commitment or neglect?

As usual I found myself sitting at the computer until after 10pm last night planning lessons for today while Larry sat in front of the TV giving me a commentary on what he was watching.

"This woman gave up her husband and children to run away with someone she met on the internet through this virtual friendship game."

I was vaguely interested. At any rate, it was more interesting than thinking about how I was going to teach speech marks to my class.

"Basically she spent too long in front of her computer and spent no time at all with her children. She completely neglected her family."

Okay. Is he trying to tell me something?

Note to self - you are spending too much time planning at the computer. Have you seen the kids this week?

A Good Week

(The picture has nothing to do with the post. I just liked it. Don't waste your time trying to figure out a connection. There isn't one! Unless you find a really clever connection, in which case it was intended and carefully thought out!)

This week has been good in many respects.

First of all, after about 3 weeks of unhealthy eating and general Christmas-related overindulgence and a subsequent week of not daring to put both feet on the bathroom scales, I can now confirm I have not gained any weight over the Christmas period (or am back to the weight I was before Christmas).

Expecting my first week of teaching to be hectic was realistic and my expectations were met. I was therefore not suprised when my first proper maths lesson (teaching from the new framework) was a bit of a mess (to put it mildly). Maths is not my strong point, but I am pleased that at least my literacy lessons are much better and the children are making progress. That sounds like my maths lessons were not at all productive. That's not true. They were just not as good as I want them to be.

The whole year group went to the theatre to see Peter Pan on Wednesday. We didn't lose any children and I got to know some of the children's parents better.

Towards the end of the week I had several parents compliment me telling me they were very happy and their children liked me and were happy in my class. That sort of comment is always very reassuring to hear.

I had a meeting with my induction mentor (the deputy) with whom I get on very well and she was pleased with how I have settled in and how I am coping in general.

My head of year has also been very complimentary.

I love this school. I don't want to leave in the summer. My contract officially ends at the end of August, although there is a possibility that my contract will be made permanent as the class teacher may not return. We will have to wait and see what she decides to do. Even if she does decide to return, I will have completed 2 terms of my NQT year at one of the best schools in Southampton which puts me in a very good position for getting a teaching post at another school.

The only thing that I am sad about at the moment is that after spending most of last term doing the school run and taking Big J to his music group, I am really missing my friends. Many of them I only ever saw in the school playground and so don't see them at all now.

I am planning a quiet weekend, where I will have to do a certain amount of planning & resource making for next week, but am not going to spend all weekend planning as I seem to have done last weekend. I think my own children need me too and I am making a stick for my own back if I don't give them some quality time now. Added to which, after hearing that Big J (at only 3 years old remember!) commented to Larry as they watched Gwen Stefani on TV that she had "nice boobs", I think he needs more of my female influence! I am not sure whether I am more shocked by the fact that my three year old son made such an inappropriate observation, or that every man I seem to tell about it simply replies, "well, he's got good taste. She does have nice boobs!" You know who you are!

So, anyway, a great week all around.

And the best bit is that today is Seany's birthday and mum & dad didn't buy him a bike! (unless they gave him one as a token present!)

Happy New Year

After a great Christmas with the family (including Seany & 'me mam') and a quiet but enjoyable New Year's Eve / Day with just the four of us the day finally came when I had to put my money where my mouth is and take over my new class.

How exciting!

How scary!

First two days back went really well. We had integrated days based around Mythical Creatures. They pushed their luck a bit with their behaviour, but after a discussion about rules and behaviour, we had a very good second day on Friday and the standard of work was much better. It is a mystery to me how the other teachers get all their stuff done and still go home at 5 - 5.30. I left at 5.45 again today and still had a list as long as my arm of things I had to do.

Oh well, as long as I keep crossing things off as well as adding new things to the list it will be okay. I once heard someone say that an in tray is suposed to have something in it and you only have an empty in tray when you die. Not sure how long it will be, but I am still aliove so far so the in tray is still doing it's job!

Got lots of planning to do and must eat sometime today too, but I'd just like to say thank you for all the lovely messages of support.

Hope everyone has a great 2008!

My Bruver Got a Bike an I Dint

I have much better things to do than this, but Seany started "the bike thing" again so I have to have my say!

For further clarification on what the bike thing is all about, you might want to read point ten of 30 Things about Seany.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, unless it's a bike and then it will come in a box with a big shiny bow on it.

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial. Real trees are too wide and would get knocked over by the bike as it goes past.

3. When do you put up the tree? As early as I can get away with it. I like hearing people complain to me that it's too early.

4. When do you take the tree down? One of my kids usually knocks it down with their new bike as they ride around (if one gets one, they both get one!!). Failing that, I take it down before I go back to work in January.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but I don't really agree with stealing eggs out of nog's nests.

6. Favourite gift received as a child? I don't remember. Did I get a bike? No, I don't think so. My brother did though.

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? Yes, and every year a bit more of it gets broken. The shepherd now has a shorter crook (ooh!).

8. Hardest person to buy for? Secret Santa presents when you don't know who you are buying for.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Seany. I can just buy him a bike every year as he keeps losing or breaking them. (Never taught the value of money!)

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Decorative teapot. What is the point of that?
"I have bought you a teapot",
"Oh Thank you!",
"But don't use it, will you?",
"Why not?",
"It's for decoration only",
"Right, so you have bought me a teapot, but I can't use it as a teapot.",
"That's right."
"What the F*&K am I supposed to do with it then?!"

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. We get 50 free stamps because Larry is a postie.

12. Favourite Christmas movie? Love Actually

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? July. Yeah, so what! Shut up!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, every year. The kids have so many things that they don't realise I keep taking their toys and wrapping them up for them again the next year. At least they get something they really want!

15. Favorite thing to eat/drink at Christmas? Clotted cream, Brandy Butter, Port, guinness (wow, now I see why I am having to diet!)

16. Clear lights or coloured on the tree? coloured and flashing

17. Favourite Christmas song? I want to ride my bicycle

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Christmas day in Bethlehem was great, but I love being home with the family for Christmas.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yes. Frank, Pat, Ricky, Bianca...erm... I can't remember the others.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A Fairy.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Open them Christmas day. Shake, prod, sniff & squish them as soon as they arrive!

Anyone else want to have a go? Let me know so I can have a read.

Oh, and don't worry, I bought myself a bike!

All change

So, after maxing out a credit card (or two) on nursery fees, it was finally time to call it a day and admit that a private nursery was not for people like us, but for the professors and doctors etc. who can afford the extortionate fees. Added to which, we were only really keeping him there because he loved it so much and it only took a week of him saying "I don't want to go to nursery" and a few incidents like not being told they had changed his keyworker, looking at his record of progress to find it had not been updated since he had moved into the pre-school section a month ago in addition to my repeated but unsuccessful attempts to get them to put a coat on him when in the garden (NOTE: all the staff were always wearing fleece jackets!)to wake us up to the fact that we were no longer getting value for (lots and lots of) money.

I was scared. Little Z had had six childminders before starting school and I really didn't want the same for Big J. I made some enquiries and found a childminder on recommendation from a few mums at Little Z's school. We are now 2 weeks in and all is well. She is very qualified, really friendly, and Big J likes her. Apart from that, I don't think I will be messed about by her.

Big J has also started a new Pre-school. It is the same one Little Z went to so it was a bit strange going back there after 4 years. It has changed somewhat, but Big J is happy there and I am hoping he will stay there until he goes to school in September.

So, new childminder & new Pre-school as well as all the new places he will go to with the childminder are all the ingredients I needed for an overwhelmed and slightly bewildered little boy. So, what better time to introduce these things than just coming up to Christmas when everything else is out of routine too!

I am glad to say that the changes have gone as well as could be expected and with as few tears (from all concerned) as possible. He does not seem too concerned to have left his nursery, quite the opposite in fact which tells me maybe we should have done this sooner. I just hope that he doesn't think his new pre-school is always like this with party food and Santa coming to visit.

For God's sake...

This is mad! Inciting racial hatred? Aren't they doing that by the way they are treating her? Can we take seriously a country which still lashes people in public? Is it a crime to make a mistake?

What a ****ed up world we live in!

What the X...

I have never watched X-Factor before, but this year Larry & I have watched it from the beginning and have really got into it. With only 6 acts left in the competition, it is getting tough to decide who to vote for (at home of course, not actually wasting money on phone voting). Beverley has been one of my favourites from the start of the live shows. Apart from the fact that she is a Primary School teacher, she has an amazing voice and was a very strong contender. I thought she could win it. Until, that is, some people decided that talent doesn't really matter and voted instead to keep other acts in who really, in my opinion, should not still be in the competition. What were they thinking?

"If Beverley goes this week it will be ridiculous. If that happens, I will not watch it again" I stropped as I gasped in disbelief at seeing that Beverley was in the bottom two acts.

Well, that's it. I don't ever want to watch it again. I have no idea why it is called x-factor. It is complete xxxxxxxx. (Oh, maybe that's it!)

Oh, and to make matters even worse, someone's supply placement is just about to be cut short.

Driving Lesson

Thank you so much to the (rather aged) man in the (average) silver car, who pulled up alongside my car today to point out to me that my driving was substandard. You may have been somewhat confused at my blank expression and complete lack of response and could have been led into thinking I did not care. However, I do appreciate that you are obviously a caring person who wished to help a fellow motorist, even to the point that you thought you would drive quite closely behind me just in case I should require your help or advice. As someone who is committed to the education of others, I thought I would offer you my own words of advice. First of all, I would like you to think about your use of questionning. Do you think an open question like "Why didn't you use your indicators?" was more likely to get a response than a closed question under those circumstances? Secondly, while I admire your lack of expletives used as you shouted at me, I'd like to point out that the need to shout would be greatly reduced if you were to wind your window down. Oh, nice horn, by the way!

PS:
As this incident took place outside my new school, If by some freak unfortunate coincidence you happen to walk into my classroom with your child on the first day of next term, I would be very grateful if you would pretend never to have seen me before!

Who Nose...

Tried to do Christmas shopping today, but after spending a morning dragging Big J around the shops telling him to "put it down", "Leave that alone", "That's not a toy" etc... I decided to take a break for lunch and continue after we had eaten. As I sat in the car checking my mobile phone, I realised I had missed several messages from Little Z's school and one from Larry telling me that Little Z had fallen and hurt her nose and face and needed to be picked up. The last message was left at 11.50. I finally dashed, apologising repeatedly, into the school's office at 13.25. A trip to A&E resulted in us walking back out as soon as we had walked in as the place was full of people with more serious injuries who would undoubtably be seen first. A short car trip down the road took us to the NHS Walk-In Centre where the staff were helpful and friendly and where we were seen within 30 minutes. The result being that Little Z has cuts to her face which should heal in a week or so and a suspected broken nose which cannot be checked until the swelling goes down in approx. 10 days when we will have to phone for an ENT appointment which may then mean waiting another 2 weeks. In the meantime, she is more concerned with why people are staring at her,why she is not allowed to do PE for 2 weeks and whether she will still be able to do her ballet exam on 15th November.

An Englishman's Home is his Castle...

(apologies for taking so long to actually get this post finished & published)

A few months ago, my friend Sarah announced that she and her husband, Ben, were moving to Derbyshire. After staying with Sarah's granny for a few weeks, they have now moved into their new house, so we thought we would visit them on our way to Grimsby. We took the campervan and booked into Elvaston Castle (not a real castle at all!)campsite nearby to stay for the night.

After visiting Sarah & Ben's new house, we all went over to Elvaston Castle Country Park. A pleasant walk in the woods was the perfect opportunity for Big J to cover his lovely clean trainers and the bottom half of his trousers in two types of poo and some of his own wee! What a charming boy!

We headed for Nottingham the following day, which was not enjoyable in the least. I love Nottingham and as the children have been following the Robin Hood series (yes, yes, I know it's not age appropriate!) I thought they would love to visit the castle. Yes, I am sure they would have preferred to visit the Robin Hood experience museum, but at thirty odd pounds for the family to get in, we decided the castle was more appealing. Didn't I realise they would be disappointed when they saw it and found out it was not a real castle at all, but more like a large stately home? Did I really expect them to get excited about an art gallery and some plates, bowls & cups? Well, yes, hindsight would have been handy (or possible just some forethought!).

A longer than anticipated drive finally got us to Seany's house - not a castle either, but the kids were happy to see Uncle Seanie, as were we, of course!

Despite the fact that we had (and still have) no money, we still managed to visit a windmill (Windy Miller was not in so we didn't get to see it turning, although I managed to keep Big J quiet for about 10 minutes by saying, "Quick, I just saw it move - keep watching!"); a zoo (of sorts) in Cleethorpes (no, not the Sunday Market!)although Seany said it was not quite like the San Diego Zoo or the one in St Louis and we also went for a long drive in the country in search of Alvingham Watermill which I remembered visiting as a year 3 pupil with my favourite teacher and thought Little Z might like to see as the one we had seen in Elvaston had not been working. We also managed to reach the Appleby's Ice Cream shop in Conisholme just in time.

Thanks Seany for another great break.

The Slippery Slope...

At Paulton's Park last weekend, Seany & I stood watching Little Z and Big J have their last climb, swing, jump, bounce and slide on the adventure playground before going home. We laughed as we remembered how a number of years ago, we had visited Paulton's with Little Z and had ourselves had a go on the biggest chute slide. I was signed off work with depression (no, let me finish!) and remember thinking at that time "I hope no one sees me enjoying myself!" It's a common misconception that depressed people have to be miserable all of the time.

So, anyway, I was reading Seany's blog this morning about the joke someone has cracked at the Tate Modern (no, I'm not mocking it, actually I liked the thought behind it) and having clicked the link to the news article about "Shibboleth 2007" I saw a related article entitled "Tate Modern Unveils Giant Slides". Now, that is something I would really enjoy going to see. I love swings and slides and never seem to have grown out of them (mentally, ok?) so I was very excited to hear what the artist had to say:

Artist Carsten Holler said his work, Test Site, was a "playground for the body and the brain". He says slides can help combat mental health problems.

(Source: BBC.co.uk)

What a fantastic excuse!

So, my plan is as follows:
New Job, New house, Big garden, Giant slide, not thought beyond that yet...

How to Get a Primary NQT Teaching Job

I cannot believe how hard it has been to get a teaching job. I know some people have not found it so hard, but I also know some people who were happy to apply for and accept any teaching job in any school and some of those people ended up very unhappy and soon moved on to another school or left teaching altogether. What I am talking about, is how hard it has been to find the right teaching job in the right school. Too fussy? probably. Happy? Yes! I am now.

But this got me thinking how it would be nice (good descriptive word!) to put something together which might help some of the Primary NQTs still out there searching for the right job.

I have put this together and put a link in "Teachers Cupboard" on the right. I am not pretending to have more experience than others, but just wanted to share what I have learnt on my journey. I hope you find it helpful.

Free Stuff!

Yes, I know that Northerners (should that have a capital letter?) seem to have a reputation among the southern folk for taking anything that is free whether they need it or not, but this free stuff is really useful, for teachers and other people involved with education, that is. Yes, I do like the fact that it is free and no I would probably not order some of it if I had to pay for it, but isn't that true about many things? Are there not certain things in life which are free and which we take willingly, but would probably not pay for. Enough about that now.

Anyway, if you are a teacher or LSA or TA or Parent or someone interested in school / education stuff, then have a look at this site. You have to register and then you can (within reason) order what you like. Some things are restricted, but I have been able to order most things I needed to. Just thought I would share my find with you.

By the way, I have also put a link to this on the right hand side under "Teacher's Cupboard" so you can find it easily in future.

I got a job!!!!!

Yippee! I actually did it! I got a job!

Thanks to fantastic feedback from two job interviews I went to last week and this week, (and a lot of hard work from me, I might add!) I finally got offered a job at one of the best schools in the city! I'm really happy. I had a super day starting with lunch with the children at 11.45, interview at 2pm and then story at 2.45. I didn't want to do any ordinary story, so we did a "rap" version of The Little Red Hen with the children using body percussion to provide the pulse to the rap. When I left, the children said they hoped I would be their new teacher. Aww!

Overload

Aaargh...two interviews this week...have I said something on application I won't be able to live up to?...am I really as good as I have told them I am?...I can't speak much French any more, what if one of them is a specialist?...don't know what lesson to teach...something on problem solving...I have no ideas...have done no supply yet this term...will I be out of practice?...got to practice answering interview questions...what year group was one of them for? HELP! Can't remember...Little Z's birthday next weekend...who is coming to party?...must chase replies to invitations...need to buy a cake...when will I get time to do that?...visitors coming next weekend...house a pigsty...no time to clean...less time to tidy...what about shopping?...Ballet wednesday...she can't miss as she has an exam coming up...extra ballet lesson Thursday to practice for exam...needs to take a CD for the music...she needs to practice at home too...she needs a hair net and some more hair grips and some hairspray...has Little Z done her homework yet?...Must remind her on Monday to ask her teacher for the other homework sheet as she only brought half of it home...what shall I do first?...so many things to do...is there time to write a post for my blog?... no!

Big Mistake...

Little Z was sitting in the living room reading her school reading book, Big J was sitting at the table finish the breakfast left over in the bowl from the morning and I was minding my own business in the kitchen. It was quiet. Actually, when I think back, it was probably too quiet.

Big J then appeared at the kitchen door with an "I'm going to have fun watching you get cross" expression on his face, showing me his hands which were covered with white stuff. Several times I asked him what it was, but all he did was smile and say "I put that all over my hands." What was it? Then the truth dawned as I looked across at where he had been sitting to see a Tipex bottle on its side in the middle of a white puddle. As I got closer, I realised the full extent of the damage: White splodges up the wall, white streaks up the glass of the patio doors, white patches on the dining room chair he'd been sitting on and a breakfast bowl (with no breakfast in) swilling with Tipex. Apart from that smell, which will probably bring me back to that moment every time I smell it in future, I really did not know where to start with clearing up the mess or how to start with discussing with him what he had done. I usually insist that the children clear up their own mess, especially where they have made it deliberately, but the Tipex had started to dry and just would not come off with normal detergent.

After much perseverance, we managed to clean it off the table and windows. The wall will have to wait until we decorate again. The bowl went in the bin. The boy spent the evening pealing the tipex off his fingers like PVA glue. Two days later, I am still finding Tipex in unusual places and am now being very careful when completing applications as I have no way off correcting mistakes.

So, at the end of it all, what have I learned? Well, I'm not sure. This morning I intercepted a 'hairspray incident'. Maybe I have learned not to let him out of my sight!

Thinking of having children? Are you sure?

Rock-a-Bye

Having always enjoyed a good sing song with my children, I was really pleased when watching Teachers TV a few evenings ago to hear that children from "musically alive" homes grow up singing and responding to music more freely than children from families where singing and music is not regularly shared. I thought it was quite common for parents to sing with and to their children and assumed it was only the children many of us like to classify as "disadvantaged" whose parents do not. But, after asking a few of my friends (not the disadvantaged ones, of course!) whether they sing with their children and make up songs as I do with Little Z and Big J, they all said they don't. I felt quite pleased with myself.

So, I guess it is no wonder then, that yesterday after singing a couple of songs with Big J (ones he knows from nursery) I started singing wind the bobbin up, he does not join in, but instead bursts loudly into, "TF TF CH, TF TF CH" (come on, use your imagination, I am doing my best phonics effort here!) "We will, we will rock you!" He has been singing a few well known Queen songs for a while now and although I think it is quite sweet, I always thought that most children must do the same and that it isn't really anything that special. Now, I am not too sure how common it is. Actually, I don't care too much either.

I now take him to Mini Maestros conveniently run by a friend of mine. It not only gives me an opportunity to spend some time with Big J and therefore not feel so guilty about putting him into day nursery all week, but has also let me see him in a different way. I expected him to be very outgoing and loud, singing and playing instruments confidently. However, he was much more reserved and hardly joined in at all the first week. I'm really glad he has a quieter and calmer side to his personality. This will certainly be useful when he starts school next September.


Interesting song fact:
Did you know that the Grandfather Clock got its name from the song "Grandfather's Clock"? If you are as sad as me and want to know the words to that song (unless you are even sadder and can remember them all!) you can find them here. (Which is also where I found out that interesting fact) There are more verses than I remember, must have day dreamed a lot in music!

Too quick to judge?

Okay, I thought it was only fair, having spoken to Little Z's teacher after school today about something which was bothering Little Z, that I should now update my blog to say that actually I found her very friendly and helpful. Maybe she was having an off day the last time I spoke to her (although I have noticed the "attitude" on more than one occasion). My previous remarks were not unjustified, but I must speak as I find, and today I found her to be very pleasant.

Teachers on teachers...

Do teachers always think they can teacher better than their own children's teachers?

What about non-teacher parents? Do they also think they could do a better job?

Lots of the children in Little Z's year have parents who are teachers. Many are experienced teachers who have been in the profession for a long time. So, what do we think of Little Z's teacher?

Well, to be fair, I cannot pretend to have polled them all, but many of us feel that although we have no complaints about her actual teaching, her manner is abrupt and she is not at all approachable. I don't like the way she talks to the children or the adults, which worries me, as Little Z needs a teacher who she can give a hug to when she feels a bit insecure. This teacher is about as huggable as a lamp post!

Harsh? yes, I suppose so, but I have not told you the name of the school or the teacher's name.

It would be interesting to consider this again at the end of the year to see whether my opinion has changed. Let's call it a formative assessment!

Will I share the results of this assessment with her? No, but I will have a few questions when I get to speak to her at "Meet the Teacher" evening.

I know teaching ability is obviously important and the fact that she is doing loads of good stuff with the kids and has a fresh & modern approach, as opposed to some of the older, set-in-their-ways teachers Little Z has had previously, is a really positive thing, but personality is so important and being able to respond to children's social needs as well as their academic ones is crucial. Oh dear, I feel like I am writing my personal statement all over again!

When is parents' evening? Get the Prozac ready!

A week in the life of....

Do I have too much time on my hands?

Mon 3 Sept
Took Little Z to INTECH, the Science Centre, for the last day of her summer holiday. INTECH was a lot of fun for both Little Z & I and highly recommended. Science has never been my strong point and having forgotten a lot of what I learnt at school but still being expected to teach it to children, it was really good to be able to have the opportunity to experiment with all the interactive exhibits.

Tue 4 Sept
Little Z started Junior school. On the same site as her infant school, but nevertheless a different school and still slightly daunting for her. She got on well and her new teacher seems very pleasant. I am pleased to hear the class do not come in on monday morning to sit down and write in their weekend diary, but do thinking skills exercises and that the teacher regularly does "brain gym" type exercises with them.

Most of my close friends know what I did on Tuesday and have advised me strongly against doing this again. (Nothing sordid, just don't want to upset anyone by posting about the details.) I decided I have enough friends and so does my son!

Wed 5 Sept
Took Big J to Southsea's Blue Reef Aquarium. Big J walked for over 3 miles to and from the Aquarium to where we parked, which is not bad at all for a 3 year old. During the walk as Big J showed my how to crawl along the promenade like a wolf, I understood how he is going through a pair of trainers every 3 weeks. The aquarium was good, but quite a lot of money for the amount of time it took to get around. Big J liked the sharks best of all and has not stopped talking about sharks ever since. I confirmed what I already knew, which was that Portsmouth is a rip off tourist city. Each time I have been there, I have been intentionally short changed or overcharged by someone in the tourist trade. Next time I will go to Bournemouth instead where the tourist traders are more honest.

Thu 6 Sept
Went to a friends for lunch. That sounds like she made me lunch. In fact, I went to her house and made lunch for both of us while she did some DIY work which she should have been doing while we had been chatting for over an hour on the phone earlier.

Visited some friends in the evening and the weather was so lovely we sat in the garden. They have a lovely garden. Big J liked it so much he watered the flowers, which we only found out when he emerged from the other end of the garden pulling up his pants and saying "I've done a wee!" I am so proud.

Fri 7 Sept
Went to another friends with some exercise equipment she wanted to borrow. Didn't intend to stop for lunch, but did. Didn't have to make the lunch myself.

Seany went on his holiday. Well, at least it should keep my mum out of the pub!