PosteRazor Data

Looking at data, or any information about groups, cohorts or whole school, on pieces of paper? Why not stick it up on the wall? Large.

We recently did and it helped look at it in a different light, as a group, pointing at things - stepping forwards and backwards. In addition to on-screen and printed A4 paper.

How did we do it? The paper copies that were to be handed out to those at the meeting were also saved as picture files and enlarged with the program 'PosteRazor'. They were printed, put together and stuck on the wall.

It worked quite well. They stayed on the wall for a while too, to allow us to keep glancing at it.

PosteRazor that data (and more fun and engaging things)...

Eat Your Lunch Early

We're programmed as teachers to stick to timetables. Rigid break, lunch and lesson times. As a new office-based leader, I often found lunch and break times being interrupted. 

Why? Well, behaviour issues, but it's also when I can talk to colleagues and they can come and find me. Solution? Make myself a cuppa and eat my piece of fruit just before break (I stick the kettles on for everyone at the same time too). Also, eat my lunch just before lunchtime. For me, food is really important. I soon lose energy if I don't have it. I get some funny looks when I'm eating at the ‘wrong time’, but I can cope with that!

Meeting Every Child

As a leader, how well do you know the children in your subject, year group or school? As a teacher, you spend 190 days in the company of your class and therefore get to know them quite well quite quickly.

However, as a leader, that's different: more children and not as regular contact. So, it's important to find a way to get to know them.

Our head runs weekly birthday celebration - on a particular day, those who have a birthday that week go along to receive a sticker and have a chat. The children think it's all about their birthdays (which of course it is), but it's also about seeing each child and getting to know them a little.

Something we've done, as assistant heads, is release each class teacher for a lesson to allow them extra planning time (important), but also, in turn, got to see each child in the school and teach in every classroom.

How well do you know each child?