I finished at school today! This hopefully means no rising before 7 for a little while. Anyone who has ever talked to me on the subject knows my outspoken opinion on the issue of rising before 7am. It's wrong!!!!! 6am is the utter limit. Anything before that is unhealthy and to be avoided at all costs!On the sad side, I am really sorry to be leaving such a wonderful school. It is truly a school that reminds me of how my primary school was- very cross-curricular and loads of musical opportunities.To be honest, I find it really hard to stick to my planning. Take this morning for example- I was observed teaching science and maths. I was originally going to do science until 9.45 and then do Maths until 10.45. Somehow, technology went wrong, well my interactive whiteboard stubbornly refused to close the current flipchart (a word of advice I will add to a famous adage 'never work with animals, children, or computers') which threw me and my timing went completely out. Somehow I differentiated really badly for the written task, which was about pollination (had I stuck to my original ideas it would have been fine- but I had to go and get worried that I would be repeating something that they had done already)- what was I thinking of- it would have been hard for ADULTS to do. They got horrendously confused in some pupils' case, and so my science overran. Then I went into the maths task (having done my mental starter during registration) and initially introduced a song about how to work out fractions of numbers which I had made up the previous night (realising that it is very confusing and since these kids work best in a creative, musical way, that was the best way to get it in their heads). I sang it through to them once. They laughed! I then sang the first line again with actions (it has a clap and forming letters) and asked them to join in. True to form, they picked up that first line instantly. Then as I sang the second line- the tune went COMPLETELY out of my head, and I couldn't remember for the life of me what it did- and went ahrgh!!!! At that point, my class teacher mentor came in, as she'd heard us singing and excitedly wanted to join in. She and my School mentor (the maths coordinator- eek!) instantly saved me by saying to the class- "YOU make it up with your own tune and movements!" which they were very excited about. So they went off into groups and worked out fab things (as I put the words on the IWB) and came up with some great raps. It was then a competition as all of them performed asking for my awarding of 'best tune'. I then pacily got them to apply it to a couple of examples- WITH SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unfortunately it was then break time, so I didnt get an opportunity to see how they got on with their fraction word solutions (not word problems dahling- has negative connotations!). So once again, we did not get onto the work, completed in another of my lessons. However, she loved the idea of the song, so that was a positive, even if she thought it would have been better by them creating it!
After break, admittedly had a little scary moment as the adviser to a v. high profile MoP was looking around and stood looking into the classroom while I was attempting to teach non-chronological reports in English. The majority of children were still on their note-makingAnyone who goes into teaching- be warned- teaching non-chron reports is hard!!! Attempted to cater for my EAL pupils by giving them a sheet showing them how to structure their writing, with an opening sentence for each sub-heading, but the majority of them didnt actually get onto it- still making notes! Grrrr...After lunch, it was straight to the music room to do our writing of pieces about the sea. We listened to the first of the sea interludes from Peter Grimes by Benjamin Britten (Listen
hereto Track 21). What an awesome composer, and this particular piece is amazing. The kids liked it and gave me some fantastic descriptions of what they could hear as they listened to it. To be honest- I don't think my composition project has been a huge success. Trouble in the group work was- it was just too loud to hear anything and I found it hard to actually make suggestions as they were composing, and move their learning on vastly. We went through a checklist for things they COULD use when composing, and they have composed 4 different pieces over the 4 weeks (experimenting). I hope that at least they have enjoyed having an opportunity to compose their own pieces over the last couple of weeks. It certainly gives me a lot to reflect on in my essay... It didn't go 100% though, as there was an argument between 2 girls over a violin...
Then we had assembly, and Jen and I, the other student were asked to come to the front and our school mentor thanked us and said that we were really part of the team now. Then our kids came and gave us a pile of cards, and our teachers gave us presents! I didn't expect a present from my class mentor!As assembly ended, a large crowd of the girls came up and all hugged me saying 'Don't go!'. We went back to the classroom and I gave them cupcakes and a pencil rubber each. Then I asked them if they wanted to hear some flute, and I played them some Bach (about 10 seconds), then played The great train race and then Zoomtube (which considering I haven't played for at least a year!) which they loved, all bopping in time to the music. Then something very sweet and unexpected happened. One of the girls, a very sweet little girl, came up and gave me a bag of presents and asked if she could read the letter she had written to the class. She had written a letter saying how much she'd miss me and what a nice teacher I was. And then she cried- I was like 'ahhhhhh'. Then they all said nice things to me, what they had liked best and got many hugs from them as they went. One of the children asked me for my e-mail address so he could send me a copy of his completed non-chron report, which I was like 'Hmmmm, don't know if I should do that', but no-one was around to ask, so I wrote it down, hoping for the best. Then, mother of aforementioned girl came in and told me that the child really really liked me and was really upset I was going, and she doesn't usually become attached to people. Which was surprising really, as I am constantly telling her off for not having done anything (admittedly not in harsh way, usually directing her attention back on task when she drifts...). She then told me the reason she was late this morning was that she really wanted to get me a present and write the letter, so she did. (very lovely too- some beautiful picture frames and some BeneFit perfume). Then, as I was preparing to do some clearing up, the mother of another child popped back and asked if he could have my e-mail as he was crying in the playground because I was going. My teacher was there and so didn't say anything as she asked, so I presumed it was ok.
After that, I had a brief chat with my teacher, and my school mentor bought me a present in!
I had a look at the beautiful selection of cards the children had made me. One of the sweetest things was a poster of Rose and the Doctor on a motorbike (Doctor Who) which the girls had mounted onto a piece of paper and decorated with tissue paper flowers around the edge. They got the impression I like Doctor Who (well I have talked to them about it, and written Word solutions about Daleks in an army and Doctor Who books) and had responded accordingly. Then another child had made me a beautiful card with a lovely poem which made great use of simile (which I had done with them). Sooo lovely!
After school wasn't so fun. Realising I had a lot of marking to catch up on, masses of paper to gather, samples of work to copy, and my display to complete!!!! Eeek, it took soooooo long! And even now, the movable element (concertina cards with stories on them) are not completed, but I have to go back on Monday to do some Guided reading with my focus children (for English assignment- children from the group have been intermittently away...) and at some point, collect my 20 or so books about animals (used for non-chron reports) so I will need to complete it then! I also need to complete my marking... AHRGH!!!!
Despite the stress I have caused myself by my disorganisation and worrying, it has been a great school experience- I have learnt a lot.
(oooooh, this is way too long a blog- anyone still with me?)
Now is the weekend- I shall endeavour to complete my folder, and I might even take a swim!
Hurrah!
