I can't believe that Friday has come round again, thank the Lord, and it's so nice not to contemplate getting up at 6.35 (well, at least my alarm going off at that time- the first one anyway) today!
It's been quite a nice week all in all- God has eased me into my school experience, with only having to teach some of the time because of maths week events, which is such a relief, as I am sure it would have been a lot scarier otherwise. The planning is still quite hard and is taking a while. However, I am feeling a lot more positive at this point. My teacher was right- she said I had to get my confidence back, and she has been incredibly supportive this week, encouraging me, and helping me if I got stuck. Literacy got easier as the week went on- a lot of the children found classic poetry quite difficult to grasp, but as they got used to it, and tried writing their own, it somehow became easier. I did make several faux pas though. I suspect, I will really start to get on well with it, just before I have to go back to college (and do the horrid essays- yuck!) I have two weeks left, and an observation on Monday- I am going to be doing story boxes with the children on Monday as a way in to story structure, bit of a gamble, as I havent tried it yet- or planned it yet, but the school wanted every teacher to try it with their class before the next staff meeting which is Tuesday, and I would like to try it as I think it is a really good approach to structure, especially for EAL children, as it is visually and orally based, good for certain learning styles.
I have discovered, that I like marking! I wish I had spent the afternoon (when I was just mostly in watching the maths quiz) marking all the science and literacy books, as it would have been good to get it done and I would have done something more useful than observing.
Interesting music lesson earlier- it didnt quite go as planned- but I managed to get the class all humming random notes like sirens. I thought it sounded beautiful though I dont think they appreciated it! We didn't get on to spending a large amount of time on our vocal pieces, nor did we have time to review them, which was the important part, but I am hoping that I will have much food for thought for my music specialism essay. It's quite a hard thing to 'teach' composition to 9-10 year olds- not least, trying to get them to stop the squabbles and egoitism over their ideas, it's important for them to learn to be able relinquish their ideas.
To be honest, I will be quite glad to teach some 'normal' maths as opposed to the maths week stuff, and to try and get back to the normal timetable. I am teaching fractions and decimals this week, so think I may come across some misconceptions. We have a school experience review day on Wednesday back at college, which will be an interesting experience, though I am very sad to be missing yet another of my class's music lessons: I will only have been in 2 of my class's proper lessons over the two experiences, and the music teacher is such a great inspiration and I wanted to learn more... Here's hoping summer placement has a great music teacher like her- or I will end up at one of her other schools!
Anyway, I intended to get some work done tonight, which I haven't really, but am going to go off to bed so I can get up early(ish) to get a headstart with all the planning milarkey.
Oh, I chose the homework tasks for the kids this weekend- Task 2, is to record all the water usage in their house for 4 days in a nice table (for Geography), and Task 1 is:
THE NUMBER TWO HUNDRED
See how many new words you can find in the phrase above (cunning literacy and tenuous numeracy link). No repetitions of letters allowed and only standard English dictionary words allowed. Any one want to have a go and this and see how many words you can find- I think I found about 40ish thus far.
Kezzie's blog smile of the week award goes to Welsherella for making me smile as per usual- happy pink fluffy flowery blogs- hurrah!
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooray!!!!!!!
It's so nice to think that I don't have to get up at some unearthly hour tomorrow!!! Admittedly, I have a rather immense amount of planning to do, and some evaluation and write-ups, but fandabidobilously more sleep!!!
Am just watching Ugly Betty for the first time. I'm really liking it so far. It's horrid to see how shallow and unkind people can be but I'm sure and hoping that it'll be a Cinderella story!
I also did something I decided never to do again two years ago. I feel quite ashamed. I watched Big Brother. I'm not one to comment on things in the media, because I tend to avoid the media like the plague. However, it's been hard to avoid the whole 'Jade' situation that has been going on. I couldn't possibly comment on the whole racist situation because I haven't been watching it, though I've read about it, but I do feel that she is perhaps a prime example of the young British 'do now, think later and not think of the consequences' girl? In a time when people want the here and now, people really do not think about the consequences of their actions and will just lose it and say hurtful things and do not take the time to try to control their initial impulses and emotions and just go for it. It's a hard thing to do, but I do feel it's a very important thing to learn. I know I too like most of us, can be horrible, unkind, selfish and awful in many many ways- and because I know that, therefore I can be changed, and change- but it is a conscious decision. I feel sorry for Jade, especially when she started to think about her previous actions. I really hope that she can learn something from this situation and hope that things turn out fine for everyone.
On a lighter note, I intend to try and get lots of my planning done tomorrow, which will make me feel much better about next week. If I am a good girl, I will go down to the charity shops down the road to see if I can find any cool board games! I was very pleased last week as I found the 'London Game' which I played at Rach's house at one shop, and I hope to find Pictionary somewhere!!!! I can't wait till the Easter holidays when I can play some games!
It's so nice to think that I don't have to get up at some unearthly hour tomorrow!!! Admittedly, I have a rather immense amount of planning to do, and some evaluation and write-ups, but fandabidobilously more sleep!!!
Am just watching Ugly Betty for the first time. I'm really liking it so far. It's horrid to see how shallow and unkind people can be but I'm sure and hoping that it'll be a Cinderella story!
I also did something I decided never to do again two years ago. I feel quite ashamed. I watched Big Brother. I'm not one to comment on things in the media, because I tend to avoid the media like the plague. However, it's been hard to avoid the whole 'Jade' situation that has been going on. I couldn't possibly comment on the whole racist situation because I haven't been watching it, though I've read about it, but I do feel that she is perhaps a prime example of the young British 'do now, think later and not think of the consequences' girl? In a time when people want the here and now, people really do not think about the consequences of their actions and will just lose it and say hurtful things and do not take the time to try to control their initial impulses and emotions and just go for it. It's a hard thing to do, but I do feel it's a very important thing to learn. I know I too like most of us, can be horrible, unkind, selfish and awful in many many ways- and because I know that, therefore I can be changed, and change- but it is a conscious decision. I feel sorry for Jade, especially when she started to think about her previous actions. I really hope that she can learn something from this situation and hope that things turn out fine for everyone.
On a lighter note, I intend to try and get lots of my planning done tomorrow, which will make me feel much better about next week. If I am a good girl, I will go down to the charity shops down the road to see if I can find any cool board games! I was very pleased last week as I found the 'London Game' which I played at Rach's house at one shop, and I hope to find Pictionary somewhere!!!! I can't wait till the Easter holidays when I can play some games!
Friday, January 19, 2007
...and all I ask is a tall ship, and a star to steer her by
Hello! It's almost a week through Spring term school experience. I am really rather tired!!! It's been an interesting week, with doing cross phase in different classes. I have decided that nursery isn't quite as scary as I first thought, and Reception can be absolutely lovely! I have seen a variety of different music classes, which has been interesting. It did however feel quite uncomfortable going back to my own class after not being with them. I taught music and art today, despite feeling rather yuck! Music is a special class I am doing for my project for my assignment, except that I wanted to do a composition project about the sea, to see how I could get them to consider their composing process more. Except they did the sea last year. We are still doing it, but I am unsure of how it will move their learning on. Maybe I should swap to doing a gamelan project for the last three weeks? At least I know they haven't done that. It was a bit manic with 30 children in a small room composing pieces- it was manic and the kids were CRAZY as they had been all day because of the wind and weather. They created some beautiful pieces, and I was impressed considering the aural carnage that was going on in that room at times!!! I thought music was the one subject that I would find easier to teach, but I guess I was wrong.
Art was equally manic- we were looking at containers, and of course they were being pedantic about detail- though it was good for them to think about containers- and I hope when we do something practical, they might be a bit better behaved.
In maths this morning I was working with a small group who didn't get ordering negative numbers. It was so sad- at first two boys who didn't get it, really got it when I told them to think about a thermometer, and one went on to do most of them right. Until we got to negative fractions. And then all went wrong- two very hard concepts to get hold of- combined! They did NOT get it!!! We tried number lines, we tried talking about mirrors, we tried the thermometer approach- I am going make a big thermometer to go on the wall at the weekend if I can!!!
Next week is Maths week! Which means a lovely disrupted timetable as usual! Aren't I lucky! However, the maths coordinator is a GENIOUS! It's such an inspired idea, to get them enthused about maths- we've got all sorts of fun challenges happening, and in our classes, we are going to be doing investigative work. And each class is studying a number for the week. I have 200. Which frankly, ISN'T the most interesting number in the world- I'd prefer 1000! But I now know that the Mayan civilisation or something or other started in the year 200! We are going to make a number bonds tree on Monday morning. I am going to get them to write sums on leaves and string them up on a fake tree! Which frankly will take a while to do. But it's an idea at least!!
I am still feeling very uncertain about this still. I really feel that I don't feel I will be able to do this in September. But I am going to see how next 3 weeks go and then see what happens. I will try my hardest to really teach them in the best way I can and see what happens. If you are in the habit of praying, please pray for guidance for me to know clearly either way, whether I should continue along this path. Oh, and that I get loads done this weekend!!!
Art was equally manic- we were looking at containers, and of course they were being pedantic about detail- though it was good for them to think about containers- and I hope when we do something practical, they might be a bit better behaved.
In maths this morning I was working with a small group who didn't get ordering negative numbers. It was so sad- at first two boys who didn't get it, really got it when I told them to think about a thermometer, and one went on to do most of them right. Until we got to negative fractions. And then all went wrong- two very hard concepts to get hold of- combined! They did NOT get it!!! We tried number lines, we tried talking about mirrors, we tried the thermometer approach- I am going make a big thermometer to go on the wall at the weekend if I can!!!
Next week is Maths week! Which means a lovely disrupted timetable as usual! Aren't I lucky! However, the maths coordinator is a GENIOUS! It's such an inspired idea, to get them enthused about maths- we've got all sorts of fun challenges happening, and in our classes, we are going to be doing investigative work. And each class is studying a number for the week. I have 200. Which frankly, ISN'T the most interesting number in the world- I'd prefer 1000! But I now know that the Mayan civilisation or something or other started in the year 200! We are going to make a number bonds tree on Monday morning. I am going to get them to write sums on leaves and string them up on a fake tree! Which frankly will take a while to do. But it's an idea at least!!
I am still feeling very uncertain about this still. I really feel that I don't feel I will be able to do this in September. But I am going to see how next 3 weeks go and then see what happens. I will try my hardest to really teach them in the best way I can and see what happens. If you are in the habit of praying, please pray for guidance for me to know clearly either way, whether I should continue along this path. Oh, and that I get loads done this weekend!!!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
I feel like this blog's become a big moan-fest! But I just wanted to write somewhere. The deepening gloom that was threatening to overtake me last week has manifested itself in a feeling of deep misery. I have spent every lecture and every look at a text book and every glance at my School Experience Guide feeling absolutely overwhelmed and unsure of ever being able to do this. Surely that isn't right. I know that everyone is feeling horrid about the course at the moment, especially after the bliss of Christmas Holiday. I just don't seem to be able to snap out of it. Yesterday I meant to come home and do work, do reading, prepare for school experience etc. But after dinner, after talking to a friend to did the course 2 years ago on the phone about the English assignment, I just did not know what to do, and read my school experience guide which was horrendous and looking through my directed tasks from last term made me realise that I had not done half of them. Mid-term planning has been hard, working out how to do containers with Year 5, trying to research for my essays. So I got nothing done last night. Even my specialism music day today filled me with fear at my assignment. My tutor is right when she says I need to get some confidence, believe I can do it and stop worrying, and I know that I should, but when I feel everything is telling me I can't do it, I just despair. I can't even think of original engaging activities for my planning.
However, I do realise, that it is a very small thing, it is not a life and death situation, it is just I am not coping with thng very well and a little perspective is important. But oh how sweet the sound of giving it up sounds!
However, I do realise, that it is a very small thing, it is not a life and death situation, it is just I am not coping with thng very well and a little perspective is important. But oh how sweet the sound of giving it up sounds!
Saturday, January 06, 2007
A compliment for Saturday Morning...
I went to the local library this morning to take out some books for my class for when we write our non-chronological reports on animals, and also books on places of worship and the water cycle for RE and Geography respectively. As I took the large pile up to the issue desk, the 'rather youngish' looking girl behind the counter asked me, in a very kindly and caring way:
'You must be doing a school project with all these books?'. I remarked sort of, saying that I am a trainee Primary school teacher at which point she looked horrified and apologised profusely for thinking I was at school, saying 'But you look so young!'. At this point, I was highly amused and quite pleased! How old did she think I was*?
(*This reminded me that one of the girls in my class thought I was 18 when I first came into school.)
'You must be doing a school project with all these books?'. I remarked sort of, saying that I am a trainee Primary school teacher at which point she looked horrified and apologised profusely for thinking I was at school, saying 'But you look so young!'. At this point, I was highly amused and quite pleased! How old did she think I was*?
(*This reminded me that one of the girls in my class thought I was 18 when I first came into school.)
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
2 days left...
....As Friday, my first day back looms, I am filled with a sense of dread and foreboding. I have been unsuccessfully trying to do my mid-term planning for the next four weeks at school and quite simply failing miserably! I have loads of material my teacher has given me, and yet I just don't know how to implement it, what to do.
I also have 2 3000 essays to write. They are on Maths and English. I have done Professional Issues and most of Science (well still got a lot to write, but am already over the word limit-oops). If only I could keep my new years resolution about not getting worried and putting things off because I am scared of them... It's ridiculous, I am 25!!!!
If anyone ever randomly reads this who is doing a PGCE, bear in mind, your emotions go up and down every day, and it can be quite scary, though I am trying to remember it can also be fantastic! Can I be honest and say how sweet the thought of giving it up is, but I don't want to do that...
Am sorry if this is depressing. Want to vent somewhere on something that wont get ratty with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also have 2 3000 essays to write. They are on Maths and English. I have done Professional Issues and most of Science (well still got a lot to write, but am already over the word limit-oops). If only I could keep my new years resolution about not getting worried and putting things off because I am scared of them... It's ridiculous, I am 25!!!!
If anyone ever randomly reads this who is doing a PGCE, bear in mind, your emotions go up and down every day, and it can be quite scary, though I am trying to remember it can also be fantastic! Can I be honest and say how sweet the thought of giving it up is, but I don't want to do that...
Am sorry if this is depressing. Want to vent somewhere on something that wont get ratty with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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