Tag Archive for teaching

I have a new job

I am working part-time in a new job. I love it. It was one of those serendipitous jobs. I have Judy to thank for it. I talked to my mum, that led me to call my Auntie. She asked me if I wanted a job. I said yes and drove to Sale and met my wonderful new employer. He said yes and I began last week.

I’m still working with my disengaged students on Wednesdays and at the local Secondary college Mondays and Tuesdays, so I have a full weeks work now and a very nice balance of activity.

I’ve worked Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning. I love helping people to select their floor coverings. My boss has just bought the business so whilst it is an established business there are lots of changes and improvements being made. We have an amazing range and are switching the business systems from manual to computerised. He’s also redecorating the shop and expanding the range which I’m also enjoying. He asks my opinion about everything and that keeps me interested.  I loved the ad for our business even before I met them. I know I’m going to have a lot of fun here.

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Using Technology Effectively in Music Classes

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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Learning from CRTing

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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New Moon in Cancer – Solar Eclipse – 1st July 2011

Yes, it’s eclipse number 3. Every two weeks for the last six weeks! Same old thing applies… change, letting go, new beginnings. You can check out all the eclipse info on Aquarius Papers, always a thorough treatment of the astrological climate. I enjoyed the post from Jessica on Moonkissd: The Twig and the Apple Tree. I like a lot about that post. I like that she chose to listen to the story one more time, because it’s true that each retelling reveals something new. I like that the visionary farmer missed meeting the man at the first fair. The post smacks of having patience and trusting. Strangely enough, I am being patient and trusting right now… so naturally that’s what I will see when I read this.

I love Cancerians. Some of my best friends are born in this time. They are home makers, creative, resourceful and stylish. I am very into those qualities.

People are asking me what I am going to do now. I don’t know. I’m fine with that. I guess being called in every day to CRT (Casual Relief Teach) helps. It’s keeping me busy. I am teaching in a new school as well and I am enjoying the newness. The school is walking distance from my home and has lovely new buildings. I’m enjoying it. I was at my old school today and I also very much enjoy the ease of knowing where everything is. One of my colleagues asked me today if I had made the right choice to leave school. My answer was quick and honest. Yes! I feel released.

I went to an accountant tonight after work to work on the financial things going on right now. I had asked around about accountants and no one had heartily recommended one. My dad had given me the number of his accountant he’d used when he was in business, who he was clearly impressed with but I couldn’t get an appointment with him. I’d been given a new person and when I checked out that persons facebook page I didn’t feel like I would connect. So I found one amongst my customers. I always asked them where they worked when I was chatting to them. A few had mentioned they were accountants. One of them I got that feeling I could trust. Turns out he’s born the day after me. I seem to have a natural affinity with Sagittarians:). The meeting went well and I am confident I will emerge from this experience with my head above water.

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Full Moon in Sagittarius – Total Lunar Eclipse – 16th June 2011

This full moon eclipse is in my sun sign. I have always loved it. The rest of my chart is pretty earthy and watery, so this fire sign gives me the passion and courage to do a lot of things I wouldn’t without it. When I first began learning about astrology, I identified totally with Sagittarius and it didn’t bother me a bit! I loved most of the attributes. Read Mystic Medusa’s take on Haute Sagittarius – Low Sagittarius. I can identify with the good and the bad.

I keep reading that eclipses are nothing to fear, it’s just a time of opening and closing doors. One of the astrologers I ‘like’ on facebook Astrosparkles has written a great note about this eclipse : Getting to the truth (or heart) of the matter. It covers all the essentials you will need to decipher how this eclipse could play out for you.

Tonight Darin is at his ‘Men’s Cooking Class’ he has been teaching at the Neighbourhood House. This week has been quite intense business wise. We have some pressure and decisions we need to make about our lease and we are looking at ways to expand and as always with a business there are many different ways to go and choosing one and committing to it requires head miles. I am enjoying this time alone to think. It’s been an interesting week and all kinds of information has come to me in interesting ways. I certainly know I am alive right now:).

I was a CRT today. I can’t call it teaching because it is a shell of what a teacher does. It’s actually relaxing (sorry to any teachers reading this). I guess it is like that because my heart is not invested in it. I am in and out. I don’t get too involved. My skill level at teaching has more than advanced the ability to manage a class of students, dish out work from their regular teacher, and support that work to be completed in the class. The ease sometimes makes me wonder what the hell I am doing slugging it out in a small business. I guess I am a sucker for a learning curve. That’s not to say I couldn’t learn more as a teacher, but I felt frustrated in that system. I liked the people and the school I worked for. I just don’t believe in that education system anymore. There are a lot of Sagittarian themes right there in that paragraph!

Anyway I will leave you with a quote from another blog I’ve started reading from the post ‘More About The Sagittarius Lunar Eclipse’

“Yes” is the Sagittarian motto. Sagittarius is possibility, options, hope, faith, trust, luck and chocolate (I lied about the last one….chocolate is actually ruled by Venus). Still, you get the idea. Sagittarius is a sign that brims with happiness.

Eclipses have an intimidating reputation but they are really just open doors. And tomorrow the door should open onto something really nice.

and whether or not it is sensible, that is exactly how I feel tonight.

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It’s back!

The laptop returned yesterday. There is much to do! I am doing it all differently now. I have pruned subscriptions and am reducing the online activity to things that are consistently important to me. I don’t seem to have the time to wade through ‘randomly interesting’ lately. I have created a group on facebook whose status I read and the remainder … well they are still friends, but I probably don’t need to know what they choose to share about themselves. The last couple of years many more of my friends have got online, so I think I’ve had an increase in online activity that has made less space for others.

There are also more financial and administrative activities online now. I’ve been amazed at how many bills I’ve muddled up without the records on my computer and the passwords to access different accounts. I hope this time my laptop is going to be more stable but I also think I’m going to be smarter about managing it all and backing up the things I really need.

It’s also now that I finally get around to reorganising my space for winter. I like the rearrangement of our lounge room and fortunately the kids did too when they arrived tonight. They were quite excited by it.

We have a busy couple of weeks ahead and the business is gathering speed (fortunately!). Darin made the most delicious Whiting today it was simply coated in seasoned flour, pan fried with a lemon sauce. It was simple and delicious. He asked me to taste it and usually I just have a bite, but I gobbled the whole fillet, cause it was amazing. It sold out pretty quickly and those who dined in also raved about it (so it’s not just my bias;)). I think he works better when I leave him to it. I was teaching yesterday and this morning after setting up I came home to do some book work. I reckon we muck around too much and get distracted sometimes, which is fun, but we really need to meet more of our targets so I think I might leave him to his own devices a bit more often:).

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Today I was a CRT

I worked at St Pauls today! I haven’t been there for two years so there was only one class of students I had taught, way back when they were in year 7. They are now in year 9 and I only saw a couple of them. I enjoyed my day.

There are quite a few changes that those who have never left don’t even recognise. Then there were things that were the same. Morning briefing for example was typical. Gloria showed an inspiring powerpoint about an experience she had with students. She used her weekend to enhance learning with our students. No sooner had she finished her brilliant presentation than other staff began complaining about their time constraints. I found it quite inappropriate  and dampening to the spirit she had created. It’s easy for me to say though, life is pretty cruisy for me as a relief teacher.

It is a lot easier to breeze into a school, attend four lessons that have been planned by ‘real’ teachers and finish at the end of the day. In fact if I didn’t adore my business and current work, I would be happy to be a CRT full time. No report writing, parent teacher interviews, after- school meetings, corrections, yard duties…. it’s eliminated most of the things I find annoying about teaching.

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Joh Blogs for 5 years

Why do I blog? The simple answer is because I can, although I wonder if I really can because I just lost the post I wrote, drip by drip all day, so it looks like even on my blogs birthday, this will be a rushed effort, but longish, cause there is stuff I want to say.

I have been a journal/diary writer, since I could write. I have simply extended my reflective writing to an easier to keep(than boxes of handwritten notebooks sitting rotting in the garage) and more considered (due to being public) form. I read plenty of great blogs that are well written ie: minus all the spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes that make me cringe when I reread them. They have beautiful photos and images on them. I don’t put a lot of time into a post to be honest. I have at times, but most of the time, I don’t have time. I am self conscious a lot.

I started, to learn about it, yet my original purpose didn’t happen. I wanted to use it in my English classes for students reflective writing for them to become more considered about what they write. Some of my students were starting to write posts on ‘myspace’ and I hoped to teach them how to be appropriate as well. I believed the peer assessment/sharing would improve their writing and give them a ‘real life’ audience, that would make it more interesting for them. It’s taken most of the 5 years I’ve been into it, to get the school to provide anything like a capacity to do that. I’m almost over the idea after that amount of struggle.

This year we had an English, Local History and IT blog for my classes and it has been effective in different ways. The year 10 classes have got closest to what I was hoping for. Some students have become uncomfortable about it, because it means that others will read their writing. They never struggled or cared as much when I was just correcting their work. It has challenged them. They have produced some good writing.

It is challenging. That is what I have learnt. You are putting yourself out there, not that I’m brave enough to do it in a big way. I understand now, that it is not as simple as it looked to me when I started. Particularly when people tell you they read your blog, you become very conscious of audience. It’s sometimes hard to ignore the voices in your head and say anything. It’s personal growth inducing.

People have said they find blogging to be self indulgent and egotistic. I’ve heard this at work. I have reflected on it. It doesn’t feel like that to me. I can’t seem to convince others I work with that there is any merit in blogging in the classroom. Many of them don’t have the technical skills and it makes it difficult to teach them the how, let alone the why or what value students could receive from it. I have given up, it is what it is.

Darren Rowse:Why Do We Blog? lists many responses from bloggers about why they blog. He asked twitters and facebook friends a couple of years ago and I don’t think much has probably changed. Most of their reasons ring true for me, although I don’t earn a living from it I more than cover any expenses. My favourite is ‘joewaters: I always like to have the last word’

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Celebration

Tonight I’m going out for dinner where Darin works with Rhonda. She has gained her Certificate IV in Workplace Training today and I am delighted. I’m happy for her but I’m also happy for the kids she will get to teach. She is a great teacher and has positive learning relationships with students. We’ve worked in the classroom together a few times and they have been the best years. She makes a difference to students and their learning.

I think it would be great if teaching were an apprenticeship. It would be awesome to have an apprentice to be in classes with you, assisting in all the ways an extra adult in the room can. Giving you feedback about what worked and what didn’t. I remember when I had a student teacher I sat up the back of the class and saw my students in a whole new light. I noticed some where totally engaged, just not in what was going on at the front of the room. I hadn’t noticed it when I’d been at the front of the room!

It would be great for the student as they would get hands on learning and watch all the real things about teaching like classroom management, rapport building and other things that you don’t always learn in a book. I’ve seen many students do the whole teaching course and then find they hate teaching. This way, you would get a pretty good idea quickly.

There are so many resources available to teachers now that I think the idea of a person who is all knowing as a teacher is redundant. I have taught a number of subjects over my teaching career that I learnt alongside my students. I could never be an IT teacher if I hoped to know the most in the room. The best teachers know how to build great relationships with students and understand them and their learning styles. They need to like the students enough to find a way for them to learn what they need to learn, in order to get to where they want to go. They need to be assertive enough to create a safe space, so students are free to learn. They need to love learning themselves and model that to young people. Anyway I reckon Rhonda can do all those things, hands down.

More important than the curriculum is the question of the methods of teaching and the spirit in which the teaching is given
~ Bertrand Russell quotes

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Technology at School

Today we had a student free day. We focussed on implementing IT into the curriculum. I was struggling to be positive about it all to be honest. I am fairly up to speed with technology in classrooms. It was sunny outside and I had to break myself into sitting still. I have wondered if they do that to us, to create an empathy for when our students return to the restraint of the desk the next day. That’s what I like to think anyway.

I learnt a couple of new tricks from a fellow teacher. I’m keen to have a try of Glogster. You can make online posters and embed them with videos and audio clips. She also used Prezi and it looks an interesting way to avoid the overused phrase ‘death by powerpoint’, yet I imagine if you have nothing to put on your slides other than the words you are about to speak, it will still hurt your audience.

I realised today that the handful of teachers who are technological at school all have taken different paths and use it in different ways in the classroom. I think this makes it more interesting, yet I wonder if it makes it overwhelming for those who have not embarked on the journey.

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