For those of you who don't know, I'm a Teacher Librarian 3 days a week. At this time of year, for teachers all around Australia, it is one of the most stressful. Report Writing Time! I am lucky not to be a classroom teacher as their workload is massive and is becoming more demanding with the added pressures of performance based ratings such as NAPLAN and My Schools, the introduction of the new Australian Curriculum as well as considering school based policy and programs, and those of your local state or Territory. Not to mention to find time to mould their students into responsible citizens, teach them to be courteous, how to dress themselves, monitor their eating habits, social behaviour...oh and to read, write, spell and add!
Even though I am a mere TL, I still have a big workload. I teach 210 students in 3 days and that means marking 210 assignments! This is what my kitchen table looks like today:
I set my Year 6 students a research task on an Aussie Icon of their choice. Their range of choices were really diverse (although as I teach only boys most chose sport or motor sports of course!)
As much as I moan about bringing all this work home - and on a long weekend too - I must say that I am so impressed with the young men I teach and the quality of the work they have produced...but I'd better have these marked and delivered back to them on Tuesday or they may stage a revolt against me, so I'd better get back to it.
Enjoy your long weekend!
