Back to the grind but maybe with a new attitude...

Just completed my third day back at school (an 8 hour day today) and school does not even start till next Monday? Am I insane you ask? No (or maybe that is a subjective question and I am not equipped to answer it) but I do have a lot of work to do before Monday, and I am going away tonight until Friday so I effectively have only two days left to sort out the mire that is my lesson plans! The BYTES thing is coming along nicely these last couple of days. We have sorted out staffing and student groupings, have mocked up a timetable for staff and students and are working out what we will be telling the Year 9's about the program when they return to school so that hopefully they will have an idea of what is going on. Wish the same could be said for the staff... The nature of this beast that is student centered learning is that the modules that we have formulated for the MERC involve students being guided by staff, but largely formulating and working on their own projects within the module's topic. This means that there is some serious "thinking on your feet" involved in teaching within this program which as well as being exhilarating is also quite daunting for many. It has to be our enthusiasm and ability to help and encourage that will determine largely how the students respond to the modules and activities so the onus is on us to be on our game. I wonder how that will sit with some people. I just hope that it all happens and that there are no major hitches. It might be a good thing that that Year 12's are on camp for the first three days that the program is running because it means i will have extra time to deal with the potential muck hitting the fan. Should be an interesting return to school. In other news I am getting fairly organised with Year 12 History which is exciting me. Year 12 English still requires some serious work and guidance from my KLA Manager as well as a more concerted effort from me as does the first text for Year 11 English that I havent really planned yet. When all of this is supposed to happen I do not know. Maybe the weekend or on the beach in Inverloch tomorrow or Friday. I am actually feeling quite motivated and inspired at the moment. I feel quite organised in terms of how I am structuring my planning and my work load so now I just have to hope that my energy levels hold up in the first week to see me through. As usual and despite every best intention on my behalf I have fallen into bad habits again like staying up until 12 or 1 every night and sleeping in until 8 or 9. This means that returning to getting up at 6 next week will be a severe strain. Normally by day three of the new term I am ready for a holiday again. Most years day three of term is a Friday so we do get a break, but not so this year. Anyway, on that chirpy note, I think that I should get the hell out of here and actually have a break!