Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Creating another column....
how come everyone has nice links to websites in a column next to their blog! I can't get it to work, LOL! I've tried the instructions in Blogger Help but when I tried this... "Say you want to post a list of books you're currently reading in the sidebar of your main blog page. First you'll need to create a new blog. Log into Blogger and click "Create a new blog" link in the right column. Specify the information requested and then click on Settings to enter additional information needed there. We'll use "books.html" as the file name for this new blog." ...there's no Create New Blog link (although there is a Create A Blog link under the 'Last update' column. Heeeelp!
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
nothing like booking a holiday....
....to cheer you up :o)
After a miserable weekend when hub decided he'd start decorating the bathroom (leaving saws across the landing floor, which I tripped on and deeply cut two toes....eeeeeow!) while I tried to sleep and shake off a nasty cold, we decided to book next summer's holiday, seeing as flights to Malaga were 'only' £51 each (when you're a family of four you can guess why I say 'only'!)
So 31st July 2006 we fly to sunny Spain, for the 3rd time since Xmas 2004 (yes, we really do like southern Spain!) with BA (much better than Iberia!), to stay in a cottage beside a villa, with private pool and air conditioning (a complete must in August!) for 3 glorious, sun-filled, stress-free weeks (ok, so I may have to take along a little bit of Open Uni work as I'll have 2 ECAs and an exam due in Septmeber/October, but where better to study, by a pool, iced Malibu and Pineapple at arm's reach, warm sun beating down, and kids sitting in the cottage with their Playstations...I kid you not! After a few hours in the pool they'll be bored of sun, mountain-views, inflatables and water, I betcha!) Gosh, that was a long sentence! We'll be inland.....Coin, if you want to look it up, but this is typical of the scenery inland and west of Malaga:
Maybe we'll go back and see the monkeys on Gibraltar.....
(from left to right...adorable monkey,
a fascinated- 'I want one' Sam, an ever-so
slightly-unsure-of-those-
hairy-things-that-want-to-grab-
your-bags Katie, and a glad-the-kids-
aren't-moaning-for-once Hub)
It'd be nice to take a trip back to Benalmadena...
above photo taken December 2005....who'd have thought the sky could be so blue in December...... certainly beats last year's 'summer'(!) holiday in Scotland:
Back to reality (yes, it's rained here today!).... I'd forgotten how mishievious 5/6 year olds can be. The class today was the class from hell! Was pleased to hear from the teacher and TA afterwards that nothing I'd have done would have made alot of difference to their learning! If they don't wanna learn, there's not alot you can do if you've already tried to make it fun and pace-y! (Any ideas feel free to correct me here!).Part of the problem is that there is a high proportion of children who cannot access the Curriculum....some haven't even achieved well in the Foundation Stage Profile and hence don't have the foggiest what is going on in maths and literacy (one cannot even show me three fingers, let alone count to three), a couple have difficulty with speech....but here there's a glimmer of hope...in November school is sending me on a 4 day Speech and Language course, looking forward to that....when I was in my late teens, mum secretly hoped that I'd be a Speech Therapist (or a horiculturalist! Why?...she told me today that her reasoning behind that one was because she liked the look of Hadlow College in Kent!!)....it (Speech Therapy, not horiculture!) came a close second to teaching in my 'what I want to do when I leave school' thought processes.
Since it's waaay past my bedtime and I have managed successfully to avoid any exam revision it's time to bid you all g'night. Sleep tight...
After a miserable weekend when hub decided he'd start decorating the bathroom (leaving saws across the landing floor, which I tripped on and deeply cut two toes....eeeeeow!) while I tried to sleep and shake off a nasty cold, we decided to book next summer's holiday, seeing as flights to Malaga were 'only' £51 each (when you're a family of four you can guess why I say 'only'!)
So 31st July 2006 we fly to sunny Spain, for the 3rd time since Xmas 2004 (yes, we really do like southern Spain!) with BA (much better than Iberia!), to stay in a cottage beside a villa, with private pool and air conditioning (a complete must in August!) for 3 glorious, sun-filled, stress-free weeks (ok, so I may have to take along a little bit of Open Uni work as I'll have 2 ECAs and an exam due in Septmeber/October, but where better to study, by a pool, iced Malibu and Pineapple at arm's reach, warm sun beating down, and kids sitting in the cottage with their Playstations...I kid you not! After a few hours in the pool they'll be bored of sun, mountain-views, inflatables and water, I betcha!) Gosh, that was a long sentence! We'll be inland.....Coin, if you want to look it up, but this is typical of the scenery inland and west of Malaga:
Maybe we'll go back and see the monkeys on Gibraltar.....
(from left to right...adorable monkey,
a fascinated- 'I want one' Sam, an ever-so
slightly-unsure-of-those-
hairy-things-that-want-to-grab-
your-bags Katie, and a glad-the-kids-
aren't-moaning-for-once Hub)
It'd be nice to take a trip back to Benalmadena...
above photo taken December 2005....who'd have thought the sky could be so blue in December...... certainly beats last year's 'summer'(!) holiday in Scotland:
Back to reality (yes, it's rained here today!).... I'd forgotten how mishievious 5/6 year olds can be. The class today was the class from hell! Was pleased to hear from the teacher and TA afterwards that nothing I'd have done would have made alot of difference to their learning! If they don't wanna learn, there's not alot you can do if you've already tried to make it fun and pace-y! (Any ideas feel free to correct me here!).Part of the problem is that there is a high proportion of children who cannot access the Curriculum....some haven't even achieved well in the Foundation Stage Profile and hence don't have the foggiest what is going on in maths and literacy (one cannot even show me three fingers, let alone count to three), a couple have difficulty with speech....but here there's a glimmer of hope...in November school is sending me on a 4 day Speech and Language course, looking forward to that....when I was in my late teens, mum secretly hoped that I'd be a Speech Therapist (or a horiculturalist! Why?...she told me today that her reasoning behind that one was because she liked the look of Hadlow College in Kent!!)....it (Speech Therapy, not horiculture!) came a close second to teaching in my 'what I want to do when I leave school' thought processes.
Since it's waaay past my bedtime and I have managed successfully to avoid any exam revision it's time to bid you all g'night. Sleep tight...
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Yipppeeee!
I passed T183!
I thought it might be a close shave as I did rush the ECA a bit, and it was a bit simple in terms of design (I'll never make a web designer!), but I got a healthy 70%! If I've done this right, you'll find it here
What a nice way to end the week. Yesterday I was almost ready to hand in my notice having discovered that lesson planning and revision just don't mix. I thought, I can have this job which I, for the most part, love, or I can study and get that degree...but I can't see how I am going to do both....unless I can lock myself away somewhere quiet at the end of the day with a plate of goodies and some Malibu! Not sure I want to be a 'real' teacher....I want some 'me' time and family time when I'm at home. It seems to me that they deserve huge payrises and earn every minute of those long school holidays. Teachers out there, you are appreciated and you do darned good jobs, just a shame you don't get the recognition for it. Off my high horse now....back to housework (minimal!!), planning (too much, it's my weekend!), and kids' homework (they definitely don't get enough, LOL!)
Have a good weekend...
I thought it might be a close shave as I did rush the ECA a bit, and it was a bit simple in terms of design (I'll never make a web designer!), but I got a healthy 70%! If I've done this right, you'll find it here
What a nice way to end the week. Yesterday I was almost ready to hand in my notice having discovered that lesson planning and revision just don't mix. I thought, I can have this job which I, for the most part, love, or I can study and get that degree...but I can't see how I am going to do both....unless I can lock myself away somewhere quiet at the end of the day with a plate of goodies and some Malibu! Not sure I want to be a 'real' teacher....I want some 'me' time and family time when I'm at home. It seems to me that they deserve huge payrises and earn every minute of those long school holidays. Teachers out there, you are appreciated and you do darned good jobs, just a shame you don't get the recognition for it. Off my high horse now....back to housework (minimal!!), planning (too much, it's my weekend!), and kids' homework (they definitely don't get enough, LOL!)
Have a good weekend...
Friday, September 09, 2005
Survived!
I survived my first week as a HLTA! I have a stinking headache, but now that the weekend's here I feel like I've achieved something. Today was maths (yuck! Not my 'thing') and ICT, which I loved, it was fun! Funny how you forget that kids need to learn the basics like which side of the mouse to click to select, and how to click and drag simulatenously! And these little ones (Year 1 and 2) really needed help with their fine motor skills, that's for sure! We compared dressing a real fluffy teddy bear with a bear online.
All I need to do now is plan next week's lessons, get some revision done, deal with kids' homework (and have they got lots with their new teachers, that's a shock to the system!), clean house and find some time to just sit! Should be a doddle ;o)
If you want to experience dressing a teddy online I can recommend this one
All I need to do now is plan next week's lessons, get some revision done, deal with kids' homework (and have they got lots with their new teachers, that's a shock to the system!), clean house and find some time to just sit! Should be a doddle ;o)
If you want to experience dressing a teddy online I can recommend this one
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Day from hell
Good job I do this job for love not the money! Three days in and already I'm thinking "when's it half term?!!"
It's great fun working with 3 different teachers you know....not only do you have to get to know how they work and where they keep everything, I've also discovered they all expect different levels of competence from me!
Teacher 1, Monday morning "I've done the Numeracy and Literacy plan for you this week, just so as to ease you in, all you need to do is deliver it, and I'll make sure I tell you the Learning Objective for next week's lesson before the end of the week so you can plan it in advance" (thank you very much, that'll do nicely!)
Teacher 2, Tuesday morning "here's your literacy plan for tomorrow. I haven't done the ICT plan for tomorrow yet." Get my mitts on the ICT plan Weds 8.30 a.m. No time to plan for it since have to deliver that Literacy lesson first! (Your flexible friend, that's me)
Teacher 3, Tuesday morning "ICT plan is in that folder, there's a few bits that still need planning, for maths can you plan some games so the children can practice ordering".....right....need to have this done for Friday.....today is nearly over....tomorrow is my day off (supposedly soley for OU study!)... I have no ICT resources at home, have found bu**er all on the Internet, but luckily have a few maths games ideas up my sleeve, if only I can get to the photocopier before the class arrives on Friday! ( Has anyone nabbed a website by the name of lastminute.com? Yes, ah well, would have suited me down to the ground.)
On top of which had to desert my post to accompany son to Casualty with a concussion this afternoon. They let him come home (surprise, surprise) and I should take him back if he is drowsy or sick, or acting strangely. Funny how he fell asleep in Casualty between seeing Triage and the doctor and could hardly string together a coherent sentence or give meaningful answers to the doctor's questions, yet he was fine to go home!! From the minute we got home he has slept (apart from for a lickle tiddle) and he still slurs odd meaningless sentences. I sense a long restless night ahead.
Am I waffling, sure I am! Do you detect any sarcasm, sure ya do! How else is a woman to stay sane? :o) Told you this Blog would end up being a nice bit of therapy for me...all I need now is a couch to lie down on....
Night all
It's great fun working with 3 different teachers you know....not only do you have to get to know how they work and where they keep everything, I've also discovered they all expect different levels of competence from me!
Teacher 1, Monday morning "I've done the Numeracy and Literacy plan for you this week, just so as to ease you in, all you need to do is deliver it, and I'll make sure I tell you the Learning Objective for next week's lesson before the end of the week so you can plan it in advance" (thank you very much, that'll do nicely!)
Teacher 2, Tuesday morning "here's your literacy plan for tomorrow. I haven't done the ICT plan for tomorrow yet." Get my mitts on the ICT plan Weds 8.30 a.m. No time to plan for it since have to deliver that Literacy lesson first! (Your flexible friend, that's me)
Teacher 3, Tuesday morning "ICT plan is in that folder, there's a few bits that still need planning, for maths can you plan some games so the children can practice ordering".....right....need to have this done for Friday.....today is nearly over....tomorrow is my day off (supposedly soley for OU study!)... I have no ICT resources at home, have found bu**er all on the Internet, but luckily have a few maths games ideas up my sleeve, if only I can get to the photocopier before the class arrives on Friday! ( Has anyone nabbed a website by the name of lastminute.com? Yes, ah well, would have suited me down to the ground.)
On top of which had to desert my post to accompany son to Casualty with a concussion this afternoon. They let him come home (surprise, surprise) and I should take him back if he is drowsy or sick, or acting strangely. Funny how he fell asleep in Casualty between seeing Triage and the doctor and could hardly string together a coherent sentence or give meaningful answers to the doctor's questions, yet he was fine to go home!! From the minute we got home he has slept (apart from for a lickle tiddle) and he still slurs odd meaningless sentences. I sense a long restless night ahead.
Am I waffling, sure I am! Do you detect any sarcasm, sure ya do! How else is a woman to stay sane? :o) Told you this Blog would end up being a nice bit of therapy for me...all I need now is a couch to lie down on....
Night all
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