My Last Day Teaching in 2010

Monday 13^th December 2010

During my initial teacher training, a lecturer warned us students that, “Teaching is a terrible job when you have a cold”. He omitted to tell us what it is like during bereavement. My father passed away on Sunday 12th December and I definitely did not feel like working, but I kept to the booking (in year 3) because of the lack of employment. While the teacher was sorting out the activities, I had to wait in an empty classroom for ten minutes, giving me too much space for my thoughts, but this was the only real emotional low point. The teacher was well planned and left a good balance of structured and Christmas-linked tasks. Guided reading involved going into groups and moving to other rooms. I was in the classroom next door with four children, whom I was warned were inattentive. However, they all managed to spell ‘tricky’ words with individual wooden letters, find words on the sheet and read a page of the text (The Pond) in turn. Back in our classroom, for the English lesson, the children sat in a circle on the carpet and constructed sentences, on mini whiteboards, from starter adverbs/adjectives on the interactive whiteboard. They then returned to their places and copied the sentences into their English books.

At break I had to find the teacher, who had planned the maths, for a flip chart to use at the start of the next lesson. He reminded me that I was on duty in the trail area. When I arrived, the head teacher was there and said it was probably a waste of time as the children had drifted away (they have to wait for the trail to be unlocked). After waiting around for no-one to appear until the end of play, I returned to collect my class from their line on the playground. Another member of staff very pointedly said she had seen the children drift away because no-one had arrived on time for their duty.

After play, in maths, the pupils sang The Twelve Days of Christmas and kept a running total of the number of gifts. Back in their seats, they wrote number sentences for each day. I completely forgot to get them to construct corresponding number lines as I was advised. They did not seem to need them though.   

In the afternoon, my charges copied some information, such as the Christmas dinner and PFA disco details, into their homework diaries. Then we headed off to the hall to join the other class in the year group for a carolling assembly practice. The children were very restless, fidgety and poorly behaved. At one stage I was asked to go and round-up some children who had drifted out into the corridor. Needless to say they refused to return. Later we could all hear one of them screaming hysterically in the corridor. As I later learned, the school had decided to phone her mother and ask this person to come and collect her daughter, leading to the tantrum. Initially, unwilling to co-operate, the mother had declared that she could not possibly come to the school, as she had to do her Christmas shopping. But, eventually, the noise subsided when the child went home. A whole school assembly closed the day, involving the head teacher asking children for their routines on Christmas morning. There were some surprising contributions, including one child who had to wait until relatives arrived at lunch time before she could open her presents.

My marking and summing-up letter to the teacher was completed quickly and I set off home. I called in to the secretary’s office to collect my form and said, “Have a good Christmas, if I do not see you before”.  She scarcely looked up as she answered, “We may see you before”. As this was the last school week before Christmas, I doubted that I would be back before the New Year.

Originally posted on Thursday 16^th December 2010

The Friendly School

I did not intend to create this blog for supply teaching, but I recently read a teacher’s blog in which he described supply teachers as falling into three categories: hippies who cannot take the stress, unqualified people who cannot get a contract and those who are too strict for the army. Neither is correct and I have posted to ask him if he has ever worked as a supply teacher. I await his reply. This incensed me so much, that I have decided to write from my point of view as a supply teacher to show what it is really like.  

Thursday 8^th December 2010

On the day before my birthday, I worked in a year 6 class at a local school (7 miles away), booked in advance through an agency. The teacher was ‘in school’ and could explain the work and provide help if it was needed. Her planning involved (i) a maths lesson on co-ordinates, with the year group in sets, (ii) guided reading, (iii) English on fantasy writing, again in sets, (iv) art on Tudor portraits, (v) history on the Spanish Armada and (vi) Christmas carol practise in the hall. She was polite and friendly, as well as prepared to properly explain the work, as was everybody else I had contact with in the school (including admin).

Fantasy writing involved discussing types of air-transport like flying carpets, balloons, blimps and airships. This interested the children and we discussed how the Zeppelin flew and why they are not often used today. During the art lesson, later in the afternoon, a child noticed a picture of the R101 in flames, on one of the newspapers which had been spread on the table. The others were genuinely fascinated in what it actually looked like in a photograph. Of course, the famous disaster was spectacular in a tragic way and we cut out and saved the picture for display. Of the other lessons, History involved prioritising the reasons for the Armada’s failure, without a write or wrong answer, and the pupils displayed some knowledge, so I resisted the temptation to test them on some dates.      

Chattiness was the children’s worst trait, but they quietened when I spoke to them. They were also polite, friendly and hardworking. This included the sets, which can be disruptive for a supply teacher - as you settle one class of children during the register, only to teach another group. Because the carol practise ran over home-time, I did not get chance to tell the class that they were the best year 6 I had taught for some time. I did, however, say this to the class teacher, who said she would pass on the message to the children.     

The head teacher greeted me during the assembly, as I have worked at the school previously. When a child mentioned that today was her birthday, I told her mine was tomorrow and the class declared, "Happy birthday for tomorrow."  After marking, I drove home feeling that I had enjoyed a pretty good day and hoping that I teach in this year group again.

Originally posted on Thursday 9th December 2010

British and American Music Events/ Albums of 1974

1974 GB MUSIC

·         Syd Barrett’s former manager, Peter Jenner, manages to persuade him to return to

Abbey Road

in the hope of recording another album. When this proves fruitless, Barrett returns to Cambridge to live with his mother. He never returns to the music industry and lives in the same house until his death.

·         Bedlam split after one self-titled album on Chrysalis in 1973 and one tour, including supporting Black Sabbath in New York.

·         The hits start drying up for Marc Bolan and he puts on weight. In Chicago, he gives Gloria Jones a black eye.

·         Drummer Pete Boot leaves Budgie to be replaced by Steve Williams, to 1986.

·         Louise Clarke leaves Pan's People.

·         Brian Connolly, lead singer with Sweet, is beaten up outside an Uxbridge nightclub.

·         Supercool (Taupin/John)/Loving and Free by Kiki Dee is released as a single in the US and Japan.  

·         Cass Elliott dies of a heart attack shortly after performing at the London Palladium.

·         Alex Harvey, 10cc and Traffic headline at Reading Festival.

·         Classically trained Simon House joins Hawkwind on keyboards. 

·         Freddie Mercury has a relationship with EMI record plugger, Eric Hall. The story is told in Killer Queen.

·         On Thanksgiving Day, John Lennon plays live with Elton John at Madison Square Garden, in New York. Lennon has not performed live for eight years. He plays on Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, I Saw Her Standing There (a McCartney song) and Whatever Gets You Through the Night. Lennon is reunited with Yoko Ono after the show, having had a relationship with May Pang, their personal assistant.

·         Love Hurts/ Down single by Nazareth is released on Mooncrest.

·         Sitting in the Park single by Mike Patto is released on GoodEar (EAR 106). the song was written by Billy Stewart and covered by Georgie Fame in 1966. The b side, Get Up and Dig It, was written by Mike Patto and recorded by the band Patto for the unreleased Monkey's Bum album.

·         Pub rock is at its peak.

·         Sparks relocate, from Los Angeles, to England.

·         Come on Train by Don Thomas (real name Charlie Thomas) is released by California based label NUVJ and becomes a northern soul classic. In 2009, an Ian Parton remix is used in a Visa card TV advertisement, featuring Bill Shannon who has a degenerative hip condition.

·         Traffic split.

·         Bonnie Tyler, real name Gaynor Hopkins, records Lost in France as a demo.

·         Carl Wayne, former singer with The Move, marries actress Susan Hanson, who stars as waitress Diane in Crossroads. They have one son, Jack.

·         The Who headline at Charlton Athletic FC. The bill also includes Montrose, Maggie Bell, Lindisfarne, Bad Company and Lou Reed.  

1974 GB ALBUMS

1974 abc

o        Five-a-Side, the first album by Ace, is released on Anchor.

o        AWB, including Pick Up the Pieces, by The Average White Band is released. 

o        The Confessions of Dr Dream and Other Stories by Kevin Ayers is released on Island Records.

o        Amar Caballero, the second album by Babe Ruth, is released on Harvest.

o        Bad Company, the first album by Bad Company, produced by Terry Thomas, is released on Island Records.

o        Baker Gurvitz Army by Baker Gurvitz Army is released on Vertigo.

o        Everyone is Everybody Else by Barclay James Harvest is released on Polydor.

o        Barclay James Harvest Live by Barclay James Harvest is released on Polydor.

o        Star's End, the second album by David Bedford, is released on Virgin.

o        Strangers the second album by Blackfoot Sue is recorded for Repertoire, but it is not released or available until 1977 as a US Import.  

o        Sabotage by Black Sabbath is released on NEMS.

o        Diamond Dogs album by David Bowie is released on RCA. The album includes Rebel Rebel, 1984 and Diamond Dogs.

o        In For the Kill the fourth album by Budgie is released on MCA. It reaches no. 29 in the UK album chart.

o        Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters by Robert Calvert is released on United Artists.

o        Mirage the second album by Camel is released on Decca.

o        Human Menagerie, the first album by Cockney Rebel, is released on EMI.

o        Psychomodo, the second album by Cockney Rebel, is released on EMI. It is Steve Harley’s autobiographical view of a young man caught up in the maelstrom of pop stardom and instant success.

o        Matching Head and Feet album, including Saviour and Rock 'n' Roll Hymn, by Kevin Coyne is released on Virgin. The album is produced by Geoffrey Haslam and includes Andy Summers on guitar.

1974 def

o        Burn, the tenth album by Deep Purple Mark III, is released on Purple Records.

o        Storm Bringer, the eleventh album by Deep Purple Mark III, is released on Purple Records.

o        Dr Feelgood's debut single Roxette is released.

o        Showdown, the third album by the Electric Light Orchestra, is released on Harvest.

o        Here Come the Warm Jets, the first solo album by Brian Eno, is released on Island. The musicians include John Wetton, Robert Wyatt, Robert Fripp and Phil Manzanera.

o        Coast to Coast: Overture and Beginners live, the fifth album by the Faces (Rod Stewart without

Ronnie Lane

), is released on Warner Bros.

o        Live Convention, the tenth album by Fairport Convention, is released on Island.

o        Spider Jivin', the first album by Andy Fairweather-Low, is released on A&M.

o        Another Time, Another Place, the second album of covers by Bryan Ferry, is released on Island.

o        Heroes Are Hard to Find, the eleventh album by Fleetwood Mac, is released on Reprise. The line-up is Bob Welch guitar, vocals/ Christine Perfect keyboards, vocals/ John McVie bass/ Mick Fleetwood drums.

o        Seven Secrets, the second album by Fruup, is released on Dawn.

o        Prince of Heaven's Eyes, the third album by Fruup, is released on Dawn.

1974 ghi

o        Irish tour '74, the sixth album by Rory Gallagher, is released on Polydor.

o        The Last Cowboy, the fourth album by Gallagher and Lyle, is released on A&M.

o        The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway the seventh album by Genesis, produced by John Burns, is released on Charisma.

o        The Power and the Glory, the sixth album by Gentle Giant, is released on WWA.

o        Spyglass Guest, the third album by Greenslade, is released on Warner Bros.

o        Groundhogs Best 1969-1972 by the Groundhogs is released on United Artists.

o        Solid by the Groundhogs is released on WWA. The group disband, to 1975.

o        Plea Sing Plea Song/ Dog Me Bitch is the tenth single by the Groundhogs.

o        Instant Poetry single by Golden Earring is released on Polydor.

o        Continental Circus, the third album by Gong, is released on Phonogram.

o        Camembert Electrique, the fourth album by Gong, is released on Caroline.

o        You, the fifth album by Gong, including Steve Hillage, is released on Virgin.    

o        Hall of the Mountain Grill the fifth album by Hawkwind is released on United Artists.

o        Heavy Metal Kids, the first album by Heavy Metal Kids, produced by Dave Dee, is released on Atlantic. The album features Mickey Waller on guitar.

o        The Tain the second album by Horslips is released on Oats.

o        Dancehall Sweethearts the third album by Horslips is released on RCA.

o        Isotope the first album by Isotope is released on Gull. The group is Gary Boyle guitar/ Brian Miller synthesizer, keyboards/ Nigel Morris drums/ Jeff Clyne bass.

o        Illusion the second album by Isotope is released on Gull. Hugh Hopper plays bass guitar.

1974 jkl

o        The Old Straight Track, the second album by Jack the Lad, is released on Charisma. The band are then dropped by their record company.

o        War Child, the seventh album by Jethro Tull, is released on Chrysalis. It contains the Bungle in the Jungle single.

o        Rocka Rolla, the first album by Judus Priest, is released on Gull.

o        Starless and Bible Black by King Crimson is released on Island Records. 

o        Red by King Crimson is released on Island Records.

o        Preservation Act II, the fourteenth album by the Kinks, is released on RCA.

o        Anymore for Anymore, the first album by

Ronnie Lane

, is released on GM.

o        Happy Daze, the sixth album by Lindisfarne, is released on Charisma. The group then disband.

o        First of the Big Bands album by Tony Ashton and Jon Lord is released on Purple. 

1974 mno

o        Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics, the eighth album by Man, is released on United Artists.

o        Slow Motion, the ninth album by Man, is released on United Artists.

o        The Good Earth the fifth album by Manfred Mann's Earth Band is released on Bronze.

o        C8 C'est La Vie, the third album by McGuinness Flint, is released on Bronze.

o        Highlife, the second album by Frankie Miller, is released on Chrysalis.

o        Avalanche, the fifth album by Mountain, is released on CBS-Windfall.

o        The Hoople the seventh album by Mott The Hoople is released on CBS.

o        Mott the Hoople Live the eighth album by Mott The Hoople is released on CBS. Luther Grosvenor, under the pseudonym of Ariel Bender, replaces Mick Ralphs on guitar and Morgan Fisher, ex-love Affair, takes over from Verdon Allen. 

o        Loud 'n' Proud, the fourth album by Nazareth, is released on Mooncrest-Mountain.

o        A Tab in the Ocean, the second album by Nektar, originally released on Bacillus/Bellaphon in Germany in 1972, is released in the UK on United Artists.

o        Sunday Night at the London Roundhouse album by Nektar, recorded on 25^th November 1973 to 27^th March 1974 is released on Bacillus/Bellaphon in Germany.

o        Unidentified Flying Abstract - Live at Chipping Norton 1974 album, by Nektar, is released on Bacillus/Bellaphon in Germany.

o        Down to Earth, including Fidgety Queen and Nellie the Elephant, the fifth album by Nektar, is released on Bacillus/Bellaphon in Germany and on United Artists in the UK.

o        Nutz, the first album by Nutz, is released on A&M.

o        Hergest Ridge the second album by Mike Oldfield is released on Virgin.

1974 pqr

o        Between Today and Yesterday album by Alan Price is released on Warner Bros.

o        Silk Torpedo, the seventh album by The Pretty Things, is released on Swan Song.

o        Queen II, the second album by Queen, is released on EMI. It is their heaviest album and contains Ogre Battle, The Marching of the Black Queen, Father To Son and Nevermore.

o        Sheer Heart Attack, the third album by Queen, is released on EMI.

o        Refugee, including Ritt Mickley, the first and only album by Refugee, is released on The Famous Charisma Label.

o        It's Only Rock 'n' Roll, the thirteenth album by the Rolling Stones, is released on Rolling Stones Records.

o        Country Life the fourth album by Roxy Music is released on Island Records.

1974 s

o        Just a Boy, the second album by Leo Sayer, is released on Chrysalis.

o        The Impossible Dream, the third album by the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, is released on Vertigo.

o        Jab It In Your Eye, the second album from Sharks, produced by Chris Spedding, is released on Island. Bassist Andy Fraser had left the group before the album was recorded having broken his wrist in a car crash. 

o        Snafu, the first album by Snafu, is released on WWA. The band features Bobby Harrison on vocals and Mick Moody on guitar.

o        Systems Normal, the second album by Snafu, is released on WWA.

o        Kimono My House, the third album by Sparks, is released on Island.

o        Propaganda, the fourth album by Sparks, is released on Island.

o        The Mirror, the seventh album by Spooky Tooth, is released on Island Records. The group features Gary Wright keyboards, vocals/ Mike Harrison keyboards, vocals/ Mike Kellie drums/ Mick Jones guitar/ Chris Stewart bass/ Mike Patto vocals.

o        Hello, the sixth album by Status Quo, is released on Vertigo.

o        Quo, the seventh album by Status Quo, is released on Vertigo.

o        Ferguslie Park the second album by Stealers Wheel is released. It includes Star.

o        Buddha and the Chocolate Box, the eighth album by Cat Stevens, is released on Island.

o        Smiler, the fifth album by Rod Stewart, is released on Mercury.

o        Hero and Heroine, the eighth album by the Strawbs, is released on A&M.

o        Please Mind Your Head by String Driven Thing, produced by A.D. Munt and String Driven Thing, is released. The album includes Black Eyed Queen (4:45) written by James Exell and Alun Roberts.  

o        Move It, the fifth album by Stray, is released.  

o        Crime of the Century, the third album by Supertramp, is released on A&M.

o        Beat of the Street, the second album by the Sutherland Brothers and Quiver, is released on Island.

o        Sweet Fanny Adams album by Sweet is released on RCA.

o        Desolation Boulevard album by Sweet is released on RCA.

1974 tu

o        Phaedra, the fifth album by Tangerine Dream, is released on Virgin.

o        Sheet Music, the second album by 10cc, is released on UK.

o        Positive Vibrations, the tenth album by Ten Years After, is released on Chrysalis.

o        Night Life, the fourth album by Thin Lizzy, is released on Vertigo. Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson play guitars on the album.

o        I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight, the first album by Richard and Linda Thompson, is released on Island.

o        Three Man Army Three album is aborted.

o        On the Road, the eighth album by Traffic, is released on Island.

o        When the Eagle Flies, the ninth album by Traffic, is released on Island. 

o        Hot Wire, the fourth album by Trapeze, is released on Warner Bros.

o        Bridge of Sighs by Robin Trower is released on Chrysalis.

o        Phenomenon, the third album by UFO, is released on Chrysalis.

o        Wonderworld the eighth album by Uriah Heep, is released on Bronze.

1974 vwxyz

o        Journey to the Centre of the Earth, the second solo album by Rick Wakeman, is released on A&M.

o        Live 'n' Kickin', the third album by West, Bruce and Laing, is released on RSO.  

o        White Noise II: Concerto for Synthesizer the second album by White Noise is released on Virgin. White Noise is now David Vorhaus without Delia Derbyshire & Brian Hodgson.

o        Odds & Sods, the ninth album by the Who is released on Track.

o        There's the Rub, the sixth album by Wishbone Ash, is released on MCA.

o        Tales from Topographic Oceans, the seventh album by Yes, is released on Atlantic.

o        Relayer, the eighth album by Yes, is released on Atlantic.

                       

1974 US MUSIC

·         Blondie is formed. They are Debbie Harry vocals/ Chris Stein guitar/ Jimmy Destri keyboards/ Gary Valentine bass/ Clem Burke drums. Debbie Harry had sung in folk group The Wind in the Willows and all-girl trio The Stilettos. The group play at CBGBs, owned by Hilly Krystal, and move into the Bowery in New York City.  

·         Never Can Say Goodbye by Gloria Gaynor becomes the first extended mix record for discos. It is also the first disco record to cross over to the pop charts.

·         The Ramones are formed with Jeffrey Hyman as Joey and John Cumming as Johnny. They split in 1996.

·         The Righteous Brothers, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield, reform for the hit single Rock and Roll Heaven. 

·         Hey Joe/ Piss Factory single by Patti Smith is financed by photographer Joe Maplethorpe.

·         Steely Dan play at Santa Monica and do not perform live again for 19 years.

·         Ray Stevens (born Harold Ray Ragsdale) has a transatlantic number one single with The Streak.  

·         Talking Heads move from Rhode Island to New York.

·         Television (Tom Verlaine guitar, Richard Hell bass and Richard Lloyd guitar) are formed at Max's Kansas City,

Park Avenue South

, run by Tommy Dean.

·         Guitarist Carlos Alomar invites his friend Luther Vandross to watch the recording of David Bowie's Young Americans album.

·         Neil Young leaves Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. He returns in the late 80s.

·          A Zildjian foundry opens in Norwell, Massachusetts, in the United States.

1974 US ALBUMS

1974 abc

o        Holiday the fourth album by America is released on Warner Brothers.  

o        Not Fragile album by Bachman Turner Overdrive is released. The title is a reaction to Yes’s Fragile.

o        In Concert, the twenty-first album by the Beach Boys, is released on Reprise.

o        Secret Treaties, the third album by Blue Oyster Cult, is released on CBS. The album contains Astronomy.  

o        Muscle of Love by Alice Cooper is released on Warner Bros.

1974 def

o        All American Boy, the first solo album by Rick Derringer, is released on Blue Sky.

o        The Captain and Me the third album by the Doobie Brothers is released on Warner Brothers.

o        What Were Once Vices are Now Habits the fourth album by the Doobie Brothers is released on Warner Brothers.

o        Planet Waves, the fourteenth album by Bob Dylan, is released on CBS.

o        Before the Flood, the fifteenth album by Bob Dylan and The Band, is released on Island. The live double album includes It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding).

1974 ghi

o        Shinin' On, the ninth album by Grand Funk, is released on Capitol.

o        Staircase To the Day, the fourth album by Gravy Train, is released on Dawn. Afterwards Norman Barrett goes on to Christian music and the Mandalaband project.  

1974 jkl

o        Early Flight, the tenth album by Jefferson Airplane, is released on Grunt.

o        Dragon Fly, the first album by Jefferson Starship, is released on Grunt.

o        Kansas, the first album by Kansas, is released. 

o        Kiss The debut album by Kiss is released on Casablanca. It includes Strutter, Cold Gin and Black Diamond. The group is: Paul Stanley, aka The Starchild, guitar/vocals; Gene Simmons, aka The Demon, bass/vocals; Ace Frehley, aka Space Ace, lead guitar/vocals; and Peter Criss, aka The Catman, drums/vocals.   

o        Hotter than Hell The second album by Kiss is released.

o        Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd, the first album by Lynyrd Skynyrd, produced by Al Kooper, is released on MCA.

o        Second Helping, the second album by Lynyrd Skynyrd, is released on MCA. It contains Sweet Home Alabama.

1974 mno

o        Peace on You, the second album by Roger McGuinn, is released on CBS.

o        Court and Spark album by Canadian-born Joni Mitchell is released.

o        Montrose, the first album by Montrose, is released on Warner Brothers.

o        Paper Money, the second album by Montrose, is released on Warner Brothers.

o        A Band Called 'O', the first album by A Band Called 'O', is released on Epic.

o        It'll Shine When it Shines the second album by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils is released on A&M.

1974 pqr

o        Pampered Menial, the first album by Pavlov’s Dog, is released on ABC Dunhill and then Columbia. The cover features engravings by Sir Edwin Landseer. The group is David Surkamp vocals, guitar/ David Hamilton keyboards/ Doug Rayburn mellotron, flute/ Mike Safron drums, percussion/ Rick Stockton bass/ Siegfried Carver violin/ Steve Scorfina lead guitar.

o        Rufusized and Rags to Rufus albums by Rufus, with Chaka Khan on lead vocals, are released.

o        Rush, the first album by Rush, is released on Mercury. John Rutsey plays drums on the album.

1974 stu

o        Welcome, the fifth album by Santana, is released on CBS.

o        Borboletta, the sixth album by Santana, is released on CBS.

o        Illuminations album by Carlos Santana with Alice Coltrane is released on CBS.

o        Pretzel Logic, the third album by Steely Dan, is released on Probe. Includes Rikki Don't Lose That Number.

o        Slow Flux is the comeback album by Steppenwolf.

o        Serpent is Rising and Man of Miracles, the third and fourth albums by Styx are released on RCA/Wooden Nickel.

1974 vwxyz

o        So What?, the third album by Joe Walsh, is released on Anchor.

o        Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta, the second album by Syreeta Wright, is released.

Originally posted on Thursday 9th December 2010.