You can do it!

You can do it- with a little help from your friends.

It's around this time of year that Classroom Teachers work very hard (they tend to do that for most of the year- but setting up a classroom is quite the mountain to climb)- but luckily for them they have lots of contact with other teachers. Other teachers are wonderful people. They are encouraging. They offer advice. They are a shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen.

It's also around this time of year that Supply Teachers begin to doubt themselves. We don't have that contact with colleagues yet. No words of reassurance from people who are going through the same thing as we are. "Where is my work?" they ask to nobody in particular. For those of you (and it's most of us- so relax) who haven't had work yet- you need to keep a few things in mind-

1. Classroom Teachers will move heaven and earth to be at school to set up their classes. They simply won't take a day off unless there is absolutely no other way around it.
2. Many schools don't hire Supply Teachers in he first week of school. Instead, music, PE, LOTE or library teachers are called on to fill in for anyone who is away.
3. YOU CAN DO IT!

Don't forget that I'm still seeking people for my workshop on February 13, and I'm hoping it will be the start of a series of workshops and get-togethers. I really think us Supply Teachers need and deserve that contact with colleagues that reminds us that we can do it- and my workshop is a great starting point for that.

What to do on the First Day of School

Feeling alone on the first day of school? Relax- you aren't alone.

There will be very few Supply Teachers (yes, you should start using capital letters to describe your profession) with work on the first day of school. So what should you do with that first day?

• Without bothering office staff (the first day is always chaos), why not drop off your resume to a half-dozen local schools? Don't go before or after school, but pick a time in between lunch breaks (check out the school website for break times) and just quickly drop your resume in.
• Got a friend who has secured a teaching job? Help them out on their first day! I once helped a friend who had a year one class (this was before we had prep in Queensland) on the first day and had a lot of fun (and made a lot of contacts). I identified myself as a "helper" and any concerned parents were assured I was a qualified teacher who was there to help out their friend for the day. I spent most of the day on the veranda making painted handprints and other messy jobs- but it allowed my friend to have messy activities on her first day without having to supervise them.
• Do something wonderful with your last day off for a while. Soon you will be working regularly- so enjoy a rare day off by seeing a daytime movie, heading off to lunch or anything that you really love. And then smile and remember- that if you ever need to take another day off just to have fun- you can! It's amazing how liberating that idea is- you may never take the opportunity to do so- but knowing you can- bliss. Mentioning this little advantage to your full-time teacher friends is a no-no!
• Double check that you are properly registered with TRACER. Because of the floods, TRACER have asked that all teachers available for work right away let them know via email (MetNorth.TRACER@deta.qld.gov.au). See their website for full details. I suggest using your EQ ID number and Teacher Registration number in all correspondence with them (and yes I forgot to have them on hand when I called them today- sorry TRACER).

So remember- even though you may not be working on the first day of school- there's no need to waste the day.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU GOT UP TO ON YOUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!

There is good news too...

If you have found yourself without a permanent or contract position in 2011, you are not alone.
"ONLY one in 10 teaching graduates has scored a permanent job with the state's biggest employer"  ...but there is good news too!


Welcome to the wonderful world of Supply Teaching. It may not be where you thought you were going to be, but here you are. There are two things that you need to know-

1. There is work (I just took my first booking for 2011)
2. There is support (there are still places available for the 13 Feb Workshop)

So to everyone in the wonderful world of Supply Teaching, I hope to see you at work or at my workshop. 2011 is going to be a great one for work!

Brisbane Floods- Stay Safe

Sorry guys- no cute photos today. I hope that you and yours are safe and well and dry.

Stay in a safe place and look for information on the web:

• flood maps, Brisbane sandbag locations & suburbs at risk- www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
• road closures- http://highload.131940.qld.gov.au
• Qld Police Service is updating regularly- http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=159725290742158#!/QueenslandPolice
• energex seems to be down more than it is up- but when it is up you can check what is happening in your area- http://www.energex.com.au/network/asp/electricity_interruptions.asp
• and now I think I get the point of twitter- http://twitter.com/brisbanecityqld/qldfloods/

To everyone under threat- my thoughts are with you.