Teaching in a bubble

 So things went from bad to worse and I ended up near breakdown point. The exams happened and the paper was so awful I am scared of results day. My mental health is struggling big time worrying about the outcomes and repercussions on me when the cohort are below target. They will be. Low ability group, low aspiration, me below my game and an awful paper. Thanks OCR. We're two weeks into the school holidays and my marriage is on the rocks due to my mood bringing her down. I was referred to as a 'mood hoover' yesterday. Well, sorry if my lack of motivation to live is an inconvenience. (I didn't say this, there is no sympathy at all. The last time I mentioned suicidal thoughts I was told I was an attention seeker) 'In sickness and in health' ?

EDIT: Wrote this after Easter and didn't publish - so date looks wrong. First day of the new term Briefing Tutor Year 11 Year 7 Break / Wee Year 10 Year 9 Lunch duty Meeting Department CPD 4 lessons including 4 different year groups - the only group missing is year 8. (Not a bad thing!?) We shouldn't moan about student groups but any secondary teacher will tell you about year 8. They're sort of in between stages. Year 7 are new and shiny for a while and the smallest fish in the pond. Year 9 are getting ready for options, hormones are hopefully starting to settle and they know what they're going to do next year and how they feel about your subject. Year 8 are neither the smallest or the biggest in the key stage and are sort of trying to find their way. Often this attempt to find their way is by pushing us teachers out of it!

  OK so only two days until school is back and I've dug deep to find the positive pants. Year 11 have their exams in no more than 11 lesson's time. I'll lose some of that to 'urgent assemblies', 'drop down days' for 'other' subjects, 'intervention' but won't let it get me down today. (It might on Monday, but not today!) I'm looking for revision methods for them to use in addition to the usual 'I'll make some notes, Miss' or 'I've highlighted this poster' Aghhhhh how many times do we need to teach them how to mind map properly, or create useful flash cards (and then use them properly)? How many times do we need to tell them that reading their notes won't do that much good or that writing out endless copies of the same thing is pointless? Anyway, found some websites that might be useful as starting points: https://thirdspacelearning.com/blog/how-to-revise-gcse/ https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/stu...

  We've just got back from 4 days break in Torquay at our favourite B&B -  The25 . It's a lovely place to stay with luxury accommodation including a tv in the bathroom! It's Easter break from work (I'm a teacher) and according to everyone else, and me, I should be relaxed and happy. Instead I'm anxious about going back to school next week, always tired, depressed and thinking things no one wants to think. So much so that I can't even bring myself to write the words. I've been taking Prozac for years and have no idea if it actually helps or not. I feel shit. I don't think I like my job anymore - 17 years and counting... I get angry, impatient, upset and can't think straight. I'm more worried about what others think of me than how well I am so make things worse with denial. I've got 11 lessons left with year 11 before their exams and they're fucked. Mostly lazy and / or unsuited to the course. I'm looking for what jobs are out there...