Archive for 18/07/2010

Cleaning Out the Toy Cupboard

31/07/2010 Joh family, home

Today we cleaned out the toy cupboard. Each weekend when the kids come, I’ve shoved various toys they’ve accumulated into the existing games cupboard. There was an assortment of old games and toys that Asha and Tom had left, that have been brought back into use. We discovered lost treasures and I had many memories of games played and fun had.

I found a notepad inside our scattegories game with lists and lists of words. There was a note to my grandparents from me in it and I retrieved a memory that brought a smile to my face with a twinge of longing for them to still be here.

I didn’t really get rid of much at all, just reordered it so things can be found. The colouring books are all in a pile, the blank paper has been separated from the works of art, the pens, crayons, paints and texta’s are all back in their shoe boxes, the cards have been reunited, the legos, playdough and other vast assortment of toys are all back in their right places and can now be found without having to empty the entire cupboard.

The kids played all afternoon with their old toys as though they were new again:-). It was a great way to spend a wet rainy afternoon when dad had to work.

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The Five People you meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

30/07/2010 Joh reading, relationships

My year 11′s were sharing their literature SACs (latest name for school assessed course work in VCE course{once known as HSC and previously by other names})with me based on ‘The Five People you meet in Heaven’. They were great stories and I have seen this book on Tom’s bookshelf the couple of times I have randomly dusted upstairs. The students writing was the final inspiration to read the book. It was the highlight of my day yesterday!

‘All endings are also beginnings. We just don’t know it at the time…’

This is a truly big picture book about a man who dies, with a seemingly empty life, and explores what it was all about with the five people you meet in heaven. It is a big picture book. It reveals connections that make me reflect on the ones I make. I really enjoyed it.

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VITTA ICT Careers Expo

29/07/2010 Joh work

Today I got on the train with 19 (one missed the train) year 10 IT students to attend the above-mentioned careers expo. I was concerned about being solely responsible for the 19 mostly boy students in the city to be honest. I’ve never been on an excursion without another teacher before. They were very well behaved and reliable for the most part. What follows is a bit of a rant about the effort it takes to get up early, travel for hours to and from an event that didn’t deliver what it promised.

I was disappointed in the event. I wonder why universities have such boring stalls at career expos? All university logos and wads of courses in thick books and enthusiastic sounding people that really don’t understand secondary students. It was just plain embarrassing listening to many of the speakers talk to be honest. The students were so uninspired they conversed throughout the talks. Well before lunchtime the large space was virtually empty whilst federation square itself was swarming with school students.

When I mentioned at the stand to the people responsible, how ordinary I felt the Women in ICT presentation was, I was assured their Go Girl event would be great. It would have been better if they’d convinced the female students I had insisted stay and listen for half an hour. I doubt I would be able to convince them to attend now. I just don’t get it. They obviously have some sponsership and resources, why not put some effort into their presentations, even an interesting visual slideshow. We joked that they would fail year 9 English if they made presentations with such lame slides to the class when they gave their orals, if they had me for a teacher. Most of the girls there, could have come up with something more interesting in an afternoon.

Almost every speaker mentioned that the stereotype of IT worker, nerd, working alone, being out of the public eye, wasn’t accurate. It insults the students intelligence to assume that is their stereotype, it would have been more interesting and exciting to show them examples (with photo’s please, not words (definately not PARAGRAPHS) on the screen) of the types of careers people have in this field.

Anyway that’s enough of the negative… the positive was the new program offered at NGV which I registered interest for and ACMI’s new site. I can’t find any information on either of the sites about these things. I know my students have written the addresses down and it’s in the ‘showbags’ so I’ll get back to you on those!

I do wonder why young people aren’t considered more in these types of things. It just wasn’t engaging. The politicians and important people were all there briefly congratulating themselves. I do hope they noticed the students weren’t overly impressed. There were few hands on activities and the sound one was poorly placed at the back of the auditorium where the speakers were, so the sounds interfered with the talks. It was so popular, my students didn’t even get the opportunity to have a play with it. Think people think!! Grrrrrr

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Mia Dyson – Magic Moment

28/07/2010 Joh music

I’ve been listening to Mia Dyson this week. I love her voice. It all started with watching ‘Look Both Ways’ with my year 11 class and tracking down the song ‘Lonely’ from the sound track. Tom would be glad he’s not home because I’m giving it a fair thrashing:-)

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Shutting Up

27/07/2010 Joh random, work

At a meeting tonight I actually restrained myself and didn’t say what I really wanted to. It’s a rare moment. I warned that I was going to say something outrageous and those who I wanted to direct it at fled the room, so that helped:-).

My goal for myself at the moment is to think before I speak. I have a terrible habit of running off at the mouth and whilst I have been warned about this since I was a young person, I’ve only recently noticed the consequences. Well perhaps only recently I’ve felt the consequences. I think that’s why I like writing. I consider more when I put it in writing most of the time.

I know sometimes telling the truth in the heat of the moment can be useful. I’m certainly not expecting to be as careful in real life as I am in writing, but I know a bit of time could elapse before I say what I think. At least enough time to be sure I mean what I want to say.

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Full Moon in Aquarius – Monday 26th July 2010

25/07/2010 Joh astrology, family

It’s not an eclipse or anything major, yet this full moon packs something as you would know if you read astrogrrls take on it. The other site I recomment is as usual Lynda’s. One day soon I will share with you all my dawning truths. Aquarius, what can I say? I find them all different, it is the one star sign I find it difficult to say anything about to be honest. I guess they are unpredictable.

I had a beautiful weekend with the kids. I enjoyed going to the park and watching the karate kid trilogy, well up to halfway through number 3 anyway, with them. They are such fun to be with. I feel very blessed to share their lives.

Mum and dad are heading back to the northern part of the country for the sun and warmth and I caught up with them today so dad could tease me:-)

All is well in my world.
Click here for an Authentic Astrology Report

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Visiting Students at Work

24/07/2010 Joh work

I had a lovely couple of days going to different workplaces to visit our year 10′s on work experience. I enjoyed being out of the classroom and driving around from place to place. The students were transformed to working people and they rose to the occasion. Many of their employers mentioned how great they were and a couple even offered jobs. They dressed the part and were courteous and slotted into the working world well.

I visited primary schools and kindergartens and was very impressed by the environments created by the teachers. They are so warm and friendly. The younger students were totally engaged and I saw some interesting learning activities. I especially loved the small country primary schools. The students who had their work experience there were already known by the younger students and quite obviously familiar and loved. There is really nothing like small communities. At one of the kinders they baked everyday, none of that cold fruit and milk, warm apple crumble slice was baking when I arrived and it smelt lovely.

I also visited hairdressers, engineering firms, surveyors, department stores, chemists and a range of departments at the hospital. Next week when they return to school they have an oral presentation about their experiences. I can’t wait to hear all they’ve learnt.

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Saturn on the Move

21/07/2010 Joh astrology, friends

Saturn has been in Virgo since September 2007. Last night I had a flick through my blog posts to check out what changes were around then. It was when my Pa died and Andy went for his holiday to Tasmania that turned into a permanent move:-), big changes indeed! I applied and got a leadership position at school around that time, which is more fitting since Saturn was in my career/work house. Saturn is about hard work, discipline and rules. It rules Capricorn so it’s not an energy I should be too unfamiliar with, having several points on my chart in Capricorn.

Saturn is moving (tomorrow I think) into Libra. I can’t say I’m sad about it to be honest. However it’s moving into my zone of other people, friendships and socialising so I wonder what that’s going to look like. Apparently Saturn is exhalted in Libra which I believe means, is one of the better signs for Saturn to occupy, it’s at it’s best. If tonight was anything to go by it will be a good thing. I’ve just spent the evening laughing and sharing chocolate tart with Asha and Rhonda, which was a hoot!

It was last in Libra in my lifetime from 1980 – 1983, my last years in secondary school! It was also there briefly late last year, but then retrograded back to Virgo, and now moves into Libra, not to return to Virgo for another 29-30 years (being the length of time it takes for Saturn to get through all the signs).

Mystic Medusa has been preparing for ages but recently (and hilariously) Until Saturn in Libra… (I probably should have posted this last night) and then briefly about what to do Saturn in Lib is the Perfect time to….

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Tuesday

20/07/2010 Joh food, home, work

I know, it’s not a very imaginative title. I’ve been spending some time after school this week getting my computer and blogs up to date with back end stuff. Andy’s Poohduck is getting lots of hits, but the stat’s weren’t working and other things so I thought I’d better finally get round to doing something about that. He’s been taking some wonderful photo’s lately. I also have had more time available to me to potter around with these things. I’ve got my school blogs almost under control lately. See below for the reasons!

I’ve been catching up with heaps of stuff this week with no year 10 classes. The school ground is so empty. I am going visiting starting tomorrow. I was given a list of students to visit and made some calls today to make times to visit them. I am looking forward to it and wish I could visit every student I’ve taught, but that would be most of them, and I don’t have enough hours in the day. Some of them are in Melbourne with newspapers or architects, so I guess it’s not practical to get around that much in a week.

Darin has a new, more time consuming role at work. A couple of people at work have told me how wonderful the food is where is chef. I felt very proud of him, but I certainly already knew how great his food is. He’s working long hours and talking menu’s at home. Last night the conversation made me hungry. I decided I would wait and cook dinner and eat with him tonight. Just steak and veges, nothing as yummy as what he was talking about. Steak and veges will be good though and it’s better than getting stuck into cheese and biscuits at some awfully late hour! My waistline is expanding lately… what with all the chocolate and lemon tarts I’ve been practicing on and just a greater focus on food in general I guess. I do try to give the tarts away and I have done a lot of that, but you always have to eat some, just to make sure it is ok :-) .

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Work Experience Week

18/07/2010 Joh work

Our year 10′s are going on work experience this week and I get to visit some of them, which I’m really looking forward to. I remember work experience was a real ‘rite of passage’ for me. In previous years I have seen my former students when I’ve been out and about in their ‘work experience’ roles. This year I will get to participate more fully with that and hear more about their adventures when they return.

I did my work experience at the local hospital with the Social Worker. It was a steep learning curve and I learnt that I didn’t really want to be a social worker. It was nothing like what I thought it would be. That was the first time I experienced in a big way that even if you think you know the answers for someone else, you are not able to make them better, or change them without their willingness. I was constantly asking the social worker, why he didn’t tell the clients what to do so the problems they were experiencing would go away. I think I amused him greatly. He tried to explain it to me in so many different ways.

Our students are going to an amazing variety of places and I believe it will be a massive learning week for them.

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