Back to blogging

I haven't blogged for a long time.  I don't get much time sitting at a computer and I got really put off blogging on my phone when a large batch of blog posts (about a dozen) got deleted by the Typepad program (its a stupid program - deletes posts if there's an error rather than letting you correct it, and won't let you pick entries to publish - it's all or nothing, hence the backlog of posts waiting to publish.)  I still don't have the program working on my phone yet, but never mind, here I am back again.

I'm back at school now too. I went back for a week in June which went well. I wasn't timetabled for classes so I got a lot done that I'd been trying to do since I arrived.  I'm back part-time now, with Wednesdays off to play with Louis (and catch up with sleep!)

I'm amazed what difference energy levels make to teaching.  I'm happy at school!  In the last month I've only had one stressful moment, which was about IT faults and beaurocracy not kids.  I'm having fun helping with a badminton class after school on Mondays, I'm starting a lunchtime thing on Thursdays doing more traditional games outside rather than on computers, like bowling and dominoes.  I may also be getting involved in a Duke of Edinburgh Award group that is being started.  They need help with the skill section so I've offered a) a lego robotics competition b) games making or c) sign language.

There are still problems, but they're not phasing me as much as before.  Slow computers (at times not logging on till 7min before the end of the lesson!), internet and printing down, useful websites blocked, etc.  I'm trying to have a GTD mentality, getting things done there and then, and off my desk.  It's working, and I'm slowly getting through the backlog of tidying and organising.  I'm also getting better at documenting classes and doing decent handouts and activities as I go, fixing stuff that didn't work well before.  I'll finally have a good set of lesson plans as the curriculum changes!

Comments

[John B. Kendrick]

Sorry to hear about your typepad and other tech woes. I wrote a post not too long ago about the app that I use on my iPhone to blog. And I haven't lost anything yet, it is a pretty good implementation that you might want to try. Here is the link.

http://johnkendrick.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/johns-back-with-news-about-wordpress-for-iphone-20/

[Dan]

For implementing GTD you can use this web-based application.
On the website there's also an article on how it can be used for school.

http://www.Gtdagenda.com

You can use it to manage your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.
A mobile version and iCal are available too.

[Digitalkatie]

Thanks for those links, both very useful :-)