Wow, I can't believe its been more than a week since I've last blogged. The funny thing is, I'm not quite sure what I've done with all the time...
On the social front, I manged to meet up with Kyle and, along with his girlfriend, we went to the IMAX to see "Up". Now this was a really cute movie and I enjoyed it far more than I expected. Its the kind of movie you can take your family too and have everyone enjoy it - highly recommended. After, they took me across the river to this really neat Belgium restaurant in Covert Gardens. I can't believe I can't remember the name of the restaurant because it was excellent - the beer menu was as long as the food and other beverage menus combined! I ended up ordering a Passion Fruit beer (was only 3.6% and tasted like juice) with a beef side in onions, dark beer, apples and cherries with a side of chips. MMMM....
On the job front, work has been coming in and I have hopes of an increase soon. I've been talking to my recruiters and they've recieved some very positive responses from the schools I worked at this week. Its exciting because these were local schools (one was a 20 min walk and the other was a 40 min bus ride) which is so much better than the 90min commutes of the week before. The schools also frequently need supply teachers, whcih means I'm in a good position to be called in. I think next month will be my busiest yet!
Right now, the schools are on a half-term break (one week), so I'm not anticipating work (though I've told the recruiters I'm available). There's an outside chance of nursery work or private schools, but I don't know how likely. This brings to mind a quote I recently found: "The only difference between an ordeal and an adventure is your attitude". Now, I could bemoan the fact that I have a week with no work to look forward to, or I could treat this as an opportunity to see more of the city. I believe this is the key to being a success - finding the positive in every experience. Even if you have a bad day, look at what made it "bad" and figure out how to avoid that in the future - if you can pull something out of it, then you've turned it into a positive learning experience.
Saturday 24 October 2009
Friday 16 October 2009
A Rainy Day
This morning is a chilly, drizzly morning, so its a perfect time to stay in bed and write a blog post :).
Let's see... this week I got another two days of work as a TA in a Nursery and Kindergarden class. I really enjoy working with the little ones and those days have been lots of fun! So, its not teaching, but there is work out there... I just need to be patient, stay positive and continue to keep abreast of things. Flu season is beginning now which will hopefully bring more supply days (I know, I know - its bad to wish illness on people... tought ;).
As far as sight-seeing goes, I haven't done much. The last week this month is the half-term break, so I figure I'll need things to do around that time. Also, while I'm getting work, its still not as much as I'd like, so I really need to stick to a budget at the moment and limit my travel to day trips around London. I plan on being here for awhile, so there's plenty of time to see other things and London is a huge city to explore.
I did meet up with Greg at Camden Market last weekend, which was a lot of fun. Its a large outdoor market area in central London, comprised of independent sellers and corporate stores, where you can find just about anything. It was a treat just to walk around window shopping (they sure do like their shoe stores over here...)! In one of the food areas, you had West African cuisine next to East Indian, Mexican next to English, which was across from Polish and... well, you get the idea :). I decided on West African goat curry with a Belgium chocolate crepe for desert. The only detractor from the day was my upset stomach caused by, I believe, a mayo and prawn sandwich I grabbed from a corner store on the way... I certainly will not be sampling that again, even though it was quite tasty.
Also on the weekend I went to East London for a local Diwali celebration (The Festival of Lights in India). There was a parade down the street (which was lit up) and a cool fireworks and laser display in the evening. The children marching in fire-motif costumes were especially cute :). While there I had dinner in a really nice British pub - tried the chicken marsala, naan bread, mango chuney with a sticky pudding and custard for desert. Oh my... that was absolutely delicious!! Sticky pudding is now up there with chocolate lava cake :).
Overall, I must say that I'm really glad I took the opportunity to come here. London truly is an international city and I believe that this will give me valuable experience. As more work comes in, I'll be able to take more advantage of the opportunities which will help me grow as a person and a teacher. I look forward to what next week will bring.
Let's see... this week I got another two days of work as a TA in a Nursery and Kindergarden class. I really enjoy working with the little ones and those days have been lots of fun! So, its not teaching, but there is work out there... I just need to be patient, stay positive and continue to keep abreast of things. Flu season is beginning now which will hopefully bring more supply days (I know, I know - its bad to wish illness on people... tought ;).
As far as sight-seeing goes, I haven't done much. The last week this month is the half-term break, so I figure I'll need things to do around that time. Also, while I'm getting work, its still not as much as I'd like, so I really need to stick to a budget at the moment and limit my travel to day trips around London. I plan on being here for awhile, so there's plenty of time to see other things and London is a huge city to explore.
I did meet up with Greg at Camden Market last weekend, which was a lot of fun. Its a large outdoor market area in central London, comprised of independent sellers and corporate stores, where you can find just about anything. It was a treat just to walk around window shopping (they sure do like their shoe stores over here...)! In one of the food areas, you had West African cuisine next to East Indian, Mexican next to English, which was across from Polish and... well, you get the idea :). I decided on West African goat curry with a Belgium chocolate crepe for desert. The only detractor from the day was my upset stomach caused by, I believe, a mayo and prawn sandwich I grabbed from a corner store on the way... I certainly will not be sampling that again, even though it was quite tasty.
Also on the weekend I went to East London for a local Diwali celebration (The Festival of Lights in India). There was a parade down the street (which was lit up) and a cool fireworks and laser display in the evening. The children marching in fire-motif costumes were especially cute :). While there I had dinner in a really nice British pub - tried the chicken marsala, naan bread, mango chuney with a sticky pudding and custard for desert. Oh my... that was absolutely delicious!! Sticky pudding is now up there with chocolate lava cake :).
Overall, I must say that I'm really glad I took the opportunity to come here. London truly is an international city and I believe that this will give me valuable experience. As more work comes in, I'll be able to take more advantage of the opportunities which will help me grow as a person and a teacher. I look forward to what next week will bring.
Friday 9 October 2009
Pay Day!
Right, important news first – I have just received my first pay from England! Gotta love pay day! The bad news is that, due to a mix-up with my debit card ordering, I’m still unable to use ATM machines to access my account. Let this be a lesson to people – when setting up a bank account, make sure the bank orders you a debit card!
Anyways, today I went on a horoscope website for kicks and found mine to be quite appropriate:
So even though things are a little choppy on the job front, there are always silver linings and I should be enjoying the journey, taking as much opportunity to learn all I can. When I do get constant work, I’ll likely look back on this period of indolence with envy. Right now, I have all the time I want to relax, settle in and see some sights – since the weather has improved the last can be outdoors again.
One of the things I like about London are all of the sights there are to see and plenty of walking trails. At this time of year, these will be particularly nice as the leaves are changing colour and it’s not too warm or too cold. The other day, I was down in Crystal Palace Park (quite lovely and large)... dating from the 1800s it was apparently the world’s first “theme park” (a collection of dinosaur statues and archaeological theme). This weekend I may try parts of the Jubilee Walkway by the Tower and Bridge.
Speaking of this weekend, I know that Sunday will be Thanksgiving over in Canada. Unfortunately, the English don’t celebrate it :( so I don’t really have any plans. I’ll be sure to call back home! On the other hand, there is a week break coming up at the end of October and "Guy Fawkes Day" early Novemeber...
Aside from sight-seeing, I’ve been busy shopping around for resources for my supply classes (whenever they come up)... seeing as I left nearly all my resources back in Canada. Some examples are:
- “The Dot” by Peter Reynolds
- “The Paper Bag Princess” by Robert Munsch (Can't believe he's out of print in the UK)
- Primary Resources - good for all around lesson ideas
- Teaching Ideas- good for all around lesson ideas
- Teachers' TV- videos on a variety of topics
As well, I’ve been to my first CPD session (Continuing Professional Development) put on by one of my recruiters. It was on how to use an Interactive Whiteboard in your lessons. The session was quite informative, starting out at a very basic level before moving on to lesson tips and a good refresher from my B.Ed degree. Best of all – it was free! :)
Anyways, today I went on a horoscope website for kicks and found mine to be quite appropriate:
“The struggles of life make you strong. Without opposition, you would be weak and flavourless. Sometimes the struggle feels like it is overwhelming, but you need to get past that and embrace it. When you look back you may realize that getting there is the best part of the race.”
One of the things I like about London are all of the sights there are to see and plenty of walking trails. At this time of year, these will be particularly nice as the leaves are changing colour and it’s not too warm or too cold. The other day, I was down in Crystal Palace Park (quite lovely and large)... dating from the 1800s it was apparently the world’s first “theme park” (a collection of dinosaur statues and archaeological theme). This weekend I may try parts of the Jubilee Walkway by the Tower and Bridge.
Speaking of this weekend, I know that Sunday will be Thanksgiving over in Canada. Unfortunately, the English don’t celebrate it :( so I don’t really have any plans. I’ll be sure to call back home! On the other hand, there is a week break coming up at the end of October and "Guy Fawkes Day" early Novemeber...
Aside from sight-seeing, I’ve been busy shopping around for resources for my supply classes (whenever they come up)... seeing as I left nearly all my resources back in Canada. Some examples are:
- “The Paper Bag Princess” by Robert Munsch (Can't believe he's out of print in the UK)
- Primary Resources - good for all around lesson ideas
- Teaching Ideas- good for all around lesson ideas
- Teachers' TV
As well, I’ve been to my first CPD session (Continuing Professional Development) put on by one of my recruiters. It was on how to use an Interactive Whiteboard in your lessons. The session was quite informative, starting out at a very basic level before moving on to lesson tips and a good refresher from my B.Ed degree. Best of all – it was free! :)
Monday 5 October 2009
First Week Musings
Greetings to my loyal readers (whoever you may be :)! Since I’ve finished my first week as a supply (and had fun), I’d thought I’d take the opportunity to reflect upon some of my experiences and advice that I’ve been given.
1. Resources and support: Quite simply, I was impressed. Each classroom had its own SMARTBoard (with Internet access), several computer, was bright and cheerful and had shelves of references. As well, there was a general TA assigned to each class in addition to any EAs required by the students’ IEP, meaning there were between 2-3 adults in the classroom. I love working on the SMARTBoard – you can just do so many more things than on a chalkboard (like those web-based educational games and video clips). The staff was also very welcoming and happy to help or explain anything that I needed to know about.
2. Classroom Management: Since I was in an older year, it gave me an opportunity to practice different styles of management (i.e. hand up, 3 tier punishment, achievement stickers). As a supply, it's important find out from the classroom TA what the students are used to and work from there. In general, I’ve found that I need to be more directive / assertive and to stay on top of the class.
One of the most effective ways to manage behaviour is to keep the students busy and involved. To do this, I break the work up into chunks (i.e. questions 1-5), give the students an appropriate amount of time to do it in (i.e. 10 min), then check in and take them up. This is a useful way to assess whether the class really understood the lesson and to help them set achievable goals. It also gives the students a structure and a goal to work towards – as one of my practicum teachers said, “Students do most of their work in the last 10 min of the time”. During the work time, I circulate to answer questions and encourage the students (this is very important).
3. Preparedness and flexibility: Sometimes difficult to judge how quickly students will work or what’s going to happen that day, so it’s necessary for me to have quick, adaptable lessons ready to go. I’ve learned to keep a list of useful websites along with a few PowerPoint presentations and worksheets on my USB key as well as bringing along a rich story book that can be used for a variety of ages and activities (I have “The Dot” by Peter Reynolds). I’m also trying to find “The Paper Bag Princess”, but apparently it was just reprinted and none of the bookstores over here have it in stock (one is ordering it for me).
4. Ask Questions: The idea is to ask the question before the administration tells you the answer. By asking, I’m showing an interest and enthusiasm for my job as well as making sure I learn everything I need to know (i.e. behaviour management policies, special events, routines, etc). It’s always better to ask upfront than to try to guess or make something up later.
5. Attitude: Positive attitude begets positive reactions. “I’m the adult in charge. I’m here to guide these students and we will have fun learning something.” It is so important to stay positive even when things aren’t going so great, but the students take their lead from me (even if it doesn’t always seem that way :). If I seem to be having fun and in control, they’re more likely to be too.
1. Resources and support: Quite simply, I was impressed. Each classroom had its own SMARTBoard (with Internet access), several computer, was bright and cheerful and had shelves of references. As well, there was a general TA assigned to each class in addition to any EAs required by the students’ IEP, meaning there were between 2-3 adults in the classroom. I love working on the SMARTBoard – you can just do so many more things than on a chalkboard (like those web-based educational games and video clips). The staff was also very welcoming and happy to help or explain anything that I needed to know about.
2. Classroom Management: Since I was in an older year, it gave me an opportunity to practice different styles of management (i.e. hand up, 3 tier punishment, achievement stickers). As a supply, it's important find out from the classroom TA what the students are used to and work from there. In general, I’ve found that I need to be more directive / assertive and to stay on top of the class.
One of the most effective ways to manage behaviour is to keep the students busy and involved. To do this, I break the work up into chunks (i.e. questions 1-5), give the students an appropriate amount of time to do it in (i.e. 10 min), then check in and take them up. This is a useful way to assess whether the class really understood the lesson and to help them set achievable goals. It also gives the students a structure and a goal to work towards – as one of my practicum teachers said, “Students do most of their work in the last 10 min of the time”. During the work time, I circulate to answer questions and encourage the students (this is very important).
3. Preparedness and flexibility: Sometimes difficult to judge how quickly students will work or what’s going to happen that day, so it’s necessary for me to have quick, adaptable lessons ready to go. I’ve learned to keep a list of useful websites along with a few PowerPoint presentations and worksheets on my USB key as well as bringing along a rich story book that can be used for a variety of ages and activities (I have “The Dot” by Peter Reynolds). I’m also trying to find “The Paper Bag Princess”, but apparently it was just reprinted and none of the bookstores over here have it in stock (one is ordering it for me).
4. Ask Questions: The idea is to ask the question before the administration tells you the answer. By asking, I’m showing an interest and enthusiasm for my job as well as making sure I learn everything I need to know (i.e. behaviour management policies, special events, routines, etc). It’s always better to ask upfront than to try to guess or make something up later.
5. Attitude: Positive attitude begets positive reactions. “I’m the adult in charge. I’m here to guide these students and we will have fun learning something.” It is so important to stay positive even when things aren’t going so great, but the students take their lead from me (even if it doesn’t always seem that way :). If I seem to be having fun and in control, they’re more likely to be too.
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