Aaaaaarghhh...Timetabling ! Options

[Sunrise]

This has been a strange one for me, as I've gone from 7 pupils to 16 over the summer!! So my longstanding pupils have all agreed to keep their old slots, and then I've asked the new ones to confirm the new slots. It feels weird being so booked up (I've extended my timetable hours by 4 hours a week to accommodate them too) and i'm conscious that I don't have many slots to re-arrange people into. But nonetheless I am delighted (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Aquarelle]

I also ask who would like to keep their current spot if I can manage it

Seems it works for you but I'd be rather cross to have to stop lessons because my teacher chose to shuffle the timetable. If I wanted to change then it's a different matter and change may not be possible.

I can't guarantee to keep the same slot for everyone as some ask for changes because they are changing schools or the school bus times or parents' working hours have changed - or a younger sibling is starting and parents want them to come consecutively to save a long journey twice a week - and so on. So sometimes I have to ask someone else to give up the slot they have had the previous year. On the whole I have found families very helpful on this - and I do try to give them another slot they will find easy.

I don't actually chose to shuffle the timetable - I'm afraid the shuffling is thrust upon me by circumstances beyond my control and often that of the parents. so far it has never caused anyone to give up though I am a bit wary this year as one girl has asked for the time another pupils had last year. He has asked to continue the same time and as his parents have difficulties because of their work and the present solution was the only one available for him, I will keep him where he is. So If I lose one of them it will be the girl. But I am able to offer her thenext best thing to what she has asked for. Remains to be seen.....*

[all ears]

Does timetabling software like Mimosa help?

[linda.ff]

I tend to show potential new pupils my current timetable and see if they can fit into it. but if they can't, I ask them for a list of times that they couldmanage, and look to see who is already in those times.

I think it's a mistake to assume that moving a pupil from the time they've had during the past year is always an inconvenience. Why does James have his lesson at 5:30 on Wednesday? It's not always because that was the optimum time for him, it may well be because it was the only time available to him when we first scheduled his lessons three years ago. It could just be that asking him if he'd care to move to 6:00, or to Friday, would be offering him something better than what he currently has - so it's often worth asking.

I know I already have to find four extra slots in an already crowded timetable, and two of those are younger siblings. The first thing I need to do is to ask the pupils before or after the older sibling's preious time how attached they arer to their current time. Nobody will be asked to move if they'd rather not, but it's surprising how many people really don't mind.

[Norway]

I only have a few pupils, so it is possible for me to move people around if they wish (up to a point!). Mine mainly stay in their usual slots and it works out well. Every country, school system, area and group of pupils is different though, so I really sympathise with teachers who are having difficulties, whatever their system is. I sometimes come across a family whose 7 year old can only do between 5pm and 5:30 on a Wed for example because he is doing something every other night of the week after school - this can't be good for a child. I can't help thinking that it might be kinder not to fit them in!

[RoseRodent]

I sometimes come across a family whose 7 year old can only do between 5pm and 5:30 on a Wed for example because he is doing something every other night of the week after school - this can't be good for a child. I can't help thinking that it might be kinder not to fit them in!

That was me. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) All of mine were music, though, so it's not quite the same thing as being thinly spread between ballet, gymnastics, music, hockey and Brownies. I went to school choir, chamber choir, school orchestra, chamber orchestra, met up with my friends before school to do music practice of some kind, went to CBSO youth choir, baroque orchestra and recorder ensemble. Then I got in with an opera company and ended up rehearsing 21 hours a week with them, all the while attending 2 youth orchestras so I did 6 hours every Saturday and often a Sunday course too. Then I went on residentials and took some opportunities to sing with a national chorus, various national one-off things... and somewhere in the midst of all that I managed to get my work done. Quite how I did my A levels, my grade 8 and my orchestras and choirs all at the same time is a matter for the space-time continuum.

[maggiemay]

I only have a few pupils, so it is possible for me to move people around if they wish (up to a point!). Mine mainly stay in their usual slots and it works out well. Every country, school system, area and group of pupils is different though, so I really sympathise with teachers who are having difficulties, whatever their system is. I sometimes come across a family whose 7 year old can only do between 5pm and 5:30 on a Wed for example because he is doing something every other night of the week after school - this can't be good for a child. I can't help thinking that it might be kinder not to fit them in!

In this case I ask the parent when the child is going to find time to practise!

[barry-clari]

I only have a few pupils, so it is possible for me to move people around if they wish (up to a point!). Mine mainly stay in their usual slots and it works out well. Every country, school system, area and group of pupils is different though, so I really sympathise with teachers who are having difficulties, whatever their system is. I sometimes come across a family whose 7 year old can only do between 5pm and 5:30 on a Wed for example because he is doing something every other night of the week after school - this can't be good for a child. I can't help thinking that it might be kinder not to fit them in!

In this case I ask the parent when the child is going to find time to practise!

My alarm bells would go off here : and I'd ask the same as maggiemay. If you have hundreds of things on, it must be very difficult to do justice to any of them!

[DaisyChain]

I only have a few pupils, so it is possible for me to move people around if they wish (up to a point!). Mine mainly stay in their usual slots and it works out well. Every country, school system, area and group of pupils is different though, so I really sympathise with teachers who are having difficulties, whatever their system is. I sometimes come across a family whose 7 year old can only do between 5pm and 5:30 on a Wed for example because he is doing something every other night of the week after school - this can't be good for a child. I can't help thinking that it might be kinder not to fit them in!

In this case I ask the parent when the child is going to find time to practise!

My alarm bells would go off here : and I'd ask the same as maggiemay. If you have hundreds of things on, it must be very difficult to do justice to any of them!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) I wrote to five students last week (or rather their parents as they are all minors) informing them that I have given official notice that I will be terminating lessons with them when we finish for half term in October. They have so many after school activities that piano in general has got right to the bottom of their list of priorities. Nobody is progressing or showing any interest, and it's getting to the point where lessons are not enjoyable for me or them. Even the ones I saw during the early weeks of the holiday hadn't touched the piano at all.
One of them had lessons with his first teacher for two years, and has been with me for two years too. At the last lesson, we were having to name notes as he had 'forgotten' them! He's not dyslexic or learning disabled as he's in all the top classes in his grammar school. He admits it's pure laziness when it comes to practising.

In future, I'll be asking any potential new student how many after school activities they have and how much time can be devoted to practice.

[Norway]

Primrose, you are getting tougher! I agree totally - it is best to be honest and up front with people about the commitment involved - I've had to move on 4 since April - a waste of everybody's time and money - and like you will aim to have a more detailed discussion before taking anyone else on.

[DaisyChain]

It's about time, Norway! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

I had three 'phone calls from mum's this morning to say that their child does not want to continue until October and would rather finish now. Says it all really! Still, I can start the new term with at least three vacancies.

[maggiemay]

An interesting first meeting at the beginning of the summer holiday. Year 7 girl wanting to change teachers: mum + daughter + toddler brother came along.

The girl was expected to supervise and 'babysit' the little brother during the meeting. He was very badly behaved a typical 2 year old, picking things up and throwing them on the floor. I asked the mother to please hold on to him and she delegated to the daughter.

Well ok, I needed to talk to mum. But I also needed to talk to the girl and hear her play.

It made me wonder whether she ever gets any quiet time at home to practise, or whether she is automatically expected to look after the little boy when she is not at school. I found it quite unsettling.

[Bagpuss]

What utter joy, maggiemay..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

Bx

[Cyrilla]

I only have a few pupils, so it is possible for me to move people around if they wish (up to a point!). Mine mainly stay in their usual slots and it works out well. Every country, school system, area and group of pupils is different though, so I really sympathise with teachers who are having difficulties, whatever their system is. I sometimes come across a family whose 7 year old can only do between 5pm and 5:30 on a Wed for example because he is doing something every other night of the week after school - this can't be good for a child. I can't help thinking that it might be kinder not to fit them in!

In this case I ask the parent when the child is going to find time to practise!

My alarm bells would go off here : and I'd ask the same as maggiemay. If you have hundreds of things on, it must be very difficult to do justice to any of them!

What utter joy, maggiemay..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

Bx

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

[maggiemay]

Indeed. The reason I mentioned it is that it seems necessary to make the point about quiet, uninterrupted practice!