And in response to my last post....

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

Things kids say

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

Another question received the scarily common answers.

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

What has the puddle turned into?

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

An ode to educational freedom

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

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

7 week posts

I don't seem to come near here much nowadays. I think wistfully of the days when I was an administrator and had free time and was able to check my e-mail etc. Well, much has changed over the last couple of months. I have got to know my new class better. I am much less stressed myself, and I just accept that teaching is manic and that I can't always get everything done. I am quite excited because I am probably going on an LSO Discovery course to improve my 'music teaching' abilities as I am potentially taking over some music lessons in January at my school which is quite cool. I do feel very fortunate and blessed, because things do tend to work out for me, God carries me along, so any time I get into moany teacher mode, remind me of that!
Tomorrow, I am going to spend a couple of days on the Suffolk coast where my Dad has a flat. I hope to enjoy some fresh sea air, which will be lovely. I shall paddle, NO MATTER HOW COLD IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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...)