t able to tell you about until a later date.  That later date has now arrived and I’m able to reveal that from September I will be taking up a new job in Manchester as a Deputy Headteacher.

I’m sad to be leaving my present school as I’m very settled there but pleased to be moving back into Manchester as a deputy head in a really dynamic inner city school.

As people keep telling me the end of this year is going to be a bit of a hectic time – new job, new baby and new daddy!

Just wanted to wish Primary Resources (and Gareth) a happy birthday for yesterday.  8 years is a long time to be going and I’m guessing that I’ve been using it pretty much since its start.  To be honest I feel pretty awful that I’ve not really contributed to it, so I’m hoping that this site makes up for it in a way.

Also happy 3rd Anniversary to Downs FM.  Led by Mark Warner (of Teaching Ideas) this is fantastic opportunity for the children!  Well done.

Thanks to all the teachers that contribute to both these (and the many other sites) to help us support each other!

Just a quick hello to Oxford Brooks University students who I found out at the weekend are recommended to visit this site for ideas and resources!

I think this is great – thanks to Maria who sent me this.  The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the
“Peanuts” comic strip. You don’t have to actually answer the questions.
Just read the e-mail straight through, and you’ll get the point.

1. Name
the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman
trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.
4. Name
ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half
dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last
decade’s worth of World Series winners.

How did you do? The point is, none
of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate
achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards
tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried
with their owners.

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List
a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends
who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have
taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you
feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending
time with.

Easier? The lesson: The people who make a difference in your
life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the
most awards. They are the ones that care Pass this on to those people who
have made a difference in your life. “Don’t worry about the world coming to
an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.” (Charles Schultz)

As part of the Intensifying Support Programme that our school is involved in we spent tonight’s staff meeting visiting different schools.  Each year group visited a different school to discuss with the other teachers of the same year how the target setting etc was going.  This was great, and the Year 6 teacher that I spoke to had loads of really great ideas and seemed to be doing really well.  Her class was stunning and I was generally impressed with everything she has / had done.  I came away with lots of ideas to integrate into my class.

My point though is how people feel when they’ve been to meetings or courses like this?  I came away thinking that I just so far behind, and generally pretty naff.  I was driving back thinking my classroom didn’t look as good, I didn’t feel like I was managing my targets as well, etc.  Is it just me or do other teachers (unintentionally) feel like this after some courses?

I’m away this weekend camping at Ingleton, Yorkshire.  Reason for the weekend camp in that I’m helping the Year 5 teacher plan their river study trip (the River Twiss) for later in the term and write the risk assessment.  Let’s hope that it snows – always wanted to wake up in a snowdrift!  We (my wife and I – not the Year 5 teacher and I!) even have a special ‘spray’ so that we can defreeze the zip of the tent.  Always useful if you’re desperate for the toilet!