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📝 Weekly Report #13

👨‍🏫 Teaching:

With my HOD off with COVID, this was my first full week in charge of the department. Thankfully all the teachers have pulled together and supported me. Have introduced weekly admin emails to keep everyone up to date with what is coming up in the following week and any notices I feel that they need to be aware of. It has improved the clarity of communication and I have had less questions from others about what is going on. 

Finished the week with a great lesson with my year 7s converting numbers into standard form. Was lovely seeing them make links between the place value work we did at the start of the year and some of the multiplication we have done in the last week. Even spent some time talking about different number systems! 

🔊 Listen:

Deep dive with Ali Abdaal speaking to Grace Lordan. Ali and Grace discuss passion and motivation in your job and the secret to success. Listen here. 

🔊 Listen:

Climbing the stairs from PiXL pearls. Getting out of your comfort zone, speaking to others. Listen here. 

🔊 Listen:

Craig Barton on the GLT podcast talking about the importance of silence and the examples we go through as teachers. This is a great listen especially for Maths teacher. Check it out here.

📚 Read:

Have just finished reading Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. Once I started reading, I found it really difficult to put it down. The first part of the book is about his experiences in a concentration camp, obviously I know it was horrendous conditions but some of the things he talks about almost makes you think you are reading a fiction book! The second half he goes into more detail about logotherapy and the importance of finding purpose and meaning. A few quotes really got me thinking and resonated for me:

1. Homeostasis or equilibrium isn't what we should aim for. We need the struggling and striving of attaining a goal. That tension gives us something to live for. 

2. Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete assignment which demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated. Thus, everyone's task is as unique as is his specific opportunity to implement it. 

3. Live as if you were living for the second time and had acted as wrongly the first time as you are about to act now. 

Definitely recommend reading it. Grab yourself a copy here. 

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