First week :-/

Well, I’ve survived my first week. Just about! To say I was tired at the end of the week, would be failing even to hint at the utter disintegration of my bodily economy and personality (To misquote James Herriot, a childhood favourite). My own mother didn’t recognise my voice on the phone.

Information overload is another phrase which fails to convey the sheer amount there was for me to process last week. I realise now that I can’t hope to remember and process everything in one week. Lots of lists being written.

One of the things which has most made me reflect on the differences between primary and secondary classrooms, was the part of the inset day relating to display. We were given a list of ‘non-negotiables’,  to appear in all classrooms, including a VCOP display, Literacy and Maths walls to reflect current learning, and elements regarding behaviour for learning to be agreed with the class. There were other things.

The part of the discussion I found most interesting, was the discussion about ‘wallpaper’. Every aspect of display in the classroom needs to focus on current learning, needs to support learning, and must be referred to by class and teacher. One of the SLT suggested that in a fortnight, we ask the class if there’s anything on display we haven’t used/aren’t using. Then, ‘either teach it or get rid of it.’ There is no room for wallpaper. Display is a shifting thing.

It made me think about our secondary classrooms. My classroom was mainly functional in its display, helpful, and increasingly referred to by students. I can think of at least one display, though, that’s been up a long time – some nice writing, and decorative. Wallpaper.

It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate success – as one primary colleague said, that’s what corridors are for. Classrooms for learning, corridors for celebrating (thanks Gemma). Which makes complete sense.

Lots of secondary tweachers this summer were tweeting their amazing display ideas and newly redecorated classrooms, some of which is even available on TES (amazing APP bunting by Laura), but I don’t know if, generally, we are as good at keeping our displays current, functional and interactive as our primary colleagues.

The other thing which occurs to me, is that display could be a very quick way to address some aspects of cross-curricular literacy. Sorry if lots of you are doing this, and I’m just catching up, but a secondary ‘non-negotiables’ list, for display in every classroom, could be just the thing. My neighbour’s classroom (and lots of the other classrooms too), has a large laminated sheet of paper each for V, C, O and P. Every secondary classroom could do that – put up specific vocab/openers/connectives, keywords – anything! Just for that lesson, then wipe off. Instant and flexible.

Students arrive in Year 7 so used to being supported by their environment. Lots of things they find difficult are hard for us to respond to, but this one’s easy.

So this is a short one  – no work to post up this week, nothing levelled yet. There will be next week. A huge thank you to my teacher partner, Chloe, who’s working very hard with me at the moment. I promise I’ll improve very soon!

CLF people, come and see me – let me know any requests.  Thanks for reading!