#Nurture1516 - A Professional 6 & 6

My personal life has been dominated by the arrival of my first child, Tommy. He arrived in October, but we had spent from mid-January knowing he was on his way... this explains why I was not last man standing (with Stephen Lockyer) at the pub after #TMBett15. 'Life changing' seems totally inadequate, and is so often the case, there are others who can better explain fatherhood, it's joys and it's fears; check out: <this> [FB link] and <this>.

Already it's changed my outlook to work. I can't do as many TeachMeets, nor writing commitments for example (unless they pay - that's different, as babies are not cheap!). I also need to shift my working day... sometimes I can get in early and get some tasks completed, on other days Tommy is already up and so I go in later. I try to leave by 4pm at the latest (we thankfully live 5 minutes drive from school), or I get very little time with Tommy. This sometimes means getting everything sorted and sitting down at 9/10pm to start work. Family time is really, really important and compromises must be made, and stuck to, to balance work.

We are only 3 months in, and only time will tell how things pan out. I may not be blogging as much, tweeting as much, attending Carl's 'salons' or Andrew's curries... but I am still here! Priorities have just changed.

Professional Highlights of 2015 (in no particular order)

• Head of Year - Surviving my first year as HoY 10 and already one term of HoY 11. It's been incredibly hard work, but a lot of fun. I think every member of senior management should have a shot at pastoral leadership to understand exactly what the job demands; it helps. Read more <here>.
• Blogger Curries & Salons - Andrew and Carl have facilitated various socials around London. It's good to put faces to avatars and realise that the education world is a friendly and supportive one... looking outside your school, having your ideas challenged over a pint or popadom is always a pleasure. There are many in the edu-Twitter/Blogger world who I genuinely consider friends. Some sent cards and gifts when Tommy was born; that's not just someone you 'follow'. Oh and Leeds after #NRocks15... that was a lot of fun with the Staffrm gang!
• The London RE Hub Conference 2015 - Somehow I organised (with the help of a truly amazing team), and seemingly pulled off, a pretty impressive conference in London for over 100 delegates. We did something that no-one else was doing, focusing on subject knowledge in RE and ensured a lasting legacy through the use of digital media. See what we did <here>. 
• The RE Echo Chamber - After trying to get more RE teachers blogging rather than just arguing on Save RE, with the help of Andrew, this place was born. I try to organise monthly #BlogSyncRE topics (when time allows). It seems like a success so far; there has been some great writing and reflection about RE... and boy is it needed! See <here>
• TM London 2015 - It was great to be part of the a team that put on possibly London's biggest (non-fringe) TeachMeet event. It was informative, fun and a great success. Read about it <here>. I've not been able to get any TM Havering events off the ground (looking for help if anyone is keen to take over?), so this was my curer.
• "Catholic Stuff" - There is so much to mention here. Being asked to write a GCSE textbook, working with the CES, speaking at Porta Fidei (a national conference on Catholic education), looking at projects with St Mary's. It has been such a privilege and an honour.

Plus on top of this I got to speak at, and attend, various TeachMeets, conferences and events, write guest blogs plus upset the RE world on Twitter and Save RE, work nationally on the future of RE with Culham St Gabriel's plus much more (most of my presentations are <here>). Thank you to each and every person who gave me opportunities to become a better teacher. Thank you also to those who follow me on Twitter and read my blogs. It means a lot.

Looking Forward to 2016 (again, in no particular order)

• Textbook Publication - Writing a textbook for OUP over the last 6 months+ has been hard work, yet brilliant. We've already had over 30 schools order our book. If you are considering studying Edexcel GCSE Catholic Christianity, please check it out <here>. The moment I hold this book, will be one of overwhelming joy, especially knowing the influence it will have on the classroom - where it matters most!
• The Queen's Garden Party - I have been invited to attend one of the Queen's Summer Garden Parties by the DfE, via the CES, for my contributions to Catholic Education. I am genuinely amazed and overwhelmed by this. Being recognised in this way feels like one of the highest accolades possible... plus tea and cake are involved!
• CatholicResource.co.uk - Having now taught myself to build websites through WordPress, an all new, far more professional site is in the pipe line, hopefully with some HEI support. It's focus will be supporting teachers for the new GCSE and A-Level but there are some far grander plans for the future! Watch this space (and join the mailing list <here>).
• The London RE Hub Conference 2016 - April will see the second major conference organised by this project, focusing on the needs of secondary teachers for the new GCSE. Having people repeatedly ask when it is happening and when can they buy tickets is quite amazing. Info will go up <here> as soon as it can be announced.
• TM London 2016 - Few people could do "bigger and better" than last time. However, if anyone can, it's probably Ross. I'm not sure what my role will be, but free, teacher-lead CPD has given me so much, it is nice to give something back.
• TeachFirst RE Conference, St Alban's #RE - Am I Bothered? Conference..? - Continuing to be asked to speak, lead and present at various teaching and RE events never gets tiresome. I am glad people think I have something worth sharing. Thank you again for continuing to ask me!

2016 is already shaping up to be an amazing year with babies on the way (not us just yet!), weddings, family holidays, Thank you to Emily for putting up with me and all my 'teacher stuff', and I am determined to be not only the best teacher I can be, but the best husband and dad to Tommy too.

Photos taken by: kirstenmavric.co.uk

#Nuture1314

So here is my contribution to #Nuture1314 where teacher bloggers give their 13 highlights of 2013 and 14 hopes for 2014:

13 from 2013 (in no particular order):

TeachMeets - I have presented at TMLondon, TMEssex, TMEast, TeachTweet and TeachMeetRE over the last year. Attending these events has put me in touch with some wonderful people who have been an ongoing source of inspiration and friendship. I also hope I was able to give something back... See some of my presentations <here>.

www.MrLewisRE.co.uk - Putting together a permanent home and base for my ever growing collection of online activities - including those of my students. My TalkingDonkeyRE blog has had nearly 100,000 visits in the last two years and I have since started blogging as a teacher too. I've also got my students blogging and using wikis... It's been a big digital year!

Edmodo - This website has revolutionised my teaching and marking, as well as my students learning. My GCSE and AS/A2 students are now fully engaging and submitting work rather than it just being a glorified Dropbox as it was last year.

Culham St Gabriel's RE Leaders Weekend - I got to meet lots of people I've spoken to online and have since got involved in lots of other things. It's an amazing weekend where passionate RE teachers give up a weekend to share, listen, learn and network. 

Being Invited to the DfE - I got an email inviting me to a small workshop looking at EBT (Evidence Based Teaching) as a result of the fact I had completed MA-level research. This actually excited me rather than frustrated me, however I await to see 'what happens next'. I got to chat to David Laws MP, rather than being letting loose on Gove! Read the link at the start of this post to find a brief summary.

Family Learning Project (Part 2)- I single handedly ran this new project in my school, inspired by Tom's project at KEGS. It was an amazing amount of hard work but the results were fantastic. Everyone (staff, students, older students) were so positive about it and it's outcomes. Hopefully next year a few colleagues will help me out...

CCRS - I completed my Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies. This was a qualification that I knew that I needed, and it was a case of jumping through a few hoops. I knew my stuff (I do have an MA in Catholic School Leadership, a theology degree and 8 years of Catholic RE teaching... ), but needed 5 essays to prove it. Job done.

#RCDropBox - After a few frustrating conversations with the CES (Catholic Education Service), I launched this. It's had a bit of interest so far and I hope it will continue to grow over the next year.

Survivng OFSTED - I got Outstanding for my Citzenship/PHSE lesson, but 'only' Good for my RE lesson... Thankfully our school got graded Outstanding for the 3rd time running.

A-Level - Completing my first cohort of A-Level teaching with some excellent results; none more so than 4 of the 13 going on to study Philosophy at degree level. Hopefully they'll forgive me.

Colleagues - Just generally! But particularly those who have got on board with my ideas, read my blog, followed me on Twitter and listened to what I have to say. That 'close to home' audience is sometimes the hardest to win over.

Work-Life Balance - I managed to undertake the role of captain for my hockey team, our club's youth development team. This requires a good few hours work during the week as well as giving up most of my Saturday. I also managed to visit friends and family and rarely said 'no' due to work, at weekends. Those weekday nights will never be free!

Getting engaged and planning a wedding - Say no more!

14 for 2014 (in no particular order):

Getting married in February half term! - The social event of the year in my school, given it's the first staff wedding; the girls are very excited too. We need to maintain our ability to 'switch off' from school life and ensure we actually stop working some evenings. However, equally, it's fantastic to have someone who fully 'get's it' after a tough day (although OFSTED wasn't fun!). Thankfully we share a love of travelling which makes every holiday something to look forward to; a big plus for marrying a fellow teacher. I can't wait for the big day!

TMHavering - Being organised by @aknill and I, with the help of @ICTMagic - please please please come!

TMEssexRE - Being organised by a group of RE teachers based in Havering including me - if you are an RE teacher please please please come to this too!

NPQML - I am undertaking this qualification 'in a Catholic context' and have already begun my project which will be based on Independent Learning. We're one of the first cohorts and I've struggled with The National College, but it will be passed.

Section 5 Inspection - This will arrive early in 2014 and with my school being rated by OFSTED as Outstanding, I hope that our RE department will be able to match. I am fairly confident that we will be okay, but not through complacency, more through our long-standing hard work in the department and wider school.

Career Progression - Or promotion, to recognise what I do inside and out of classroom. I'm in my third year as Assistant Subject Leader, which has been great, and I've learnt so much from my inspirational Subject Leader. I hope it doesn't involve moving schools, but I must be open to the reality that it might. I always remember my former colleague saying to me: "Have the faith of a child, what will be will be."

EBT - Since my visit to the DfE, I've become more interested and committed to 'Evidence Based Teaching'. This involves questioning, experimenting, documenting and exploring new ideas. We can't say 'yes' to everything, but nor can we say 'no' - how do we select? I'm trying to get staff to do some small scale research based on the Marginal Gains philosophy. Even blogging about it raises, and potentially answers, questions.

Writing - To reflect, to inspire, to cope! Since starting to blog, I've found a real release, a channel to express myself. Until I blogged about my frustrating OFSTED experience, I didn't feel it was over. Now I hope the quality, and possibly quantity, of my writing will improve so I contribute further to educational discussion. The first book is a way off yet...

Reading - I have a pile of books I want to read, teaching and non-teaching. It's growing, not depleting. Trouble is, I struggle to read in the evening due to a minor eye condition. I need to make better use of my time at weekends and holidays to make some progress on this stack. There is so much I could be reading to help me be a better teacher, as well keeping up my John Steinbeck and Bruce Springsteen obsessions.

Networking - If I can maintain the online and real life relationships made in 2013, plus continue to make new ones, my PLN will become even more effective. The very best CPD comes from colleagues sharing what they do and what they think, it's free, it's high quality and it's plentiful. Thank you!

Get Fitter - Unfortunately running and gym time during the week often get sacrificed. I have PT sessions and I want to further build on this to get fitter... and maybe even slimmer! A healthy body helps maintain an active brain and sustain the physically demanding work of teaching.

Home - Since buying a house, I've realised I've got lots of new things to learn: DIY and gardening to name two. These are whole new skills sets which I need to work out how best to teach myself. I don't want to be rubbish at either, but don't always know where to start.

Big 3-0 - In March, I leave my twenties behind for good. This has always filled me with fear, but I'm trying to find ways that will put my new found maturity and wisdom to use. Or maybe it won't feel too different from 29!?

Keep Smiling - I have the best job in the world... Tom's recent blog post summed it up well <here>.

Drawn for me by a homeless guest at Crisis who actually had a broken arm! My inspiration for this year.