Coffee Time with a Classroom Canada Teacher

Every few weeks, I send out one of these Coffee Time emails through our newsletters. I ask our teachers in London to answer your most common questions & offer their advice & tips about teaching in London. Since I am about to get on the ferry to Vancouver to hold our first Wine & Cheese Event for Teachers, I thought I'd post one of these Coffee Times for you here today. You can read the others on the right hand side of this page, and sign up to receive the Coffee Times by email as well.

Name: Heather McFadzean

University: OISE, University of Toronto

Subjects: Elementary Education

How long have you been teaching in London now?

6 months.

What do you teach?
I'm a PPA (planning, preparation and assessment) teacher which means that I cover the regular teachers' class when they have time out of class (aka non contact time) to plan, mark etc. Basically, I'm a permanent supply teacher. It's great, because I know the students, staff, routines in the school, but don't have to worry about planning lessons, assessment etc. Once my marking is done at the end of the day (or the set up for the next day if in nursery or kindergarten), I'm done!

Why did you choose Classroom Canada?
One of the main reasons that I chose Classroom was the extensive support I received before setting foot on U.K. soil. Things that I was unsure about how to get started like a bank account, Visa applications etc. were made much easier with Victoria's help. I had lots of questions that got answered (promptly!), and felt as though I was part of a community when I did get to London. I felt better about leaving everything familiar knowing that I was as prepared as I could be coming over.

What was the biggest adjustment for you to make in your teaching in London compared to Canada?
Like everyone else, classroom management was huge. Despite being aware of it from reading other "Coffee Times" and hearing about it from Victoria, it's really something you need to experience first hand to totally understand and grasp how different it is. I found that I had to establish myself with the students, and discuss with them about what to expect when I'm in their class. The first few times I counted down from 5 at the front of the class to get them to quiet down, half of them joined in the counting, and the other half were trying to yell over top of my voice. They now know that by the time I get to one they need to be quiet, sitting at their places, and looking at the front (or whatever we've established in that class).

Describe a typical London day in 3-4 sentences:
645-735: Wake up, get ready, walk to tube station

735-820: Travel to school (tube then bus)

900-330: Teach anything from Nursery up to Y6. Find the class I'm supposed to be covering, talk with the teacher (if they're in) and/or read over the plans left. Be sure I know what's expected from the lessons. Gather all necessary/important materials for the day.

330-415: Complete marking and/or set up for the next day

415-9:30: Leave school, and either head home for a quiet evening at home, or (more likely) meet up with some friends at a pub for a pint (or 2), or grab dinner somewhere (London has some great sushi places), or do something touristy/wander around a new part of the city.

930-1030: Depending on the events of the evening, attempt to be home around this time, so I can get ready for the next day/in bed at a reasonable hour.

What is the one piece of advice you can offer a Canadian teacher considering the move to London?

Definitely do it! Realize it's going to be tricky, and you probably will be homesick at some point, but it's totally worth it. You are so close to Europe, and the way the UK school year is set up makes is really easy to travel to many different places that just aren't as easily accessible from Canada (i.e. a weekend in Berlin is a lot trickier from Toronto than it is from London). International teaching experience looks great on a C.V. and you'll meet some great people. You don't want to be 55 and thinking "What if..."

Describe the funniest thing that's happened to you in your year so far:

It was my first day in the Year 5 class at my school. I had things under control and everyone was on task and working well. One student puts his hand up. "Miss, what football team do you support?".

Since this is still my first week in London, I'm still adjusting to some of the cultural differences between here and Canada. One thing I haven't picked up on at this particular time, is how huge football (soccer) is, and how intense fans are. Not even thinking, I reply "I'm not sure, we don't really have football in Canada. Which team should I support?"

This, of course, results in an all out riot, with the children yelling at me/to each other "Arsenal!" "Liverpool!" "Chelsea!" "Tottenham!", trying to recruit me to support 'their' team. At the time, I definitely wasn't laughing, because I had to get everyone under control again, but looking back now, it's hilarious.

Describe the worst thing:
The hardest time I've had was coming back to London after being home for Christmas. It was great to be home and see everyone again, but I didn't really prepare myself for coming back to London after that. When I got back to my flat I had a mild freak out about what I was doing back here. Jet lag and a grey, dreary city didn't make things easier, but I've adjusted now and am very happy to be back.

What made you stay with Classroom Canada, rather than with any other agency?

I was able to get work at a school that I enjoyed upon arriving in London (got to London on Friday, started teaching on Tuesday), and have been there ever since, so I really haven't had a reason to leave. I feel like the people at Classroom know who I am if I call with a question or problem.

What qualities do you have that make your stay more enjoyable?

Being flexible and positive definitely help. If you are able to adapt well to changes in your schedule (i.e. "Heather we need you in Year 2 all day today instead of Year 6. Use the long term plans on the wall to figure out the day.") it makes things easier. This comes with practice/exposure as well, but being able to roll with the punches and problem solve on your own are good. Stubbornness has also been an asset (to me anyway), because if I come across some sort of problem or difficulty in the classroom, or when lost around London, or when planning a weekend trip instead of giving up I will find a way to get around whatever the problem is.

To apply for teaching positions in London, England please send your resume & cover letter to apply at classroomcanada dot com.

Technology in the Classroom: Wordle

Do you know about Wordle yet?

One of my friends on Twitter added a link to wordle & I became instantly hooked! Wordle is a fabulous tool for teachers to use in all subject areas. I started with entering the words from the Classroom Canada blog and came up with this wordle.

I then found this blog post from a teacher who uses wordle in her classroom. I know my students would love to use this resource for mind mapping, vocabulary practice, spelling and just plain old fun with words.

I can see using wordle with all age groups. What about you? Have you used wordle or anything like it before?

How do you Ensure that all Students are Learning in Your Classroom?

Here's a typical interview question for teachers: "How do you ensure that all students are actively learning in your classroom?"

This question is quite complicated and expects you to answer:

• Differentiation - do you do it & if so, how do you do it?
• Assessment - you can't really answer this question without first showing that you know the students abilities & levels. How do you do that?
  
• Table groups - how do you group students? Similar abilities or mixed groups?
• Group work and/or individual work - how many minutes do you spend in each?
• Technology - do you make use of the technology available to you? How?
• Lesson planning - how do you plan your lesson to cater to all the needs in your classroom?
• Exceptionalities - how do you adapt your lessons for all the needs of your classroom - SEN, ESL and gifted & talented are included in this.
  
• And finally, student engagement - how do you engage all the students in your classroom?

Most new teachers answer this question by telling the interviewer how much fun their lessons are, focusing on student engagement but forgetting that having the students adore you is only one part of the equation.

Experienced teachers tend to answer this question with more emphasis on assessment & lesson planning.

In my experience, it's incredibly rare for any teacher to answer all aspects of this question in an interview. So if you do, well done! It is hard as you usually feel you have to answer as much as possible in a limited time frame. But if you prepare your answer before hand, make some point form notes then you should be able to provide the interviewer with a much better understanding of who you are as a teacher.

I was inspired to write this blog post after reading Sarah Ebner's blog today called, Teaching according to ability: do you, and your child, know what table she is on?

For more information about preparing for teacher interviews, please see:

Typical Interview Questions for Teaching in London
How to Apply for Teaching Jobs in England by email
52 Reasons to Teach in London, England
Teacher Job Vacancies in London, England

Don't forget to Sign up for our newsletters to read more about teaching in London, England.

Download a free chapter of the ebook, Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians.Any questions? I'd be happy to answer it in our comments section below. Chances are someone else has the same question as you so please don't be shy!

Wine & Cheese Events for Teachers Across Canada

This Thursday, we're holding our first Wine & Cheese Event for Teachers in Vancouver. If the event is a hit, then we'll take it on the road and hold Wine & Cheese Events across Canada.

One of our teachers from Thunder Bay, Ontario is flying all the way across the country to come to the first event in Vancouver. Can you believe that?

Lani went to London last year with another agency and had a not-so-great experience which is why she's pretty keen to work with us & meet the others. Sadly, her story is a fairly common one. Her agency said they'd find her work, get her sorted with accommodations, help her to make friends, get her a bank account and so on. But when she arrived in London in September, she was pretty much on her own, alone and frustrated with the lack of work & staying in a hostel.

So, Lani did some searching online and came across this little blog. She read my ebook, and decided to return to London to have another go at teaching in the UK. Perhaps she was just with the wrong agency. I hope that's the case!

This is not to say that you're guaranteed to have a fabulous experience teaching with us. A lot of teaching comes down to you, the teacher. But I'm happy to help you decide when is the right time to arrive in London for you to find the most opportunities, help you meet friends, find accommodations with other teachers and not feel so alone in your experience. Lani arrived in September, the worst possible time to arrive in a new city to start supply teaching. Her agency should have advised her of this. I don't know why they didn't.

In any case, I am so excited that she is coming to the Wine & Cheese on Thursday. Krissy is also traveling all the way from Niagaga-on-the-Lake in Ontario to attend, although she's really coming for another one of our teachers' wedding in Whistler (lucky duck!). The timing is perfect for Krissy to attend both events. Lisa taught in Japan with JET for a couple of years before starting her B.Ed at UBC, then taught in London with Classroom for a year. She's now teaching in Richmond, BC. Lisa's a great teacher & loves to offer advice to help others make the journey across the pond. She'll be there as well!

We have a great group of teachers from SFU and UBC attending the event as well. If you can attend, please send me an email to victoria at classroomcanada dot com & let me know. If you live outside of BC, but know others in the area please spread the word.

Here is the link to learn more about the event. Please leave your comments below & let me know if you think we should hold an event like this one in your area.

Teachers and Facebook: How to Protect Your Privacy & Keep Your Career

Teachers are constantly told that they should avoid Facebook. I disagree. I use facebook, most of my teachers use facebook, and I know some Head Teachers (principals) use facebook. I've even had a couple of Head Teachers in London contact me because of my networking on facebook. They were looking for great teachers and wanted to know if I could send them a few Canadian teachers. Facebook can be used as an amazing networking tool when it's used right.

On the other hand, I have seen some teachers use facebook in ways that aren't so great. They post drunken poses and have not changed their privacy settings. Not so smart!

Look, we all know that teachers go out on Friday nights. That's nothing to be ashamed of! In fact, I completely support going to the pub with a group of friends after a long week of teaching to vent, share stories, laugh & get it all off your chest. That's what makes Classroom Canada so amazing - our teachers support each other and let's face it, this support is often found in the pub on a Friday night. Pub culture in London is a large part of the experience. Even if you don't drink, you'll probably find yourself at your "local" watching "footie".

But there's a big difference between going to the pub in London and getting completely wasted to the point where photos are posted on Facebook that you might not want your students to see.

So, change your privacy settings!

It's really easy, and will take only a few minutes. Here's a great article on how to change your privacy settings on facebook & protect yourself from your students, parents, colleagues & bosses finding out more than you'd like them to know.

If you'd like to support Classroom Canada, you can become a fan through facebook here. You can even meet other teachers just like you, ask them how they enjoy teaching in London and if they can offer you some advice. That's what it's there for!

Do you have any other advice for teachers using Facebook? Please share below.

10 Myths About Teaching in London

This was originally posted in July 2008. With 5000 new readers since then, I figured I should re-post it. I hope it helps you in your research into teaching in London, England.

1. It's beneficial to sign up with lots of agencies.
A common misconception with teaching in London is that signing up with a plethora of agencies will guarantee you a steady stream of work and multiple opportunities for long term placements. The reality is, supply agencies are looking for loyal and reliable teachers with whom they can form strong working relationships. The more agencies you sign up with, the more you show that you lack confidence in your teaching capability and in the agency's ability to find you a job. If you are looking to supply teach, then by all means keep yourself covered by joining two agencies, BUT don't expect either agency to bend over backwards for you, because they will have a bank of other teachers that are working exclusively with them and those teachers are seen as more dependable than you. Try to put yourself in their shoes. It's not Canada. They have a teacher shortage, not a job shortage. They call the first teacher they know is available to them and them only; the first teacher to answer the phone is the one to get the job. Just remember - it’s important not to underestimate the importance of your teacher-agency relationship – it’s a valuable commodity!

2. It's advantageous to lie to the different agencies, so you get the best deal.
Sadly, this happens all the time. Some teachers show up in London, move into the agency's accommodations, make friends with their teachers (and have an instant community) and then turn around and work through another agency. The teachers who do this just want to get as much as they can from wherever they can. Frankly, its bad form. Choose your agency carefully, and if you're not confident that they can find you a job and help you in your transition to London, then politely tell them and find another one.

I have also experienced teachers who lie about their rate of pay in order to strike the best deal for themselves. I recall an Australian teacher who was keen to register but for a rate of 145 pounds per day. When asked what experience she had, she replied "None, but I'm Australian and I know another company that will pay me 145 just for that!" To this, I secretly giggled, because that simply isn't true and it's commercially unethical to pay people more based on their nationality. So, she walked out and searched for that elusive company that would pay her more just because she's Aussie. Well good luck to her. Very simply, pay comes down to your experience and flexibility as a teacher – be suspicious of anyone that tells you otherwise!

3. The kids are horrible.
Yes, the teaching is hard. It's different than teaching in Canada. But they're still kids. And if you think that the "kids are horrible in London," then perhaps you should a) consider a career other than teaching or b) do some research on why the behaviour of the children is different than you're used to. The kids behave in ways that we're not used to, but that doesn't make them horrible. 95% of the kids I taught were not from England originally. They were from the Caribbean, Africa, Asia (particularly Bangladesh & India) and across Europe. If you think that makes for "horrible kids" then London isn't for you. Neither is Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal or Ottawa for that matter.

4. Teaching in the outskirts is better (aka easier) and you save more money than in the centre of London.
Ah this one is fun to de-bunk. There are a lot of agencies that now specialize in bringing Canadians over to the "outskirts" of London. They know that's where there is a serious shortage of teachers, so they can place Canadians into jobs fairly easily. And if you're in the outskirts, you won't know any better.

Well, where better to hear the reality than from the horse’s mouth. At the time, prior to arriving in London, my thought pattern went, "Well, I just want a job. I'll go anywhere. I don't want to go all the way to England and not have secured a long-term job. What if I don't get enough work? It's only 30 minutes into the city. It'll be fine."

Boy was I wrong. The image of the suburbs that a movie like The Holiday may portray will undoubtedly not match up to the kind of suburbs that an agency may send you to. ‘The Holiday’ is set in Surrey. - the middle-upper class outskirts that, for sure don't have a shortage of teachers. Why would they? What a pretty wonderful place to live and work. So, remove those rose-tinted specs, turn the image of the Holiday on it's head, and NOW you have the kind of outskirts towards which your agency may be enticing you. My advice? Think very carefully about where you want to be.

Having lived in the outskirts for several months and felt at times, both isolated and unsafe, I eventually made the move to London and didn’t look back. The highlight for me was being placed in the inner city schools & working with kids from around the world. I lived downtown and in North London (Islington, Finsbury Park area) and loved every minute of it. I made the same amount of money, paid the same in rent but had so many more weekend options on my plate than just visiting the local mall. Theatres, Museums, Galleries, Parks, you name it, I did it.

On the matter of money - sure I spent more living in a central location, but for me that was a compromise I was happy to make. If you’re thinking of coming to London to teach and "save money" I'd advise you re-think – if money is your goal go to Asia and teach ESL. It is worth mentioning however, that whilst living in London for those three years, I did pay off $15 000 of my student loans. Not bad considering I was out on the town every weekend, travelled various destinations across Europe and lived a darn good life by Canadian standards.

5. You should always go with the agency that pays you the most money no matter what.

Well, you can do that of course. But first, think hard about why that agency may be offering you such attractive rates? Quite often, and through experience it can be because the agency are compensating for the terrible schools they’re planning to send you to (it’s just that they don’t tell you that). It’s a good idea to talk to other teachers registered through that agency and see what they have to say. And don't just take the names & numbers of teachers the agency give you. Do some real digging & find the teachers they don't want you to talk to. They'll give you their story, and if they're making 10 pounds more per day and they're still not happy with the company, well there’s your answer. If you decide to join up with Classroom Canada, sign up to the exclusive network we offer – a great way to swap stories, experiences and general ‘London info’ with other teachers in the same boat as you.

6. All agencies claim to offer new teachers support in setting-up, but no agencies follow through.

Sadly, this is often true, but not always. Again, quiz other teachers working through particular agencies what level of support their agency provided on their arrival. If they say they helped with accommodation, does that mean providing the link to a property search website that they recommend, or actually allocating them an apartment to live in? These are two very different versions of offering ‘support’ so it's important that you clarify in advance exactly what assistance they can provide you with.

7. Agencies make a killing off your salary.

Agencies are businesses, and naturally will be making money from placing you into schools – that’s what they do. However, the following guide to approximately what rates you can expect upon registration will ensure that you have a benchmark to follow should you be offered an either unusually high or unusually low rate at any point. Rates of pay can vary from £120 per day to £150 per day dependant on experience and the nature of role that you may be applying for. The vast majority of agencies in London will pay between £120-£125 per day for an NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher) and possibly more for newly qualified Secondary teachers if their subjects are in demand (Science or Technology for example). Rates can also vary between positions – generally speaking long-term roles will pay higher than day to day, and class teacher roles will yield more than floating PPA (Preparation, Planning & Assessment positions). Money aside, it’s just as crucial to focus on the service the agency provide. Are you as the teacher just another number in a database, or do the consultants make the effort to get to know you, build a strong working relationship with you, and thus be better equipped to secure the right job for you? Agencies have long-standing relationships with schools that trust their judgements on teachers, so it’s worth your while registering with a company that are ready to listen to what you actually want.

You could always try to get a job without an agency, and you might succeed. The problem is that you will then make about 5000 pounds ($10 000 Canadian) less per year because the school will have to pay you as an "Overseas Qualified Teacher".

8. Teaching in London is great because you can like, totally just slack off.

Thankfully, I've only heard this a few times. I won't bother explaining it, because it's obvious to a good teacher that this isn't true.

9. The British education system is horrible. Why would you want to teach there?

Unless you can understand the history and the cultural context for the teaching system the UK have in place, this is an unfair judgement to make. I have found that most foreign teachers arriving in London make a whole host of comparisons to what they know "back home", which is only natural of course. A year or so into their UK teaching career, they begin to develop an understanding for the reasons the system exists as it does because it’s better than the other options. This one is complicated, so I'll write another blog entry at a later date to explain the differences between the Canadian and the UK education system.

10. London is far too expensive to live there. You must be stupid to even consider it.

This is a comment often made by people who have travelled through London en-route to another destination. They show up with Canadian dollars and complain that a cup of coffee costs $8! Well, yes if you are using Canadian dollars. If not, it cost 4 pounds. Just like a Starbucks coffee in Canada costs $4, a Starbucks coffee in London costs 4 pounds. So earn pounds. And life is good again.

Read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians by Victoria Westcott (me!) and sign up to the Classroom Canada newsletters to read more from our teachers in London.

How Many Teachers Move to London, England with Classroom Canada?

I get asked all the time how many teachers we have, how many we select and how many we interview. I can't share that information, but I can tell you that only 25% of the people I interviewed in the past 2 months will actually teach in London with us. We don't have a specific ratio that we work with but select only the best teachers. We select based on whether we are 100% certain that this person will be teaching with us full-time (whether through daily supply teaching or in a long term contract for the whole year).

Our extensive experience both in teaching & recruiting taught us that word of mouth is the best way to get great teachers. If you stumbled across this blog it's very unlikely that you found it through an advertisement because we simply don't need to advertise.

Our teachers are fabulous teachers who are loyal & dedicated to Classroom Canada. They recognize that they are working for an incredibly selective agency & in exchange for their loyalty they get great jobs in London as well as a community of Canadian teachers to live & travel with.

Lately, I've noticed quite a few applicants have an attitude of "Well, why should I be interviewed by you?" These teachers tend to still be in teachers college and assume that because there is a shortage of teachers in the UK and plenty of agencies recruiting for London that they can have their pick of the agencies. That might be the case with some agencies, but that's not how we roll.

To be frank, the best new teachers never have this attitude. Experienced teachers don't either. I work with teachers with 10 years experience and they would never ask me, "Why should I interview with you?" It's rude. They know that. They do their research & know that they are making a choice just as much as we are. If you don't know what we do, look online. I am the only recruiter who writes & maintains a daily blog with information just for teachers doing their research. Why do I do this? To help you make informed, educated decisions of course. I want you to be successful.

If you're not sure what to ask, perhaps start by asking yourself, "Would I ask this same question of the ______ District School Board?" If the answer is no, then you know your answer. Do the same thing with emails. Ask yourself, "Would I send this kind of an email to the school board I want to work at?" and more importantly, would you expect a response? Sometimes I get emails from teachers who forget to use spell check, ask the same question in 10 different ways and have obviously sent the same email to 10 different agencies. I always reply, but it's with gritted teeth. I'm probably the only person who actually does reply to these emails, but I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. I always assume they just don't know what to do. So I write it out here in the blog to help.

So to end on a positive note, I'd like to thank the 25% of teachers I interviewed over the past couple of months that are outstanding.

You know who you are because I sent you a congratulations email & invited you to join our select group of teachers in London. You are professional, dedicated, loyal, enthusiastic, flexible, outgoing & all 'round great teachers. Thank you! You make it so that I want to wake up every morning at 7am and check my email to see if there's anything else I can do to make your journey to teaching in London a successful & enjoyable one. I have the best job in the whole world and it's because of you. I can't thank you enough.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you.

If you're doing your research, please keep reading this blog. That's why it's here! On the right hand side, you'll find interviews with our teachers in London as well as interviews with the recruiters you will be interviewed by. Subscribe to our newsletters & bookmark this page.

Who Teaches in London Anyway?

Here's another excerpt from the book, Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians.

So, Just Who Teaches in London?

Teachers who enjoy teaching in London possess many of the following qualities and attitudes:

• They are flexible and adaptable.
• They are outgoing.
• They “go with the flow” and adapt well to change.
• They are eager to take on new challenges.
• They want to travel, and appreciate holidays every 6-8 weeks.
• They easily make new friends.
• They see the glass as half-full.
• They laugh easily and see the humour in everyday life.
• They can shake off a bad day and start each day anew.
• They are FABULOUS teachers!
• They love teaching kids of all backgrounds.
• They see kids as kids, no matter what their troubles are.
• They believe all children want to learn, and its the their job to help them.
• They know exactly why they are in London and remind themselves of that often (ie. “I am here to learn new things.”)
  

On the other hand, teachers who don’t enjoy teaching in London typically:

• Compare the UK education system to the Canadian one and complain easily and often.
• Complain constantly (“The tube is crowded!” “There’s too many people!” “The kids are horrible!”)
• Think they should be treated like gold just because they are a teacher.
• Think that everyone in the school should be grateful just because they showed up.
• Think that everyone is out to get them (victim mentality!)
• Don’t take ownership of their actions (it’s always someone else’s fault!)
• Just want to travel and have forgotten about the teaching altogether.
• Get depressed easily and find it difficult to get out of a “funk.”
• Are only there for the paycheque.
• Are only there to get a job because they couldn’t get one in Canada.
• Have possibly chosen the wrong profession.

Which list do you think you fall into?

If you know you’re in the top list, then great! If you’re still not sure, well, this book will help you figure that out. The most important thing is that you read on, get prepared and figure out if teaching in London is really for you.

Who Wants to Be A Millionaire Math Game for Teaching

To continue with the theme of math teaching for grades 3-10, here is a great resource to engage your students. Who Wants to be a Millionaire with math questions geared towards grades 6-8. I somehow stumbled across Math Playground and now use a tonne of the resources on there in my math tutoring for grades 5-10 on a fairly regular basis.

If you plan on teaching in London, England then you can safely assume that your classroom will have an interactive whiteboard & you should start gathering some good resources for your needs. I recommend that you save your bookmarks onto a site like Delicious, so that you can access your bookmarks on any computer with an internet connection. You can check out my links on Delicious here. Be warned though, some of those sites I've bookmarked very randomly!

If you have some great online resources to share with our readers please leave them in the comments section below.

Don't forget to RSVP to the Wine & Cheese Event in Vancouver if you live in BC and can come on the 26th of February. We've already had a great response so I know the event will be brilliant.

Read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians by Victoria Westcott (me!) and sign up to the Classroom Canada newsletters to read more from our teachers in London.

Teaching Math in London Schools - Grades 3-10 resources

You will likely use an Interactive Whiteboard (IWB's, sometimes called Smart Boards) in your lessons while teaching in London. I use the above resource as a good mental math starter activity in my classes, typically in years 3 and up.

I used it today with a grade 8 student (he's having difficulty with negative integers). There are a tonne of math resources for IWB's out there, so please feel free to share your ideas with us below by leaving your comments.

When Should You Apply for Teaching Jobs in London, England?

Whether you are a primary teacher, secondary teacher, special needs teacher or a teaching assistant, there are certain times of the year when you should apply for positions in London, England. You can technically submit your resume at any time, but if you want to be really successful, follow this advice.

• Experienced teachers should apply as soon as they start thinking about teaching in London. They have to give notice to their current school & board, and try to get a "leave of absence" if possible. I've worked with plenty of teachers from the TDSB (Toronto District School Board) who have been able to secure at least one year to teach abroad and are still guaranteed their positions when they return. These schools usually ask for much more notice in this case. You'll have to research your own board, but you can at least send your CV to a recruiter now.
• Newly Qualified Teachers (called "NQT's" in the UK) should apply from January on. Most NQT's need about 6 months to prepare for the big move across the pond. So they apply in the winter in order to arrive in London in the autumn. I personally applied at the end of July, departed at the end of August for a teaching position that started September 1st. But I know that's not the norm and don't really recommend this last-minute approach.

When do teaching jobs start in London, England?

• Jobs start in April, September, October/November and January.
  
• For the April group - this is the super-keen group that wants to supply teach until July 20th and land a full-time position that starts in September. Last year, all of my teachers who arrived in April managed to get the jobs they wanted from September 1st. This group knew they had to hit the ground running and did it amazingly well! Career wise, this makes the most sense for NQT's or substitute teachers in Canada who can depart at any time. If you want your own class, and you want to start the year right then you should arrive in April. There's no doubt about it - this strategy works. Will there be enough work as a supply teacher? If you're good, flexible, outgoing & eager, yes. And schools will hire you 10 times more than they would hire someone still in Canada. They want to interview you in person & see you teach, so anyone who is actually in London in the last term of the year will get the job that starts in September. It's a no-brainer really.
  
• For the September group - I select a small group of fabulous & flexible teachers that I know will get any last-minute positions that start the beginning of September. This year, that group will be experienced only (sorry NQTs!). I only send over a small group (15 teachers maximum) as I want each of them to be successful and refuse to follow most recruiters' tactics of taking anyone & everyone. I'd rather know that ALL of my teachers will be successful. This works for us, and most importantly, works for the teachers.
• The October/November group is where most of the NQTs fit in. They arrive when the supply teaching picks up, which is always in October and November. Again, this is more about helping the teachers to be successful than anything else. If everyone arrived at the same time, they'd all be competing for the same jobs. It's much better to think about when is the best time to arrive! This is the same as it is in Canada - September is the slowest month for supply teaching. So, the October/November teachers arrive, do some supply teaching for a couple of days, or weeks, or months and then land the jobs that start in January. Why January? Well, all those teachers that come from tropical lands (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) go home for summer while us Canadians prefer to be in London in the winter. So we take their jobs, as well as any maternity leave positions and teach until the end of July. Makes sense right?
• The January arrivals are a small group of teachers that needed a bit more time to prepare for the move abroad. Sometimes this is due to their finances. Sometimes they have commitments back home, and sometimes they are teachers who thought they'd get work in Canada and when they didn't, finally decided to try to the UK. This group usually does some supply teaching, but more often than not, they also get long-term full-time positions in schools until the end of the school year in July.

How long do most teachers stay in the UK?

• 90% of my teachers say they will only go to London for one year, and guess what? 90% stay for 2 years. I stayed for 3. Some of my teachers are still in London after teaching for the past 4 years. Most just stay 2 years though (due to their visa restrictions - see our website for more about visas).
  

I hope this helps you decide when to apply for teaching jobs in London. It's an overwhelming time of year for all teachers, whether you're still in teachers college or are already teaching. February is a tough month (hence "family day" for those Ontario folks reading this). If you'd like to apply for teaching positions now, please submit your resume & cover letter to apply at classroomcanada dot com.

Don't forget to RSVP to the Wine & Cheese Event in Vancouver if you live in BC and can come on the 26th of February. We've already had a great response so I know the event will be brilliant.

Read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians by Victoria Westcott (me!) and sign up to the Classroom Canada newsletters to read more from our teachers in London.

The Funny Things Students in London Say

If there's one thing that will help you survive teaching in London, England it's the children & the funny things they say. You absolutely have to have a great sense of humour to enjoy teaching. Some people will disagree with me, but I just can't see how someone could enjoy slogging through all the stuff you have to do in a day as a teacher without having a good giggle at some of the things the students say. Often you have to suppress your laughter & just save it for later, but sometimes you can even laugh with the students.

One of our teachers has agreed to share her blog post with you, dear readers. Heather is from Ontario and teaches KS1/KS2, which basically means elementary or primary/junior depending on which part of the country you are from. Here are some of Heather's favourite quotes from her students in London this year:

• Shelby, a reception (kindergarten) student comes up and gives me a big hug at the end of the day. She says with enthusiasm "I love you Heather!" With a smile on my face, I reply "Oh, thanks Shelby! What a nice thing to say." Shelby "Oh, don't worry. I say that to everyone!" She skips off, without a care in the world.
• A male Year 1 student is leaning on a table, breathing deeply with a pained expression on his face, while the rest of the class is going out for playtime. Teacher goes up to him and asks 'Are you alright?' Student replies, between deep breaths 'Oh Miss...I hit my bits!"
• Year 6 students are handing in their homework. A student doesn't have theirs. Me: "Why don't you have your homework to hand in Dylan?" Dylan: "My mom didn't put it in my bag. I'll talk to her about it tonight."
• The teacher is attempting to get the Reception (AKA Kindergarten) class lined up to go to the hall for lunch. She announce to the students "We are going to play Simon Says to make sure everyone is lined up nicely." Hope, a student at the front of the line says to a student behind her "I'm really good at playing Simon Says. It's because my grand dad's name is Simon."
• I'm looking through some magazines with Nursery (JK) to find pictures to add to a collage. Isabelle points to a picture of a blonde model, points to it an says "She looks like you Heather. Only you've got more spots (meaning pimples), don't you?"
• A Year 3 student is in the library area trying to pick out a book for quiet reading. He appears to be frustrated, and does not have a book when the rest of the class is inside reading. Teacher "Duvontae, can't you find a book to read?" Duvontae "Nope...*shrugging shoulders *... they're all fucked."

Do you have any funny quotes or stories to share? Tell us more in the comments section. Thanks to Heather for sharing!

What is the Quality Mark & How Does it Affect You as a Teacher Looking to Teach in the UK?

There are literally hundreds of agencies in the UK that have been established in the past 10 years. When the UK government realized they needed to monitor these agencies and make sure that they were sending qualified teachers into schools, they came up with the Quality Mark. The Quality Mark is given by the DFES (Department for Education and Skills) to agencies that meet their criteria for approval.

The Quality Mark is the government’s way of assessing agencies and their practices and then giving their “stamp of approval” to schools to use these particular agencies. If you’re trying to find the right agency for you, then the Quality Mark is the bare minimum that you would look for in an agency.

This means that the agency checks their teachers’ documentation and verifies that they complete all the requirements to be a teacher in the UK. They check their B.Ed, references, police check and visa. They see the original documents and stamp each document. They also do a List 99 check, which is a database of people barred from working with children.

I’ve heard some recruiters brag to teachers that their agency has the Quality Mark so they should go with them. It’s not exactly something to brag about! Just expect it, look for the Quality Mark logo on the agency web site and if they don’t have it, move on.

The vast majority of agencies you will encounter will already have the Quality Mark, so it’s not really something you should worry about. But I do know of one agency that does not have the Quality Mark that was featured on the front page of all the major UK newspapers in 2007. They had sent a “teacher” into a school to do a day of supply teaching. When he arrived at the school and was advised to collect the class, he then revealed he was a journalist doing a story about how easy it is to pretend to be a teacher and get access into schools! It was a major story.

So, look for an agency with the Quality Mark and register with them. Does Classroom Canada have the Quality Mark? No. It doesn't make sense right?

Well, the reason is that Classroom Canada is the Canadian version of Classroom Ltd. Classroom Ltd is in the UK, whereas we are here in Canada. I'd love it if the DFES would come to Canada to assess our records, but that will never happen. Since Classroom Ltd. has the Quality Mark, we in essence have it as well. All teachers must fulfil certain requirements in order to teach with us, and we check their files here in Canada, then again in the UK. We are deligent about this process as it would be awful for a teacher to arrive in the UK and then learn that they don't have the proper documents in order to teach there. Instead, we get everything ready here in Canada so our teachers can "hit the ground running," and this works for all of us involved.

In fact, one teacher arrived just a few weeks ago on a Friday, started supply teaching on the next Monday then had a full week of daily supply work. By the next Friday she had 2 interviews at schools and scored a great job that started the next Monday. Now that's what we like to see!

To learn more about the Quality Mark, QTS, and UK Curriculum, check out the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians by yours truly.

Who Writes Your Letter of Reference When You Return to Canada After Teaching in the UK?

Here's how it works.

You apply for a teaching job in London, England. A recruiter (called "recruitment consultant") contacts you & asks you a few questions, usually about why you want to go, when you want to go & what visa you can teach in England with. If all that goes well, you should be offered an interview with said recruiter.

You have your interview & hopefully ace it. See my blog post on typical teacher interview questions for more help in this.

Then, your recruiter will check your references & all your documentation to make sure that you are indeed a qualified teacher or about to become a teacher.

If selected, you will be informed by phone or through an email. They should provide you with contracts, and information about the agency's services. In a few weeks or a few months, you should be on a plane to your new home in the UK.

In our case, we have an office here in Canada as well as in London. So, you'll meet with recruitment consultants in our London office & they will take care of you from then on. I'm still here in Canada so when you need me for advice or support or just to have a quick chat, you can always contact me and know that a friendly, experienced teacher is here to help. I also go to London to give professional development workshops from a Canadian perspective.

For the most part, you will be working in London with my colleagues in the London office. I step in when I can, especially when I see that someone is struggling & needs some good advice to help ease the transition into teaching in inner city London schools.

So who writes your letter of reference when you return to Canada? Your recruitment consultant! In the case of Classroom Canada, that'd be me.

I know this might seem a bit strange, but school boards in Canada want to know where you have taught, how many days total (this is usually to calculate what your pay scale should be) and how you did in general. I get asked every year to complete forms about my teachers' experiences in London.

The only reason this would be different is if you have a full-time teaching position in a school for a year. Then you should ask your senior management for a letter of reference.

Otherwise, your recruitment consultant will be the one school boards turn to for recommendations. We can't say that we've seen you teach, but we can say how you were received by schools. This will include the feedback we receive about your teaching, whether schools ask specifically for you to teach in their school again, or on the flip-side if schools asked you not to return. Luckily, negative feedback is very rare for Classroom Canada teachers.

What does all this mean for you? Be nice to us! Just kidding. Sort of.

Be professional. Be yourself.

Edit your emails and please use capital letters when you should. This might seem really nit-picky, but you want the impression you give to be positive and professional. It's not that your recruiter is always judging you (we aren't) but in the end you will have developed a strong working relationship with someone who will know you on your bad & good days. Isn't it better to always give the impression that you are a dedicated & professional teacher rather than a student-teacher who writes in text-message format all the time?

Also, make sure that you write more than one-line emails. One-line emails are perceived as rude and can really leave a bad taste in the receiver's mouth. It's so easy to say, "I hope you are well," or "Enjoy your week!" and no, it's not sucking up. It's being polite, friendly and still professional. It makes a huge difference in how you are perceived and in the end, you'll get a much more positive & glowing letter of reference. And that's ultimately what you want right?

Please share your thoughts below! I'd love to hear what you think about all this.

Wine & Cheese Events for Teachers Across Canada

Thanks to all those teachers who completed our recent survey on whether we should hold Wine & Cheese Events Across the country. You answered with an overwhelming "YES!"

We're holding our first Wine & Cheese for Teachers in Vancouver on February 26th. Please see the invitation here. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by sending a quick email to victoria at classroomcanada dot com. It is essential to RSVP to reserve your place.

If this event is a success (and I suspect it will be given that the combination of great teachers, wine & cheese is always a good one!) we will hold similar events across the country. So, even if you don't live in Vancouver, please tell any teachers you know who do.

Our Wine & Cheese events will be a great opportunity for you to chat with teachers who have already taught with us in London, England. We take pride in our community of teachers just like you, and who better to ask than teachers who have "been there & done that"?

To top it all off, it's free! Just be sure to RSVP though.

The event is being held in a hip downtown Vancouver hotel with amazing views of the city and inner-harbour on the 20th floor. I chose this location because it's very similar to the events we hold in London, England. Typically, our London socials take place on the 18th floor of a hotel at Oxford Circus with incredible views of the city. The main difference here will be that you will be talking with teachers who have already been to London and are now teaching in Vancouver. They love sharing their experiences with other teachers so don't be shy!

If you'd like to see this event in your city, please let us know by leaving your comment below. Thanks!

Accommodations for Teachers in London, England

Judging by the results of the poll on the right hand side of this page, teachers don't mind sorting out their own accommodations. I have to admit, this is a huge relief for me!

We have always sorted out the accommodations for our teachers, but recently had to end the working relationship with one of the non-profit housing associations we work with. It was sad for me, as I've worked with this one group for more than 4 years in my recruiting, but in the end, it's better for everyone involved. I can't really go into details here, but just know that it was a tough decision for all of us.

So what does this mean for you?

Well, we had 9 buildings to house our teachers before, and now we have 3. We are growing faster than we can keep up with, so rather than needing fewer buildings we actually need more. Can you see the problem with this picture?

But at the same time, Classroom Canada is about a whole lot more than housing. Our teachers are fabulous, flexible, outgoing & adaptable people. Hit them with a challenge like this & with the right advice & resources, they fly with it. And that's why I adore our teachers & love what I do day in and day out.

So, here's a bit of help to get you started. The Guardian did a review of the cheap hotels in London for people just like us. Some of these hotels include breakfast, and for only 28 pounds/night you're actually better off staying in a hotel for a while rather than staying in our accommodations. You'll still hang out with the other Canadian & American teachers, and they'll likely stay with you in the same place anyway.

Check out this video to see what I mean.

Also, check out:
How to Find An Apartment in London
Cheap Flights to London and How to Book a Hotel/Hostel

If you've stayed in a particular hotel or hostel you'd like to recommend, please leave your comment below. Or if you have any questions or comments please share them below as well.

To thank you for reading this little blog of mine, we're offering 50% off the ebook, Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians.

Click here to get the code you need for the discount.

Don't forget to Sign up for our newsletters to read more about teaching in London, England.

Behaviour Management Advice from Mr. Grimes in 1947

According to Donald MacLeod of the Guardian newspaper, the above video is quickly becoming a cult classic with British teachers.

Your thoughts?

Teaching the World's Students About the World Today

I interviewed a teacher for a position teaching in London, England a couple of days ago and it really stood out in my mind. The teacher had previously volunteered in one of the world's largest slums in Nairobi, Kenya. We had a great discussion about her experience and I'd love to learn more about it.

I did a teaching practicum in Bangladesh when I went to Queen's for my B.Ed and saw true slums for the first time of my life. It ain't pretty to say the least. I can only imagine what it's like to actually live in one.

Anyway, here is a great resource for teaching your students about how others live in the world. Whether you teach geography, history, sociology, politics or business studies, this particular website will open your students eyes no matter where you are.

Keep in mind that in London some of your students might be refugees and this kind of website will need to be shown with sensitivity & care. Perhaps discuss the idea with your Year Group Leader or Head Teacher before sharing it with your class. I think it's a brilliant website though! Check it out here.

To thank you for reading this little blog of mine, we're offering 50% off the ebook, Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians.

Click here to get the code you need for the discount.

Don't forget to Sign up for our newsletters to read more about teaching in London, England.

Tutoring in Canada: How Teachers Can Make an Extra $700-$2000/month

So you're trying to save up some money to teach abroad and don't know where to start. You have a Bachelor of Education or are enrolled in a B.Ed program. What should you do? Tutor, of course!

Tutoring is by far the best way for you to earn money, use your skills, make valuable contacts & improve your teaching practice. The going rate in Toronto is $60/hour, but here in Victoria it's $35/hour. In London, England I tutored in the evenings and on the weekend and charged 25 pounds/hour, which turned out to be an extra 800 pounds/month.

I'm not saying that you should work your butt off teaching, then go home and work some more! No way Jose.

Just tutor a couple extra hours during the week and on Saturday or Sunday morning and you'll make at least an extra $700 or as much as $2000 if you're in a place like Toronto. In London, I tutored for 2 hours every Tuesday and Thursday evening and then Saturday mornings for 4 hours. Add it up and that's a whole lotta cash. Sure, I was busy with teaching every day, but I really enjoyed my evenings tutoring one on one. In a way, tutoring helped me to become a better teacher by reminding me why I love teaching.

You could always sign up with a tutoring agency, but they take a cut of your profits and you won't earn much money that way. I have one teacher who went from earning 130 pounds/day in London, England as a teacher then returned to Ontario only to find very little teaching work. She now works full-time tutoring, but only brings home $10 hour because she tutors through a tutoring company. Sure, it's easier for her because they find her the students & provide all the materials she needs, but I say - who needs them? I've never used a service, except to advertise my tutoring.

For Find a Tutor, you pay a small fee (I think it's $30 for the year) and then they advertise for you. I have 5 students from them, so it easily paid for itself in just one tutoring session. I tutor now to keep my hand in education as I run Classroom Canada full-time, so am no longer teaching in a classroom. Tutoring helps me to remember why I became a teacher in the first place.

What about you? Are you tutoring or do you want some more advice about how to tutor in Canada or in England? Please share your thoughts below!

50% Off the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians

To thank you for reading this little blog of mine, we're offering 50% off the ebook, Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians.

Click here to get the code you need for the discount.

Don't forget to Sign up for our newsletters to read more about teaching in London, England.

Teacher Job Vacancies Available in London, England - April 2009 Start

It's time to apply for teaching jobs that start in April 2009 in London, England. Some teachers have even started to apply for positions that start in September 2009 and I am swamped with interviewing for the two most popular arrival seasons.

Here is a small sample of some of the available positions for April 2009:

Nursery Teacher (similar to Junior Kindergarten in Canada, but for 3 and 4 year olds)

This Brent based school is seeking an Early Years Teacher with long-term experience in an Early Years setting to teach Nursery. This position is to start in April but for the right person the start date can be brought forward so if you are available immediately then apply as soon as possible. You must be eligible to work in the UK and have good classroom management skills and have a good grasp of the Early Years curriculum.

Year 6 and KS1 Teacher (Grade 6 and Grades 1-2 teacher)

A very varied and interesting role has arisen for a Primary teacher with a specialism or experience and expertise in the area of Literacy. This full-time role to start asap will involve a 50/50 split in responsibility between a Year 6 class and KS1 PPA (Preparation, Planning & Assessment) time on a weekly basis.

The school is a small one form entry Primary in the borough of Southwark boasting a strong senior management team and very positive working ethos. The suitable candidate will have a strong KS2 (grades 4-6 in Canada) track record, with effective behaviour management and an enthusiasic manner.

The post is to start immediately or as soon as possible after the February half-term break.

Secondary English Teacher

A West London school requires an English teacher to cover a maternity leave position. This position will run from April 2009 until January 2010. The successful candidate will have some experience teaching years 7 through 9 and be confident in teaching with all levels. This is a high achieving school with a strong commitment to extracurricular activities.

Secondary Geography Teacher

One of our Canadian teachers is going traveling in a few weeks and needs a Geography teacher to take over his classes. The school is in the Hampstead area and close to Camden Market. The teacher who replaces him needs to have strong classroom management skills & a great sense of humour. The students are challenging and the school is very supportive. Become part of an international staff team & instant community of teachers just like you.

Secondary Physical Education Teacher

This school in North West London (Walthamstow) requires a female P.E. teacher to cover a maternity leave position. This is an extremely diverse school (similar to Brampton, Mississauga and other areas of Toronto) and requires someone with a passion for teaching girls P.E. The girls are challenging, but will respect a teacher who is firm but fair and most importantly can engage the students. The position is an April start with the possibility to renew in January 2010.

Secondary Maths Teacher

This Central London school needs a Maths teacher to cover the classes of a teacher who has just been promoted. The classes are years 7, 8 and 10 in this very diverse school. Behaviour can be challenging in this particular school so teachers with strong behaviour management skills should apply.

Secondary Maths Teacher - All Boys School with PE specialism

This all boys school in South East London likes to employ fabulous Canadian teachers. One of our teachers from Vancouver did extremely well there but did say the behaviours were quite challenging. The school is proud of its Sports College status, which means that teachers with a passion for any sport will do quite well there. The Head Teacher (principal) is a former Physical Education teacher & uses sports to keep the students engaged and motivated to learn. Teachers need to be firm, fair and fun.

Special Educational Needs Teacher

This SEN school has an opening for a primary or secondary school teacher with a passion for teaching all children. If you have special educational training that will help, but it is not necessary. The school is more interested in your philosophy of education than your training. You need a Bachelor of Education and some teaching experience, as well as a firm commitment to learning.

The school is incredibly supportive & our other teachers have really enjoyed their roles. You will enjoy the small class sizes (typically less than 6 students, with an adult to student ratio of 1:2). Our other teachers have specialisms in Drama, History, English, Science and primary education.

Science Teacher (to teach 1 of Biology, Chemistry or Physics)

Science Teachers are in high demand in London schools. If you can teach any of the three areas of science, then you will enjoy the wide range of schools that are hiring in your field. There are too many to list here, so just send me your resume & I'll discuss your options in your interview. One that sparks my interest is a Science position in a Kensington & Chelsea school for a few weeks. This school wants to try a teacher in the role first and if it works out, then will keep this person on full-time until 2010.

How to Apply for Teaching Jobs in London, England with Classroom Canada and Classroom America.

• Before you submit your application, please make sure that you are eligible to legally work in the UK.
• Prepare a 2 page resume that clearly shows your education & experience in teaching
• Write a brief cover letter that outlines why you want to teach in London with Classroom Canada.
  
• Submit your resume to Victoria Westcott by email to victoria@classroomcanada.com

I will phone you as soon as I can to discuss your options and schedule a phone interview or an in-person interview depending on where you live & my travel plans. Please keep in mind that the above list is only a small sample of available positions. These change daily! Submit your resume anyway.

Don't forget to Sign up for our newsletters to read more about teaching in London, England.

Download a free chapter of the ebook, Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians.

Any questions? I'd be happy to answer it in our comments section below. Chances are someone else has the same question as you so please don't be shy!

Teaching in London & Time Management

Teachers in London are swamped! Just look at a typical calendar of activities below:

• travel to every country in Europe in just 2 years
• see plays in the West End
• see live music at the Brixton Academy, the Camden Jazz Cafe & Shepherd's Bush Empire
• play a sport like soccer ("football"), rugby, or cricket
• hang out with other Canadian, American, Australian, Kiwi and South African Teachers
  
• plan trips for half-term breaks
• go dancing in Soho
• go to all the free art galleries (Tate Modern, Tate Britain, National Portrait Gallery, Camden Art Gallery, National Gallery...)
• go to the British Museum over & over again because you just can't see it all in one or two or three days
• watch football games in your "local"
• somehow find time to plan your lessons
• assess the students progress
• write notes to parents
• have staff meetings
• have planning meetings
• participate in running an extracurricular activity
• plan parent-teacher night
• keep running records on your students
• do you see where I am going with this?

The point is, it's a whole lot of fun to teach in London, but it's also pretty tough work. If you read the Coffee Time series on the right hand side of this blog you will notice a common theme: behaviour management. So, you will likely spend a lot of time dealing with behaviour that you're just not used to back home. You'll talk about strategies you have tried, you'll ask others for advice and you'll have meetings about what you can do to improve your behaviour management.

But somewhere in all that, you have to teach! So, to help you with your time management Teachers TV has this short 15 minute video you can watch online. This particular video is for first year teachers (called "NQTs") but experienced teachers should watch it as well. The trick to having a great couple of years teaching in London is to have a balanced life.

Go to the gym, read books, watch movies, eat good food, talk about anything but teaching and do all the amazing things you want to do in London. Get into a healthy routine of doing your planning, assessing and preparation on the same days every week and use your free time to explore the London you want to know.

Sign up for our newsletters to read more about teaching in London, England.

Download a free chapter of the ebook, Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians.

Any other advice you care to share? Please leave your comment below.