Girlo’s Check this out

May 21, 2010 · Posted in reading · Comment 

One of my favourite authors for young women attempting to navigate their way in the world is Anthea Paul. Her Girlosophy books are a great read and I’ve never given one to a young woman at school without having her rave about how much it made her feel better about herself. That is surely all that needs to be said to recommend them to you.

There is a new Girlosophy website! There are some great links and articles on there as well as groups. I can’t rate her and the work she does highly enough.

I think girls of all age deserve to indulge themselves in Anthea Paul’s philosophy on living on your own terms.

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Teachers and Social Networking

October 25, 2009 · Posted in learn, work · Comment 

In QLD teachers have been banned from contacting students on social networking sites. This bothers me. There are so many things I see as wrong about this stance.  Students can run into trouble online. There are no adults in their lives giving them any feedback about the publishing they do online. I have attended a number of talks on cybersafety and cyberbullying. I read numerous blogs about education and using social networking software for educational purposes. This just reeks of people who don’t know what they are talking about wanting to control something they have limited understanding of. 

I think inappropriate behaviour is not acceptable anywhere, banning useful tools is not going to stamp out inappropriate behaviour.  Teachers have the potential to set an example online as they are expected to at school.

 Michael Carr-Gregg at one of those talks last year said the internet was like the Wild West where the children were there with no adult supervision. These restrictions placed on teachers could discourage teachers from the learning and participation they need to effectively guide students. A fellow staff member attended a cybersafety course recently and told me they were advised not to talk about online participation if they had no experience of it. Students would see right through it. Makes sense doesn’t it?

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I’m Back

August 11, 2009 · Posted in work · 1 Comment 

It was lovely to get back to school and be welcomed back so heartily. I felt really loved. The students were happy to see me. They came up to me in the yard and said ‘You’re back, Do we have you today?’ with smiles on their faces that were infectious. I had no idea at that point who I had, I hadn’t even collected my timetable.  I enjoyed being back. To be honest I hadn’t been feeling so positive about my job for a while, but I feel a renewed enthusiasm and enjoyment of it.

I think I picked the best time to take my 4 weeks leave. Everyone at work looks absolutely wrung out. I feel quite calm. There is a lot going on and I am concerned about changes I don’t believe have much value, yet I’m not upset about them. It is a nice difference. I notice that the things that had my stomach turning before I went on holidays no longer feel so powerful over me. I will do whatever I can to get things happening the way I want them to, but I will not stress about them. It renders me useless. The bottom line is that I get to learn with young people and I remember now what a joy and privilege that is. I intend to do everything I can not to lose sight of that.

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Kill the Possum by James Moloney

June 28, 2009 · Posted in reading · Comment 

‘Kill the Possum’ is like ‘Our Little Secret’ in some ways. It lets you into a world where young people are trapped in secrecy and powerlessness. It is a very thought provoking book and filled me with anguish in parts. I could feel the pain and desperation in the young teenage males who had no where to go to save the people they loved. It was frightening they were contemplating murder, yet at another level, understandable. The conclusion was very cleverly written, although not what I wanted to read, it added to the credibility of the story. It was great storywriting.

James Moloney creates such believable characters. He draws you in compassionately and this novel reminds me of the empathy I felt for Karl and his desperate life, in ‘Bridge to Wiseman’s Cove’. I enjoyed these two books but I enjoyed doesn’t seem the right word. They move you, they open you to the shadowy figures around school that you wonder about. They remind you that there are often things going on in lives that you have no idea about. I enjoyed Moloney’s ‘Book of Lies’ and it’s sequel more. I read on his site that he’s releasing the conclusion of that series on July 6. The protagonists in these books endure and face evil, the same, yet the alternate setting makes it more bearable for me.

This novel is for an older reader though and I think when I take it back to the junior campus library, I’ll recommend it goes to the senior campus. There are moral issues that require a mature consideration. There are dilemmas that would be beyond a younger reader I would hope.

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Our Little Secret by Allayne Webster

June 24, 2009 · Posted in reading · Comment 

‘Our Little Secret’ is very popular with the girls at school. Now that I have completed it, I can see why.  It’s set in a small community and unpretentiously reveals some of the hardships teen girls grapple with. The position the young, innocent heroine finds herself in is described with a clear youthful voice. It was very believable and I’m confident this book would be a great aid to young women who find themselves manipulated and abused in this way. I would even go so far as to say it could protect and help to heal some of the damage done to girls who find their sexual behaviour going too far too fast.  It reveals the insecurities and vulnerabilities with a gentle and considered approach. I recommend it for young women.

 Read a review on Inside a Dog. The writer Allayne Webster’s story is an interesting read also.

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Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

April 29, 2009 · Posted in reading · 1 Comment 

Yes, I’ve finally finished the ‘Twilight’ series. If it weren’t for the enthusiasm of the young people I surround myself with, I don’t think I would have got to that happily ever after ending, it was. I really didn’t see how it was all going to turn out. I’m not going to spoil it and give it away. It all tied up quite nicely. I was quite pleasantly surprised to be happy with the outcome when it all seemed so grim and impossible to me.

I think at least one of the books was a waste of my time. It could have been trimmed, but having said that, I’m happy with the journey of the story and I have to admit I am partial to brevity in storytelling, just like meetings at work…. cut to the chase!

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Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

April 18, 2009 · Posted in reading · Comment 

One great thing about being without the Internet was that I got to read more. I am nearly finished the ‘Twilight’ series.

‘Eclipse’ like the previous two books was very long and in parts seemed to drag for me. I know many of the young people I teach think these books are just wonderful, but I find only parts of them good to be honest.  I am not the target market and Stephenie Meyer has certainly reignited an interest in reading that I haven’t seen since the Harry Potter books. I enjoyed them more though.

Having said that, I am curious enough to find out what the fate of Bella, Jake (who was always my preference, again contrary to the young people I know) and Edward will be to continue trudging through ’Breaking Dawn’. I think I prefer Jake because I hate the cold and I can’t imagine how someone whose skin felt like cold, hard stone could be remotely appealing.

I have some other books to read and I wonder if I am not making good use of my time by persevering at times.  

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Parents Who Love Their Kids

March 20, 2009 · Posted in family, work · 2 Comments 

Tonight I went out for dinner with my family and friends. I met the parents of one of my current students. I told them they had a great son and they agreed. I always love it when parents agree with me about their children. Often parents will tell you how awful their child is at home or laugh it off. That’s just not necessary. I know it is often intended to be humorous, but I love it when they simply agree and know they have a great teenager. It is especially lovely when their young person is there to hear it. It’s no wonder to me when that happens that I am teaching a quietly confident and happy person. If your parents can’t be your number one fans who will be?

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New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

February 5, 2009 · Posted in reading · Comment 

I finished the second in the Twilight series this week and have began ‘Eclipse’. Everyone is reading these books! Even my chiropractor tonight when she saw what I was reading admitted that she was staying up late to read just one more chapter… as you do!

I liked ‘New Moon’. My favourite part was when the author had the blank chapters named by the empty months that passed. I think that perfectly conveyed how it is sometimes when you suffer grief and loss… time passes blankly.

I’ve been reading on Facebook all the young women I know are besotted with the character Edward. I don’t find a cold vampire that appealing and he is very pale. I think it is cute though to see infatuation with a fictional character. These books seem to be capturing a following as Harry Potter did, perhaps a slightly older audience though.

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Tamboritha 2008

October 25, 2008 · Posted in travel, work · Comment 

Tamboritha 08I drove alone to camp this year in the school 4WD. It was a gorgeous clear day and the countryside was magnificent(as you can see in the photo). The floods have changed the waterways and there was a lot of running water. The trees have started to grow leaves over their blackened stumps hiding the bushfires. I nearly didn’t take my warm hat and scarf as the day was so clear and bright. Lucky I did because it snowed on the second morning. I’ll upload some video over the weekend.

I rode horses for two sessions and went on the walk for one. The horse riding was great and I am a lot more relaxed on a horse now after these annual rides. Last year at the Blairgowrie camp I was very uncomfortable as we took the kids over a road, in suburbia. The instructors there gave them very little instruction, yet at Tamboritha the guy is a lot more direct and down to earth. He lets them know clearly (if somewhat gruffly) what they are to do to stay safe and not confuse the horses. I feel like they had a more authentic experience. Having said that, on my second ride, I was unfortunate enough to have another horse attempt to bite mine a couple of times, which was a little scary for both of us. Spring! Once I separated the two they were fine.

The students were wonderfully behaved. I enjoyed their company and they amused themselves and socialised with one another beautifully. They played cards and sat around the campfire. I actually managed to read a small book whilst I was there, which I’ve never managed on camp before. They participated enthusiastically in all the activities, especially the night one, ‘stalk the lantern’, which involves them sneaking up to a base, whilst I try to catch them in a spotlight. I am quite enthusiastic myself when it comes to that game and a couple of them commented they were glad I didn’t have a gun! I didn’t enjoy it as much the second night when snow started to fall on us again, but the kids remained keen. I fell off a log in my zealous attempt to capture one of them, much to the amusement of those already caught.  

Tonight I am relieved as I have been replaced on Monday’s trip. I felt uneasy about leaving Tom at this time, with his VCE exams looming. I didn’t want to let people down, but I appreciate my compassionate principal and co-coordinator for recognising that I am not up for it and getting someone else. He phoned me tonight as I was driving my car less daughter back to Melbourne. Although the students were great, I still had to get up and put wood on the fire possibly 5 times during both nights, so I have been really overtired the last couple of days and Tom’s end of school celebrations have added to that. I am glad to be home. I can properly unpack now and get things in order.  

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