Wednesday Night Dinner - With All The Trimmings

At our PD Planning Session we decided we want it all- from teeny-tiny badges to massive smartboards... I'm going to try to cover it all at our next workshop (date yet to be confirmed). Currently I have had requests to make sure we cover:

• literacy games
• numeracy games
• PE games that don't need much space or equipment
• calming games (to focus children after breaks)
• quick resources
• activities for early finishers
• tips for dealing with Special Ed kids
• epipen info
• smartboard resources (and learning place access)

If you have any requests for areas for us to cover, or if you have an area of expertise that you feel would be of benefit for us to learn about... please, please email me. Our next workshop will certainly have all the trimmings!

Real DIY PD

Following a very successful (and delicious) planning session we have the theme for the next workshop...

We really are going to make our own PD. Our next workshop is a "bring your favorite lesson" occasion, where everyone attending gets a 20-minute(ish) slot to present (a summary of) their favorite fall-back lesson or lessons. This is the time to learn a dozen or so fail-proof lessons... and make them your own. We're talking those lessons that use few or no resources that can be adapted across a number of year levels and can cover a range of KLAs.

We'll take some time to examine and build on each lesson, play the games, and create variations and improvements. I'll be asking for an overview of what everyone would like to present before the workshop... and I'll distribute a copy of this overview at the workshop to make everyone's note-taking life just that little bit easier.

We really hope to see you there,

the more of us, the more lessons to share.

And yes, I do love Dr Seuss.

Details to come- but I just couldn't resist posting early!

Wednesday Nibbles...

Don't forget to RSVP for the High Tea this Sunday...

It's that time of the week again, and after our workshop on the weekend there are a few things to post.

Firstly - the magical whiteboard erasers that aren't actually whiteboard erasers... I've yet to try them myself- but next time I'm at the supermarket I will be picking up a pack of them.

Secondly, the instructions for the Pirate Game. While they don't make for great reading- they are fun to act out and play. I have played this with everyone from preps to year 7 children and they all seem to love it...

PS- To those lucky people who were at the workshop last weekend... check your inbox late tonight for new copies of your certificates with 5.5 hours of PD on them... your discussions were so valuable I was hesitant to cut them short... meaning we ran over and can record 5.5 hours of PD for the workshop

Drum-roll please... I give you... The Pirate Game (which I didn't think of myself but play almost daily)

With the younger grades I often begin with a story… the actions are in the table below.

We are on a pirate ship. When the pirate captain comes along I’ll say “Captain’s coming” and we will all salute. Show me your best salute…

Thank-you

To everyone who came to the PD today. Wednesday will be a great blog post with lots and lots of helpful information from a very enthusiastic group... and I look forward to seeing them at the high tea.

A Feast for All- More Wednesday Goodies!

There are a couple of actual feasts on the table, and also a virtual one for your enjoyment.

Feast No 1
There's the possibility of actually getting a much-sought-after free lunch on Sunday... I'll be handing out crisp $5 notes to anyone who "brings a friend" to the Surviving and Thriving Workshop this Sunday. We have numbers to just scrape by and cover costs- but the more the merrier. Especially if you are the one getting a free lunch!


Feast No 2
This is one that will go straight to the hips... a High Tea with cakes, scones, sandwiches and really great coffee (I'm not a tea drinker- but I'm sure the tea is nice too). We are having a two hour planning session about our next PD option that we can document as two hours of PD. Come along to catch-up, chat and ensure that we get the kind of PD that we want and need in the future.

Feast No 3
This is a lovely virtual smorgasbord of contract activities available at the wonderful Kurwongba State School Website. Great for inspiration, and always fun. Can it get much better?

HELP!

Tell Your Friends!

Currently I don't have enough people attending the Workshop on the 20th of March (that's next Sunday) to cover costs. Everyone seemed to get a lot from the last workshop so if you were thinking of going, or have a friend who you think might like to attend now's the time to let me know. The people that I do have attending are very enthusiastic, and I'd hate to have to postpone on them. As always, email me at amberssupplyanddemand@gmail.com or contact me via the blog for details.

Wednesday Night Goodies...

I'm going to do my best to post a new link or resource each Wednesday night... and here goes...

We all know that it's very important to leave a note for the classroom teacher, but it can be hard to think of everything at the end of a hard day of work. That's why I've made myself a template form to fill in at the end of the day. It's not perfect- in fact it's a work in progress- but I've added it to the downloads section of the blog. The formatting only seems to have "stuck" if you download it (rather than viewing it)- but take it and make it your own... and let me know if I've left anything vital out!

Networking...

Because we don't have a staffroom table to gather around on a Friday afternoon, and because we don't have that same teacher in the room nextdoor to chat with each day... we need to network. It takes a little extra-effort at times- but the rewards can be great.


But without permanent links how can we network as Supply Teachers?

• By using blogs. Leah made my day by mentioning our workshop on her blog. It only takes a moment to post, but it's a chance to use technology to reach out to colleagues and make a connection.
• By seeing other Supply Teachers face-to-face. No, I'm not just plugging our next catchup- but it is important for us to have opportunities to have professional discussions with our peers. Take advantage of the fact that we don't have to stay back after school and catch up with a colleague after work.
• By picking up the phone. It sounds simple, but next time you find a contract that you aren't going to take, or just need someone to talk to that will understand your day as a Supply Teacher- well who could be better to talk to than another Supply Teacher?
• Email someone. Tell them what you've been up to, let them know of any opportunities that you've spotted that might suit them. You never know- their reply might have a lead to the contract of your dreams.

So good luck networking, and if you are local, I look forward to seeing you at our High Tea where we can catch up and help to clock up our PD hours!