Tag Archive for school

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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Full Moon in Gemini – Lunar Eclipse – Sunday 11th December 2011

09/12/2011 Joh astrology

The eclipse happens in the wee hours of Sunday morning. I thought it was going to happen tomorrow all week. I just checked and it’s Sunday here in Australia. This week has been a bit mad and busy and as Kelly Surtees post mentioned this morning the high and low tides reflects in our emotions.

Eclipses in December are pressure cookers. We are busy completing things and preparing for the festive season and whilst an eclipse is possibly right it adds some intensity. Here’s Jo Tracey’s day, which reminds me of some of the conversations I’ve had this week.

I’m tired tonight. It’s been pretty warm here today. I had a big weekend last weekend. My birthday celebrations and the 10 to 10 filled out most of my weekend and spilled over into the week (well the birthday part anyway). I felt very grateful. I enjoyed catching up with the old school buddies. It’s deserving of a post in itself.

I’ve finalised work arrangements for next year. I have started planning my part-time project for next year after having a 6 month contract confirmed late last week. I’m working with disengaged students at school for a couple of days as well as at the local Neighbourhood House one day a week. The list of students keeps growing. Sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed by it all. I’m also finishing up with my current students. Many of them are not looking forward to Christmas. I listen to them and that’s about all I’m good for. I can’t make it all better. Excitement about the challenge of the project will come, but probably not until after I’ve had a rest:).

I’ve had to rearrange my days at Choices also and I felt concerned that it wouldn’t work for them. I find the contrast between my two jobs so refreshing. The school offered me to work full-time but although it would be more money, I think I would burn out quickly. Having two and a half days ‘playing’ with floor coverings and homemakers is like an antidote to the sadness of some of the young people I work with who live in a different world. I finally had the conversation and it was no problem. My boss there is flexible and appreciates me. It is a good feeling.

There is more but I’m having an early night:)

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Caught in The Crowd – Kate Miller Heidke

17/11/2011 Joh music

Kate Miller Heidke is great. This song is touching. I remember being in the car with my daughter the first time I heard it. It’s a never-ending story.

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Ads R Us by Claire Carmichael

27/10/2011 Joh reading

‘Ads R Us’ is set in a dystopian world where advertising has taken control. In many ways like our own:). The main character, Barrett comes from ‘Simplicity’ an alternative lifestyle commune that rejects the ‘Chattering World’ he nows finds himself in. When his uncle, the founder of ‘Simplicity’ dies, he goes to live with his aunt.

Barrett’s sudden exposure to the new world reveals the manipulations and persuasions of advertising as he uncovers his value to his aunt and uncle. It has many themes including ‘cliques’ and popularity, privacy, personal freedom, power and corruption, materialism, addiction, all the things that come with a society that revolves around consumption.

I read this book with my Wednesday students. It’s the year 8 text at their school. In the US it’s been published under the title ‘Leaving Simplicity’.

Here is a Reading Guide from the authors web page.

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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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I’m a Believer by Jessica Adams

26/07/2011 Joh reading

I loved this book. Jessica Adams writes contemporary books that have characters I can identify with. She grapples with the questions of life, death and life after death in this one. The main character is a science teacher. His girlfriend dies and whilst feeling there can’t be a higher being because life’s not treating him well, he experiences conversations with her that convince him of life hereafter. Lot’s happens to reveal more than meets the eye. I enjoyed many of the descriptions about life as a teacher and the types of dilemmas teachers grapple with.
I enjoy her writing. This is the second of her novels I’ve read and I relate to the characters, the questions and the resolutions.
I’m a Believer covers much ground.

Now that Darin has returned to being a chef and I am basically keeping school hours, I have more time to read. We are adjusting to our new routines. I still feel like there is something that I would prefer to be doing but I’m not sure what it is yet. In the meantime, I’m enjoying school and finding CRT work is plentiful and satifying for now.

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Redundant Survey

22/07/2011 Joh food

This morning I filled out an online survey from Jamie Oliver’s subscription list. Some of the questions were about school canteens. I based my responses on the school canteen last year, when I went there quite a bit. I’m not entirely sure when the changes took place. Today when I followed the smell of ground coffee to the canteen, there were vending machines containing all the contraband that were previously unavailable. Last year they had a rotating ‘junk food’ menu, the idea was that there would be one a day. There were no soft drinks for sale. No chocolate or potato chips. I am not entirely sure but I think there was only hot chocolate, not coffee. It’s all there now, as well as sports drinks.

The students were clearly very excited about the new additions. There was actually a line at the coffee machine. So… getting back to my point, what I said this morning in the survey was totally wrong. I’m curious to know how the process went that resulted in this. I know the SRC (Student Representative Council) were taking responsibility for it. They explained their responsibilities for the machines to me while I was lining up for coffee:) It was good to have a real coffee at school.

I had a brief discussion with both students and staff about it today. They are senior students and these foods are available to them everywhere else I guess. I am not a big fan of the overprotection of young people. They need to make choices and have consequences like everyone else. What I would like to see I guess is a fresh food alternative. Something yummy and fresh cooked, like a pot of homemade soup, or a casserole or freshly made pasta. I guess it’s just not economically viable.

I haven’t checked out the canteens at the other schools. I am so close to one of the schools that I usually come home for lunch. I will have to find out more about this. What do others think?

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Life Magic by Ruth Ostrow

03/07/2011 Joh Business, gratitude, reading

I read Life Magic in an evening. It was published in 2007 and I found it at the library. I’m loving the library lately. I enjoy looking up the catalogue online and placing books on hold and then getting an email to say they’ve arrived. You can access most of the libraries in Victoria and the books usually arrive within a week. Today Darin and I went and found a magical pile of books from browsing, which was also interesting. It’s like going to a free bookshop. I love it! It’s very convenient to be able to renew your books online also. It’s made the library much more accessible for me.

‘Life Magic’ was a pleasurable read. I never tire of reading books about creating your life the way you want it. The basic premise is usually the same, but I always get some small distinction from it and I think reading a variety of descriptions of how it all works keeps the philosophy fresh in your mind as well.

I’ve had a beautiful weekend. I have to say I am feeling great right now. There is much to do, but I have the school holidays to get organised. I had to make a lot of calls on Friday and I wasn’t looking forward to the conversations I had to have. People I am dealing with have been so kind and helpful. I feel very blessed right now. Darin is feeding me great food. The weather is crisp and sunny and we’ve been walking. Life feels gentle.

I have a new project for next term that has already materialised, quite effortlessly, I am really excited about. I am also quite happy to be working in schools in between the new directions. It’s great to have the luxury of getting my finances handled with work that is fun.

I really like the way Ruth Ostrow writes. She has a common sense yet magical way of looking at the world and she often writes about things I’m interested in. She has a blog.You can follow her twitter feed @OstrowRuth In 2007 I subscribed to her once when she was blogging for The Australian, but it dried up so I deleted the feed. I am so pleased to add her magical voice to my reading list again!

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