summer occupation

weewillywinkle

Hi

I teach but have tremendous difficulty occupying myself during the 3 months off at the Summer. I'd love to hear from teachers/lecturers about what they do during the Summer months.

Thanks

byhookorbycrook

Would love to have your problems!
I do a course, spend time in the Gaeltacht, catch up on jobs around the house that I didn't get done during term time, do some gardening, visit friends, go into school and sort out my room for next year, organise paperwork and review test results etc.Summer for me is two months, but I'd manage to keep busy for 6!!

weewillywinkle

What course do you do?

implausible

I go into the school for a few days during the exams to have a look at the papers and chat to the students. Then, I usually mark exam papers every Summer. It takes around 3 1/2 weeks and I'm so relieved to finish them, I manage to thoroughly enjoy the remainder of my holidays. I'll go in around the Leaving Cert results and go through them. Then there's a few days of going through PLC applications, so no problem keeping busy here!

If you mark papers, you'll never complain about nothing to do again!

spurious

I travel around correcting project work for June, then usually spend July getting stuff ready for next year - schemes of work etc.. I try to get away somewhere for a while. This year I got four days in Berlin - though it probably doesn't count as a holiday as I ended up taking photos to use in classes. Bah.

I was in the school for a few days last week organising stuff for an audit and ordering some materials which hopefully will arrive before the kids get back.
I am responsible for our school's website and have an ENORMOUS amount of newspaper articles to scan and put in the archive - one of those jobs I keep meaning to get round to, but is too horrible to contemplate. I should really be doing that now.

Once the LC results are out, I'll be in almost every day getting stuff ready, shredding old stuff (another one of those 'pain in the bum but have to be done' jobs). This summer has flown and I haven't got half the stuff I thought I would done.

roxychix

i supervise the exams for june and just spend july and august enjoying myself. i have been to san francisco, croatia and heading to kilkenny this week. other than that hockey training, running, surfing and horseriding. And avoid thinking about school until the last week of august:)

gaeilgegrinds1

I kinda get what you mean. New baby this year but other years I supervised exams, corrected papers, worked in the Gaeltacht, visited school at least weekly, caught up on housework and gardening and visiting relations etc.

rainbowtrout

Spent two weeks on holidays in June. Usually find the first week or two after school finishes I need to unwind. Painted my house - very slowly. Spent July correcting, have done every year since I started teaching, every year I say never again, but I know I'll be back in Athlone next July. I'll probably go in for results day to see how the students got on and potter around for the next few weeks. I have one or two other teaching related things on the go at the moment as well so that's keeping me busy.

Rosita

rainbowtrout wrote: »

Spent July correcting, have done every year since I started teaching, every year I say never again, but I know I'll be back in Athlone next July.

Just wondering what the dynamic is in this case? Why would you say 'never again', and then why not stop?

gaeilgegrinds1

I always say never again and do it every year too. It's invaluable experience.

gaeilgebeo

Rosita wrote: »

Just wondering what the dynamic is in this case? Why would you say 'never again', and then why not stop?

Maybe "never again" because correcting is tough work and by the time you get finished in July it's easy to say "never again" at the time, maybe rainbowtrout doesn't stop as it is good experience and for financial reasons, this is the case with most teachers I know who correct, myself included. Hardly much dynamic!

Rosita

gaeilgebeo wrote: »

Maybe "never again" because correcting is tough work and by the time you get finished in July it's easy to say "never again" at the time, maybe rainbowtrout doesn't stop as it is good experience and for financial reasons, this is the case with most teachers I know who correct, myself included. Hardly much dynamic!

From dictionary.com

Dynamic - noun

7. a basic or dynamic force, esp. one that motivates,

Essentially I was asking what were the motivational factors either way. I didn't think the word was so oblique as to confuse.

gaeilgebeo

Rosita wrote: »

From dictionary.com

Dynamic - noun

7. a basic or dynamic force, esp. one that motivates,

Essentially I was asking what were the motivational factors either way. I didn't think the word was so oblique as to confuse.

I am well aware of what dynamic means Rosita and I explained the possible dynamic. I didn't think my post could cause you so much confusion as to look up your ever present dictionary.
Zzzzzz............

Rosita

gaeilgebeo wrote: »

I am well aware of what dynamic means Rosita and I explained the possible dynamic. I didn't think my post could cause you so much confusion as to look up your ever present dictionary.
Zzzzzz............

Your post, most specifically the face beside the word 'dynamic' suggested you didn't know what the word meant or at least found its use confusing in this context.

But judging by your latest post featuring another 'face' perhaps the original face was meant as some kind of gratuitous dig. The dynamic there is anyone's guess I imagine.

gaeilgegrinds1

How did all that happen?!

rainbowtrout

Rosita wrote: »

Just wondering what the dynamic is in this case? Why would you say 'never again', and then why not stop?

I would liken it (and I'd like to stress that I don't have children) to giving birth. You think the pain at the time is horrific and you'll never do it again, but in time the memory fades and when the time comes around again you go 'ya, i'll do it again, it wasn't so bad the previous time' ... I'd ask gaeilgegrinds1 to confirm if the childbirth analogy is a suitable one. The experience is great and I won't deny that the money comes in useful for many things.

However I think Steve Redgrave sums it up much more eloquently, although he is referring to Olympic rowing, the feeling is much the same. :pac: Just substitute rowing/olympic games for correcting! (first minute of video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zzz37IsRUU

implausible

Em, what is this all about?

I thought Rainbowtrout was very clear in her post and I know exactly what she is on about, I go through the same thing. Maybe every examiner doesn't experience this but here's how it is for me - I start getting bored around the second week off and look forward to getting the papers. Then I get them and the first week is really interesting and I'm full of motivation and interest. Around the middle, I start to slump or hit a wall, where I'm not getting as many done as I should be. I think it'll never end and start questioning my sanity in taking on this torture again. Then, towards the end, I can see the bundles decreasing and there's an end in sight. The feeling of relief when I get to the Mail Centre with the bags is unbelievable and like Rainbowtrout, I say 'never again' as at times, it is nothing short of torture. (However, last year I unintentionally meant it as my wee buck is keeping me far more occupied than any exam papers!)

Rosita

rainbowtrout wrote: »

I would liken it (and I'd like to stress that I don't have children) to giving birth. You think the pain at the time is horrific and you'll never do it again, but in time the memory fades and when the time comes around again you go 'ya, i'll do it again, it wasn't so bad the previous time' ... I'd ask gaeilgegrinds1 to confirm if the childbirth analogy is a suitable one. The experience is great and I won't deny that the money comes in useful for many things.

However I think Steve Redgrave sums it up much more eloquently, although he is referring to Olympic rowing, the feeling is much the same. :pac: Just substitute rowing/olympic games for correcting! (first minute of video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zzz37IsRUU

I understand!

I think it's something I'll steer clear of myself.

gaeilgebeo

deemark wrote: »

Em, what is this all about?

I thought Rainbowtrout was very clear in her post and I know exactly what she is on about, I go through the same thing. Maybe every examiner doesn't experience this but here's how it is for me - I start getting bored around the second week off and look forward to getting the papers. Then I get them and the first week is really interesting and I'm full of motivation and interest. Around the middle, I start to slump or hit a wall, where I'm not getting as many done as I should be. I think it'll never end and start questioning my sanity in taking on this torture again. Then, towards the end, I can see the bundles decreasing and there's an end in sight. The feeling of relief when I get to the Mail Centre with the bags is unbelievable and like Rainbowtrout, I say 'never again' as at times, it is nothing short of torture. (However, last year I unintentionally meant it as my wee buck is keeping me far more occupied than any exam papers!)

My thoughts exactly regarding correcting!!!:)

rainbowtrout

deemark wrote: »

Em, what is this all about?

I thought Rainbowtrout was very clear in her post and I know exactly what she is on about, I go through the same thing. Maybe every examiner doesn't experience this but here's how it is for me - I start getting bored around the second week off and look forward to getting the papers. Then I get them and the first week is really interesting and I'm full of motivation and interest. Around the middle, I start to slump or hit a wall, where I'm not getting as many done as I should be. I think it'll never end and start questioning my sanity in taking on this torture again. Then, towards the end, I can see the bundles decreasing and there's an end in sight. The feeling of relief when I get to the Mail Centre with the bags is unbelievable and like Rainbowtrout, I say 'never again' as at times, it is nothing short of torture. (However, last year I unintentionally meant it as my wee buck is keeping me far more occupied than any exam papers!)

That sums up the month of July perfectly!