Strange Things Are Afoot At The Circle K.

Report writing and the subsequent intensive proof-reading is enough to drive any sane teacher mad. Having read hundreds of these things in the past week, and the typos made, I now question the sanity of some of my colleagues. And that includes the ones I considered normal.

The current format for reports includes more information and data than anyone really needs. But I suppose information overload is the way of the world.

Proofreading is almost done, as is the term, which means I'll have a little more free time in the coming weeks. Good things, along with the strange, are indeed afoot. And I have hopes that a couple of opportunities will come to fruition.  I have a good feeling about a couple of these things.

Maybe it's just my post-birthday optimistic outlook.  Or maybe, just maybe, things might come together for me.

Pain And Procrastination.

In traditional stories, fairies come at night and sweep up, or sew buttons and so on. Why isn't there a fairy that comes at night to mark student work and writes my reports for me?

I have a colleague who tells me her house is always spotless at this time of year, simply because she'll find something, anything to do rather than write reports. I'm much the same - but without the spotless house. The internet is a huge distraction. Funnily enough, I don't work on short stories at this time. I'd feel guilty knowing I hadn't finished my reports. And so neither gets done.

But there comes a point where I can no longer put it off, and I have to finish them up.  Teachers know what I'm talking about.

See you on the other side.

Reports.

Tuesday afternoon around 3pm I suddenly encountered Con-lag. It was like a sudden wave of weary hit me - a lot like jetlag, but I hadn't been near an airport. I made sure I had a good night's sleep, and by Wednesday morning I was ready to go.

But then I had a whole lot of marking to do as we reach the end of the term, and all those reports to write. Ask just about any teacher, and you'll find reports are the bane of their existence. These days, in a world of information overload, reports have too much information, too many numbers and letters, too much superfluous comment. Most parents want to know:

1. Is my kid working?
2. Have they submitted all assignments?
3. Is my kid behaving?
4. What is their grade?

Instead we have pages of commentaries and recommendations and little charts and numbers. The parents I've spoken to would like it clearer, and the ones who choose to come along to parent/teacher interviews get a nice simple breakdown of where their child is placed in terms of the course, and where they are heading.

But we play by the rules mandated by the Department, and it's all over for another term.

Now, back to my writing - when I find some free time.

You May Leave School, But It Never Leaves You...

Report writing is the one aspect of teaching I don't really enjoy. And, of course, they seem to roll around just as the last ones were done. Ours were due today. I completed them on time and dropped in at work last night to upload them.  In fact, I was on the way home from the doctor's when I did.

Yeah, I got hit by some dreaded lurgy that's making me feel like crap at the moment. But like any other show, the reports must go on. And there are enough problems with the print run without incomplete reports adding to it. I don't wish to be the one that throws the whole printing process out because I was late.

It's kind of weird, writing reports for kids. Especially since I have such 'fond' memories of receiving my own - ironically, from the same school I currently teach at. I always try to throw in a couple of positives and some recommendations. And I try to be totally fair and accurate in my reporting. The first time I wrote reports was nerve-wracking. I must have checked and re-checked them about thirty times. Then I uploaded them and worried myself for days as to whether I was being fair to the kids I taught.  And then once they were mailed out I was worried sick waiting for the phone calls.

They never came.

These days I still check them a couple of times, mostly for spelling and grammar. There's nothing worse than someone picking up a typo from an English teacher. But that stuff still slips through sometimes. Fortunately they usually get noticed by other teachers during the proof reading process.

And if I were to write a report for myself and my writing efforts?

Hmmm. Must write more often, needs to make the time. Write daily, even if it's only a few paragraphs. Be more adventurous, take risks with your writing and keep reading.  Reading a wide range of books will assist in a fluid and sophisticated writing style.

Or at least it can't hurt.

Anyway, I'm off back to bed to try and recover in time for school tomorrow.  Good night.