Timetables- how to fit it all in!

This week I've felt really bogged down by the things that need to be done/ taught and the realisation of the fact that there's only three weeks of school left for the year. I then began reflecting on the past six years and how I have timetabled and prioritised things in past. I also thought about how my own teaching practices have evolved over the years… and how I've been influenced by amazing mentors and colleagues. I've also been introduced to many new programs/ pedagogies and these have helped to shape my programming.

So I thought that today I would share with you some of my past timetables and how they have evolved over the years... as well as some thoughts on where I'd like to go next (because let's face it... I'm still not getting through everything!)

OK so lets start at the foundation... how much time should we allocate to each subject (KLA)?

Now I teach in NSW so I will begin with looking at what BOSTES states, however, I will then share the National Curriculum expectations for those teaching in other parts of Australia. If you're not currently teaching in an Australian school, please feel free to check out our standards and then compare them with your own- they may be similar?

BOSTES (NSW)

Taken from: k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au

I really like this pie graph as it clearly states how much of your teaching should be dedicated to each KLA (Key Learning Area).

If the school week is made up of 25 teaching hours you would need to spend the following amount of hours of each subject:

English: 7.5 hours (at 30%) or 8 hours rounded up
Mathematics: 5 hours (at 20%)
Science and Technology: 2.5 hours (at 10%)
HSIE (History & Geo): 2.5 hours (at 10%)
PD/H/PE: 2.5 hours (at 10%)
CAPA: 2.5 hours (at 10%)

And that would leave 2.5 hours (maximum) for Assemblies, Library, Languages, Scripture, and extra sport opportunities. 

I like to leave the morning block for English and then teach an hour of Mathematics after recess each day. However, this isn't always possible due to RFF and other school-wide commitments.

Australian Curriculum (ACARA)

Taken from: qcaa.qld.edu.au

This table was taken from the Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority website. It explains how much time should be spent on each subject over the whole year.

I like how they have set time aside for languages. I also like how they have broken HSIE down as well as Technologies. However, I would like to know how this would look over a typical week!

Here are a some of my timetables, starting with my first year of teaching right through to the year I left to go on Maternity Leave. Please note that I haven't included this current year as I am Job Sharing and only work two days.

2011 - Year 6 Timetable

2012 - Year 6 Timetable

2013 - Year 6 Timetable

2014 - Year 5 Timetable

2015 - Year 6 Timetable

As the years went on I began including the Quality Teaching Framework at the bottom of my timetable. I also included little iPad icons to indicate when my class had access to the devices. Finally, I tried to ensure that I kept my KLA time allocations as close to the guidelines as possible.

I feel this is a nice representation of how my teaching has evolved over the years. I'm particularly happy with how I structured my time table in 2014. It was a little more comprehensive than the rest. You can clearly see where I would conduct my pre-tests and post-tests for the week. I even stated whether my lessons were modelled, guided or independent. The different KLA's were colour-coded, which added to the comprehensiveness. 

Where to next?

I would like my timetable for 2017 to include time for goal setting. I'd also like it to include the different programs/ pedagogies that shape the lessons, so that it can be clearly seen where it all fits in. For example, where and when I will teach TOWN… is it attached to a Maths lesson or is it separate? 

I would love for it to be digital with a hyperlink to the current teaching program. I will make sure that I continue to use the iPad icon, like I used previously. And finally, I want to ensure that I am sticking to the KLA time allocations set out by BOSTES. If possible, I would like to spend a little more time on English and Mathematics.

How to ensure I don't spend every waking moment of my life doing schoolprep!

Today's post is about something very close to my heart, and something that I struggle with almost every day: HOW to be a great teacher without sacrificing family time. I'll be honest, it's a fine line between getting it right and getting it horribly wrong. I am no expert... But since cutting down my working week to just two days and job sharing, I've picked up a few tricks and I thought I'd share them with you!

1. Keep marking to a minimum 

It's really important to mark work and some schools can be particularly strict on how often work is marked. But there are ways to get it done without taking tubs of books home every afternoon. First of all, marking work together as a class is a great way for students to be accountable to their own learning as well as cutting down your workload. However, marking as a class isn't alway feasible, and so that's why I created these amazing stamps with Vistaprint. I created a stack of different stamps so that I'm not always writing the same thing over and over. If you wait for a sale, you can get the stamps for a bargain.

2. Use your release time efficiently

I have always wasted my release time by prioritising my work badly. I've spent the time "catching up" rather than getting ahead. I only have one hour of release now, so I have to use my time wisely. Instead of going down to the staff room and potentially getting caught in a conversation with a colleague, I spend my first half hour marking and my second half hour photocopying and borrowing resources ready for the next week. So that when I come in on a Monday morning, I can ease my way back into work.

3. Have split up booklets organised for sick days so that students are still on task

Split Up days happen. It's unfortunately the way life is for teachers nowadays. Because I job share, there's a higher chance that my colleague or I have to take a day off. So we created 'Split Up Booklets' that are stored in an easily found tote tray for those days when one of us can't make it in and the school can't get a casual teacher in time. The booklet contains work that can be completed independently, however, is still keeping the class on task. STEM activities are great ideas for Split Up Booklets. Blank templates for planning and writing as well as spelling activities that cater towards different spelling lists are also great activities. I've put a couple of images below of our current Split Up Booklet below.

4. Use your diary well

This one is pretty self explanatory and links in with my second point. Write important details down and then remember to check your diary. I like to plan out what I need to do before and after school so that I make the most of my time. I also try to do jobs as soon as possible so that I don't forget to do them. Rip it off like a bandaid. 

I created a couple of different planning templates for you to download and use. I like to print them off in advance and bound it ready for the term. Click on the images to download the templates.

5. Keep parents up to date with what's happening regularly so that you don't have to spend your whole lunch break chasing them up

I've mentioned this point in a previous blog post… I highly recommend using ClassDojo! It has an amazing messenger tool where you can directly message parents. It's a great way to keep constant dialogue open between school and home. A quick message here and there is far easier than a long phone call.

6. Look after your own wellbeing… 

Make sure you make an appearance in the staff room. Don't always diet. Have a laugh. Say thank you to others. Ask people about their weekends. A happy workplace is a productive workplace.

7. Give yourself a pat on the back sometimes…

And ask yourself what went well rather than what went wrong.

8. Keep things digital and back up your USB regularly. 

I think every teacher has had a moment where they've had to search for a resource that they've put in a "safe place" and then they couldn't find it when they've needed it. Times have changed... There's no need for hard copies of every worksheet... It's time to get digital! Then you can access documents from home or school. 

My colleague and I have gone digital with our program too. We're using 'One Drive' but there's so many sharing platforms out nowadays. Google Docs is a great tool for working documents and there's lots of programming apps out there too. Check out iDoceo! 

Make sure your USB is organised. Label files and documents appropriately so that you can easily find them when you need them. I can't tell you how many times I've had to recreate a worksheet or PowerPoint presentation because I couldn't find the original one I made. We do not have time to reinvent the wheel let alone recreate things because they're lost! 

And remember to BACK EVERYTHING UP!

9. Have students assess their own work and teach them to be accountable for their own learning.

I've been using these little checklists for a while now. They're great for seeing which students understand and which students could have worked harder.

I also like to get my students to mark their own work where possible. By doing this, you're not only saving your own personal time but you're teaching them to be accountable to their own learning. I think it's important for them to be apart of the process. So mark homework as a class. Mark pre and post tests together. Get them to calculate their score and figure out whether they've improved. 

10. Stop being a Perfectionist!

There's just no time and perfectionism isn't always attainable. Just do your best!!

Taking Off With Numeracy (TOWN) Part II

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have recently been catching-up on Taking Off With Numeracy (TOWN) and learning how to implement the program properly. For today's post I thought I'd share three of the lessons I've taught so far. 

I've created a visual prompt for each of the activities which I display on the board for students to see. You can download a copy of ALL of the prompts that I've created HERE, however, there are some activities in it that I will not be explaining today. Keep an eye on my blog for future posts about TOWN to find out more.

Materials: 

A bucket (or container) for each pair, unifix cubes (20-40 per pair), workbook and pencil

Time: 10 minutes

This is a great activity and it is so simple (sometimes it's the simple ideas that are the best ideas). You will need to split students up into pairs. The partners need to be of a similar ability. Each pair is given a bucket (or container) and unifix cubes. As students have different abilities, they will have different expectations. Some pairs may be given 20 unifix cubes, 10 of colour. While other pairs may be given 40 unifix cubes (10x a colour).

Students place the individual unifix cubes into their bucket. They decide upon which colour will represent ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc. The first student grabs a handful of unifix cubes and works out the digit they have created (e.g. two-tens and three-ones would make 23). For some pairs, after this they will record the number in their workbook and draw an picture of the number. Whereas other pairs will record their number and then add it to the bucket value (i.e. the teacher will decide upon a bucket value: +43). Students show working out in their workbooks.

Materials: 

Whiteboard (per student), whiteboard maker (per student), deck of cards (one between two)

Time: 10 minutes

The students in my class love this activity. So much so, that if we have free time, they'll actually request that we play it. It's a pretty easy activity to set up. You will need to split students up into pairs. The partners need to be of a similar ability. Each pair is given a deck of cards, however, they will need to remove the tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings and Jokers. Students should be left with Aces (which will represent one) and the number cards 2-9.

As students have different abilities, they will have different expectations. Some students may flip over four cards to make two 2-digit numbers. Whereas other students may flip over eight cards to make two 4-digit numbers.

Both students need to pick up from a face-down pile of cards. Once students have flipped over their cards, they place them on the floor to create their two numbers. On a whiteboard each student records their numbers (as shown above) and adds the two together. 

The student with the higher number is awarded a point. The student with the most points at the end of the activity is the WINNER.

Materials: 

'Tracks' worksheet (one per student) from the DENS book,  deck of cards (one between two), workbook and pencil

Time: 10 minutes

This is another easy activity. Once again you will need to split students up into pairs. The partners need to be of a similar ability. Each pair is given a deck of cards (with the tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings and Jokers) and each student is given a 'Tracks' worksheet.

As students have different abilities, they will have different expectations. Some students may need to draw two cards, while others may draw four cards. When the cards have been drawn, students record their number on their worksheet. Their partner will then draw three arrows in the 'arrows' boxes. Arrows are drawn pointing in different directions, and so each have a different meaning (see image above for more information).

Students follow the arrows, adding or subtracting as instructed and then write the number they are left with in the final number column.

This activity is great because students really need to exercise their understanding of place value as they jump back and forth.

So there you have it… three very easy TOWN activities that exercises students understanding of place value. As mentioned above, check back here for future posts about TOWN (and other great programs I've learned)

Glenmore Park Learning Alliance

Every now and then you come across a gem of a website and you just have to share. Today I would like to write about the 'Glenmore Park Learning Alliance' web page. I fortunately work at a school that is a part of this Learning Alliance and have been apart of the process for a couple of years now.

The short story is that the NSW Syllabus' were introduced and a few schools in the Glenmore Park area (Penrith) decided to join up and create programs together to be shared. What started as a group of four schools has now burst into ELEVEN (and counting) schools.

The Alliance has created programs for Kindergarten right through to Year 6 and cover English, Mathematics, Science and History (at this point in time).

I have been teaching from these programs for the last three years and it has definitely eased the load of programming.

I highly recommend that you check out the website and share with your teacher friends!

You can access the website HERE.