The EV that tried to kill me...

Date: 30 June 2011 10:41:09

Waffle to come but took these pictures of the EV'd work yesterday. [caption id="attachment_2282" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Click for larger version."]

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[/caption] Sigh, computer network crashed, taking out V1 of waffle. It may well have been a sign... V2: the 29th of June has long been written on my calendar as the day of reckoning. I had an EV (an external verifier to check my marking and the students work - and this year we'd had a marvellous and frustrating bunch; brilliant kids but a very dysfunctional year and OH BOY had that shown in the final outcomes. I was very nervous coming into this EV). I also three classes, 2 induction day classes, an FS exam, four interviews and... Hmm think that's it. Something had to give. In the end someone covered one of my classes and the exam group covered the exam. Someone else covered the interviews (which he wasn't overly happy about but he did help and I was grateful). Which left the induction day classes which, to be frank, I could do standing on my head. I chose to do a spin on my abstract bugs pictures, which they enjoyed, but starting with a picture of their faces, which worked well. I've done it so often that I could rattle off the keyboard shortcuts without looking at the computer for confirmation which was good because, for the duration of the first session the computer wasn't working and I had to do it all from memory. Which left the EV (pics above). I spent yonks sorting out the room (thankfully very close to the room I had all of the sketchpads stored in. Bearing in mind I had to do 6 trips carrying the wretched things, and associated artwork, I was very grateful for that small fact), the paperwork, the pads into the correct order and so on and so forth. I think it went well. Certainly the feedback offered at the time seemed fair but the marks are the important thing and, like the students, I don't find out the final mark until Aug 18th. I survived, that's the main thing. And hopefully the students have been agreed. We'll see. but I feel a LOT calmer than I did a week ago, or at 9pm on Monday when I was fixing it all up and 11pm on the Tuesday when I got everything else sorted. By Weds am it had been a loooong week. Back to reality now; three classes today, but a lot more chilled than it has been through the month. Except for the fact that my re-interview for my job is next week and I have to teach a 20 minute lesson to who knows who. About whatever I want. That's my weekend planning though, for now it's a chilled day. I'm determined. (And then, yesterday, I spent a good portion of it sitting and chilling on a steam boat... But that's another post).