Strange coincidences

Deja Vu? I am watching Poirot, and in front of my eyes, Mr Bingley and Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper) from Lost in Austen which finished on ITV1 on Wednesday, have turned up as 2 characters in Poirot Third Girl, together!!!! Isn't it funny the way that happens?

Weddings, weddings, weddings...

I could quite get used to this going to weddings lark- it's been fun! I wonder who will be the next to get married? It has been weird, being an 'integral part' of all the weddings this year- Firstly, playing flute for the marriage of a family friend T----- for the 'down the aisle' music, beforehand, signing of register and 'playout music'. Then being a bridesmaid for my sister, then finally, walking my Mother up the aisle with my sister and signing the register as a witness! No one I know is planning to get married next year, so it may be a quiet one. I will try to put some photos up when I can get hold of some official ones! Here are a couple of examples from my new 'Step-dad's' camera.

Wedding Number One: The lovely Bride and Groom in their beautiful country afternoon wedding.

The wandering minstrels

The proverbial 'bag lady'.

Wedding number two: The bride and groom prepare to zoom off in their chariot

Hans and Leia sign the register in their ceremony.

I haven't got any of wedding number 3 yet, but will try to oblige!
My Mum's wedding, last Sunday was wonderful. It was a lovely day, and I was very happy for them. Her new husband's speech was heartfelt. I must confess to being somewhat tearful as I wended my way home. I suddenly felt all bereft and lonesome realising that my Mother and I will not live together properly again. It's ridiculous I know. I've lived on my own before, and my mother has never been one of those clingy mums, she's always been somewhat different, but I do all of a sudden wish I had appreciated her company more. Oh well, that's what comes with age.

Oh, by the way, the kids mission went very well and I had a lovely week in Yorkshire with my friends. I suitably irritated my friend A---- driving up there (he was very patient with my constant games!) and I walked every day, usually about 1.5 miles a day, and 5 and 4 respectively, on other days. Beautiful!

Summertime, and the living is easy (well, not quite yet)

Yay! That elusive, holy grail of the teaching world is upon us at last! The Six weeks holiday (though most irritatingly and less catchy, is this year's 'The 5 weeks and 2 days holiday') is here. The Oasis in a myriad of hot,grumpy, sweaty and smelly (when you get further up the school!) children. I bid my monsters and angels farewell, and get a new batch of little cherubs. I reserve judgement until next term!

The latter part of Wednesday, Thursday, and subsequently, Friday morning were spent trying to sort out the Pigsty classroom. I have now had the courage to go through all the contents of my big teacher cupboard which I was too scared to meddle with last year, and have recycled about 1/4 of a forest of paper. SO much stuff becomes quickly redundant in a climate of change, change, change. I have to say, I felt physically sick at the amount of paper that we had to dispose of. It's the nature of a school of course, but that doesn't mean I am going to enjoy it. Really hoping that I will be lovely and organised this year. I've started off well- here's hoping I sustain it!

Friday, I went to a Spitalfields Tea Dance, at er- Spitalfields with my friend Anne. It was lovely. The New Covent Garden Dance Band provided us with hits to dance to and a series of white haired lovelies were serenaded by sprightly older gentlemen, with younger onlookers and a few younger participants. It was utterly charming- we had tea and cake in china cups in the middle and the atmosphere was wonderful. I had two dances with a very sweet Chinese gentlemen who showed me how to foxtrot. I recommend it. There was a distinct lack of men and since everyone seemed to know each other, as mentioned, therefore Anne and I only had a couple of dances, but it was great fun! The next one is at 1-3 on the last Friday in August at Crispin Place, Brushfield Street, if anyone is interested.

Next week is our children's mission at Church, which I am looking forward to, despite fatigue- have told my kids at school about it, so I may just be spending another week with some of my class. If you are in the habit of praying, please pray for the right amount of children to come, and that they will be kept safe as they travel here, and that we have a blessed week with them learning lots and having fun and that we can show them Christ's love in our actions.

Sunday, is my third big wedding of the year, my MOTHER'S wedding. Should be lovely. And hee, hee, I have an exciting wedding present planned for them- am sending them for afternoon tea in the Winter garden at the Landmark Hotel. If you ever get the chance, go there, it is simply breathtaking!

The next week, I am off to Goathland AKA Aidensfield for a couple of days. Hurrah for Summer!
Hurrah for walks, hurrah for holidays, hurrah for friends that live in beautiful places that like visitors!

Loving the timelord speculation!

What a brilliant episode of Dr Who on Saturday!!!! Loved the whole Rose thing! And very glad that Donna didn't die. I don't think Russell T Davies will kill her off- he said in a previous Confidential, that Dr Who isn't about that, so she wont die. I wondered if there was any Master link, as the actress who played Chanto in Series 3 finale played the fortune teller, but apparently just the same actress being used. Will Davros be united with Dalek Kaan, or is he working alone? He was last seen at the end of Remembrance of the Daleks, jetissoning out of the Imperial Daleks ship. Most intriguing!

Ciao now!

Miss Austen..

Ah, what is it about Jane Austen? I just seem to be captivated by any Jane Austen book or film I read or see respectively. What IS it about her books that has that timeless appeal that renders me unable to stop reading etc? It's hard to believe that I had never seen or read any until about 2 years ago! Any suggestions?

Musings

I was just watching Dr Who on i-player (the most marvellous invention for the last decade!)- and again, there was Rose calling the Doctor. I noticed at the very beginning of the series 'She is coming back' and other references to her as well as the obvious appearances of her. Russell T Davies likes to have an overarching theme for the series, which you now tend to look out for: 1) Bad wolf (I didn't get it till the Slitheen in Wales), 2) Torchwood (which I picked up by Episode 2), 3) Mister Saxon (took me a little longer), 4) Rose (had it by episode 2).
It made me curious, so I googled to see if anyone had any goss about what would happen in the last part of the series, and I am AMAZED by the amount of things on Utube people have made, about their ideas of what is going to happen. There are LOADS of close ups and clips of the BBC trailer with that dalek half in darkness which must be Davros. If I didn't think it before, I now do! It's so exciting!!! I still can't believe that Dr Who is back- I think back to 10 years ago, 2 years on from the Paul McGann movie and DrWho fans speculating as to whether they would bring back a new series.
I enjoyed the Midnight episode- it was suitably creepy. Although, I always really want to know what things are, so I wish I knew what the thing was and why it did what it did- and also the blonde woman who got taken over screamed 'I knew she'd get me!'. Oh well, there are things we never know!

And where are all those renegade timelords? Will they ever return to tv? The Rani, Romana, The Meddling Monk, Rassilon (who never really died), Dax (was that his name? In the Armageddon factor). And what about the White and Black guardians. And the Eternals? Where are they all?????

Oh and am loving the fact we are doing Persuasion in Literacy at the moment, and I can make all the tasks like a challenge on 'The Apprentice'. On Friday, they have to make a Salespitch for a Sportsclub! There's so much narrative in the new Primary Framework that it is a refreshing change when there is some non-fiction!

Right, now I've wittered on about er-nothing, I shall return to my marking..

3 present pet hates

I would like to say the following....

I do not like writing reports.
I do not like reports fullstop.
I do not like wallpaper paste.
I do not like covering boxes in white paper using wallpaper paste.
I do not like clearing up large quantities of paint.
I do not like sticky, gloopy classrooms.
I do not like painting large objects.

Yay for writing reports and Art week!

Another display...

Oh, for the benefit of the teacher-type people, here is one of my displays of the children's RE work. Haven't got any other pictures developed yet of other displays. You can see a faint peak at the SC1 science display board.
My favourite Jesus is the bottom right one- the Arab looking Jesus with a big cheesy grin! Definitely could have been in a Disney movie!!!

Oh and here's the photo I promised!

Finally managed to get my disposable camera developed, and so here is my photo of the lovely JJ Feild et moi looking a bit cold and windswept outside the theatre. Ahrgh, I didn't want to put a photo of my on my blog, but as it's JJ, then I can't resist!!!! Pity he didn't smile, as he has a lovely smile, but still. I also took 2 others with some of the Twinklers but they are quite dim so I haven't put them up (Karen if you want them, how shall I get them to you?)

And now for something completely boring!

• Well, it is that blissful time of the term again- the holiday part. Life has been somewhat manic to say the least. First of all, I experienced the big O in my NQT year. Yep, that's right, we had OFSTED on Friday. I should point out initially, that we were extremely fortunate that we had a 'Section 5' OFSTED which means it was only a 1 day OFSTED. We had only one inspector and she had already agreed with about 90% of our SEF (self-evaluation form). Everyone reassured me before that she wouldn't come and see me, as I was an NQT. I however, was not so convinced. So after 3 manic days of 'Does my lesson plan make sense?', 'Have I differentiated enough' and 'Does my bum look big in this?' (no, I'm only kidding on the latter), and Thursday, when most of the school were behaving ABSOLUTELY vilely, Friday arrived. The last day of term. I was greeted by the Headteacher with the inspector coming to say Hello in my classroom, just as I was laden with 9 mugs which I was trying to sneak back on behalf of myself and colleagues. Anyway, so I was teaching my first lesson, Maths, and then the Inspector crept in, and sat down! Inwardly, I was screaming!!!!!! Panic, panic, breathe in,breathe out. The 20 minutes she was in there, were extremely scary. I couldn't actually read my writing when I was giving out instructions of what to do I was so nervous. She also asked some of them questions and had a look at their books. She also examined my marking in several books, as she was focusing on Assessment for learning. Apparently, the school did well, and according to my Head, she had said my lesson was a good lesson, which was a relief, but at the time was terrifying! Pity she didn't watch my Literacy, which was an AMAZING lesson. Jenny, the lovely EMAG was team teaching with me. My year group partner didn't get done, neither did the other NQT. So, I've survived OFSTED as an NQT!
• Oh my goodness, I HATE marking writing SATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also felt very cross with children who seem to forget EVERYTHING when they do tests!
• It's hard to believe that I have only 8 weeks left with my class. Life without them seems a very bizarre concept!!!!
• I am going to play Lutoslawski concerto for orchestra at music camp this weekend, and OH MY, is it hard!!!!!!!!!!! And it takes a lot for me to say that!!!!!! WHY did I say I'd play 1st flute!!!!!!
• Uhrgh reports! Got to get them done and 30 before Friday really! Oh. My. Goodness.
  
• Oh, and the bag thing. Never did solve the mystery. I continued to feel like a criminal for another 2 weeks or so until last week, when my local chemist took pity on me when I went in for photos a 2nd time and they de-sensitised it (or something?) and I am now back amongst the innocent public!!!!

Curiouser and curiouser...

I had a most bizarre experience today. Well, actually, my story starts last night, around 11pm. On my way home from dinner with a friend, I nipped into Tescos to get some things and as I went in, the alarms (you know those things that pick up security tag signals if anyone tries to steal something) went off. I kind of smiled at the security guard and then walked in.

Some time later, when I was £35 poorer (honestly, I just went in for bacon!), as I walked out, the alarms went off again. I went back in and tried again and yes, it was me that was setting off the alarms. Luckiy, the guard realised I hadn't nicked anything.

Anyway, so this afternoon, I went into my local town to buy some things. As I went into my first shop with those things, the alarms went off as I went in. And then, as I went out, they went off.

Subsequently, in WHSmith, Monsoon, Barratts and somewhere else they went off upon my entry and departure. Finally, as I went to the doors of TK Maxx to get to the busstop, the alarms went off again, except with the all-singing, all-dancing 'BING BING BING: We're sorry, we may have left a security tag on your purchase, please return to the cash desk blah blah blah" remix version of the alarms. In each shop I hovered obediently outside, waiting for someone to come and accost me, as one appears less criminal like if they wait. Only in Monsoon-really, did they want to check my bag, which they started to, but since I was so accommodating and explained about my experiences, and they had a quick glance, they said it must have been some sort of metal.

It was very strange, I felt like a complete and utter criminal and felt GUILTY! Isn't it ridiculous!
I have no idea why that happened though. It didn't happen last week when I went shopping. It started last night. Why why why??????????????

JJ fever!

Oooooh, I forgot to say..... I met HIM last month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JJ Feild. Absolutely lovely! Mr Tilney in Northanger Abbey and other things. Cited in my blog meme as one of my favourite actors, now favourite! He was in a play in the West End called Ring round the moon which was really hilarious. He is as gorgeus in real life, is utterly charming, said I had a lovely name, had a lovely voice and was perfectly willing to sign autographs or have photos taken with you (which when I develop, will try to put up!) Having that smile, smile at you was amazing! If you would like to know more about him, go to JJ-feild.com
Look at those twinkles!

Three little kitties

I've had cats since I was about 4, our first being Cleo (followed by Caesar, Nero, Neffiteetee, Noddy, Bigears, Daffy, Minstrel, Katy, Solstice, Mewsici, Harmony and Sophie and there may be others I have forgotten.) We had as many as 8 at one time, and rarely less than 3, Now, as I prepare to have to move (due to Mother marrying!), it's been a funny month, because my darling little Sophie (the silver tabby tart above who is doing that whole bashful hand in front of face routine) got run over and died, which was a really horrid thing to happen and I really miss her. She was probably the only ever cat who was really 'mine'. I always wanted a silver tabby, and when I was 15, my Mum brought her home from the vets, a stray which needed a home. And quickly we attached ourselves to each other. Even though she was a complete tart and moonlighted at other houses, she would always come to her Mummy and purr and curl up with me, steal my pillow, purr in my face etc. When I was in, she seemed to know and she would return home to spend time with me, and when I went to Bali, she barely spent any time at home at all. I miss her and it is really sad, mind you, it is a miracle it didn't happen before, as she would saunter across the road at the last minute etc. So following Sophie's demise we were left with 2 cats.
Subsequently, 2-3 weeks later, Tuesday to be precise, Solstice (known affectionately as the witch, due to her temper and the evil looks she gave you if you annoyed her, she has that Tortie temperament. Look at the expression in the photo!) didn't turn up for the pouch of wet food they get in the mornings and my Mother left me note asking me to profer said pouch when I got up. But she didn't come in, and we discovered later in the day, she was lying dead in our neighbour's garden, having received some trauma to the head, probably car inflicted. So this was a shock, as two cats in almost as many weeks. Solstice was very, very clever, you can tell from the amount of whiskers she had. In addition, she was very affectionate and purry when she wanted to be and was quite happy to come and plonk her bottom on whatever you were trying to read, or to try and clean your ears out if you were sitting in a position where she would try to access them. She had lovely maternal instincts. That leaves us with only 1 cat, Katy, an elderly white lady who loves to climb up door frames, has undercarriage which wobbles when she runs, has a very croaky meow and is a darling. It seems strange to only have 1 cat. The last time we only had one was when I was 4, with Cleo.

Finally, my mother returned on Tuesday from the vets, having arranged a cremation for Solstice. She used to work at that Vet surgery when I was young. She came back with the newsletter and informed me that T____ , the surgery cat had died. Now, T_____ holds special meaning for me....

When I was very young, and my Mum worked at the vets, I used to spend my Saturday afternoons watching operations taking place. I really really wanted to be a vet at the age of 8 and had watched many a castration, spey, abcess spearing etc etc. There was a lovely vet there, who knew my wish, and had also seen me watch countless operations over some years. T_____ was originally her cat, and he came in as a young Tom. And she arranged that I could carry out the castration procedure supervised by her. And so, at 8, I therefore did complete said procedure all cleaned and ready in my white lab coat and also gave the injection. I still have his trophies pickled in a jar somewhere! That was an amazing day for me, which I will never forget. Fulfilling an ambition that I had. Unfortunately, later on, I realised that I hated the sciences, so becoming a vet didn't seem very realistic (terrible since I come from a family with some scientific backgrounds) so as we know, I didn't become a vet...

So T______ obviously went on to live for another 19 years after my input into his life and only died last month. He lived to an amazing age, and it was only infirmity and fits that put an end to his life. (sadly I don't have a picture of T______. He is in a PDF on the internet, but I wasn't sure if I should use his real name!)

So, here I wanted to play tribute to three very fabulous cats!

Whoa!Long time....

...since I last blogged!!!!!!! It's now the beauty of the Easter holidays!!! I've spent the last week recovering from the last term!!!! Have not done any work (well apart from mark 5 literacy books!). Sadly, I have a horrendous amount of work to do and wishing I had already done it! But, it is so nice not to be with my monsters! Though speaking of which, they havent been so monster-like this past half term. Oh, they've had their hideous and awful moments, but it hasn't been so bad!!!! I still don't know for sure if I will continue in the classroom next year or long term, but it's looking more likely, I don't feel so Urgh about everything!
This has been quite a busy holiday so far in the sense that I have had lots of Gamelan rehearsals and then had a gamelan performance, and I have another one next week- I've enjoyed it lots, esp. seeing my Balinese teacher who was over. I also had my bridesmaid dress adjusted for my sister's wedding which is pretty exciting. In addition, I am doing a Songs from the musicals evening with friends from my church next Saturday, which is exciting, although a little scary particularly as I am actually going to sing a top Bb in public (Think of me from Phantom.) in addition to lots of other high (and obviously low) notes. I seem to be doing lots of singing, as I've got to sing the Pie Jesus from Faure's Requiem tomorrow at church, which is even scarier as I've never sung it before and to my ears, it sounds horrible! Speaking of which, on Tuesday I found the DVD of A World of our Own, the opera/musical which I sang a part for in Bali in 2003, which I lost when I returned, and I haven't ever seen!!! And so with trepidation I watched it and discovered: 1. I cannot act!!!!! 2. My voice is not very strong! Seriously, it was like I was being 'me' on stage. You could tell, I soooo wasn't happy with singing a love-song and I felt uncomfortable and shy. How on earth I did A level Performing arts!? Though that said, I have a lot more confidence now, and I wouldn't be so shy at acting a part, plus I am a lot less scared at singing high notes now. Still, it was very cringeworthy! Will have to ask someone very honest to tell me what I really sound/act like!

Hmmm, watching new Dr Who!

The ugly, the bad and then the good!

5 wakeups, one laboriously long parents' evening, one science course, one horrendous science experiment, 18 pieces of literacy writing levelling and 3 targets per piece, 30 parents' evening preparation reports, one staff meeting, and all the corresponding lessons to go. (But sadly no partridge in a peartree).
Will OFSTED come this week? Will my monsters behave this week? Will they be able to prepare a cohesive newsreport about the ancient Greeks, will I be able to write a Literacy plan for recounts? Will I get all the marking done?

"Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself." Live it, remember it, believe it. Jesus was not lying. What is the point of me worrying? I spend far too much time worrying. I just need to get on with it and do the best that I can do. I need to keep remembering that.
Alex tells me that if something is worth doing, it's going to be hard, and teaching is worth it. I am going to try. I hope that it will get easier after half-term. In some ways I feel that perhaps because I was ill and busy all over Christmas, that I didn't really get the recuperation I needed to be fully prepared mentally and physically for this term and this half-term will help remedy that. If you are in the habit of praying, please could you pray that God makes it clear for me whether staying, doing what I am, where I am, is right?

But after the stress, there is a reward, a relief, a thing to look forward to. I can't wait for half term because I am going to Yorkshire to stay with my dear friends Jane and Chris who I dearly miss. They were my sanctuary when I was stressed about things during my PGCE, providing good advice, an ear, sympathy, prayer and they just let me go around and just chill normally with their family at the vicarage on many occasions. but they retired in October. Thank God for friendships that no amount of time or distance can separate!

Urgh

I just wanted to vent my vexation. My kids are just being vile (well not all, but those who are make it vile for everyone and then the rest of them become noisy and the such like.) and I am just getting sick of them. There are some really nasty children in my class. They have problems, but there is no need to be utterly vile and repulsive to other people. I sound like an old granny, but the manners of some children is shocking. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!
8 wakeups left till half term- one course and one parent's evening! Thank the Lord for NQT time!

The Course-factor

It's amazing what a difference being out of the classroom for one day makes to one's mood and mind-set! I have been feeling very very disillusioned about school etc over the last week or so, and on Wednesday, I went on an NQT ICT course. I felt so happy and positive after it, I even managed to write a 3 week unit plan for Literacy 'Dramatic conventions', after being inspired by it! Some courses can be very dull, but from start to finish, this course was entertaining, thought-provoking, informative and massive fun! By the end of the day (for me this is good!) I had made 2 podcasts 'mock-ups' of an advert and a newsreport, I had helped to make an animated film using Digi-blue and Movie-maker, made a musical photo-guide to my borough using Photostory and learnt lots about various software and e-safety, oh and how to import Utube into my smartboard, so I can use clips of Newsbroadcasts for my lessons (very hard to do a unit on the dramatic conventions and scripts of broadcasts inc news, weather, adverts and natural history programmes without using it) without the worry of nasties being exposed to my kids or encouraging them to use it! It was great fun! I will try to post our film on here, if I can find the link!
Tomorrow in DT we are making junk instruments and I had forgotten to ask my kids to bring er- junk in, so have been frantically searching my house for old pots etc! However am very pleased with myself as I have made a set of mini panpipes from cutting up an old cracker and a bit of sellotape! Trying to get them to think outside the box (the box which has elastic bands around it and is a homemade guitar: BO-RING!) Now I am going to search for junk ideas!

Right, must dash. Cheerio for now...

Return to the forbidden planet

Hello there! Feel like a general waffle in blogosphere!! (to avoid art planning-eek!)
So I have been back 2 days now- feels like a life-time!!!!!! (or life sentence, depending on if the cup is 1/2 empty, 1/2 full!).
Ahrgh, it was wet play ALL day today!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALL day-and so my young monsters were generally monstrous!!! Have to say though, it was always going to be a risk allowing them to play random instruments as part of our first 'sound' lesson in Science! So I provided them with a series of instruments to bash, crash, wallop, pluck, blow and scrape etc to get them to discuss and think about how sounds change and think of all the sound vocab, asking them provoking questions to find out what they knew. It was manic! (Hyper is not a suitable superlative) And when I asked them to provide me with words to come up with that we could write up to use for a concept map, rather than loud, soft, muffle, ring, high, low, pitch, duration etc etc, which I was hoping for-what did they come up with?
sizzle, crash, boom, ping, slam, zoom, bang, oh and er- mezzo forte, mezzo piano.
Lovely onomatopoeia, but not much help in helping me determine what they already know about sound!
Then after they'd written their prior knowledge in their books (I DREAD reading it! Not that the cup is half empty or anything!) I provided a series of activities
such as hitting a drum skin with rice grains on it, a plucked elastic band, a tip of a vibrating tuning-fork placed in a beaker of water, a ruler clamped to a table and tapped at one end, a cymbal that has been hit, a speaker for a stereo system, plucking a guitar string, touching their their larynx as they talk
and asked them to try the activities: to feel and observe and feel and discuss and then feed back their observations to the class, which they dutifully did and mostly admirably with pertinent comments made, exactly as I wanted (they all acknowledged movement for example) and they were very excited about it and by the end of the lesson, were able to tell me about vibrations and what these look like etc, but they were just soooooooo loud and excitable. And then C (very angry, attention-seeking) had a hissy fit which was not very pleasant- his behaviour really does upset people.

So, again, I find myself thinking -ahrgh, teaching is horrid, and yet some lessons are fab! They were excellent in Literacy this morning (not least the aforementioned C) and dealt really sensitively with the Film narrative module we are doing at moment. In case you are interested, you can download the film we are studying here. Maths was always going to be horrid as it was TIME!!!!! (calculating time intervals)

Tomorrow during my NQT time, I am going to potentially spend it in the Foundation stage- I am fearful. It always scares me going into Reception or Nursery, but it is important to understanding where they come from, and the different levels of differentiation and the importance of tactile learning.

Anyway, to avoid this just being a boring teaching blog, one exciting thing I have discovered is the delightful JJ Feild (who may have been mentioned in my blog before as one of my fave actors) is making his London Westend debut next month, and I will hopefully go to see him in a play. He has a delightful warmth as an actor, perhaps I have only seen him in mostly period dramas, but I always get a lovely sense of person in things I see him in, so it will be interesting a) to see him on stage and b) to see him in something modernish.

Anyway, I guess that Art is now hammering at my door, demanding I complete it!

Tooreloo!

(That's Harmony by the way, thought she might make the blog less sleep inducing and more fluffy...)

General bliss

Hello there! Tis the season to be jolly, (sadly tis also the season to be snotty- Endoftermitus and all that jazz! But nie mind, let's not harp on about that...) . So far, it's been lovely to be on holiday, really enjoying the lack of school!
I quite enjoyed the last 3 days of school. The carol service was really successful and the kids sang my song (I wrote them one) beautifully! The last day was nice as they were doing (in the words of Rach) worksheets, pritt sticks, making calendars and cards (except they have run out- grrr! Like gold dust they are) and general lack of work. I desperately tried to get through the last couple of reading assessments left to do and marked RE and English grammar books. They then watched Cats and Dogs and I dished out 30 presents and cards.
I got a whole stack of pressies from my class which surprised me (they were lovely by the way- inc very pretty heart necklace) and attempted to leave my classroom in some semblance of order ready for the 3rd Jan return.
The week prior, and during that week, and after school, I enjoyed a variety of Christmas concerts, lovely playing and singing my heart out. One of the highlights was 'The Twelve days of Christmas' in Southwark cathedral (hilarious GKT tradition of singing it with medics, dentists, orchestra, parents, choir etc singing certain verses) and then singing it again at my church's Christmas Miscellany (except this time seriously embarassed by my mother being 'six geese a laying').
Had a delightful day in Paris with my good friend Alex- after rising at 3.30am (eek!) we visited Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, stood under the Eifel tower, visited some of other lovely churches and went on a freezing but beautiful boat ride. I really loved Sacree Coeur, it was so beautiful and I really felt God's presence there. We somehow ended up buying portraits of ourselves that didn't look like us in Mon Martre (spelling?), drank expensive Chocolat chaud, ate Croque Madames, said Merci and Pardon lots and got lost on the Metro. We marvelled at double decker trains (soooooooo cool!), I embarassed Alex by trying to make him skip along the Seine, admired Degas and Monet at Musee D'Orsay and stood freezing cold in the queue for Eurostar that was delayed by an hour- poor Alex had to play word games with me for 45 mins! Returned on Eurostar and slept like a baby (a baby that sleeps that is). Alex then had to yet again endure my company playing at Guildford cathedral that Saturday where he admirably conducted a lovely choir and then consequently at church services! (mwah ha ha!)
The services were lovely at church, we were really blessed, especially during an interregnum. By Christmas day, I had almost lost my voice.
We've enjoyed some fun games over the last couple of days, board games, snail racing at my Godmother's (hilarious wind up things- my one was wonky!) and lots of nice TV too! Afraid I have spent the last 2 days in PJs due to cold, but has been restful!

I now have a million and one lovely Christmas presents I have no where to put and shall enjoy the last days of freedom.
Here's hoping that January the 3rd will bring a new organised Kezzie, one who marks books quickly, doesn't faff, has a tidy, organised classroom and smiles as she leaves her house!

Tis a bit late, but Merry Christmas one and all!

A teacher's wish

Die Kinder sind irritaten!
Ich mochte Urlaub gehen!

2 weeks and 4 days!

Eeek!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Almost the holidays I believe! Hurrah!
Must say, my kids are being VILE at the moment! Not all, but the collective is generally just vileness! Everyone says its the time of year and they are becoming hyper (not half!). They're just LOUD and argumentative! We are doing clay again tomorrow! I am fearful! I have managed to rope in our lovely Headteacher to come and help me with them for it I hope, so all is not lost!
School Christmas fair tomorrow- I am on some sort of lucky dip and I also have to play piano for carols (eek!) We have to stay at school till 8! Some sort of compost lucky dip is going on in my classroom. Never mind the mess THEY make, am most embarassed at anyone seeing MY MESS!
I blame it on lack of storage ;-)
Anyway, I shall go back to whatever it was that I turned the computer on to do! (Can't quite remember what it was!)
Tschuss jetzt!

The countdown begins

-Oooh, only 5 weeks and 3 days left till Christmas holidays begin! Terrible really to be wishing one's life away. The week has been varied! I have enjoyed some elements although in general, afternoons are still difficult! They seem to become somewhat monster-like come 1.15pm!
-My headteacher is very encouraging, she comes every so often and encourages me and says she can see a definite improvement as I gain confidence. I find that the morning is generally fine.
-Geography I found hard to teach this week as we were doing the features of rivers and so hard to differentiate it, especially for a class containing children ranging from a Level 1A to Level 4B (essentially the difference between a child at the beginning of year 1, to a child in Year 6!).
Am looking forward to Christmas, as have somewhat stupidly agree to play and sing in lots of concerts, services and things all over the place (but I love it!).
-Had to play for assembly (piano eek!) on Wednesday and luckily didnt have too many Les Dawson moments as is usually the case.
- I started to teach the school choir the song I have written for them this week and they sounded lovely singing it thus far! Tres exciting!
-Just bought exciting Christmas children's recipe books so I can make tantalising temptations for my friends to eat- marshmellow fudge anyone?
-My hockey-related injury still hurts, but is getting somewhat better- I can now type (accidently whacked on the index finger by an irritating child who seems to have little awareness of space and apparently hadn't paid attention to the PPA Teacher's clear instructions not to raise ones stick higher than one's waist).
-Ugly-Betty- Henry and Betty got together-yaaaaaaaaay! 'Wicked' episode last night! I love Ugly Betty, it's such a fab programme!
-Strictly Come dancing- yay for Gethan getting better, Yay for Letitia improving in confidence, Yay for Anton and Kate getting better! Hurrah for Penny! I really am not sure who I want to win thus far. I do like Penny and Ian, I do like Alisha and Matthew.
- No 1. Ladie's detective agency- FAB book! (have added in an incorrect apostrophe to rankle the pedantic grammarphiles amongst the audience! Mwa ha ha!!!)
- Most irritating mistakea made by my class this week. Well, there are lots of close contenders: the final shortlist includes:
1. 'Should of done that'. AHRGH!!!!! I've mentioned this sooo many times, we had a lesson on Standard English, I made them write 'should have' as a spelling phrase, written individual things in children's books. But still there it is in their writing.
2. The spelling for ISOCELES, SCALENE AND EQUILATERAL WAS IN THE TEXT BOOK AND ON THE BOARD, AND ON SHEETS. Why oh why oh why do they not look?

Hmmm, I only turned the computer on to find the solutions to the Hexiamonds puzzle-oops, better go back to marking!
Ciao!

Hurrah hails half-term

At last I have finished marking my English writing assessments! Lions and tigers and bear oh my, there is no misery like National Curriculum levelling of English writing, but at last it is done! Am sick of reading about 'Uri and the quest for the golden owl's claw'! Was it a 3a, or a 3b? Is she working towards 3a or is she simply a 3a? Only hope it's right, but since I have only ever levelled 3 children's work before, then I cannot expect to be an expert already! AHRGH! Oh well. At last I have finished all my marking so I have 3 days of half term left to enjoy! Haven't really done detailed planning for the other subjects but we have the weekly plans and I know what I am teaching! (And enough is enough, I think I need at least a bit of holiday! But I do feel so much better for having got the marking done!)
In other news:
1. Parents (to apostrophe or not to apostrophe? Chris?) evening went well. It went surprisingly fast and I had enough to say. I managed to get most of my displays done (only remaining one to fill is my Parthenon one. Needs something special...).
2. WISPAS ARE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dairy Milk Bubbles was not a patch on the blue and red classic!
3. I really want to go to Scotland. For about 6 years now, I have really wanted to go to the Orkneys or the Isle of Skye, due to giving a lecture recital on a piece by Peter Maxwell-Davies which involved me finding out about the Orkneys, and my general delight in small islands in general, plus reading Katie Morag books (Wish list also includes outer Hebrides, Isles of Scilly, Aldernay, Sark, Polynesia, Micronesia, Greek islands and some of the Irish islands which I learnt about in a talk I heard in the Youghal debating society in Ireland some years ago). Anyway, the reason for this sudden zeal is that I was watching 'Coast' earlier and I saw the beautiful island of Arn or something like that (is it? The one where Nobel lived, it's off the coast near the border), and it is absolutely glorious. I do sometimes think that I should just try to find a teaching job on an island somewhere. I didn't really go anywhere new this year as I was impoverished, but I really would like to go somewhere in Scotland or the Scillies next year.
4. Oooh, am going to Paris for the day in December. Something to look forward to!
5. Have written a short song for the choir at school. It can't be that bad, as my sister heard it and likes it, and she is usually my most fervent and honest critic (in a nice way!)
6. I did some ironing today! (Yes, Hell has frozen over!)
7. In a bid to feel less of a complete and utter social failure (have indeed turned into recluse since I entered the teaching profession) I am attempting to meet 4 sets of people tomorrow in London AND going to a choir rehearsal! How will I cope????!
8. I am reading 'Jane Austen book club' for the second time. I read it three years ago and to be honest, felt rather sheepish reading about people discussing Jane Austen since I had never read Jane Austen, but rather was reading it as was given it as a birthday present. Anyway, since I have now read some, I felt more qualified to read this book again (and had bought a copy of it in the charity shop since Fiona borrowed my copy and hasnt given it back and since she a) lives in Oxfordshire b) has a baby, I feel that copy is a write-off). Am enjoying it and seeing it in a new light. The characters were discussing which 'Miss Austen' they liked the most. I tend to go with the underdog choice and choose Northanger Abbey. Now there are several reasons why I like this best:
a) I confess, I was a 'saw the TV version first' novice. I saw the ITV adaptation with the lovely Felicity Jones as Catherine and the simply gorgeus JJ Feild as Henry Tillney. I liked the adaptation even though it isnt true to the book.
b) Catherine reminds me of me. She has an overactive imagination, loves books, sees mystery and menace in the benign, and even though in the TV series she was beautiful, in the book, she isn't anything special
c) Northanger Abbey is like famous five territory! Secret cupboards, mysteries
d) Misunderstandings and Catherine being sent home for something that isn't her fault!
e) The excitement of Bath. I like Bath!
f) Since I really liked the TV adaptation, I was most excited about reading this one and was going to like it, well, whether I liked it or not!
g) Again, I am a sucker for the underdog!
h) Since I am a 'late-starter' in terms of my Jane Austen enjoyment, I feel that may be reflected in my choice.
Anyway, does anyone (if anyone is out there?) have a particular favourite Jane Austen book and why?

Cheerio for now. Just about to do some sheepish blog reading.

A pre-holiday horrid hurdle...

I had almost forgotten all about blogging! Until, in a pre-parents evening fluster, I decided I needed distracting from the ugly task of drawing together all that I want to say about my charges and thought I would look at Welshy's blog to cheer me up! It did cheer me up, although the horrid task till remains.
Well, I have almost made it through the first term and I am relieved, though it has been very hard work, and I am exhausted. Anyone who says teaching is a 9-3.30 job needs a smack from a big saucepan. I call it more a 7.00-11.00 job. Do find myself thinking longingly of sitting at a desk organising meetings, calling students to demand why they have not returned their borrowed Degani violin and arranging a string quartet for a toddler project etc! Oh, how simple in comparison that life seemed! But, my school are very supportive and kind and I am lucky that they are helping me so much. I still don't know for certain if I can take doing this long term or not. I feel very very stressed and miserable at the moment if I am honest, but I do enjoy some elements. I enjoy much of the literacy teaching and Foundation subjects and even some of the maths, but in general, afternoons are VILE! I don't know what happens to the kids at lunchtime, they seem to morph into their evil twins. Marking takes me a looong time!
Anyway, I had better get back to writing my spiel. Here's hoping that all is well! Pray for inspiration for me!
4 days and counting....

Am alive!

Hey! Am still alive, thanks for concern! It's just been a bit manic so far, no time for going on computer when not at school, marking ahrgh! resources ahrgh! planning- hmmmm!!!!

Will post more asap !!!

Pray for me lest I be overcome by fear!

I am not scared
I am not scared
I am not scared
I am not scared
I am not scared
I am not scared
I am not scared
I am not scared
I am not scared
I am not scared
I am not scared
I am not scared


**well maybe just a little bit**

Blaurgh

Am going to make a Welshy style list, but a boring version of...

• Had a lovely time at Music Camp despite horrid torrential rain for 6 days. Resulted in desperate but delightful purchase of large pink floral wellies and lovely jeans and trousers perfect for school, the latter two courtesy of charity shop! Hurrah!
• Panicking slightly about starting school on Monday. Inset training, but haven't done any planning as my parallel teacher felt we could do it on the first day. AHRGRGHGHHG!!!!!!!!
• Wishing I wasnt a teacher now. Don't want to do it, want to escape and do something simple and easy which wont affect anyone.
• Dreading school
  
• Read Pride and Prejudice and loved it. Hurrah for Ms Austen!
• Had nice excursions to Kent, Oxfordshire, Brighton- all lovely!
• Contrary to other opinions, Wicked the musical, was really really really good, soooooooooooo much better than Gregory Maguire's original book! (the story of the witches of Oz)
• Am dreading school, did I mention that?
• JJ Field is definitely the cutest actor around, with perhaps the exception of David Tennant.
  
• Crumhorn's are definitely the most comedy instrument in the world!
• I am really procrastinating now!!!!
• 
  

You know you've been reading too much Jane Austen...

...when you find yourself using the word Vexed in all manner of conversations!

A Welshy style list

• I've spent two days at school now working with my new class. They seem nice so far, though I admit, I have found it challenging to appear confident and assertive and firm when I am in someone else's classroom. There are two pupils who are challenging me a bit, though the others seem ok. I've got to teach Numeracy and Literacy on Thursday, which feels a bit weird in someone else's classroom!Strange since essentially that is what I have been doing in the last year! Also was really hoping not to have to do ANY actual teaching this week! Oh well, at least it is a chance to see how they react to my teaching.
  
• There are 14 children in my class who have some sort of SEN, whether SA, SA+, Statement or behaviour, that's quite a lot!
• My parallel class teacher is lovely, really lovely.
• The school has already made me feel very welcome and I am very glad to be there. We had a Staff .v. Year6 netball match this afternoon, which was great fun! I played Wing defence which was great fun! It took me back to being at Primary school myself, as this was the position I played in our Netball club!
• I have a lovely concert with my flute quartet tomorrow in Chelmsford, which should be lovely. I really like my flute quartet- it is such a blessing and I love playing with the other 3 players.
  
• I am reading my first Jane Austen book at last- Emma! It is lovely and am really enjoying it!
• On a similar theme, tres annoyed that my mummy accidentally managed to tape over the 3 Jane Austen films I videoed from TV. Oh well, serves me right for leaving the video in a heap without putting a clear label on it.
  
• Peas in the pod are very nice
• Hurrah for the sun!
  

My mind is like a dazzling, shimmering sky of happiness!

FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALMOST FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

School is out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just got to finish my CEPD statement and then life is peachy! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And can it be?

I actually quite enjoyed today. My little cherubs behaved, and although I had a lesson observation which wasn't super, it was ok. Literacy and Numeracy were ok and then I played flute for Year 5 (which they loved). Then, I did a music class with the kids this afternoon, one of their first opportunities to compose, and I think they enjoyed it. RE was somewhat challenging, but we survived and finally I played them some flute. Maybe the flute is the reason for the good mood, or perhaps the end being nigh.

I also discovered the miracle that are easy-thread needles. They are fab! I may even do DT with my cherubs if sports day doesn't go on all morning.

Trying to write my CEPD statement. For those in ignorance, this is essentially a 'what I am good at and what i am not' statement for future professional development. It is not what I want to be doing when feeling like I am coming down with a cold, but ah well, it's better than having 2 weeks left of term left!!

The final furlong

Found it really really hard to concentrate today. It's like my brain has befuzzled.
However, I made up a seaside themed tongue-twister for your delight and delectation.
Ahem...


I see a seagull sitting on the sea
Sitting on the sea, what does that seagull see?
I am sure that on that shore, what that seagull sees,
Is people sitting seeing seagulls sitting on the sea.

Boring blog.

A few thoughts and ponderings

• CEDP- Blaughrgh. What do I write?
• Playing flute for a concert today at the last minute for a friend. Probably not the best idea given the amount of work I have to do, but still a happy thing!
• Saturday night without Doctor Who. I can quite frankly say, that the only thing I want to watch on TV at the moment is Home and Away. Which is no bad thing I suppose.
• Hmmmm, around 300 pieces of work to mark all in all. Dun dun daaaaaaaaaah!
• School trip to Shadwell park this week. We are to be there for a whole day. What on earth are we going to do with them for a whole day in a park??????? Wish we were going to the seaside. Recky trip on Monday to do the risk assessment!
• All creatures great and small really was a lovely TV programme. I wish they made things like that now. All those wonderful 70's and 80's programmes such as The Good Life, To the manor born, Bread.
  
• 4 DAYS LEFT AT SCHOOL! I raised this point at choir practice last night, to which we had a rousing rendition of the Hallelujah chorus! The Lord he is good.
• Someone gave me a precious gift this week, which really really truly is a gift from God.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JULIETBEC, pervayor of a great blog!

8 days...

...until the Peeg is over. Oh that it were 13th July now. I've found this week really tough so far. This evening was very hard as I wanted to stay at school and get stuff done (only night it is open late), but I couldn't get into the frame of mind as a) my teacher was tidying up her stuff in the room, and I just can't work when there is someone else there, and b) it was a hard day (with crappy teaching on my part- particularly as had a full day with ICT floor robots AND PE in the rain and I kept them on the carpet faaaaaaaaar too long in Literacy and therefore they achieved zilch) and I should have just gone home straight away but instead wasted 3 hours. It frustrated me. I was stressed. I came home, ate peas, ate pasta, had a quick bath, felt much better.

2 people phoned me last night, to ask for advice/generally talk about the placement. I feel lucky that I dont have the internal examiner coming to me, really I am blessed. It was horrid trying to give someone advice about a lesson idea, as I wanted to help but it is hard when you haven't been part of that class. Oh that in a couple of years, I will be able to give good ideas and advice to fellow sufferers of Pee-gee-see-eeitus.

Better do marking...

15 days until Happy Rotter is out!!! What a nice thing to look forward to!

Must dash...

...but on the flip side...

On a positive note, I take my first phonics lesson tomorrow. This may be interesting!

Banging one's head against the proverbial brick wall

AHRGH!!!!!!! I seem to only blog when miserable or wanting to rant!
Before beginning this topic of 'seaside' I did a brainstorm activity with the kids so I could see what they knew before my teaching. They talked largely about sandcastles, sand and playing ball. So after 3 weeks of teaching with a focus on the seaside, looking at buildings, other pastimes, natural features etc and the chance to look at seaside books, what are their non-chronological reports saying? 'This report is about sandcastles. The seaside is a place where you can have fun and make sandcastles. At the seaside there are sandcastles and you can play ball and you can eat ice-cream.' And is it organised under headings like we have spent time talking about and practising? Nope, it's in one long order. AHRGHASHADJKAJDKALJDKLJKLJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One day to try and get them back on track.

Did a lesson which was supposed to be fun today, making circuits. Was it fun?

Oh to be able to teach these 3 weeks again. Now onto the last three. Pray for me!

A day of freedom

Week 2 of 6 is now over, as we are at Uni for one day's break tomorrow. It's such a treat not to have to get up at 6!!!
The week has been up and down. The weekend had been lovely doing a flute concert in East Horndon, but Sunday rapidly became miserable as I tried to get my weekly planning done. Literacy is soooooo hard to plan for, especially as I don't get this new framework we have to use now. Nobody has sat down and shown us properly how to use the old one, let alone the new one.
Well anyway, my reflection for the week is that I am pitching my Literacy way too high and expecting far too much of my 6-7 year olds. My tutor came to school on Tuesday and was very nice, helpful and constructive about what was frankly a disasterous ICT lesson. I sooo understand why our ICT tutor told us people hate teaching the Control part of the ICT curriculum as it is manic! Most of my lessons have felt quite disasterous and my timing is still quite bad, my explanation needs honing, my EAL support needs working on, (always over-running) but I have more confidence now than I did on Tuesday.

Today I played piano for KS2 assembly as we have Edwardian day on Tuesday and they have to sing 'God save the King' (and Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory), which started being a bit scary, and I somehow ended up offering to teach the 200 children to sing it, and managed to teach them by singing it in bite sized chunks in 10mins! I felt absolutely fearless doing it. It was a lovely feeling!
I also taught a manic literacy lesson, messy but fun content in Science and had a slow worm making a visit. Problem solving in Maths was a nightmare, teaching the seaside song was fab. My class were vile most of the day, so was somewhat in a bad mood. Did anyone find on PGCE, I just find it hard to be in the KS1 classroom on my own without a TA when trying to teach differentiated literacy and numeracy, it's a nightmare. The lower attainers just don't to be able to do anything on their own, but the 2nd to bottom group can't either, and then the poor top 3 groups have barely enough time with me.

This weekend I am playing one of solo recorder parts for Brandenburg 4 in Felsted, which should be exciting. Must get practising...

Meme? Meh meh? Meee mee???

So these Meme things…? Does one pronounce it Meh-meh (as in, well I don’t know what, but a meh sound) or Meeee-meeee as in ‘All all about meeeeeeeeeee’. I’ve always wondered! Can usually not be bothered, as I am not all that interesting, but as I walked through Stepney Green park today and saw a Lord of the Rings advertisement, I started thinking about favourite movie stars and all that, so I thought I would do a mehmeh/meme. I’d be interesting to read if anyone has a go at it though I presume no-one reads my blog as I am not very regular... I tag Welshy, Stephen, Chris and Luvlylittlesister.

Top 6 things I am watching on TV.

1. Dr Who – you know you love it!

2. Ugly Betty- Fabulous, funny, the lovely lovely Henry, Justin the sweetiepie!

3. Hustle – ok so I haven’t managed to watch this much this season, but it’s great!

4. Any dream will do – Fab fab fab! Hurrah for Lee from Southend on Sea!

5. Home and away: not fab, but it’s usually something I might just make it home in time for, whilst I have a brief chill before starting planning.

6. My goodness, I can’t think of anything else!!!!

Top 6 things to read

Always changing, but at the moment

1. Michael Morpugo – writes beautiful books for children. They are so evocative, beautifully written and carry wonderful themes, ideas and characters. The Butterfly Lion is particularly fab!

2. Millgate court in my Mum’s magazine. Ok, so My weekly is for your slightly older reader perhaps, but I like this magazine, it has integrity, is not full of gratuitous sex, being mean to celebrities or indeed much about celebrities, but lovely stories, Romania Appeal, one page of fashion and always some lovely features.

3. Jacqueline Wilson books. Ok, so the characters are annoying, since they are always argumentative, rebellious, and her modes of communication aren’t beautiful but I do enjoy reading them…

4. My utmost for his highest… Oswald Chambers. First seen in the bathroom at Rach and Dan’s, this is a lovely book with a small bible extract and meditation on this for each day, that gives you a thinking point. It’s beautiful and surprisingly when I read it, it seems to show me what I need to know and remember…

5. La Bible: Am on 2 Kings at the moment in my lectionary: must say the Israelites annoy me, always turning back to Baal worship and all that. Silly people. But the new testament reading is John, which is so beautiful and encouraging. His book is written so beautifully and you sense the awesomeness of God.

6. Louisa M. Alcott - who did not want to be Jo???!

7. Because I am feeling greedy, you cant beat a good Enid Blyton book. She writes great stuff. Ooh, I’ll read the Faraway tree books in the holiday again!

Top 6 female movie/TV stars I admire/would most like to look like/think are very beautiful!

1. Liv Tyler

2. Emmy Rossum (Phantom of the Opera)

3. Gemma Craven (Cinderella in the Slipper and the Rose)

4. Sophia Myles. (played Madam Pompadour in DW)

5. Anne Hathaway.

6. I did admire Katie Holmes, though that was when she was younger (and not married to Mr Cruise!)

Top TV/movie guys I’ve noticed recently or still have a lurking preference for…

1. Have to say, though I don’t watch it, Bradley in Eastenders looks a sweetie.

2. Christopher Gorman, AKA Henry in Ugly Betty

3. Paul McGann (maybe in his 40’s but still has that McGann magic)

4. David Tennant: Hello doctor!

5. The guy who played Edmund in the recent ‘Mansfield Park’

6. JJ Field (Freddie in Ruby in the smoke and the guy in Northanger abbey

7. Colin Firth. Still lovely…

Top 6 films to watch when bored.

1. The Slipper and The Rose: a film I have loved since childhood. It has soooo much more meaning now. Beautiful music with lots of lovely flute,

2. I capture the Castle:

3. Princess Diaries1 and Princess Diaries 2

4. Any of the Jane Austen’s that were on recently esp. Mansfield Park

5. Singing in the rain: Lovely film, lovely sentiment, and I love the splashing in the rain. You know, Gene Kelly was very ill when that was filmed that bit!

6. The railway children: Can’t beat it, so beautiful. Either of them- the original or the recent one.

6 things I would do if I had the time

1. Learn Greek (I started so I’ll finish, but when, I don’t know)

2. Learn ballroom dancing. A lovely man called Richard taught me some once, I wish I had learnt it properly

3. Have some flute lessons or singing lessons- I haven’t had lessons for so long, and I really really miss them and wish I could have some.

4. Be in a musical: It’s sooooo much fun! I’m hoping we will be doing one at camp in the summer, but I am fluting so whether I could be in it or not, I don’t know.

5. Paint, draw…

6. Go to aerobics or something like that!

Top 6 chocolaty treats to cheer oneself up with.

1. Ben and Jerry’s Phish food

2. Green and Black’s Maya gold hot chocolate

3. Dairy milk

4. Chocolate mini rolls

5. Chocolate buttons

6. Wispa. The dairymilk bubbles is not the same!

So near yet so far...

I need to blog, because I will burst if I do not write or say outloud what I am feeling right now!
I don't think I can do this.
I have school tomorrow, and I am not ready. I haven't finished my planning. Well, I have all the planning done that I can do for this week, but it isnt very good. I don't have all my resources ready, I am scared of failing and worried and I know that my teacher is going to be really angry. She is fab and I don't want to disappoint her, or sell those kids short. I have tried, but I just get stuck. I am too disorganised. I am trying to use a different planning format using the weekly plan format. I don't feel like I am going to pass. Really. Ahrgh!
I miss my old tutor. I wish I had stayed for an individual session with my new tutor on Friday to tell him how I am feeling about this. I wish I hadnt spent 4 hours in the library photocopying resources which I probably wont use anyway. I wish I had phoned my class teacher to tell her how I was feeling and to see what she expects before now.
I am aimlessly wandering around on this planning. I need to go to bed and sleep, but I am worried and I feel I need to try and get something else done.
I have enjoyed very little of this half term, as I have spent most of it worrying. Why do I waste time like that?

I really want to do this well, but I keep screwing up. I keep wasting time. I keep spending hours looking for resources and not understanding what I am doing. I feel inadequate and a fraud for having been offered jobs when there are so many more people that could do a better job than me.

I feel like I am surviving on Grace alone...

*Sigh*

Seaside resources required sil vous plait!

Also, does anyone know any good songs to do with the seaside Obviously we have 'oh i do like to be beside the seaside!'. Anymore gratefully received!

Je deteste la Planning Anglais.

(Oooh tres exciting. Got another phone call from a head at a lovely school asking me if I had got a job yet? My goodness, being a musician really must be desirable for heads looking for NQT’s, am certain it has significantly less to do with my teaching ability. Am quite sure my class teacher is wondering why on earth I have got all these offers considering my terrible lessons so far… Anyone thinking of doing a PGCE, or looking for a job in teaching? Get learning an instrument now! Book a summer course, join a band/choir)

Decision made!

I actually received a third job offer from a school I know very well (the one I really wanted to teach at!) on Monday also, and though my Monday was manic and slightly confused because of trying to make a decision, I made it, and chose the third school!!!! I felt very sad about turning down the other two schools, as I think I would have been very happy at both (and the large school is an outstanding school with fantastic models of teaching) but I went with my heart, plus the fact I felt there is definitely potential for progression, and I know and like the school and I can walk there, but I don't live in the catchment area! Very happy! Very excited. But have to get through the next 7.5 weeks of teaching practice! Ahrgh!

Tomorrow I am going to teach my first numeracy lesson at school, and also my first KS1 guided reading. Should be interesting as my class are usually streamed into different classes for numeracy and literacy but aren't during my placement!!! Fear!!!!!!!!

Right, let me find those paracetamol that I need...

Seaside!!!!

*** CAN ANYONE RECOMMEND ANY GOOD BOOKS YOU READ AS A CHILD, OR HAVE SINCE READ ABOUT THE SEASIDE PLEASE?***

Please could you leave any suggestions in the comments box. Merci!

Teaching dilemmas...

I had an interview for a local authority pool on Friday. This is a thing where you get interviewed by some headteachers from the borough and based on this and their observations of you, you will either be recommended for teaching in the borough (and your details made available to all heads who are recruiting) or not. After what I felt was a rather disasterous interview with 2 lovely heads in the morning, I resigned myself rather pessimistically to being in the latter party. After all, I do feel a bit of a nightmare. But to my surprise, not one but two headteachers asked me if I would like to go and visit their schools with them. I was rather surprised but quite pleased (though a bit scared). So I went to the first one, a large 3-form entry school with a great music tradition, and enjoyed a school lunch with head and children, was shown around by the head and then had a short chat with the SMT. And after 5 mins, they called me back and offered me a job!! I asked for time to contemplate (I have till tomorrow, though I did ask if I could have until Tuesday). Then the Head dropped me to see the other school. And I had a look round, watched a fab class assembly, and after a 5-minute conversation, I was offered a job there as well! I liked both of them, and they seem to be well set up for supporting NQT's, but I dont really know what I should be looking for. There was a school that I really wanted to teach at, so I briefly went to see the Head there, to tell her my dilemma (and to remind her that I was interested in her school).
Now I dont know what to do. Which one do I accept? Do I accept either of them, or do I hold out for the school I originally liked, or do I like it because I know it and because they liked me? Do I take a chance and wait? I didn't really get a gut instinct thing at either of them, but then I did like them, and I hadnt seen a huge amount! What do I do? Am praying, but still as yet, not got an answer!

...Mud, mud, glorious mud

Lovely lovely weekend in the country was had!
However, why oh why do I never remember that camping in May will always result in coldness and rain. My rose-tinted glasses seem to be firmly attached to my eyes when packing for camping- I didnt pack that well! Was possibly the wettest and muddiest weekend I have ever had at camp, where it literally didnt stop all weekend. When I arrived, already drenched after a brief walk to Limehouse station laden like a donkey with camping gear and clothes (and school work), it was torrential. And I mean- psssssssssssssssssssssssh, it was relentless. There were several miserable looking people who had braved it. At this point, being somewhat of cheeky in nature, I thought, hmmmm, nope, I have no raincoat and only delicate shoes (what was I thinking!!!) so I hatched a plan...

...which was to put up my tent in the barn (well, I had 'happy' helpers who helped me do that). So there I was in the barn with said tent (the conductor looked at me, and didnt bat an eyelid) and then went off to eat dinner (yummy stuff) and lucky old me, just as I came out of dinner, the rain had stopped and with my kind assistant, we squeezed it through the door and pegged it down in the field. And just as I had hammered the last peg in, the rain started again. Nyaaaaaaa haa haaa!!!!!!! (sorry for the errant smugness, I just wanted to show-off share this wonderous insight into avoidance tactics for undesirable weather).

Despite the general shiveryness and coldness and not getting to enjoy walks in enchanted glades, it was truly a magical weekend. Aside from obvious things such as exquisite food provision and delightful company, I have wanted to play 1st flute in Mahler Symphony no.1 since I was 14. It was the first piece I ever played in a symphony orchestra on flute, and my first time at music camp, so it's kind of like I had come full circle and played the piece I most wanted to play. It was wonderful and I really enjoyed it. It's such a beautiful piece. I would recommend it! I have to say that I felt so wonderfully happy at the end of the performance, it's so fab to play a beautiful piece of music. I think my favourite Harry Potter quote certainly describes the feeling. Dumbledore says in the Philsopher's stone 'Music is a magic beyond all we do here...'
That was my last break before the freneticness of school experience. Here's to the next one!

I've just had another thought....

What about SUSAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????
The Doctor's Grand-daughter, who he left on Earth after the Dalek invasion of Earth?????????????????????

"You are not alone..."

I cannot believe that Beeb are sacrificing Doctor Who for the sake of Eurovision! What is that about????? However, I really wanted to air my ponderings about the Face of Boe's final words to the Doctor. Who was he referring to? My friend Matt reckons it's the Dalek. I disagree, but then I haven't seen any of Doctor Who confidential.

Based on my knowledge of previous Timelords, I would suggest that it could possibly be the following:
The Master: The infamour renegade Timelord, last seen being swallowed by the Eye of Harmony in the TARDIS by Paul McGann's 8th Doctor. The TARDIS gave a sort of belch, and we presumed he was dead, but maybe he wasn't? He defied death several times. And he definitely wouldnt have gone to fight in the last time war, he was far too mean and selfish.

Romana: Tom Baker's 4th Doctor Companion, a fellow timelord, who was left at the Warrior's Gate in E-space with K-9 mark-2, after the High council of Gallifrey had ordered her back to Gallifrey and she didnt want to go. I didn't think she could get back from E-space, so did she go and fight in the Timewar, and would the Doctor be able to sense her if she was still in E-space. After all, we haven't heard anything about her. And there are clips of the Doctor getting married. Could this be a bid to restart the Timelord race?

The Meddling Monk: Don't know much about him except that he was also a renegade timelord, who I have heard mention of in various Doctor episodes, I think he was in Jon Pertwee's Doctor's death episode, Planet of the Spiders, but not sure.

The Rani: Another renegade timelord who I am sure is far too selfish and powermad to have fought in the Timewar. Last time we saw her was when she was hung up by the Tetraps in 'Time and the Rani' when she tried to doublecross them. Could it be her?

Rassilon: The greatest Timelord ever, who had eras, seals, rings, and rods, and coronet's named for him. He didn't seem to ever die, having stopped President Borusa's power-mad attempts in the 5-Doctors. He was the greatest timelord ever. And they say that Rassilon can never really die.

Captain Jack: he's not a timelord I'm sure, but he was a time-agent, and we know he crops up again.

I think I'd like it to be Romana. Even before the Face of Boe thing, I meant to write in to Russel T Grant and say "But what about Romana??? She might still be alive, but trapped in E-space still!!!". But, hehas genius tendencies, so it will probably shock us all!
I'd also like an episode where they explore the TARDIS. Am sure that the younger generation would like to see that. I really liked the episodes where they were in the TARDIS in the old series: The Invasion of Time, Inside the Spaceship, Castrovalva and the such like. Maybe the Master could make a reappearance in the TARDIS. That would be exciting!

Looking forward to revelations!

Must go to bed, got to finish all my work before Tuesday's coursework deadlines! Yuck!

Vworp, vworp, vworp...

Ok, so I was getting tired of not being able to comment on people's blogs, so I submitted to the Blog will and changed to Beta. I haven't changed anything though. Hmmmmm....

Since I am here, I may as well say something. "Something".



Ok, I'll behave.

Well, I have had a lovely week, not without surprises and events. Having been joyous over Welsherella's wonderful engagement news, which was a fantastic thing to happen, I received some own news of a similar ilk on Tuesday- my sister phoned me whilst I was in the Uni library (having forgotten to silence my phone) to the wrath of those in the computer room. She asked me if I would be a bridesmaid for her, to which I had to let out an ecstatic squeak at what she was insinuating, since anything else would have possibly got me chucked out. So my big sister is getting married! I am soo happy for her!

Anyway, so this has been something I have been happy about, and but then earlier tonight, my mother phoned me from her boyfriend's house to say that her boyfriend had actually also asked her to marry him last Monday, but they were only telling people now as they hadn't wanted to steal thunder!

So in the space of two days, both my mum and sister got engaged! And then there was one!

In other news, I started my new school placement on Thursday. Year 2, in a lovely class, fantastic class teacher mentor. She is very organised which I hope will be good influence on me! The school is vast compared to my last one. I read 'The Kangaroo who couldn't stop' to the class, successfully managing to make them last through appalling Australian and generally Germanic accents. Have only got around 7 names so far, they sit in different seats for everything and are streamed for Numeracy and Literacy, so I have got to sort that out!!! Hmmm, can' t think of anything else to say, except something which I'll post seperately...

From a Village Station

Here's a poem I wrote as I was preparing the classic poetry stuff for the kids for school experience- should have been doing planning at that point, but was inspired. Was reading 'The Night Mail' and 'From a train carriage ' and was inspired to try to have a go at creating that train rhythm effect. Finally got around to putting it up. Whatdaya think?

From a village station

To be read starting slowly building up speed over the first 6 lines. Start to slow down gradually 7 lines from the end.

There goes the train, starting her journey
Steam starts to blow as the coal starts burning.
Building momentum, she gradually speeds,
As along the tracks, she faster proceeds.
Trees and Houses becoming a blur
As the dragon so vast sends near grasses astir
Huffin’ and Puffin’ she chugs along
Eating up the whole line to be sure before long!
By village, by stream, by fields full of sheep
Past the farmers, their crops, by gorge so deep.
There town, there valley, past ribbon-like road-
Flies the steam-belching carriage, a-carrying her load
On and on pass the hours, why, where have they gone?
The sun has a-flown from where it once shone.
“Are we there yet?” A score of impatient hearts cry
As they vainly familiar sites try to spy.
When the brakes are applied, it’s a sure exclamation:
“We are soon to be there, to arrive at the station.”
As she rounds the curve, the trees become clear
The sites are familiar, ah home must be near!
Yes now we are slowing, the beast she tires
The coal is now spent, and the flame it expires
As we shudder to a halt, and arrive at our aim
Hence I bid goodbye to the stationary train.

By Kezzie

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