Happy Halloween!

End of the month and I've almost missed posting! Just in the nic of time :D

I've had a week off for half term well deserved (or needed lol). This school years been a buzz and still not perfect. Better than year 1 & 2, but not without its mishaps. Biggest thing is still consistency consistency consistency. I'm learning but its a tough one to master. I still try to get back into teaching rather than policing when clearly the kids want to see what they can get away with... grrr kids!!

I'm still busy writing lesson plans as the curriculum has just changed and units are shifting around. Eventually I should be able to recycle material??? right???? right???? But its not as bad as i've made it out to be. I'm starting to connect with the kids building on my teaching skills with each lesson.

Outside of school i've joined the gym and plan to start going regularly. It's been nice having options for recreation. So far i've done a volleyball league, Brass Band, French lessons and now the gym. The best part is I have full access to the football stadium and can run the stairs when I feel like a little bit of calostetics... then again who ever just 'feels' like some calostetics?? lol.

It doesn't look like christmas in Canada is going to happen with the price of flights this year. After dishing out the airfare, I wouldn't be able to afford anything else. I'd love to go back to Canada and head out visiting, skiing, hiking, touring and have relaxed time. Hopefully the spring will be a different story :D Looking at a cheap get away to Germany instead. AND if i'm lucky, catching up with Heather in Huddersfield too :D

Over the weekend I have the pleasure of writing a unit about hip hop and dance music. Should be a 10 hour job or so? Besides that I'm building up the strength to finish the term and fight the christmas rush.. o wait it's only november! but then again they've had decorations up for weeks... wierd!!

3rd year teaching - first week!! woot woot

The theme of this year is "do it right or do it all year long"... it's time to mean business and get a kick start with discipline. No more silly arguments and back chatty kids. I'm guns ablaze that I NO means NO. The kids have been seeing what they can get away with and I've had none of it. So far they've been lining up and entering the room in silence with a starter activity already on the board while I take the register. Some groups get it right the first time and others are taking about 30 minutes of practicing lining up and being silent. It's been a grind this week but consistency is tough work. Once they know I mean business I'll ease off a bit, but it's high standards this year!!!

On top i've set up some good reward systems to get the kids excited and overhauled the classroom displays. I'm feeling a bit more on top of things this year. Lots of work ahead, I'll be keeping you posted.

3rd year focus

This Blog will describe my 3rd year of teaching in the UK: i've taken the bumps and bruises and am ready to get things right from the start. Routines in September and ride the crest through to summer :D

Summer Summer Summer

Summer Holidays begin!! I've just wrapped up my second official year of teaching and live to tell the tale. It's been a difficult year and i've learned a lot about myself, teaching, responsibility & relationships. There's definitely no perfect solution, but over time things seem to get smoother.

I leave this year being fully qualified to teach in the United Kingdom. They even gave me a nice certificate stating so. My contract at work is now permanent full time and I have the pleasure of taking on a full timetable because the department is now divided between two teachers instead of three like last year.

As for now summer is about to begin. The first two weeks i'm going to get all my prep done, put up new displays at school and reorganize my teaching files. That will leave me with the last four weeks to become completely relaxed, able to do whatever I want and feel condfident/prepared for September!

What am I up to? Besides visiting a couple friends in London, I will be cycling across Ireland for the middle two weeks of August, picking up my guitar chops on the back patio, reading a couple books and learning the finer art of making sushi :D

Let summer begin!!!