First Week Back

A little update on my first week back after half term,

Sunday...
Darc and I were up and in the waiting taxi at 5:40 this AM to catch her 6:15 bus trip. Her bus was a little early but we were ready and waiting for it. After I hugged her goodbye and saw her off, I walked back home in the still dark morning. I saw a few halloween party-ers returning after a full night of fun during the walk back. I promptly returned to bed and woke up at a nicer hour for a weekend. During the day, I organized my room (a task that was much needed!), did laundry, and really just prepared for the week to come. Had a great chat with my kidlets at home (the cousins) and of course their Mamabear as well. In the evening, Hannah, Liz and I went to the church service. It turned out to be a different crowd, as well as a different order of service. Tonight marked the beginning of discipleship classes for the next 6 or so weeks. After a communal worship, we embarked to different "classes" on varying topics. The one the girls and I chose was entitled "The Big Questions." I look forward to learning lots during these sessions. Talked to my parents tonight and booked my flight home (December 13th, babbyyyy). Surprisingly, I'm ready to be back in the routine of school. Looking forward to being in the same school all week!

Monday...
What a hellish day today was. Once I got to school, I was told I was going to be in the other year 3 class. I could handle that. However, things started going awry when I discovered the printers weren't working, I didn't have a computer to use, couldn't print the success criteria, and I wasn't quite sure what was happening for the lessons. For example, Monday is the new spelling test day... I had no idea what their words were...! Don't worry, I eventually figured it out.  The kids, coming off of a week break, were wound for sound. I survived the morning, and then in the afternoon, I was just working to 2:20 at which point, we'd go to the Worship assembly as the whole school.  Basically today, no one was listening, it was a crazy day. Once home, I discovered that the crappy day was pretty consistent for everyone. We all bonded over the crazy, non-listening students we had.

Tuesday...
This morning, I was informed that I wasn't needed to be anywhere in the morning, so I observed in the classroom I'm set to be in on Thursday and Fridays. It was good to see how their regular teacher goes about the routines. I took copious notes (and wrote Sarah a letter... but we're not telling anyone that.) In the afternoon, I was back in the other year 3 class while the teacher was on course. I was
set to teach the same lesson twice (to both year 3 classes). The lesson required them to use subtitles and use their knowledge of different communication mediums to choose sentences that were relevant.  Noone had their listening ears on and by the time I'd been asked the same question 20 times (after going through what they were supposed to do at least 3 times!), I found myself losing patience. By the end of the day, I found myself thinking that today was only slightly better than yesterday. But I guess any improvement, even if slight, IS an improvement, right? I went into this week and these past few days unsure if I would want this long term job (if it were offered to me). Basically, the job would be doing cover for Monday. Tuesday, and Wednesday within the school (with Wednesday morning as planning with the other year 3 teachers) and then teaching in the year 3 class (not the one from Monday and Tuesday) on Thursday and Fridays. It would be nice to be in the same school all week, and have the same class Thurs and Fri. I just don't know what I want anymore... Though, honestly, that's nothing new haha.
In the evening, I had a good Skype chat with Laura. It was nice to catch up with her (as she sat in Tim Horton's and flaunted her warm beverage in front of me!).
It's dark here by 5 o'clock. I find once I get home, I just want to curl in bed and watch tv for the night. It's good because the girls tend to be of the same mindset so we've been watching lots of "The Mindy Project," "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," and " New Girl." No complaints from me!

Wednesday...
Wednesday mornings are prep time for the year 3 teachers so I get the privilege of sitting in with them ad witnessing the planning (and hopefully getting to input, too. We had breakfast briefing this morning. Basically it was a quick 10 minute staff meeting. It was during this meeting that I was introduced to the staff as "Laura's replacement" though I hadn't actually been approached officially yet. On Wednesday, the year 3 classes have P.E. but before they are able to go, they have their guided reading. It was good to witness a guided reading session with their regular teacher so I can follow along with the same expectations (especially with the noise level!). I spent the first bit of the planning time with my mind in a whirl not knowing where to start as there were so many acronyms being thrown around. I think, they eventually caught on to the blank stare on my face so I got filled in haha. It was during this time that I was informed that the Thurs, Friday teacher I'm covering for is the year 3 music teacher. Oh boy.. Apparently, the school pays for a website that has great lesson plans, etc. I was given the log in details and managed to find the session I wanted. That's when it all went downhill. This website has many different resources (great!) but I was so confused (not so great!). In the end, I mentioned how confused I was and was told that music isn't really a top priority... So I'll try and figure out something to do with these kids...
In the afternoon I was in a year 4 class. It was their English lesson and I really enjoyed working with them on using their imaginations to write a story. Once I'm home from school, I like to have a nice relaxing night and that's exactly what tonight was.. Also, today being Guy Fawkes day, there were lots of fireworks! Love it!

Thursday...
Back in the year 3 class. The deputy head has told me she's also the coach for teachers to help them improve. We've decided she's going to sit in on a few of my lessons and give me improvement points ( I know my behaviour management is lacking). I'm looking forward to this support and feedback! It's all about the growth!! My day was nothing exceptional. I really enjoy knowing what I'm going to be teaching, not just walking into a classroom cold. I can really sink my teeth into a lesson and make it my own a little bit. In English, we were discussing adjectives and description and their place within a story. I enjoyed getting into it with the kids! At lunch, the other year 3 teacher had to go home, so she had a supply in. The supply came in to ask me what was going on in the afternoon. It felt really odd to be the one being ASKED not ASKING what was happening. I tried to explain to her and we both empathized with each other, being thrown into things. haha My music lesson (not much of one, really!) ended up just being timetables songs and we did some songs in rounds. I taught them black socks and a few other songs. I like being able to show the kids funny songs, but I find they get so wound up that it's hard to bring them back down to a normal noise and energy level. Music went over well.. I survived! And that's what matters, right? I got the call from the agency tonight, the school wants me to stay on until Christmas. I mentioned that my flight was booked for a week earlier than school ends and I was told it wouldn't be a big deal at all. Awesome!

Friday...
Happy Friday! Back to the maths and english. We've been working on partitioning in multiplication and the kids have been thriving! I love working on maths with them especially knowing what their capable of and being able to push them a little bit. I'm enjoying the consistency of the same school and same students. I'm starting to be recognized in the halls, though I'm not at the point of knowing all students names and being able to respond back to them by name. The morning went well and I tried to implement some of the ideas that the deputy head suggested to me for classroom management. It went better, specifically telling them my expectations for the lesson, etc. I'm thinking positively! In the afternoon, the kids got more energetic but that was to be expected-- IT's FRIDAY!! Once the day was over, I was ready to be out but I had some marking to do. It was all going well until I got kicked out of the school at 5! I wasn't even finished my marking! I guess I'm expected to have a life on Friday night, or the building manager wanted to have a life! haha Today was also very exciting as I had my picture taken for a staff lanyard, I got an email, AND I got a marking pen. I tell ya, 'm moving up in the world. I mentioned to the deputy head that it looked like they'd be stuck with me and then did mention my flight booking. And she didn't seem too worried about it, either. That's good news. I'm looking forward to the next few weeks here!
Once home, We had a pretty low key night. I watched some television, began thinking about next week's music lesson (ahh!). I tried to call my Anne (forgetting that she's away at her conference this weekend!). Eventually, I ended up in bed enjoying the fact that I don't have an alarm set for tomorrow morning!

Saturday...
It was a rainy day today. Alex, Hannah and I meandered into the city centre to find some running shoes for Hannah (her trainers, as the Brits say). We also got some local fruit, and a few other things around. I enjoyed the girl time while walking around. On the way back, it started to rain (as usual!) but I'm getting used to it, I think... Once we got home, Hannah and Alex planned to go for a run. I walked into the little area for the shops, and took a bag for donation and also did a little thrift shopping! It was a good shop: I got a new fleece throw, and 2 dresses to be worn with leggings. I'm channeling my inner Hannah as that's her fashion! In the evening, we originally had plans to watch the fireworks for Guy Fawkes day. The fireworks have been going on all week but these were at the local park and supposed to be good! However, it was a very rainy day so we ended up not going. Instead, I got to go over to Zoe and Ryan's for an awesome games night! I really enjoyed playing the Sherlock Holmes game which is like Clue. I realized (not for the first time) that I'm really bad at those games! Ryan and I were neck and neck to being the first ones to finish.. When he read his solution to the crime, I thought for sure he'd gotten it wrong (where did he get those answers from!?) but no... It was I who had gotten it SO wrong.. I don't even have a good excuse for myself...
Once home, around 11:30, I had a great chat with Tyler and Lauren back home! I really enjoyed laughing with them especially after I fell off my bed, and literally couldn't stop laughing... for many minutes.. It's good to have good friends!!