Archive for learn

New Students

02/02/2012 Joh learn, love, relationships, School

Darin’s youngest daughter (R) starts school tomorrow. When he talked to her on the phone tonight, she wanted to speak to me also. It made my day. The anticipation of good things in her voice when she talked about all the fun had me smiling. “The teacher will read books, Joh”, with all the excitement of santa coming. I love it!

Tomorrow I meet my new students. Some of them I have worked with already, and some are new to me. I have met most of them in the interviews explaining our new program. Meeting a class for the first time is probably as big for me as it is for them to come back to school. We will all be a little nervous and hopefully the excitement about learning a bit differently will triumph. I hope they all come:).

I anticipate I will learn a lot this year. I hope my students do too!

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Part Time Holidays

08/01/2012 Joh Business, gratitude, holidays, learn, work

I’m continuing my part-time job during the school holidays. I love working there, some days it doesn’t even feel like work. My days off are more precious because they are rarer.

This week a customer came in who is converting a barn and we had a great conversation about all the challenges involved and found the perfect floor covering for her needs. I’m delivering it to them next week and will get to see the project. I meet lots of interesting people making their homes in their own ways and it’s fun to help them select the perfect floor covering.

I enjoy my drive to work. It’s about 45 minutes through really open country. Lots of people complain about the boringness of that drive, but I experience the spaciousness. The countryside changes colour with the clouds. I love it. There are a couple of spots on the way that I pay particular attention to.  Such big views! I enjoy listening to my music and making playlists for the trip.

I had big plans for the shop over Christmas. I was expecting less traffic and getting lots done. We did a bit but were busier than I expected, which is always a good thing, so there are still a few more jobs on my list. I have found a place for all our new tile samples. I enjoy maintaining the displays and getting to know each pattern, texture and size, imagining where it would best serve. Filing it away in my mind so when the right person comes I will know where to find it.

We are getting the computer program and systems into better shape. I need to learn more about MYOB. It is a different package to the one I used for ‘The Butchers Dog’ so there are things I am tweaking. The book-keeping is different. I did the book-keeping for ’Unique Furnishings’ and ‘Total Vision’ manually and I had systems in place to keep informed of the business stats. I am still working towards finding the way to get this businesses stats.

I love the freedom and responsibility my boss gives me to have a hand in all aspects of the business. It feels as though it is my own, yet I am working with a team. There is another sales person as well. We often all have different opinions and this makes for more interesting discussions.

I am immersed in home improvement. I am learning. That is what I love most about my part-time work.

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2011 – Thanks for coming:)

31/12/2011 Joh family, friends, gratitude, learn, love, random, relationships

I have lots to write but for now I’m just glad to put this year to bed. It’s been ‘interesting times’ as the curse goes. It’s turned out really well and I’m glad I put off worrying for another time, because now that I have a little time, I have no need.

I could list milestones and events that have rocked my world but not now.

This year has been special in so many ways. I have been blessed with new friends and aquaintances and a whole new cast of characters in my life. I treasure the people who have travelled a way with me as others have dropped by the wayside.

There is lot’s I want to plant here on my blog in 2012… I’ll wait and will enjoy sharing all the seeds and blossoms of my life then. I’m setting this blog post to publish in the last minute of this year. So farewell 2011… I know I’ve lacked appreciation at times but truly now I see that it was everything I asked for:).

 

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Teaching Chocolate Tart

22/11/2011 Joh food, learn

I want to make Chocolate Tart with my Wednesday students (I have to come up with a better descriptive name for this group for next year). I want to use the recipe we used to make it in the shop, but the problem is I never used exact quantities. This is why I am not a food teacher:)… well there are other reasons such as the limited range of my cooking skills.

I have googled, but not one of the first couple of pages have a recipe that even has the same ingredients. I have found that learners are a bit particular about following recipes, I know I was. I will have to write-up the nearest approximation tonight.  I probably should have suggested something more practical like mini pizzas or hamburgers. There is nothing like chocolate tart to get disengaged people engaged though!

I’m guessing another learning experience for me tomorrow.

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Full Day Off

09/09/2011 Joh family, food, gratitude, health, learn, music

Today I didn’t work because I had a job interview booked for the middle of the day. It was a phone interview and didn’t take that long but scheduled smack in the middle of period 2 for all the schools I work at so I couldn’t work. I think it went ok.

I got to watch Darin’s kids play percussion at the Eisteddfod this morning. They were so cute. Primary students bubbling away with excitement, playing their xylophones, triangles and drums. Any kind of music ensemble is impressive to me. They all did so well. The looks of concentration on some of the students faces reminded me what educational experiences are all about.

Darin and I walked down the street in the cold today after my interview. It’s been sunny for a while here and we’ve walked down the street and shopped for dinner ingredients most days in the last two weeks. Today was a real test though because I could feel the icy air the minute I stepped outside. I enjoy walking through the park to the street every day. I feel more connected to my community. You see more and connect with people walking through the park. Cruising the car park looking for a free space is no substitute.

This afternoon I had attempt number 3 at cooking macarons. I tried a different recipe and applied a few things I’d learnt from last time and they were better, but only one out of the 20 odd was near to looking how I want them to and the taste wasn’t as good as last time. I have a few new theories to apply to my next attempt though. I also had a go at making nougat. It’s not that good because I don’t think I cooked the toffee part long enough and it’s too soft. It tastes ok though. I just realised today that these are both gluten-free.

I enjoyed phone conversations with my sister, son and daughter today, nice long chats, not rushed ones.

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I Noticed…

08/09/2011 Joh gratitude, learn, work

This clip has stuck with me. It helped me to solve a problem I’ve been having with a group of people in my life.

I think noticing good stuff and feeding it back to the people in our lives at home, work and play can make a difference. It really is that simple.

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Using Technology Effectively in Music Classes

23/08/2011 Joh gratitude, learn, music, work

I taught at my old school today. My first lesson was a music class and the absent teacher had not left any work so Mr Harris (another music teacher) very kindly combined our classes as he was also teaching a year 7 music lesson. It was an absolute pleasure to be in the class and I learnt a lot.

I sat at the back of the lecture theatre behind the students so I could see all their screens on the individual netbooks. They never once strayed to play a game and the the rows of screens were all in the places Matt directed them to at the same time. Matt very effectively engaged the students and myself using both his entertaining style of delivery (he has a wonderful sense of humour and great presence) and the technology available. He used his voice to demonstrate so many things.  He knew his students well and made them laugh often.  I even wondered if I would be allowed to enrol in year 7 music for a year so I could fill in my gaps in my education.

He emailed students listening journals which allowed them to respond to the peice of music he played several times in media player on the screen. The journal asked about all kinds of music terms such as tempo, instruments, loudness and I learnt about how these parts of music are expressed. I have a very limited knowledge of music and always enjoy learning more. I love listening to it:).

The composer of the piece was also covered, Percy Grainger, and Matt mentioned his background and that he was Australian and told some interesting stories about his life. I had to google him then because I was curious to learn more about Grainger. I discovered a new word that I really like also: autodidact. It means a person who is self taught or without the benefit of formal education or instruction. Percy Grainger’s mother was an autodidact according to wikepedia, and she educated him.

Matt’s lesson ticked all the boxes for me. I loved it.

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The Library & Rock Eisteddfod

11/08/2011 Joh blogging, learn, reading, work

Today I got to work in the library for a period! I loved it. Having conversations with young people about books they are reading is my idea of fun. Putting books away and exploring all the new young adult titles in a different library is bliss. I got to borrow some too! I have a Scot Westerfield novel, yes only one because I have been limiting my piles lately. I can only read a couple of books at a time:).

The Professional Development shelf tempted me to take two. Will Richardson’s book, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, which I have just had a quick flick through, looks great. It’s interestesting because Will has just stopped blogging and is now tumbling. I follow his tumblr and he continues to have great insights and information about using technology in education. The other is a book by Matthew Williams, Making Real-Life Videos, which is another thing I love doing with students and there are some great ideas in it.

“Matthew Williams is Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice in the School of Social Science, Cardiff University. He is currently on the board of directors for the Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR) and has been involved with the development of ethical guidelines for conducting research online.” Reader Store

It looks great. I also like making clips for my family so I hope that will enhance those skills too!

In my last lesson we got to preview the school’s Rock Eisteddfod entry. It was a colourful and energetic display of what students can do when given the opportunity. I love to see students perform, great for their self esteem.

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Learning from CRTing

10/08/2011 Joh learn, work

I have been working quite solidly this term as a CRT (Casual Relief Teacher). Most of the work has been at the ‘close to home’, local Secondary College. I’ve only had a couple of days at my old school. It’s really easy to be in my old school whether at the senior or junior campus because I know so many of the students and teachers and I know where everything is. I’m comfortable there and I tend to get classes that are in my area (English/Humanities).

At the new place I’ve been in a great variety of classes. I’ve filled in for Art/PE/Science/Food/Leadlighting teachers as well as a couple of English/Humanities teachers. I’m beginning to get to know a few students and it’s quite interesting to watch them in different subjects. Students who shine in the traditional classroom environment sometimes aren’t so keen to participate in PE or Art, giving those who are boisterous or difficult to get focussed in classrooms the chance to demonstrate their enthusiasm and leadership in PE, or their creativity in art:). It’s a shame sometimes that in Secondary Education, teachers don’t get to see students across a range of subjects.It would help to know better where they are excelling and apply those natural interests and abilities in subjects they aren’t as ‘in to’.

It’s interesting to see the ways the curriculum is delivered in other schools, but it doesn’t seem too different. It’s also hard to fully tell when teachers are probably leaving fairly simple lesson plans (as I used to). Most of it, is work from the text books. I talk to the students about what they are learning in those subjects but this is also limited as they see a relief teacher as a break from the usual routine, so probably don’t tell all.

I am still not seeing the innovative use of technology I was hoping for. I don’t personally have access to a computer at the new school, so I can’t get in and check it all out. I’m seeing the IT people in the morning.

I have a permanent day a week until the end of the year working with a small group of disengaged students off campus. I’m hoping I will be able to use technology to help re-engage them. They all regularly update their facebook pages on thier phones so they have some level of engagement with technology already… now to channel it to learning, rather than negative or at best mundane, socialising.

I’ve been working with them for a couple of weeks and I’m quite optimistic about getting them positive about learning again. Some of them just need a safe space and a new way of thinking about school.

On Monday I was at the shops and one of the new school students greeted me enthusiastically. It won’t be long till I know every kid in town!

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Photo a Day

27/07/2011 Joh learn, random, work

I am not doing it very well at all. I am out of the habit. I think about the photo at night. I am using my phone as a camera so my photo’s are pretty ordinary. Anyway… I learnt something from the year 7 students this week. They were making slideshows for an assignment and I was very pleased to see them using their laptops for more than wordprocessors and google searching:).

One of the students had a pile of photos, old fashioned, printed ones. She was holding them up to her laptop camera and taking photo’s of the photo and they weren’t too bad. She was using picassa, so I downloaded it tonight and had a go. I will put that photo on my tumblr tonight, cause it was a photo. I think I need more practice though. I also imagine the light will make a difference. If I can get it handled it looked much quicker and easier than using a scanner. The quality probably isn’t as good, but for basic jobs it would do.

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