Lovely piccies from my half term sojourn to Catalonian France!

Was SOOOOOOO not impressed by the Boutique Champignon- an entire shop devoted to mushrooms!!!!!! The sheer madness!!!!!!!!!!

Books

As November reaches its mid-point, with lots of things to say, but not the time and energy to craft it into some sort of coherent post, I instead look at my book progress- it has certainly slowed down in the latter half/third of the year (and I curiously can't work out which 2 books I have omitted to mention in my online record- my paper copy has 93 books on it!)- busier social life and constant work fatigue (manic business!) has rendered me less diligent in book progress- I however will plow on in order to achieve my target (like Steph/ven who has already achieved his and is storming impressively forward in his target list! I think I have also suffered from reading several books that do not capture my interest sufficiently- the below entries weren't so interesting as would be hoped (no. 91 is a book I am reading with my H.A. year 5's- it was the best of the lot!)- I am currently reading Swallows and Amazons (lent to me by another pupil) and whilst I am enjoying it, it hasn't intrigued me vastly, and I started Cranford and got 3 quarters of the way through and just switched off- pity as the BBC adaptation was great! I therefore need something to recapture my reading thirst! Any suggestions????

89. THUD- Terry Pratchett.

90. A wedding of cousins – Emma Tennant

91. The week of the jellyhoppers- Pauline Cartwright

Funny Kids bible mistakes

Another thing I found that I wanted to share. I don't know where it came from, but the person who collected these together is a GENIUS, so if that was you, hope you don't mind me quoting it, but it is so funny it should be shared!

Kids explain bible
The following statements about the Bible were written by children and have not been retouched or corrected (i.e. bad spelling has been left in):

'In the first book of the Bible, Guinessis, God got tired of creating the world, so he took the Sabbath off.'

'Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree.'

'Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark.'

'Noah built an ark, which the animals come on to in pears.'

'Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire by night.'

'The people who followed the Lord were called the 12 decibels.'

'The epistles were the wives of the apostles.'

'One of the opossums was St Matthew who was also a taximan.'

'St Paul converted to Christianity. He preached holy acrimony, which is another name for marriage.'

'A Christian should have only one spouse. This is called monotony.'

'When Mary heard that she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna Carta.'

'When the three wise guys from the east side arrived, they found Jesus in the manager.'

'Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption.'

'St John, the blacksmith, dumped water on his head.'

'Jesus said the Golden Rule, which says to do one to others before they do one to you.'

'He also explained, "A man doth not live by sweat alone."'

'It was a miracle when Jesus rose from the dead and managed to get the tombstone off the entrance.'

'The Egyptians were all drowned in the dessert. Afterwards, Moses went up to Mount Cyanide to get the 10 amendments.'

'The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.'

'The seventh commandment is thou shalt not admit adultery.'

'Moses died before he ever reached Canada.'

'Then Joshua led the Hebrews in the battle of Geritol.'

'The greatest miracle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.'

'David was a Hebrew king skilled at playing the liar. He fought with the Finklesteins, a race of people who lived in Biblical times.'

'The Jews were a proud people and throughout history they had trouble with the unsympathetic Genitals.'

'Samson was a strongman who let himself be led astray by a Jezebel like Delilah.'

'Samson slayed the Philistines with axe of the Apostles.'

'Moses led the Hebrews to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened bread which is bread without any ingredients.'

And my personal favourite:

'Solomon, one of David's sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.'




---------------------------------------------

88. The Corner Shop - Elizabeth Caddell.

Winter no more

There was a lovely old lady, Sylvia, who used to come to my church. She was so sweet, so wise and lovely. Sadly she died last year, aged 90. However, right up to the month or so before her death, she would e-mail a contribution for the church monthly magazine, From my Friendship book which always imparted wise, poignant, beautiful, well-thought-out words. I was searching through my paperwork/books in a bid to downsize and found this article which really express how I feel about hope and knowing that I never can give up, because there is always Someone with me who I can trust in, and felt I wanted to share it.

Hope means such a lot to all of us, doesn't it? Every day there is something to hope for. It could simply be a surprise letter or phone call, or perhaps a visit from someone we haven't seen for a while. Maybe some warm sunshine for a special day out or for pottering in the garden. For those who are not feeling well, the hope of improvement; for those facing exams or interviews, the hope of success.

Someone once said, 'I live on hope and so, I think, do all who come into this world.'

These words I once read are also descriptive and somehow more comforting: 'In the kingdom of hope there is no Winter.'

What a lovely thought! May we all continue to live and to flourish in that beautiful place.

Sylvia

Makes me laugh!

I have this like-dislike relationship with Terry Pratchett. Sometimes, I really like him and get him, other times I am not so keen and just can't get into his stories. Some books are better than others. I like the ones about the witches, and the nightwatch. Usually, I don't want to read another one for a while after reading one and then it is refreshing when I do read one. However, every so often, he comes out with classic lines that make me chortle. Here's one in my current read:

p19 of THUD!

"Pleased to meet you sir," he said crisply, standing to attention. It really was an awful garment, that pullover. It had a queasy zigzag pattern, in many strange, unhappy colours. It looked like something knitted as a present by a colour-blind aunt, the sort of thing you wouldn't dare throw away in case the rubbish collectors laughed at you and kicked your bins over.

Hee hee!!!

I am finnished!

Hola!

Amazing autumnal weekend spent playing Finnish orchestral music at my favourite camping destination! Blessed with relatively mild (for the location at this time of year) weather, and with coming in a car therefore permitting carriage of vast quantities of clothing and bedding, I was not at all cold. The music was amazing, we played Sibelius Symphony no. 6, which evoked images of vast desolate Finnish landscape in my mind's eye and Rautavaara's Cantus Articus- which is a concerto for orchestra and bird song- very beautiful. I first heard the Iceland Symphony Orchestra play it 10 years ago, which was truly awe-inspiring and memorable- you can listen to some extracts of it here at Amazon. It was a fantastic experience! Means I am very tired for the week ahead, but happy and relaxed, having escaped educational stress from the manic week I have just endured!
Read a good book- Chocolat (see below)- interesting book, bit weird and uncomfortable in places but quite enjoyable! Hmmm, what next?
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86. A vicarage family- Noel Streatfield
87. Chocolat- Joanne Harris

Stupid things I have tried to do this year so far.

Determined that I was going to teach recorders to Year 3. Horrid, difficult, frustrating, ghastly sounds!!!!!!
I am persevering, really want to stick with it, but it's horrid in the process especially in these early stages. Particularly as hardly any of the parents of my children have bought/ or thus far will buy their offspring an instrument, which would really help them to progress and practice despite my very friendly letter! Still, I did feel there was some progress today as most of them (barring the predictable 5 or so who don't) put their hands in the right place without being prompted to swap hands, were able to play a B pitched right, mostly covering the holes correctly. They're struggling to coordinate tongue and fingers when transferring to A, which is difficult but I hope it will improve!
*Sigh*

Thoughts that cross your mind when you've had wet playtime and lunchtime AND KS1 assembly!

Half term

The holy grail which felicitously, interminably dances on the horizon.
It ever rhumbas in a seductive, teasing manner, drawing tantalizingly close,
then the next, a coy knowing gloat from afar.
Its arrival, a spirited festivity celebrated by youth and experience, mercifully
stealing the melancholy scent of jade away.
Educators chart its progress- a tacit advent calendar.
We greet it, the intrepid conqueror restored from the crusades.
All hail thee!


3 weeks!

Cutest meerkats, more books and barndances.

I'm loving the comparethemeerkat adverts! So cute so "simples"!!! But so memorable. Have you chosen your meerkat there?

Booklist is slightly confused- my Word copy indicates I was already up to 85 but my online list seems to be only at 83- not sure! Stephen asked what I was going to do to mark my centenary- I am going to choose books with fitting titles I think!
I really recommend the Malorie Blackman one below- really shocking but well written tale of racism- very thought-provoking! The 2 latest Meg Cabot books were lent to me by a girl in my class, as I saw she had a Meg Cabot I hadn't read and was very interested! She then lent them to me- was slightly worried when I read them though- really really not appropriate reading for a 9-10 year old- definitely one of MG's adult books, not one of her children's ones. Wasn't sure whether to approach it with the parent, as she had bought it for her daughter, but maybe not aware that it is very adult. I did ask girl about it, but she seemed ok with it.

Had a beautifully exuberant weekend with a riotous barn dance on Saturday evening! I've probably once again shocked the folks of deepest darkest Essex village with my over-enthusiastic yet highly rhythmic dancing- someone recognised me from having played at a local cathedral last year which was quite funny! We danced every dance, had enormous amounts of fun, laughed lots. Sustained one injury as someone stood on my ankle- button came of shoe fastening and a touch of cramp in calves throughout Saturday night/Sunday morning sleep but otherwise very delighted with the events!
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84. Queen of Babble in the big city – Meg Cabot
85. Noughts and Crosses – Malorie Blackman

The PHANTOM IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Am sooooooooooo excited!!!! The Phantom of Manhatton is here!!!!!! I heard from my friend, who plays for musicals and sessions and had played through some of the new material, a while back that Andrew Lloyd Webber was writing the Phantom of the Opera sequel. As a huge Phantom fan (not just the musical but the original book), I was rightly excited! Now, I have read Frederick Forsythe's book Phantom of Manhatton and I of course presumed that ALW must be basing it on this, since FF based his continuation of the story on ALW's version rather than Gaston Leroux's (wherein, the Phantom perishes). I like the book- I like the ending in the fact that I always thought that the Phantom had a bit of a rough deal and I think he gets a chance in FF's continuation! Anyway, I waffle. This merry evening, I received an e-mail from The really useful group entitled, a Message from the Phantom. Along with a note from the Phantom himself, they sent this link which confirms my theory! (the visuals fit in with FF's plot!). Can't wait!!!! Sooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Want to go and see it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Can't believe I've only read 2 books in about 5 weeks!

82. An infamous army- Georgette Heyer
83. Queen of Babble - Meg Cabot

Year 3 commences!

So tomorrow I begin with a new class. Mental note: No smiling till Christmas! It is exciting but of course scary! I do feel sad that the summer is over, but I am going back to school with a surplus of happiness (due to exciting holidays and lovely lovely person I've been spending time with, just to be enigmatic!) so this should hold me in good stead.
I hope that this will be a successful term in which my class and I get to know each other well and set up excellent relationships! I want to really keep on top of everything but even more calmly than before with no panic or stress!
I'm going to do recorders with year 3 for the 1/2 term I have decided! Should be fun! Everyone else, I am working through exactly what I am going to teach them.
Wish me luck!

In short. With famine on exclamation marks

I've been away! It's been great!! I am going away again!!! Is also great!! I haven't been here much!

Have been in Suffolk, Kent and Toroja in Spain. (the latter totally deficient in bright red large Britons- bliss!) All three locations excellent,providing worthy entertainment, spectacular cuisine, excellent company and highly recommended enjoyment factor. Details may follow in a future publication although personal lethargy factor currently too high to sustain detailed breakdown.

Legs remain stubbornly white despite my best attempts in Catalonian sunshine. Face, annoyingly enough, is now increasingly freckled. Legs (and other limbs) also bearing signs of overconsumption by greedy, guzzling, sneeky mosquitos.

Bank balance slightly worrying, have been unable to curb shopping appetite- disaster.

Related to above: wardrobe overload imminent: panic panic panic.

Sadness relating to return to school: Increasing. Current holiday balance is now 14 days. Heading towards time bankrupcy. Also spells worrying early indicators of work panic bonanza. Suggest all contact avoided around 1st September to avoid hysteria.

Excitement about upcoming days crammed full of wonderful music and happiness at seeing beloved friends: currently achieving a pleasant level.

Grumpiness about packing and washing clothes: surprisingly low. Current ambivalence HIGHLY suspicious. Suggest something wrong?

Happiness about lovely new holographic ballet pumps: a good average.

Current listening requirements: Wish to listen to Hairspray. Do not wish to listen to Elgar Symphony no.1 . Sadly neither cannot be avoided due to inavailability of the former and over-availability of latter! Compensated by looking forward to Shostakovitch 1 and Rachmaninov 2!

Current Piccolo status: doubled! new one is scrummy!

Book progress: Despite holiday, large quantity of reading entries surprisingly low. Some very very tacky books read, not to be repeated. Few of current entries on wish to reread list. Recommendations for numbers 79 and 80 though. Sensitively and beautifully written, especially the Ibbotson.

73. The veiled bride – Anne Ashley
74. Lady Jane’s physician- Elizabeth Bailey
75. Ten guineas on love – Claire Thornton
76. The Rake – Georgina Devon
77. Perfect summer – Kate Williams/Frances Pascal
78. Doctor Who Missing Adventure: The Crystal Bucephalus – Craig Hinton.
79. A song for summer – Eva Ibbotson.
80. The History of Love – Nicole Krauss
81. First among sequels – Jasper Fforde

Ciao bella!

This is war!

Prior to this week,I found myself mildly irritated by that common garden pest, the Vespa Vulgaris but that was it! However, I now realise that they are evil, mean, vindictive and selfish! Yep, I'm talking WASPS! So there I was, enjoying a cup of tea and a salt-beef and pickle sandwich in Totteridge High Street. And then someone decided that they wanted to roll around in my sandwich, and greedily slurp it up! The wasp started by circling my head. I didn't flap, I didn't irritate it, I just sat there feeling mildly irritated. And then it spotted my sandwich. It swooped and landed on the side of my plate. I watched, unwilling to provoke an argument. Then it decided to climb into my sandwich. That was OVERSTEPPING THE BOUNDARIES! So I put my fork under it and wiped it on the side of the table. All seemed ok. Then it did its circling flight again and landed on the side of my plate. I again gently nudged it with my fork. It instantly returned and deftly climbed into my sandwich. I vexedly did the fork removal manouvere again somewhat vehmently. It then did that jerky zig-zag dance that spells trouble very close to my face. I smelt danger! It then tried to approach the sandwich again, but my fork was there to thwart it. Then it jerkily headed under the table. I feared recriminations on my ankles so I stood up with my hands up trying to spot it. And then it took its chance. Maliciously,it headed straight for the palm of my hand and stung me in the centre of it. It hurt. It hurt alot. I was not impressed. It proceeded to sting and feel heavy for the next 10 hours. That was pure spite and malice because I wouldn't let it eat my sandwich! Grrrrrr.
And then yesterday, I was again singled out for attention in rural Essex! Ladies and Gentlemen, I must find it in my heart to forgive the selfish actions of this highly temperamental creature before a disaster of nuclear proportions is begun! Brace yourselves!

Thanks to freedigitalphotos.net

And they call it Bunny love!

I have to admit it! I am smitten! Meet Alice, the giant white bunny! Sadly not mine!

Why break with tradition - a teaching summary

I am generally quite rubbish at blogging, but I have always seemed to feel the need to herald the end of term with some summarising post, so here I am.

At the end of last year, I felt great relief at having reached the end of a rather miserable NQT (Newly qualfied teacher) year. By the end I felt more able to cope with the constant demands of a teaching career, although still not 100%. At the end of my second year, how have things changed? Well, everyone who said it is easier second time round is certainly right, teaching lessons a second time, adapted or otherwise has proved much easier, and has helped me consolidate and feel better about things that seemed awful last time. Some things have worked better, others not so, but in general, things have been better. I have been able to do things in more creative ways, and better ways, e.g. in science, I have given my kids more opportunities to do investigative work, although I still need to work on my teaching/managing technique during science.

In terms of classes, I am glad that I started off with the horror class in my first year, as this class were lovely by comparison. They had their issues of course, but I am grateful to them for restoring my belief in my abilities to manage a class and the fact that classes don't have to have disputes and need to be separated from certain children. It might have been a different story had I had the horrors after a nice class. They really were a nice class all in all, and I am glad I didn't have the other year 5 class!

Also, I was dreading working with my parallel year group partner at the beginning of last year, because she a) deputy head b) is very forthright and I always thought she seemed scary, but I have enjoyed working with her. She has a good heart, is funny, kind and and she has been a good influence on me in terms of getting me not to stress so much and relax a bit more, i.e. redressing the work/life balance. AND, she makes me feel organised at times!!!!!

In addition, I have of course come out of class for 2 days a week since January in order to teach music. This has been excellent and beneficial in several respects. Firstly, teaching music, despite impacting on my having to plan more, has meant I have two days a week without the marking, which really really really has helped me to feel happier and less swamped. Secondly, it has helped me in terms of professional development, e.g. letting me be music coordinator (unofficially and unnumerated at present, but with the responsibility), working with all year groups from Nursery to year 6 thus preparing me for the time when I am moved out of year 5 so it wont feel such a shock. Surprisingly, I have loved working with Reception and Nursery. Thirdly, also helping my professional development, it has allowed me to enrol upon the LSO On track course for primary music teachers. This has been fun, I have learnt loads, made some great contacts and I have been able to implement the ideas I have attained into my teaching. Fourthly, I have been able to teach something I love- I love music, and I love enthusing others about it. Fifthly, it has meant I have worked with a job share in my classroom. J, the lady who has taken my class when I am not there, is a lovely lady, who has helped me again to chill a bit, has taken over maths planning so I only had to plan for Literacy, again impacting on my preparation time and has really nurtured my class's art talent. She is a brilliant teacher and again, I have learnt from her.

Also, I have had to take on additional responsibilities this year through music, such as taking Singing Assembly every week. I have really enjoyed doing this, and I KNOW that (most of) the children enjoy the way I do it, because they tell me, which they didn't used to do so much. And because I have done something successfully, which staff have praised me for, that has raised my self-esteem which again impacts on my general well-being and happiness. Also, I have taken choir (crucially helped by a wonderful TA who takes it when I have meetings!) which I have enjoyed and I have enjoyed teaching a variety of songs, including Mozart, Russian folksongs and making it more interesting with percussion etc. I have also accompanied orchestra, which is taken by one of my previous music teachers from our music service which has been fun, and helped me to learn. Of course, this then led to my organising the school concert, which went fabulously, so thus again, helping my self-esteem. I know you shouldn't have to be good at everything you do in order to be happy, but I think one thing that has really hampered me since being a teacher is the fact that I felt so woefully inadequate the whole time. I know that I am of course still learning and I always will and sometimes things go well and sometimes they don't, and this is something I need to continue to address, but it certainly HAS helped, feeling better about myself!

I have really enjoyed teaching Literacy this year, and through things the kids, the TAs and people have said, AND the children's assessment results, this is something I feel I have done and developed particularly well, and engendered greater appreciation of reading, writing, vocabulary and environmental consciousness in my children.

My children have appreciated what I have done with them this year, which again has helped. (Oh and they loved THEIR story I wrote for them, which was pleasing!)

There are goals that I still need to work on, working on certain maths skills, balancing and getting things completed in time, but I do feel much more positive.

Staff meetings do still tend to scare me and make me feel I am doing it all wrong, but I have discovered this year, that most other people feel like that as well! The sense of responsibility and how much I am affecting these children's lives does overwhelm me sometimes, but all I can do is my best.

I have a new job-share this year. I am sure it will be fine. She is a nice, skilled lady and I think (hope) that working with her will make me become more organised. My fellow teachers do have this impression of me as being slightly disorganised and messy still (even though my planning and marking is always on time!)and I must address this.

So, here I am, at the end of two years as a teacher,feeling much more positive that this is something I will continue to do and enjoy more. Still, if you are in the habit, please pray that I will be able to do my best for my new kids and be happy and be able to maintain the correct balance in my life.

More Displays

The children did some beautiful William Morris and Batik work with the lady who is my job-share. She is so talented at getting children to produce brilliant art-work!

Oooh, tomorrow is the concert!!!!

Displays!

We had exhibition evening this week. This is where the parents and children come and view their work in all its splendour. Usually art work, best work, topic work etc! It is a nightmare for teachers and TAs because it means industrial scale tidy-up, horrendous amounts of mounting and tidying up and putting up on additional displays in the hall. However, it is fabulous once the headless-chicken routine is over- the work looks amazing, beautiful and it is lovely to revel in the children's achievement (even if the work is not the standard you would hope for, which many of my colleagues bemoan, it is still THEIR work which they have produced, and regardless, I think that should be praised. I've had the amazing privilege to work with a great job-share these past 2 terms and she was amazing in arranging displays and tidying and setting up! Here's some of their work, for anyone interested in teaching displays. (I am aware they are not a patch on those I have seen of other people, but I am improving!)

Success and drama!

On Sunday, I ran the Race for life. A group of 20 girls and ladies from my church went together to do it! At some obscene hour in the morning, we congregated at church. Did I mention it was some obscene hour? Bedecked in pink and floral garb, we went via mini-bus to Blackheath common. By the way, it's absolutely beautiful there! I saw several houses I'd like- lovely Georgian looking places, surrounded by greenery, water, peaceful- what can I say, I'm smitten! We congregated on the green and listened to some lovely tales of survivors of cancer (slightly marred by obnoxiously loud, over-miked compere), we watched and danced with Nivea male cheerleaders (hilarious!), warmed up to an aerobics group from the YMCA and then it began! I was slightly apprehensive owing to cold that has been pervading the last week and was planning on walking due to it, but then decided with my pal Anila, that we would try to jog. So the race began. The heavens were as blue as delphiniums with a generous spread of clouds with a slightly cooler countenance under which lurked a scorching sun. There were 5 of us from church who decided to be with the joggers group but it was just Anila and I together. We jogged most of the time (there's that irritating happening where you are in a large group and the people in front of you are going that bit too slowly and you can't quite overtake, but it's that pace that makes you stop!) with the occasional 20m stretch of walk. We stayed together till about 3km, with 2 teenagers from church catching up with us. I was always slightly ahead, but after that I decided to keep going and did the last 2k without stopping to turn round to check where the others- taking into account the time I passed the starting line at 3mins 30, and the finish line at 38mins52, my time was 35 mins-ish, which I was pleased and quite surprised about (I know that isn't very good for the proper runners out there, but was fab for me!). I have to say that I felt like I was about to topple over and collapse at several moments- I was soooooo hot- beetroot might describe my face. My fellow joggers passed the finish line a minute or two later. We went and had a well-deserved ice-cream and a mooch whilst waiting for our fellow church members who emerged about 30mins later.
We all felt very pleased with ourselves and it would be nice to do the 10K next time.

Later, after returning home, the headache which had begun during the race slowly metamorphosed into a raging beast which felt like it was eating my head! I would have had a sleep...
Unfortunately this wasn't to be, due to the lethal problem we discovered with the boiler in my bedroom as I searched for a dress in the airing cupboard.I noticed that the wooden 'shelf' upon which the boiler rested was bowing about an inch down, was wet and cracking! I'd smelt a burning smell over the last couple of days and as we looked up, the boiler was resembling the Leaning tower of Pisa. Our lovely plumber has told us the cupboard was just about to collapse and the entire contents of the airing cupboard were completely sodden with burnt-smelling water which had leaked all over when the water had boiled over inside! Apparently, it could have tipped over at anytime and scalded me to death with boiling water! Dramatic eh! We're still washing the multitude of soggy, mangled towels, sheets, clothes, duvet covers. Our house resembles an Indonesian laundry with batiked items hung up on all horizonal surfaces available. My bedroom is like the scene of a crime with mess and sawdust everywhere. After all the drama of removing all items from the vacinity, the headache became even worse and is still pervading. But I thank the Lord for the fact that I was fine and didn't get injured. What a day!

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70. A year in Provence – Peter Mayle
71. The Mediator: Mean Spirits – Meg Cabot
72. Sisterchicks do the hula! - Robin Jones Gunn
73. The Mediator: Grave doubts - Meg Cabot
74. The Mediator: Heaven Sent - Meg Cabot

In short

3 weeks left (and one inset day on the Monday- grrr). Two weeks until my School concert- my first that I have organised. I am slightly nervous of course, but I am sure that it will be fine! The children always make it fine. The choir are sounding really good and I really hope that the audience like our selection. In particular, Nanuma- a 3 part African song, The Birdcatcher from Mozart's magic flute, and Volga Boat song all sound pretty good!
It's being a very entertaining final last half term with my little dears. We have sooo much still to fit in, it seems daunting to finish everything in time but we persevere! We have been enjoying Canoeing- it has been very dramatic, lots of scared moments. Isn't it typical that the one child who didn't come swimming at all would be the only boat to capsize! He was terrified this week and wouldn't move in his canoe so we had to get him into the powerboat instead. Then another child became scared and started panicking and hyperventilating when they were standing up in canoes (bizarre, I don't know why she suddenly became scared). Anyway, she wasn't stopping panicking so we had to get her in the powerboat too. However, she still wasn't calming down and kept trying. I tried getting her to breathe slowly with me, tried talking about other things, tried to reassure her, though without success. Finally, do you know what got her to stop panicking? I sang 'My favourite things' and she joined in with me straight away and we sang the entire song and she was calm!!!! What the canoeing instructor thought of me I don't know. Fearing my sanity I expect. When I told my colleague, her retort was, "You must drive your class mad- they must think they're taught by Julie Andrews!" Yes maybe, but I have to say- I chose to do what I knew would help that particular child and I was right! So HA!

Am currently watching 'Ever After' with Drew Barrymore and Dougray Scott. It is completely and utterly the most beautiful movie ever. Really! So lovely, poignant and romantic! Watch it do!

65. Book of Mercy- Leonard Cohen.
66. Sideways stories from Wayside School- Louis Sachar
67. Be careful what you wish for – Alexandra Potter
68. Size 14 is not fat either – Meg Cabot
69. Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy

Attack of the orchids

They lie in wait. They are still in the fullness of bloom. They still watch me. They plan their floral wiles. Be warned!

Revolting reports

It is finished.
(except one)

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61. Doctor Who - Grimm Reality – Simon Bucher-Jones & Kelly Hale
62. The Phantom Tollbooth – Norton Juster.
63. The right attitude to rain – Alexander McCall Smith.
64. Dancing shoes- Noel Streatfield.

Sunshine and success!

Today was the auspicious day of our LSO concert at the Barbican! Slight apprehension was not helped by a colleague who said 'Rather you than me, I haven't taken children on a train in 17 years of teaching!'. However, my instinct proved true and we had a fantastic, easy, pain-free day, enjoyed by all. This trip for me was not succeeded by a dirty great headache, but a feeling of elation.

The walk to the station - great

The train journey - fine

The walk from Liverpool street to Barbican- fun and easy.

The lunch by the fountains - very pleasant.

The trips to the toilets- the only slight blot- one set of toilets, 50 schools arriving simultaneously. You do the maths.

The concert - excellent, perfect in length, entertaining, wonderful!

Bamboozled, the participation piece- excellent, my darlings did me proud, remembering everything and performing with alacrity!

The subsequent finishing of lunches and toilet going - much easier second time round.

The return walk to station- very pleasant and easy, only hampered by a slight meandering which was instantly checked.

The return train journey- children all seated in one area, public amused rather than irritated by.

The final walk- quick and easy.

The moaning of children unused to exercise at having to walk for around 80 minutes in total during the day - non existent!

The enjoyment of year 5- seemingly 100%

The tiredness of 6 teachers- surprisingly minimal.

The amount of money saved by school by getting train instead of coach - around £330!

The enthusiasm of Kezzie at instantly going to teach music to the other year 5 class upon return - not so happy. They are very very squabbly. My class are sooo much better.

All in all, a great day for all! I feel very pleased that my first outing (non performance for us) for music was a success! I shall indeed repeat it!

Von das Bibliotek...

59. Whistle down the wind – Mary Hayley Bell
60. Monster Mission – Eva Ibbotson

Orchids- Beauty or the beast? Friend or foe?

I received an orchid for my birthday. I also went to Kew Gardens in February half term and saw their beautiful orchid display. As I made tea this morning- IT was looking at me! I know I sound like a loony, and perhaps I am jesting or exaggerating a bit. BUT, hear me out!
FOR:
They are coveted the world over. Their beauty is heralded and copious amounts of money pass hands in payment for them. Their was even murder for one in Midsomer murders.
They come in a variety of shades, brilliant hues, sprigged patterns, larger and smaller.
They are unspeakably beautiful. They are intricate, strong yet delicate.
Their blooms have an astounding longevity.
They stand proud and tall.

AGAINST:
They are bizarre the way they last so long! Seriously, mine has been in bloom since February- It has not changed! Is it real?
You only need to water them once a week. That's weird for flowers!
There is that really nasty frond thing that sticks out the back- everytime I see it, I keep thinking it is the leg of a tarantula or some horrifically deadly spider species from down under, or worse! Why do they have that? WHy why?
Have you looked closely at one? They look exactly like some sort of vampire bat face nestled in an innocent facade of petals.
When you've got a whole clump of them on one stem like mine, it is unnervingly like a growing army of snipers, surreptitiously waiting for their chance to pounce.

I think it is a plot! The Nestene consciousness are back- and they want to take over Earth. They did it with daffodils with Jon Pertwee's Dr- perhaps Orchids are their new fiendish plot. So realistic that we think they are real!
What plan of action do we need to foil them?????
Hmmmm, David Tennant coming to rescue me?!

Eurovision novice!

Ahrgh, cold has knocked me for six this week! How kind of it to strike during SATs week when I really needed to get on with my marking and get music reports done and when there's lots of other manic stuff going on!

Well, yesterday, I watched Eurovision for the first time! I have never watched it before and never quite understood the mania/fascination etc. But after watching the 'Your country needs you!' programme once or twice, and needing something to accompany the dull monotony of marking Year 5 long writing task scripts (incidentally, my little darlings have really done me proud in their English writing, with very few exceptions! They've taken my advice, remembered the features of persuasive writing and written some cracking letters and settings-for their shorter writing task), I decided to watch it! On the whole, it was marvellously entertaining and I watched with alacrity. As I watched, I felt the need to record my observations for posterity and my own memory, since it was such a hilarious and unexpected pleasure which I would wish to remember! I shall hereby begin my diatribe (not strictly the correct word for it, since I am not ranting but it came into my mind and so I shall incorrectly use it)

Graham Norton was hilarious- I really enjoyed his sneakily, slightly audaciously bitchy but surprisingly mild sounding comments. I don't know what Terry W was like, so cannot make the comparison! I laughed lots!

Armenia - hilarious bearskins! Didn't notice the song, the costumes got me!
Russia- terrible, terrible, disturbing, creepy. Who let the cats out!
France- nice dress, not convinced by the song sadly, considering I love French songs usually.
Azerbyjan (spelling?) - FUNKY!
Bosnia- Executioners meets pirates of Penzance meets Zorro. And it looked like Sean Bean was moonlighting.
Moldova- reminiscent of a call to prayer at first. Amused by the Dandini costume, loved the 4 exuberant dancers in the background, especially tickled by the head waggling. Loved it by the end!
Greece- EURGH! Put it away!
Malta- v Andrew Lloyd Webber/Disney- lovely song, lovely voice!
Estonia- intriguing, they were very pretty!
Denmark- it really was Ronan Keating's clone! Nice though!
Germany- really catchy song. Didn't like the Dita Von Teese thing, bit sleezy. However, I have now solved the mystery of where my silver sequined trousers which went missing at our Soul Band gig at University went. Liam gave them to him! Loved the tap dancing! V. big band!
Finland- no, but liked the fire majorettes.
Lithuania- ok, not much to say!
Israel- ditto
Turkey- out of tune in places, not convinced by the Aladdin costumes.
Albani- urgh, what was with the creepy blue man- looked liked the Raston Warrior robot from Dr Who!
Norway - awwwwwwwwwwwwww, so sweet and goofy! Loved the violin, especially, the broken horse hair, it showed passion! He didn't have the best voice but I like this song! I'd buy it!
Ukraine- hamster cages, roman centurions, dominatrix- nuff said.
Romania- resembled one of those new age fantasty cards with woodland fairies. Didn't notice the song!
Sweden- just not convinced.
Croatia- no no.
Uk- Good but she could have shown more emotion in her face. Much better tuning!
Spain- Strictly come dancing! Out of tune but fun!
Portugal- so sweet- I'm with Graham!
Iceland- really beautiful, full of emotion.

I loved Iceland, Malta, Norway, Uk and Portugal. In that order. They would have got my top points!

In conclusion, I am definitely going to watch it next year- so entertaining! And I totally understand why people have Eurovision parties now. It's a very social thing- to share comments and laugh about it etc! I am converted!

54. The choir – Joanna Trollope.
55. The Boggart – Susan Cooper
56. Gemma – Noel Streatfield
57. Chitty chitty bang bang – Ian Fleming
58. The Nonesuch – Georgette Heyer.

Waffles with a dash of poetry and a sprinkling of bruises!

I'm taking my class to watch the LSO in June. We're going to watch a great programme including my favourite, Stravinsky's Petruska. We've already had a great workshop this week with 2 LSO players. It is very exciting, but also a little scary, considering I am taking them on a train! No school trip from my school has ever been on a train! I chose to do train because I thought it would be cheaper and would give them experience of a train, and I thought it was probably quicker to get to the Barbican. In prep for the concert, we have to learn this piece with song/body percussion/rap (called 'Bamboozled') it's great! Today, I began to teach them the Body percussion in lieu of PE (we had a special afternoon assembly and as we'd only have 15 mins to do PE after changing before infant play, I decided to use the time in another way)- which was fab- they were really enthused by it, picked it up quick and were amused by it! However, the body percussion (funky though it is) involves lots of thigh slapping and I have since discovered- that my left thigh is covered in a myriad of tiny bruises and that thing where you've done something to your blood vessels. Tis most distressing- in a first panic-stricken bamboozled moment, I thought I had septicaemia! I can't believe I have done that- it looks horrific! Two thoughts occur to me 1) How I suffer for my art! 2) I sincerely hope the kids aren't also covered in similar marks! I think I'd better go onto the song and rap bit for a while whilst it repairs!

So far after the deliciously wonderful bank holiday, I have had a good week,what with a French course on Tuesday. Yesterday, I went through a reading comprehension with my class- really really in depth, to the point of carefully discussing every question and discussing what we'd write. (we do one a week usually or so). Sometimes, when they have poems to talk about, they miss the point or find it hard to answer questions about it. So, I first wanted to do a poem comprehension, really covering the variety of questions you can be asked about it (they are particularly bad at quoting the text in their answers. I harp on and on...). And in addition, my class are not very kind at responding to differences in others. I have been trying to work on it in PHSE, but at the moment, we are studying persuasive writing in Literacy, including persuasion in poetry so I decided to combine the various requirements, to write a poem and answer the questions in it. I decided to try and write in character or in role and empathise with children and wrote the following. I didn't tell them it was by me, as you can see, and was really gratified that they really responded well and said they really liked it! It was a really really successful lesson so I am pleased! I hope it has gone in.
So, what do you think?

Fall and Phoenix by G. Killannerra

They push me and shove me
They make me feel a fool.
How I wish I was a giant tower
Instead of rodent small.

Each day in the playground,
They snuffle for their prey.
They’re baying hounds a-seeking me,
Determined to get their way.

Yet I too now am determined
To stand up for my rights,
To show I don’t care, am strong within
I WILL win this mental fight!

We each are special, unique, with worth,
Each have our special skills.
Beware how you treat now, today,
For one day I might cure your ills.

That which makes me different to you
Is no excuse to tease.
Beauty is variety, God made it so,
Just like snowflakes upon the breeze.

Not much else happening! I lead a very boring existence.
Although, had a fab church home group yesterday on giving. Really, really one to think about, challenging but exciting!
The reports are plodding along. Have done some more science reports, just need to keep going and then hopefully I wont encounter such utter hell at the end as last year!

Les livres
47. The Demon Headmaster takes over – Gillian Cross.
48. Victoria and the rogue – Meg Cabot
49. The hideaway – Jamilla Gavin
50. Adventures of the strange ruby – Enid Blyton.
51. Darcy’s story – Janet Aylmer
52. Confessions of a Jane Austen addict- Laurie Viera Rigler
53. The winter of the birds –Helen Cresswell.

P.S....

... By the way, '5A does The Apprentice' was a big success!!!! They were very good. I hired, I fired, I congaed...

Non-fiction surprises.

I am not a big fan of non-fiction. It bores me*. I read extensive non-fiction material for my undergraduate degree and for my PGCE and believe you me, there is NOTHING more dull than reading waffling treatises on Pedagogy (I always do my studying duty), even the word itself makes me glaze over. However, I always persevere, and occasionally, find the occasional gem. At this point, I should ask, if there is anyone out there who can recommend some gripping non-fiction that might serve to change my mind, please drop a line via comments. I live to be surprised!
However, I read 2 really interesting books over the holidays, which were both non-fiction. The first was a book called 'Four gospels, One Jesus?' which I must have picked up in a charity shop at one point when I first became a Christian, as it didn't look like one I would have bought in Wesley Owen (seeeee, Charity shops/2nd hand book shops make us think outside the box!) as it looked to be some sort of academic theological study (In my humble/biased/ignorant opinion, Academic (not theological) being the WORST** kind of non-fiction for me to read, although not as 'WORST'** as celebrity biographies!). Still, I decided that for Holy week, I wanted to look at the gospels etc and so took it off the shelf. It looked at the 4 different approaches to the gospel and how they all portray Jesus in different ways. As the lion (Mark's) with urgency, quickness, extremes, everything happening at break-neck speed, in conflict, with passion and Jesus in his actions ("He's not a tame lion you know, but he's good"). Matthew, the human face- Jesus the loving teacher, teaching extensively, the only gospel which talks of the church, Jesus in control, yet 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me, and the cataclysmic natural Earth reactions that follow, and through his human roots, old testament teachings in abundance, . Luke- the Ox- the burden bearer, the sacrificial animal, patiently plodding on through, a slower more detailed gospel, right from the before the birth, Jesus coming out of Israel's history, the importance of the temple/priestship. The human reactions of joy- Mary's magnificat etc (revealing the inclusion of all, gentiles, women, rich and poor, lost, the unacceptable, and all in God's plan), constantly referring to Who is Jesus? The holy Spirit, prayer, joy! The ultimate sacrifice. John - the eagle- the spiritual, the far-sighted, high-flying perspective, gathering under the wings whilst continuing to fly on, 'something in which a child may paddle and yet an elephant may swim' And finally, the Four portraits of the same person- in different roles, yet all in concordance upon Him. For someone who is an academic (Dean of King's college)- it is spiritually and prayerfully sensitive. For someone who doesn't like academic, it is really really approachable and well-written which I have learnt a lot from and enjoyed. I really enjoyed reading it.

The other book I enjoyed was 'Letters to Alice upon first reading Jane Austen' by Fay Weldon. I read this for obvious reasons, it being one of the books I bought in Felixstowe. It takes the form of a series of letters from the author to her niece, who had begun a literature course at University and was most disparaging about reading Jane Austen, and wrote to her black-sheep Aunt in need of help (her being an author of supposedly feminist novels. I think. I haven't read any of them). Ms Weldon, takes us through a beautiful analogy of a city of reading literature, and a surprisingly insightful look at Jane Austen's life and her novels. We learn of the niece's wish to write her own and a lot about being an author (you have to write as a reader, not a writer). This was both witty, amusing and insightful and again, one I would recommend, despite the fact it does reflect its 80's roots.

Ooooh, and most excitingly, I may at last be about to visit Chawton next week, Jane Austen's last abode, where she wrote some of her novels. It is set in rural Hampshire, so I wait for confirmation in high spirits!

More books...
43. Letters to Alice upon first reading Jane Austen – Fay Weldon
44. The spy who loved me - Ian Fleming
45. Blowing it – Judy Astley.
46. Beauty – Sherri Tepper



*With occasional exceptions.
** Worst, a word which here means, following attempts to plough through them, likely to make me want to do marking/cleaning/tidying/voluntarily pick up angry tarantulas, rather than continue to read...

Waffles sans maple syrup

I find myself back into the swing of life, panicking to try and get everything crammed into a 5 week half term. Life is manic, but then it usually is, right from the days as a teenager- dog walking, working, music rehearsals galore, oh and school!
The Easter holidays were lovely. Such a refreshment is so necessary- non-teachers find it so hard to understand. Mind you, I was pleased that I did manage to get a fair amount of work done. I levelled all my English assessments (holiday recounts) on the first couple of days of the holidays. The first day of the holidays, I had a lovely time playing a concert in Woking, enjoying some shopping (more books oh dear…) with my dear friend E, despite initial panic at strange hour long train diversion- thank the Lord that I did the unheard of, and left myself an hour and a half extra to travel!

On the Wednesday and Thursday I went to stay with my Uni friend Kath in Oxfordshire, which was an unexpected and happy experience. Kath shares my taste in books and particularly my love of browsing charity shops and second hand bookshops for new books. Don’t tell her boyfriend (or my mum!) that we both managed to buy a significant amount of books in one afternoon! We meandered fields, searched perplexedly for the site of a Medieval village in an old copse. Later, we enjoyed friezes in a tiny rural church and chips in a gastropub. On the second day, it was blowing a hooley (as my Dad says) and we visited the Rollright stones (she counted 60, I counted 67! Tis true- no one counts the same amount!) the whispering knights and the stone King. She met up with a fellow teacher to discuss their musicals concert (she’s a music teacher!) and we ate lunch in a garden centre, where the girl playing piano there played my grade 7 piano pieces!!!!!

Maundy Thursday evening, we had a service at church which was a new experience- foot washing involved, to recall Jesus washing the disciple’s feet- I thought this was lovely, an act of humility and servitude to to others, but since we’d never done it before, and I was the first one asked to come forward, it was a little daunting at first (and I am ticklish, so wore a slightly nervous smile).

On Good Friday, we discovered that my mother and I had both bought Hot X Bunnies, meaning we had a total of 24 for two people! At church, we hosted the local churches united for the service. It was a blessed time, with many followers having followed the cross around our area. I sang the cantor for the trisagion and reproaches which was slightly nerve-racking.

Subsequently, in the afternoon we had a 1 hour meditation, which was a very special time. Rach talked to me about prayer writing a while ago, and I do tend to try and prayer write at times- I tend to find writing poems as a form of praise and worship as part of this, and helps me to focus! I spent some time doing this. After the service, I went for a country walk with my friend Debs and her daughter N plus dalmations, which was a real blessing. I realise that for me, walking, surrounded by nature is such an important need in my life. When I returned home, I wrote some songs.

Saturday was the big spring clean at church. Yes, me and intense chores are antonyms, scrubbing at surfaces fills me with dread but there you are! Oh, and of course, there was no purchase of books in the afternoon (Ahrgh, what’s happened to my nose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

After 2 lovely days at my Dad’s (plus Easter Sunday service), including doing planning, I enjoyed 4 halcyon days in Felixstowe, where I swam, walked extensively and er- bought some books (and started those rascally reports!).

My return to school has been fairly innocuous thus far (whaaaaat, I hear you ask?). I actually experienced not just one, but TWO music composition lessons with my year 3s on Monday that did not result in my wanting to tear my hair, perforated ear drums and a hoarse voice! They worked enthusiastically, sensibly, cooperatively, intelligently and efficiently (whoa, too many adverbs!) and completed the task correctly- tis a rare and beautiful thing! Things took a slightly less positive turn with year 6, who are too big for such a small music room, and are a bit noisy (SATS repression), silly and cock-sure, but it wasn’t too bad- and those children from my class last year who were problematic, were actually mostly fine. I am back with the horrendous year 1s again this half term- they are equally crazy. Transferring them from assembly in the dinner hall to the music room in the main building took 15 minutes- it is like herding a bunch of particularly stubborn. Or that game with the heads that keeps popping up- as soon as one was quiet, another would pipe up, walk at snail pace, start arguing, grab at a display board, sneak a drink from the drink fountain, start a mini-scale war, paint a Van Gogh…
Literacy is great fun at the moment- we are studying persuasive writing, and we’ve been looking at adverts. Science is going to be less painful as we will be covering ‘Keeping healthy’ (although, that said, finding pulses is always challenging!). Today we came up with unique selling points (internet enabled watch for anyone?) and tomorrow, I will assuming the persona of Sir Alan Sugar to present my class with an Apprentice style challenge to come up with a sales pitch for a After school club, and I shall be hiring and firing! They’re very excited!

As I type, I am watching the programme about the 33 stone teenager, Georgia- poor thing, I know lots of people are judgemental on overweight people (and I certainly don’t approve of what a lot of parents feed their children- as someone who was brought up in a house with very little money, despite my middle-class background, I was always made to eat healthy foods, cheap vegetable stews and I worked on the allotment etc) but I really do understand the emotional tug that food has on some people, I feel it myself quite frequently. I am fortunate that I have a high metabolism, walk lots, am often too busy to stuff myself, enjoy breakfast etc, but I am certainly one who eats lots when miserable! It does seem to in the short-term act as a morale-booster. She lost a parent when young, had some social and obviously emotional events have an impact on how our lives shape out . It is amazing that she’s managed to become so heavy though, but I reserve judgement, I don’t think I can judge, she’s encountered a huge amount of grief in her life. I really admire her determination and really hope it works out for her!

Tomorrow, I have the thrilling pleasure of teaching athletics.

Books, books, books...
39. The unknown Ajax - Georgette Heyer
40. A civil contract – Georgette Heyer
41. Four gospels, one Jesus? – Richard Burridge
42. Whizziwig – Malorie Blackman.

Joy abounding!

I've felt the most overwhelming sense of joy this weekend. Obviously, one of the most obvious reasons is that I am free of my little lovelies for 2 weeks (we were all rather tired and ratty with each other this week) but it's been a lovely day. We had a really worshipful service at church today- it was filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and there was a real feeling of everyone singing their hearts out to God (sometimes, our congregation can be a little reticent in singing out). We started off in the vicarage garden, we sang Hosanna, surrounded by the sounds of trilling finches, the soft rustle of Spring leaves, the fresh smells of greenery and new life, that never-ceases-to-amaze-me chandelier of blossom on the surrounding regal trees. Then we began singing another song 'Make way for Christ the King' as we exited the garden and walked, singing exuberantly around the corner and the gates were 'flung wide' as we entered the church (accompanied by the unexpected and highly amusing accompaniment of a rather excited little boy who pinched my tambourine and then ran up the aisle and banged vigorously on the conga drum and then jammed it with the vicar's guitar whilst we sang 'All glory laud and honour'!). I just felt the real joy, overwhelming joy in worship today!
Then, this afternoon, I enjoyed a lovely relaxed sunny lunch with my friend J. It was a perfect day. After a lovely simple evening service, I then enjoyed a recital by our virtuosic blackbird (he really has to be heard to be believed!) before finding my computer!
Hope your day was equally lovely!

More fab books!

37.Sprig Muslin - Georgette Heyer
38. The Hounds of the Morrigan - Pat O'Shea.

I have to say that the Hounds of the Morrigan is one of the most imaginative, beautifully descriptive and beautifully written books I have read in a long time, and still, since being a kid's book, preserves that wonderful sense of innocence- I went off adult fantasy novels a while back, due to there always being some sort of weird things going on. But kids' ones are still fab!

Not blogging at work honestly!

Just realised that I never change the time on my blogs, looks like I am blogging at work. I assure you this is not the case! I never get a spare moment with the darlings- they demand my attention 100% of the time!

WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY DVD PLAYER???????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A jubilant thought!

6 wake-ups till freedom!! Hee hee!!!!!

33. Friend or Foe - Michael Morpurgo.
34. The Faro’s daughter – Georgette Heyer.
35. Last night I met a whale – Michael Morpurgo.
36. Lyra’s Oxford - Philip Pullman

mustard seeds

2 weeks ago, I taught my class a great song/chant I learnt at my LSO course. It's called Bungalow, and it's kind of a call and response song. My class, like me, instantly loved it, and have since demanded it when given time. Then last Tuesday at choir, when we had 3 minutes left, I asked if there were any requests and my class reps requested Bungalow enthusiastically. The rest of the choir picked it up in the 2 minutes and seemed to like it. I thought nothing of it after that.
The next day at lunchtime, I entered my colleague's room to give her some resources and to my bewilderment, could hear Bungalow being sung en-masse through 3 shut doors. I glanced through the windows, to find a circle of well over 60 children singing it. At the end of lunchtime when I went to collect my class, they informed me that years 3,5 and 6 were all singing it.
And further displays were my playground duty on Thursday when most of Year 6 spent their entire playtime standing in a circle singing it. It was amazing!
Just shows- one small song, one small piece of inspiration! I stand in jubilant disbelief!

In other school news, we finished reading There's a boy in the girl's bathroom again such a good book- I really recommend it! Kids love it, it's a great study in self-belief, friendship, confidence and the hope of change!



27. The pale horse – Agatha Christie
28. The exploits and adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy – Elizabeth Aston
29. Confessions of an ugly stepsister – Gregory Maguire
30. The children of Charlecote – Phillippa Pearce and Brian Fairfax-Lucy
31. Aquila – Andrew Norris.
32. The hundred and one dalmations – Dodie Smith.

And so the list goes on

23. Last form at St Clare's Pamela Wise/Enid Blyton
24. A finder's magic - Philippa Pearce
25. The second Mrs Darcy - Elizabeth Aston.
26. The reluctant Baronet - Jane Gillespie

The big book list

Hello empty blogsphere! I have decided to keep a Booklog like Steph/ven because I'd like to try and read 100 books in a year (Jan 1-Dec 31), also it's a good idea, I quite like keeping lists and I feel I need to have a look at my choice of books, as I am detecting that in recent years a) I tend to read a lot of kiddies books (which began upon my becoming a teacher, since I have found that one way to get the little darlings reading, is to enthuse about some book I have just finished reading to which I then say 'Ooooh, I just read this, it's fab, who wants to read it?!' which always gets a response and also, if there is a child who lacks a certain something in their writing, or is somewhat restricted in their reading choices, I will target them with a particular book I think they'd like (e.g. A. recently with The 39 steps) because I like their relative innocence and 'imaginary happenings and worlds' untainted by adult preoccupations. I also notice I read a lot of one author, so I feel I need to subject my reading list to critique! And well, I find it hard to actually think of anything to put up here, so here is something! (to my obviously huge audience!) And yes, I am detecting definite themes already!

1. The country gentleman- Fiona Hill

2. Sanditon- Jane Austen and another lady

3. The Watsons - incomplete – Jane Austen

4. Beware the babysitter- Kate Williams

5. The Night before- Kate Williams

6. The verdict. - Kate Williams

7. Princess Diaries, 10 out of 10 - Meg Cabot

8. Boy meets girl – Meg Cabot

9. All American girl, ready or not - Meg Cabot

10. Eden Hall – Veronica Heley

10. The reluctant marquioness – Anne Ashley.

11. The screwtape letters. – C.S Lewis

12. Emma Watson – Joan Aiken (The Watsons completed.)

13. Nell – Elizabeth Bailey

14. Teen idol - Meg Cabot.

15. The diary of a young girl- Anne Frank

16. Who’s that girl? – Alexandra Potter

17. Twelfth night- William Shakespeare.

18. Lady Catherine’s necklace – Joan Aiken

19. Mansfield Revisited – Joan Aiken

20. The Great Gatsby – Scott Fitzgerald.

21. Third form at St Clare’s- Enid Blyton/Pamela Wise.

22. A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E – Malorie Blackman.

Snow is...

...a lily blanket laid upon shivering ground.
... a fleece stolen from a benevolent polar bear.
...A scattering of fallen sheep from the sky. (if you believe some of my year 5's...)
... feathers shed from busy angels.
... a blank canvas donated by the great artist.
Oh how utterly corny, I give up!

... pretty, soft and lovely.
...scrunchy and squeaky when trod upon heavily.
... an inducer of child-like emotions and actions.
...romantic if someone to enjoy with.
... wonderful when it causes you to have unexpected days off!

2 DAYS! NO SCHOOL!
2 DAYS! NO SCHOOL!
2 DAYS! NO SCHOOL!
2 DAYS! NO SCHOOL!
2 DAYS! NO SCHOOL!
2 DAYS! NO SCHOOL!
2 DAYS! NO SCHOOL!

100 things to do...

I have borrowed this from Rach's blog which I haven't looked at for ages. Have a look, fab blog! She borrowed this from Lyn's blog I like the idea of seeing what has changed over a year, and seeing if I have done anything new... (ones in bold I have done...)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii (not yet...)

5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain (really don't want to again! Too high! Too clumsy!)
9. Held a praying mantis (no, but I've been conducted by one! Or so it would seem!)
10. Sang a solo (ever increasing in recent times...)

11. Bungee jumped (IS. NEVER. GOING. TO. HAPPEN)
12. Visited Paris (a one day Eurostar special, except that I wasn't very well, got up at 3.45am and returned to bed 22 hours later. Fun, but not ideal)
13. Watched a lightning storm (I was only about 11, helped set up a stall at my school fete on a Friday night, forked lightning. Super scary for a wuss like moi!)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (I dabble at arty things, but don't think I have learned something proper from scratch!However, would like to do this with mosaicing)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (oooh, salmonella twice in the 80's. NOT good!)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (yep, first grew corn on the cobs aged 7...)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (sleep is a generous verb for it. The sleeper to Penzance- air conditioning was too high to sleep. Stupidly, didn't realise the link between by apparent insomnia and the aircon control...)

21. Had a pillow fight (Oooh, not for years. Want one now!)
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (To my shame, as someone who drags myself to work/school when sick, I believe there was an incident with a GCSE history project if I am honest and remember rightly, when I wasn't quite finished...)
24. Built a snow fort (not sure, think I tried in Lucy's garden aged 8...)
25. Held a lamb (yeh! And given it a bottle. At the house of a lovely stranger in Abbeydore/Craswall, Herefordshire!)
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (I wish...)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (lovely ones in Kuta, Bali.)

31. Hit a home run (if we are counting rounders in this...)
32. Been on a cruise (no, although been on Scandanavian seaways to Hamburg. Does that count?)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (not been to Greece yet...)
35. Seen an Amish community (I'd really like to visit the Pennsylvania, though I agree with Rachel that not a spectator sport.)
36. Taught yourself a new language (yep, when I started Indonesian. And also, started learning Greek via Beeb website)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. (Is satisfaction about money?)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (I'd prefer never to do this again. Did not enjoy it!)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight (largely stationary, but it involved lots of us foreign students in Bali, bizarrely learning Polish vocab!)
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (as part of a String quartet in France.)
48. Gone deep sea fishing (eels in the Wye?)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (soooooo preetty snorkelling!)
52. Kissed in the rain (Don't think I've actually stood out in the rain to kiss. But we all love that Four weddings and a funeral 'Is it raining? I hadn't noticed' moment. Would like to!)
53. Played in the mud (yep, with my class when we were tree planting this autumn, well, we all slid around in it! It was fun!)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (alla Fred Flintstone?)
55. Been in a movie (I've sung in an animated film- does that count?)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia (would like)
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (plenty of times. In Bali. Side saddle!)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (Have had a piece of music published.)

81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (several times- all embarassing- young composer's comp, A level results,and 'Mother's worry at daughter in Bali bomb' amongst various embarassing music events.)
85. Read the entire Bible (I think I've read the whole thing, but never in one go...)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (yes but most delightfully- the lovely JJ Feild!)
92. Joined a book club (have been invited to, want to, not got around to.)
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a mobile phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day (too many times...)


Hmmm, I am quite boring aren't I?

Bad Poetry part 3

A lesson in contrast

Outside, in the lonely impersonal streets,
the cars hurry on by.

The greedy wind snatches at scarves,
threatening to imprison in its icy grasp.

Trees brandish sharpened talons,
coated in fiery ice.

The glassy pavement offers no friendship
but rejoices in infirmity.

The isolated and courageous trek wearily
Towards sanctuary.

For inside is found bliss,
rest, gentleness and relief.

The warmth is a featherdown quilt,
quashing all thoughts of winter.

The scent of a blessed repast,
is an invitation to happiness.

Tranquility is found
in the spectrum of comfort.

Yet without the frozen foe,
How would I know true comfort?
Comparison teaches contentedness.
Opposites teach optimism
I learn to love both.

Tis a truth universally acknowledged that a teacher in possession of a good task, must be in want of doing the activities herself. As is the fact, that when I get my children to write poetry, I always want to do the same myself, and then inflict my strange musings upon the world for judgement. The task this time was poem showing 2 contrasting parts.

And in response to my last post....

Well, after 5 weeks of work on 'Gases around us' it appears we have actually taken in some information!!!! I did the assessment on Friday morning, and the majority of the class got between 8-10/10 for their knowledge about properties of materials and all of them improved their enquiry/investigative skills from their previous assessment! In general I am quite pleased with them. Makes a nice change when nearly everyone makes considerable progress! I think we now know that clouds are made up of condensed water droplets and not biblical animals...

Things kids say

I did a 'pre-test' on 'Gases around us' and 'Changing State', the units we are covering in Science, last week with my class. This is a way of finding out what they already know to inform my teaching and to be able to see how much they improve over the course of the units. One of the questions was:
What two things are clouds made up of?
The correct answers being either water vapour, ice, or water droplets.
Dear B, a sweet child, replied thus:
a) Sheep b) wool
At 9 going on 10, surely he can't really believe there are sheep in the sky?!?!?!?!

Another question received the scarily common answers.

There is a puddle in the playground. By the afternoon, it has dried up.
What process has occurred?

What has the puddle turned into?

Ok, I get that they don't necessarily know that it's evaporated into a gas, as that is what we are learning about, BUT surely:
What process has occurred?
Mud
What has the puddle turned into?
A solid
HELLO??????????????? Where did mud come from? Where is this solid????????

An ode to educational freedom

Halting of the chaos, business and focus and crowded thoughts,
Away from the constant chitterings of enquiring minds.
Lying in bed knowing that the tyrannical alarm clock has no power over me.
Freedom at last to think, breathe and dream.

Thoughts of sea, sun, fields, and blowing leaves.
Energy begins to return to this weary vessel.
Reading, renewing, relaxing, remembering, rejoicing!
May I have some more sir?