As before, I've been a bit reluctant to spend any extra time online- I have been trying to come and do some visiting but I just didn't have the energy reserves to blog properly apart from my book review post which was long overview!
So, I'm taking the form of the 'Lately' post that I pinched from Bev a while back to catch up.
Eating...
Indian Takeaway for two nights from Monsoon plus left over red cabbage
Veggie Heck sausages plus roast potatoes, roasted tomatoes and courgettes and red cabbage.
Sweet potato and Kale red lentil Dhal with Coconut chutney and red cabbage x2
Instant Noodles with peas and sweet corn.
Hummus, carrots, olives,
Olive bread
Donuts
Greggs' Bacon and Omelette baguette. It's been a bit of a meaty week- I've had meat 3 times with the bacon and 2 meals from the Indian Takeaway!
After Eight mints
Drumstick squashies
Watching...
Dawson's Creek (Netflix)
Masterchef the Professionals (Netflix)
Come Dine with me Couples (Netflix)
Neighbours (Netflix)
Doctor Who Day of the Doctors (DVD)
Sherlock (BBCiPlayer)
All Creatures Great and Small (the original one on YouTube)
Reading...
Mr Penumbra's 24-hour bookstore by Robin Sloan
Playing...
ScrabbleGo This past week, has been a good one. I am in the Sapphire league (for the arena games) which is the 2nd highest, scored my highest score for a single word 140 points for Sturdies (thank you double triple word score) and my longest word ever - Inequalities. This started as Equal, then became equalities and finally inequalities. I love playing Scrabble! Trying to ween myself off it a bit though!
Wishing...
That everyone would get down on their knees and pray about the state of our world and for the health of our country and world.
Buying...
A teapot from Portmerion and a teatowel for my Stepmum's birthday (Wrendale designs) - ordered on Wednesday- they arrived Thursday!
A second hand Whistles shirt worn on Doctor Who which I IDed and miraculously found! This is my one purchase for January. Trying to only buy one thing a month
Teaching...
A lot! It's been another full on week of lesson creation. I have had technical hitches again although I am fathoming them a bit more now. I found that Monday was hell as things went wrong and had to be resolved and then I fathomed some solutions. I am so grateful to one of the mums in Year 2 as she sent me a lovely video last week of her daughter playing London's Burning on my online glockenspiel helped by her older sister (who was one of my star pupils before she left 3 years ago- I used to sponsor her learning the cornet) and a sweet message accompanying it. On Tuesday morning, after I posted the lesson link to the interactive powerpoint with videos, audio and pictures, she messaged me to say that it wouldn't download at all. I then tried uploading in a different form (which took another hour or so....after spending most of the previous afternoon on it) and asked if she could test things for me and she was brilliant with feedback on what worked and what didn't. Later, she sent a wonderful video of her daughters performing a fireworks piece using the recycling (which was the final outcome of the lesson).
I thought I was doing ok for being ready for next week's lessons (As I am in school Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday taking the Year 4 keyworker bubble) but I got to Friday 4pm and realised I didn't have any complete powerpoints - I'd recorded videos and audio but nothing complete so I ended up having a frantic scamper through putting together the powerpoints (still not complete- will have to do some work tomorrow) till about 8.30pm. I realised I'd spent waaaay too long preparing for my Year 2 lesson for next week- I've prepared recordings with interactive questionning (on a great site called EdPuzzle where you can insert question at key moments into YouTube videos) which was perfect for my year 2 lesson where they have to listen to and compare 2 great pieces about Fireworks (by Stravinsky and Handel) - I started trying to create a series of posters featuring instruments of the orchestra from different angles including playing position to help the children recognise the instruments in the videos and it seemed to take a whole load of time getting instruments out and photographing them (and getting distracted playing the clarinet and flute), messaging various friends to see if they'd take photos also.
Next week is going to be busy and tricky.
Other doings...
I have taken three walks this week apart from my last Sunday trek- I walked for an hour on Thursday night and Friday and CBC and I walked this afternoon. We parked our car about 2 miles away and did a short circular walk of about a mile or so and then when we got back to the car, I decided to walk home. CBC said he'd nip to the COOP on the way back and I said I'd meet him there. He was incredulous that I'd actually get there in time. I immediately got my skates on and he was still in the COOP when I walked back- I did do some running also! I also beat him home (I went via the Chipshop!)
Drawing and colouring food pictures for my Year 3 lesson
Listening to:
Stravinsky Fireworks
Handel Music from the Royal Fireworks.
Henry Wood variations on sea songs- Sailor's Hornpipe-
Creating a body percussion version for my year 5's- it took me ages to record it as I kept getting it wrong!
Playing...
The Cat from Peter and the Wolf (on the clarinet)
Vivaldi's Goldfinch concerto (recorded a little video for family)
Bach E major flute sonata
Sounds like you had a full-on week fraught with obstacles again on the teaching front. This must be utterly exhausting, and I really don't know how you do it. It must have been great to have that wonderful feedback from one of the mums! Thinking of you! xxx
ReplyDeleteThe feedback was much appreciated. Otherwise you wonder if you are making all that effort for absolutely no reason!
DeleteWow what a sweet post! I love Sherlock,too :)
ReplyDeleteSherlock is great fun. I'm not sure I'd describe this post as 'sweet' but thank you for the compliment.
DeleteWill add to our prayer group intentions for tomorrow evening that this week will be much improved, thinking of you xx
ReplyDeleteThank you San, prayers appreciated. I'm on the train to school now. Hoping it all goes ok. Hope you are ok.x
DeleteThanks for leaving a comment on the blog I placed you on the intention list in the WA group last night xx
DeleteI hope this week will be easier for you. It sounds like you have your hands full with so much activities in your daily life.
ReplyDeleteI notice that you eat lots of red cabbage. I always plant green summer cabbage because I love its tender taste for coleslaw and for stir frying. I was given a surplus of red cabbages this past fall and even though I know it's better for my health, it not my favorite and I'm having difficulty using it all. I did well though but I still have one left.
My daughters play scrabble on Facebook. I see you are an expert at it. The only game I play on the computer is Free Cell and It's a solitaire game.
Hugs, Julia
The only reason I'm eating red cabbage so much is that they were one of the few packaging-free vegetables in the supermarket and they were/are in season. That cabbage is enormous and it is taking us an age to eat it up!
DeleteI liked Solitaire. I wouldn't day I'm an expert at Scrabble, compared to lots of people, but I really enjoy it and as I've noted, in getting better at it which is satisfying.
I hope this week is lots better for you. How lovely was that mum though, giving feedback and helping?
ReplyDeleteWrendale Designs do some really cute things.
Things can only get better for you (I hope!)
ReplyDeleteSome lovely sounding food, I've yet to try those Heck veggie sausages. I enjoyed Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Book Store, I read it on a beach in Goa which always helps. xxx
Sending lots of love. My son is a primary school teacher so I know how tough it is. I have been creating yoga videos for the schools I usually teach in and that takes lots of time too.
ReplyDeleteI hope this week is easier for you.
Peter and the Wolf takes me back. My dad used to play it to me on the record player when I was a child. I loved it.
I enjoyed "Mr. Penumbra" - we read that in my book club a couple of years ago. I just finished "Less" by Andrew Sean Greer, and loved it SO much I wanted to immediately read it again.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you, Kezzie!
I also took the week off from my blog/the computer to just relax a bit. It's important to do that.
I hope your teaching week goes well! Looking forward to seeing your new Dr. Who skirt!
These are not easy times to work in an education sector. I wish you all the best with the teaching next week.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness I want some Drumstick squashies now!
ReplyDeleteI hope the week went OK, this online learning is all very well and good but it seems to create a lot of work for you. I hope this doesn't go on for much longer.
xx
You are so incredibly busy and productive!!! It's good to be young and able to do all that -- the school prep hours alone are so involving! I remember. Glad you are getting outside for walks and runs. That's super important right now.
ReplyDelete