Not amazingly made. Not perfectly painted. But, pretty enough and all unique. They mark the end of our Art classes. A bit of a shame really - I've really enjoyed them. :)
Monday, 5 March 2012
Art Therapy Continued
Not amazingly made. Not perfectly painted. But, pretty enough and all unique. They mark the end of our Art classes. A bit of a shame really - I've really enjoyed them. :)
Friday, 2 March 2012
Alternative Focus Visit: EYFS
Today, I went to a pretty big school [400 pupils] for a visit to their EYFS classes [or reception classes]. It was amazing! :D
Most of my experience, pre-pgce, was in reception and year 1. So, I've always known that it is "my area" of preference. However, so far, my placements have been in 2/3/4 [and that is set to continue - although I have requested EYFS for my 'enhancement weeks' at the end of the course]. Getting back into an EYFS classroom really was fantastic; I had such a lovely time and the children were amazing. :)
I worked with four groups, over the course of the morning. Completing guided reading activities [focusing on language comprehension/story telling, as the books were picture books] and shape/space maths activities. I also observed and talked to some pupils as they completed various independent activities. It was wonderful to see the children take such a sense of responsibility for themselves - they were able to use scissors, clean up after themselves, solve disputes, create learning opportunities etc. The teacher, in turn, was able to focus on her group of children without worrying too much about the rest of the children. Given the row of ducklings [as our university tutor calls them] who used to follow me around in my 2/3/4 placement, it was very refreshing. :)
So, my thoughts now - if I am going to apply for teaching jobs, I definitely want EYFS or KS1. There is nothing wrong with KS2 - nothing at all - but I just think the former are better for me. :)
Most of my experience, pre-pgce, was in reception and year 1. So, I've always known that it is "my area" of preference. However, so far, my placements have been in 2/3/4 [and that is set to continue - although I have requested EYFS for my 'enhancement weeks' at the end of the course]. Getting back into an EYFS classroom really was fantastic; I had such a lovely time and the children were amazing. :)
I worked with four groups, over the course of the morning. Completing guided reading activities [focusing on language comprehension/story telling, as the books were picture books] and shape/space maths activities. I also observed and talked to some pupils as they completed various independent activities. It was wonderful to see the children take such a sense of responsibility for themselves - they were able to use scissors, clean up after themselves, solve disputes, create learning opportunities etc. The teacher, in turn, was able to focus on her group of children without worrying too much about the rest of the children. Given the row of ducklings [as our university tutor calls them] who used to follow me around in my 2/3/4 placement, it was very refreshing. :)
So, my thoughts now - if I am going to apply for teaching jobs, I definitely want EYFS or KS1. There is nothing wrong with KS2 - nothing at all - but I just think the former are better for me. :)
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Two Schools - One Good Day. :D
This morning, I opted to forgo the lift I had been offered and took the bus [or two] up to school. It was so nice, plugging in my MP4 player and just relaxing a bit on the way. The guy who had offered me a lift is lovely, but we are quite different, so conversation can be a little awkward. Having that time, especially on such a lovely, sunny day, was great. :)
At school, we were meant to be assessing spelling. Not an area I like, given I am pretty bad when it comes to spelling. However, the actual activity completed was much nicer. We worked with the same children we had worked with last week, when we assessed their reading and wrote a report about it, and used a picture to do some creative writing. I recalled that the boy I worked with loved football and space, so I took about 8 pictures in - 4 of which were based on those topics, and a couple of on other topics just in case they took his fancy. He opted for a picture of the solar system and we managed to write lots of things about it. When the note writing was done, we looked at some of the words spelt incorrectly and used our phonics knowledge and a THRASS chart to put them right. I have to type it up, with the picture, and send it into school so he can have a copy. It made for a nice morning. :)
This afternoon, we went to another school to group teach a geography lesson. The 'group' part has caused a few problems, as there have been tensions. In the actual lesson, two of us ended up taking the lead at the beginning - I was, surprisingly, one of them, alongside Matthew. We then worked with different groups. Our focus was on Barnaby Bear - who visited Australia. One group was creating dramatic skies, using chalk, to go behind a silhouette of the Sydney Opera House. One group was making kangaroos that had moving parts. One was making postcards. Another was creating a Sydney Harbour Bridge using craft straws and my group looked at Aboriginal art, using techniques to decorate individual boomerangs. It was really nice, even if one person - in particular - behaved in a slightly unexpected way. Considering the bulk of their experience is with EYFS [and this was a reception and year 1 class], they didn't seem to be able to talk to the children on their own level. Oh well... We were running out of time, so I took the initiative as most groups seemed to be nearly finished. I used the clapping technique my placement school suggested and it worked really well. The children clapped their response and listened to the instructions, meaning we were able to gather on the carpet and go through what the groups had done - a bit of a show me, tell me thing. A few of the others said they were glad I took the lead, but I had felt a little awkward at the time. Team teaching is a bit of an odd experience, but I enjoyed it over all. The children were lovely. Plus, it was EYFS/KS1 - definitely my area of preference. :D
At school, we were meant to be assessing spelling. Not an area I like, given I am pretty bad when it comes to spelling. However, the actual activity completed was much nicer. We worked with the same children we had worked with last week, when we assessed their reading and wrote a report about it, and used a picture to do some creative writing. I recalled that the boy I worked with loved football and space, so I took about 8 pictures in - 4 of which were based on those topics, and a couple of on other topics just in case they took his fancy. He opted for a picture of the solar system and we managed to write lots of things about it. When the note writing was done, we looked at some of the words spelt incorrectly and used our phonics knowledge and a THRASS chart to put them right. I have to type it up, with the picture, and send it into school so he can have a copy. It made for a nice morning. :)
This afternoon, we went to another school to group teach a geography lesson. The 'group' part has caused a few problems, as there have been tensions. In the actual lesson, two of us ended up taking the lead at the beginning - I was, surprisingly, one of them, alongside Matthew. We then worked with different groups. Our focus was on Barnaby Bear - who visited Australia. One group was creating dramatic skies, using chalk, to go behind a silhouette of the Sydney Opera House. One group was making kangaroos that had moving parts. One was making postcards. Another was creating a Sydney Harbour Bridge using craft straws and my group looked at Aboriginal art, using techniques to decorate individual boomerangs. It was really nice, even if one person - in particular - behaved in a slightly unexpected way. Considering the bulk of their experience is with EYFS [and this was a reception and year 1 class], they didn't seem to be able to talk to the children on their own level. Oh well... We were running out of time, so I took the initiative as most groups seemed to be nearly finished. I used the clapping technique my placement school suggested and it worked really well. The children clapped their response and listened to the instructions, meaning we were able to gather on the carpet and go through what the groups had done - a bit of a show me, tell me thing. A few of the others said they were glad I took the lead, but I had felt a little awkward at the time. Team teaching is a bit of an odd experience, but I enjoyed it over all. The children were lovely. Plus, it was EYFS/KS1 - definitely my area of preference. :D
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
It was Kate Crumpet with the poison!
Today has been an interesting sort of day. The morning featured three hours of maths [the usually fourth hour was instead a free slot and was used productively - to discuss famous men mainly and discuss the merits of gems like Bill Nighy lol].
The afternoon should have brought three hours of music! Not a great prospect, especially as I am not the biggest fan of having to stand in front of the class and sing [as we have done the last few sessions]. Instead, the teacher had us trek around Durham [up into Gilesgate, through a wood and back into Durham centre via the river] to solve a Murder Mystery. On the whole, rather fun. Plus, it only took one hour thirty, leaving Lyndsey and I free for coffee and a good chat. All in all, it has been a pretty nice afternoon. :)
The afternoon should have brought three hours of music! Not a great prospect, especially as I am not the biggest fan of having to stand in front of the class and sing [as we have done the last few sessions]. Instead, the teacher had us trek around Durham [up into Gilesgate, through a wood and back into Durham centre via the river] to solve a Murder Mystery. On the whole, rather fun. Plus, it only took one hour thirty, leaving Lyndsey and I free for coffee and a good chat. All in all, it has been a pretty nice afternoon. :)
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Sunday, 29 January 2012
A Chance To Recover
This weekend hasn't been particularly exciting, but it has been a chance to regain some degree of normalcy in my life. I feel rested and ready for the scariness that is tomorrow - three lessons, one observed by my STCC [who I am convinced is going to sit there like a hairy giant in the corner of my tiny classroom and basically put me off lol] and one which involves a serious battle with the shocking science resources available, as we look at electrical conductors and insulators.
Yesterday, I had a driving lesson that went really well. My instructor is really supportive and I enjoy my lessons. I used to dread them back when I first had a go [way back in summer 2010] but now they are a high during the week. My test is fast approaching, which is rather terrifying. I obviously want to pass - for one thing, I can't afford to take it again - but part of me will be a little sad to finish my lessons. The silly thing is, after my test, I won't be getting behind the wheel of a car for a rather long time lol [not until I have secured a job and have the money to buy a car]. I think I'll miss my trips around parts of County Durham I'd otherwise never have seen. But, passing my test will definitely make up for that loss lol!
I went into Durham. After a week out in Spennymoor, it was quite nice to head into town. Durham is such a small place that it is very easy to grow bored of the place, so that week long gap was beneficial. Plus, I timed my visit so I got to see the Chinese New Year parade. They filled the streets and it featured a dragon and lots of drum banging. Plus, I saw one of my pupils taking part - I'll have to ask him about it tomorrow. :)
Today, my flatmates were up at the crack of dawn, which should have annoyed me as sleep is so very precious at the moment. However, I was able to do my laundry before the Sunday-rush, plan some lessons, watch the full Australian Open final [even if the end result didn't go the way I wanted it to] and thus I feel very civilised today lol. Plus, my observed lesson is all planned and I have sent it to my teacher to check over. I've even "played" it out in my mind, and admittedly, out loud lol. My flatmates must think I am insane. Hopefully it will go well. Class 2 have been very lucky you see -they have received a letter from Grandpa Chatterji, who heard that they have been reading all about his trip to England. So, they are going to write their replies to him after a game of Blockbusters to refresh our memories of the story... Keeping my fingers crossed that it all goes well. Perhaps if I imagine my STCC as another child it will help - although he would be a very large, very hairy child. Or, I could just pretend he isn't there. After all, I am clearly not as bad at this "acting the part" business as I thought - especially given my eagerness to full different faces and poses with the class before our role-playing activity on Friday! Lol.
Yesterday, I had a driving lesson that went really well. My instructor is really supportive and I enjoy my lessons. I used to dread them back when I first had a go [way back in summer 2010] but now they are a high during the week. My test is fast approaching, which is rather terrifying. I obviously want to pass - for one thing, I can't afford to take it again - but part of me will be a little sad to finish my lessons. The silly thing is, after my test, I won't be getting behind the wheel of a car for a rather long time lol [not until I have secured a job and have the money to buy a car]. I think I'll miss my trips around parts of County Durham I'd otherwise never have seen. But, passing my test will definitely make up for that loss lol!
I went into Durham. After a week out in Spennymoor, it was quite nice to head into town. Durham is such a small place that it is very easy to grow bored of the place, so that week long gap was beneficial. Plus, I timed my visit so I got to see the Chinese New Year parade. They filled the streets and it featured a dragon and lots of drum banging. Plus, I saw one of my pupils taking part - I'll have to ask him about it tomorrow. :)
Today, my flatmates were up at the crack of dawn, which should have annoyed me as sleep is so very precious at the moment. However, I was able to do my laundry before the Sunday-rush, plan some lessons, watch the full Australian Open final [even if the end result didn't go the way I wanted it to] and thus I feel very civilised today lol. Plus, my observed lesson is all planned and I have sent it to my teacher to check over. I've even "played" it out in my mind, and admittedly, out loud lol. My flatmates must think I am insane. Hopefully it will go well. Class 2 have been very lucky you see -they have received a letter from Grandpa Chatterji, who heard that they have been reading all about his trip to England. So, they are going to write their replies to him after a game of Blockbusters to refresh our memories of the story... Keeping my fingers crossed that it all goes well. Perhaps if I imagine my STCC as another child it will help - although he would be a very large, very hairy child. Or, I could just pretend he isn't there. After all, I am clearly not as bad at this "acting the part" business as I thought - especially given my eagerness to full different faces and poses with the class before our role-playing activity on Friday! Lol.
Friday, 27 January 2012
Week One Done
The first week of this placement is finished.
The idea that I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn, head into school and teach, mark and reflect is amazing! Even more amazing is the fact that I don't have to plan anything tonight. I might - possibly - but I don't have to. Freedom!
It has been an up-down week. Tuesday was the pits. But, since then it has been okay.
Today's literacy lesson went down very well with the class. They were role-playing scenes from our novel and we practised pulling faces and using our body language to suggest different things before we started. In front of 24 children, I pulled different faces and "acted" a part. Madness. I don't do things like that lol. I guess I got caught up in the moment and the children really enjoyed it. One girl - who yesterday refused to do anything in literacy, until I worked with her one-to-one at break time - said she had really enjoyed it. Despite them being in groups, the children kept on task and we watched 5 out of the 6 groups perform. One group didn't, but that is fine. I didn't want any of the children to feel concerned - I would have hated to be set a task like that - so I just wanted them to explore the ideas and have a go. The group in question had worked really hard, so I saw no problem in letting them not perform - if that makes sense. Maybe, if we do something similar again, they will be ready to stand at the front and have a go. :) Another amazing side of that lesson - no marking! I was able to formatively assess and reflect on my planning etc, but I didn't have to sit and mark all the books. That alone was enough to put me in a great mood lol.
So, in short, first teaching week of this placement is done. Two more weeks to go and 5000 MA-level words to write and then it will be time to celebrate. I don't get half term, but by god, I am going to have a blast of a weekend on Feb 10th - not least because a friend is visiting from home. Yay! :D
The idea that I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn, head into school and teach, mark and reflect is amazing! Even more amazing is the fact that I don't have to plan anything tonight. I might - possibly - but I don't have to. Freedom!
It has been an up-down week. Tuesday was the pits. But, since then it has been okay.
Today's literacy lesson went down very well with the class. They were role-playing scenes from our novel and we practised pulling faces and using our body language to suggest different things before we started. In front of 24 children, I pulled different faces and "acted" a part. Madness. I don't do things like that lol. I guess I got caught up in the moment and the children really enjoyed it. One girl - who yesterday refused to do anything in literacy, until I worked with her one-to-one at break time - said she had really enjoyed it. Despite them being in groups, the children kept on task and we watched 5 out of the 6 groups perform. One group didn't, but that is fine. I didn't want any of the children to feel concerned - I would have hated to be set a task like that - so I just wanted them to explore the ideas and have a go. The group in question had worked really hard, so I saw no problem in letting them not perform - if that makes sense. Maybe, if we do something similar again, they will be ready to stand at the front and have a go. :) Another amazing side of that lesson - no marking! I was able to formatively assess and reflect on my planning etc, but I didn't have to sit and mark all the books. That alone was enough to put me in a great mood lol.
So, in short, first teaching week of this placement is done. Two more weeks to go and 5000 MA-level words to write and then it will be time to celebrate. I don't get half term, but by god, I am going to have a blast of a weekend on Feb 10th - not least because a friend is visiting from home. Yay! :D
Friday, 20 January 2012
Literacy Planning Challenge Overcome [I hope!]
So, my teacher dropped a lot of bombshells yesterday, which didn't go down particularly well.
To recap: 1. A change to the school day timetable, meaning the lengths of the lessons had changed. 2. A change to the organisation of year 2, meaning I know longer have them for literacy 1 day a week. 3. A change to the topic - despite not objecting to my Indian theme before, she decided that I must change it all to fit with Ancient Egypt.
Well, this morning, I have been working on doing just that. And, I think I have managed to do it pretty well. I should enjoy teaching it too, despite feeling rather sad to essentially throw away all the work I had done on India [not leats because I think it would have been a very vibrant and interesting topic]. The teacher had said 'the children won't understand why they are learning about Indian culture'. That had annoyed me - after all, the topic was 'stories from other cultures' and the whole point is to allow them to see and read about somewhere different [yet similar] to home. Oh well.
I have sent the new plans to her, so fingers crossed she says they are okay. I don't think I could face replanning them yet again [especially when my STCC said they were fab as they were originally]... *fingers crossed*
Something that helped me get into the mindset: Horrible Histories Cleopatra Song. [I haven't used it, although I am using the Mummy Song in one of my History lessons on the period. :D]
To recap: 1. A change to the school day timetable, meaning the lengths of the lessons had changed. 2. A change to the organisation of year 2, meaning I know longer have them for literacy 1 day a week. 3. A change to the topic - despite not objecting to my Indian theme before, she decided that I must change it all to fit with Ancient Egypt.
Well, this morning, I have been working on doing just that. And, I think I have managed to do it pretty well. I should enjoy teaching it too, despite feeling rather sad to essentially throw away all the work I had done on India [not leats because I think it would have been a very vibrant and interesting topic]. The teacher had said 'the children won't understand why they are learning about Indian culture'. That had annoyed me - after all, the topic was 'stories from other cultures' and the whole point is to allow them to see and read about somewhere different [yet similar] to home. Oh well.
I have sent the new plans to her, so fingers crossed she says they are okay. I don't think I could face replanning them yet again [especially when my STCC said they were fab as they were originally]... *fingers crossed*
Something that helped me get into the mindset: Horrible Histories Cleopatra Song. [I haven't used it, although I am using the Mummy Song in one of my History lessons on the period. :D]
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Art Therapy
Given all the stresses at the moment, and all the deadlines, Art was like a therapy session yesterday. After a talk on how to use 'flat clay work' in schools, we were set free to have a play.
I made the triangular box [I don't know why, but heyho lol] and Lyndsey made the wonderful tile of fish and the fantastic tile of a cooked breakfast lol. :D
I made the triangular box [I don't know why, but heyho lol] and Lyndsey made the wonderful tile of fish and the fantastic tile of a cooked breakfast lol. :D
Teaching File - STCC vs Class Teacher
Really struggling today to focus on the positives, as my new class teacher has left me feeling rather annoyed. Insisting that I change my literacy planning for all three weeks, despite admitting that she thought the class would love everything I planned, to fit with a different culture [despite her initially saying I could pick the culture to focus on]; informing me only today that the timetable has changed, meaning different length lessons and my having the year 2 pupils at different times [again, meaning more re-planning] and finally that they have dropped the ICT Smart Learning software, for which I spent over an hour last night planning to create lessons that hit three separate units [for my three separate year groups], so they too now need re-planning. All in all, I came away feeling rather upset and now I have to spend yet more time planning things that were fine and perfectly reasonable given the information I had. Urgh!
He did say that he struggles to read me though, and that I don't give anything away. It will probably stay that way, although I did mention to him that my teacher had sent an email a day or so ago with an end line suggesting I could 'change cultures' for my literacy. He said it would be unreasonable for her to expect me to do that, especially given all the planning and detail I have gone into with the culture I had chosen. Also nice to know that I am not the only one who thinks this late notice is rather poor showing from her. Not least because she wants to see the new plans tomorrow!
Oh my... :/
However, a positive. I can do that.
I had my meeting with my STCC today. He is responsible for signing off my teaching file. It was probably the longest I've ever spoken to him, as I tend to keep quiet in our group meetings. He said he was very impressed with my planning, the depth of detail and the general organisation of everything. He said it was one of the best he had seen and that his amazing yr6 teacher would love it - she was recently inspected by Ofsted [independent of the school] and was told she is in the top 1% of teachers in the country. That was really nice to hear. :D
I had my meeting with my STCC today. He is responsible for signing off my teaching file. It was probably the longest I've ever spoken to him, as I tend to keep quiet in our group meetings. He said he was very impressed with my planning, the depth of detail and the general organisation of everything. He said it was one of the best he had seen and that his amazing yr6 teacher would love it - she was recently inspected by Ofsted [independent of the school] and was told she is in the top 1% of teachers in the country. That was really nice to hear. :D
He did say that he struggles to read me though, and that I don't give anything away. It will probably stay that way, although I did mention to him that my teacher had sent an email a day or so ago with an end line suggesting I could 'change cultures' for my literacy. He said it would be unreasonable for her to expect me to do that, especially given all the planning and detail I have gone into with the culture I had chosen. Also nice to know that I am not the only one who thinks this late notice is rather poor showing from her. Not least because she wants to see the new plans tomorrow!
Oh my... :/
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