Another Viewpoint

I had another lesson observation today. I thought it was going to be rather informal, but since my lesson was GREAT, they made it formal. This means it goes, "in my file" because now I've proved I'm consistently doing well. Bring it.

I got a rank of "good" again...
not outstanding,
but on the cusp,
as they assure me ;)

Makes a gal feel quite good knowing she is on some sort of cusp.

I had super high energy from the start of the day until the end. It was amazing. After teaching five lessons in a row, it's remarkable how I can still be enthused and ready to teach these kids after eight full hours of work. I just remember (unfondly) those last clients who wanted a meeting at the bank at 4:30 pm. I was knackered by the time that appointment came along because I'd been there all day long. And here I am, being there all day, still ready to roar, ready to deliver the knowledge.

It's a pretty amazing feeling to know I'm in the right profession.

I hope you are having a pretty amazing day, too.

Pic is mine from Salzburg. Loves the blue balloons ;)

Time in the Classroom

I'm doing a unit with my younger students on surveys and questionnaires.

Today I asked a kid an extension question to one of his survey questions. He had already written, "How do you get to school in the morning?" and since I wanted him to extend, I pointed, pointedly, to my wrist (where a watch would be, thinking it was the international symbol for time).

He was confused.

Another kid helped him out though by shouting, "Time! You moron!"

(Well said.)

"Yes", I replied. "What is a question
we could ask your peers
about time
as it relates
to your question?"

(I'm really hoping he gets the hint that I want him to ask, "How long does it take you to get to school?", "What time do you wake up on school days?", "What time do you go to bed on school nights?" or something, you know, related.



He paused.

Then his face lit up.

"How many people own a time machine?!"

I really wish he was joking.
I know he wasn't because he proceeded to write it down as part of his classwork.

Here is a statue so not erected in this child's honour. Sigh.

And that's just another day in my neck of the woods.

The Breakfast Club Dance Scene

Why did everyone in the 80's know how to dance?

Isn't this wicked awesome? I wish Saturday school ended up like this...



Good Monday?

Great Monday ;)

Abandon

Sweet disposition
Never too soon
Oh reckless abandon,
Like no one's watching you

A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A kiss, a cry
Our rights, our wrongs
A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh

Just stay there
Cause I'll be comin' over
While our bloods still young
It's so young, it runs
Won't stop til it's over
Won't stop to surrender

Songs of desperation
I played them for you

A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A kiss, a cry
our rights, our wrongs
A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh

Just stay there
Cause I'll be comin' over
While our bloods still young
It's so young, it runs
Won't stop til it's over
Won't stop to surrender

A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A kiss, a cry
Our rights, our wrongs (won't stop til it's over)

A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A kiss, a cry
Our rights, our wrongs (won't stop til it's over)

A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A kiss, a cry
Our rights, our wrongs (won't stop til it's over)

A moment, a love
A dream, a laugh
A moment, a love
A moment, a love (won't stop to surrender)

Song is Sweet Disposition by Temper Trap. Loves.

I suppose we are never too old
for reckless abandon.
I think in the spirit
of all things whimsical
and wonderful,
we should try,
at least every once in awhile,
to do something with reckless abandon.

Sounds pretty radical, right?

James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream

Love love love.

I hope you're having a splendid Sunday.



Yesterday at school, a kid asked me to put on some dubstep for him while he revised for his math exam. Um, yeah, I totally know what that is (read: must Google this term as un-awkwardly as possible so I don't seem to be out of the loop).

It's a mix of drum and bass, my favourite of the electronic music choices, and other music: rap, downtempo, R & B, etc. I quite liked it, but didn't fully appreciate until I found James Blake.

Now I'm trying desperately now to find a ticket to one of his London shows. He's from Deptford, which is fairly close to here, so I guess he does a lot of local shows. I'm totally digging this guy. It's Sunday morning lounge meets Saturday out-for-drinks.

If you want to jam with me, check out his myspace page here.

Zach Wahls Speaks About Family

"The sexual orientation
of my parents
has had zero effect
on the content
of my character."

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Isn't it time we strive for equality? Thanks, Laura!

Have a great Friday.

The Blues

January IS a hard month, isn't it?

The buzz of Christmas is gone (not that I care too much for it to begin with anyway), the air is frigid, and the hours of sunlight seem to total about one hour per day. It sucks.

Fast forward to February. Wow...the light is here.

This week we've been walking to school because it's Ethne's week off of driving, so we are really appreciating the increased half hour of sunlight at 7 am. Thank you, Mother Nature!

In addition to this, I recently transferred some money internationally via TELEPHONE. Now this might not mean anything to many humans out there, but for those of you in Korea, you will be THRILLED to know that when you move HERE (to civilization), you will be able to do those pesky transfers over the telephone. Talk about a service. I love life right now.

PLUS, a kid who has been having a lot of trouble with at school recently (everyone seems to have it out for her) came to after-school revision tonight to go over some algebra. Ha-what? That's right...the good vibes are out there, the good life is happening and I couldn't be happier about it all.

AND, only seven more sleeps until I'm Dublin-bound. Right? It's a good life.

Note: I opted out of Prague. I'm headed to a spa with Sheila and Sue on Sunday night, then back home for a night. Then I'm going to rent a hostel in London just around Hyde Park and be a proper tourist. I have a list, I'll get a map, I'm all set. Lastly, I'm headed out to Dover for a day trip with Emma and le bebe. Sounds like a pretty relaxing half-term to me. Since we have to work on the Saturdays flanking the vacay week, I might as well take 'er easy and stick close to home. It sure does feel good.

Pic is mine...heading down the Northern Line. Yuck.

Bookshelf

image courtesy of the lovely blog of Alanna Cavanagh. Take a peek through even more pictures of how great this thing is going to look (and how much work it looks like to assemble. Gulp).

Our bookshelf is due to arrive on February 9.

I've been notified.

I'm so excited.

Can't wait to share ;)

Feeling Worthwhile

Last week was tough. I cried at school (in hiding) because someone was really, really rude to me, and I thought this week would be much the same. I was overly frazzled yesterday; at my wits end with all the kids; and didn't really feel much like being there. Today though, I had an epiphany. On Friday, the math staff, principal, and vice principal all headed down (after a quick pop into the pub) to this spa close to the school.


Image courtesy of hotels-world.com

Pretty nice already, right? After checking into rooms that looked like this,


image courtesy of laterooms.com

we worked for two hours. We listened to presentations pertaining to the neatest, most complex things (at least for a new teacher like me). Ryan presented about a new exam board we'd be using (REALLY higher order thinking needed to come up with that kind of research, all kidding aside, and this from a BRAND NEW educator...amazing); um, and that's all I can remember.

We all had an amazing dinner together in the dining room at a long table, shared some drinks and long, serious discussions,





kicked up our feet,



reclined in our chairs (that's Robin, our hero),



had some laughs (with Sheila, my BFF),



and eventually hit the sack by the wee hours of the morning. Unfortunately, we had to work the next morning after an early breakfast, so the heavenly bed was not quite lived in enough, but at least I know the place is there (you know, for next time I need a really good night's sleep).

And then it was time for me to present. I talked about a new initiative that I've started at school that targets the kids who are really struggling with basic math skills. I described in great detail exactly what the 2- or 3-pronged approach looks like for each of the three year groups involved. I shared letters, sample work, and time sheets the parents are using to keep track of progress. When it was done, I thought I had done a good work sharing my "best practice" with those around me.

Little did I know it mattered.

From there, the department head wants to make this the general policy for kids who are far away from their target grades for the year. She wants it to be made available so that any teacher in math who has a struggler can easily print off the related materials, and start the kid on the program. Um, okay.

Here is the long and the short of it: the presentation, information, and the amount of excitement I have that this IS going to be successful was contagious. Infectious even. And all of a sudden it made sense: I was valued; I was important; I was necessary.

All those feelings about not wanting to go to work (not that I have them often, but the desire to take a sick day has crept in once in awhile) vanished, and I was reminded that even if I'm a NEWBIE, I'm still an integral part of this team. My colleagues and superiors listen to me, respect me, and think I'm pretty radical.

Pretty radical, right?

Here's to things working out, humans feeling valued, and jobs having meaning that goes deeper than educating youngsters.

I have the distinct notion that "Enlightenment: What am I DOING here?" might take on a new meaning in jolly old England.

Are you feeling valued? What have you done today to make you feel proud?

Line of the Day

I was just singing this song as I descended the stairs.

I asked Ang, "Do you ever sing songs from 1987? Songs you used to hear when your mom had that boyfriend named Sid?"

Ang: "Well, yeah, but my mother never had a boyfriend named Sid."

Naturally.




Today is going QUITE well. I like a good Tuesday.

I hope you're having one too ;)