What's working at the moment?

What is working in the life of teachers out there today?

Well here....I am actually just leaving the kids to it. There are learning outcomes on the board - as are the goals to achieve by the end of the lesson, prompts for when they can get extra practice time for their assessment, and reminders about the focus for the assessment. So what do they need me for right?

Well if I am honest - the mere fact that I am writing those rhetorical questions out is giving me palpitations. Surely there is something more that I should have done.

I am reflecting on it now. It is the end of the term and I really want all of my classes to assess on Thursday (before Good Friday). Term two will start much more positively if we tidy these assessments up and start the new ones afresh. I need to reassure myself that I have done the teaching, and now the students need to get on with applying these new skills in assessment. Sure - there is always more I could have done. I am particularly guilty of not getting enough handy resources ready....but they have enough and I need to chill about this.

So - the end of this story. My two junior classes just got on with it. The 'assessment on Thursday....what....?' mood eased and they made such good use of the time they had. The best thing I could have done for them, is what I did, I left them to it.

This afternoon I have both my senior classes. I guess the same theory should apply....I need to step down and leave them to it. I have some anxiety around the feeling that if I don't give them advice and input - will they get there? Is this what a helicopter parent feels like?

Even as I write this I feel no sense of ease. So - I put it out there. Do all teachers feel like this? Is it just me and my own insecurities about my organisation abilities. Is there a happy middle ground?
Should I implant all students with some sort of calendar chip? Even in jest - I think I could possibly be more communicative with assessment dates and reminders - currently thinking about options. We are not an overly techno school yet. It might be as simple as putting dates on the wall.

A fun pic to get you through today....the 'what, we have assessment face' of students. Even though they know they have assessment. (Well, I googled that...and McCauley came up. It amused me)