It's an update - state side. I headed to London on Wednesday night with Amy in preparation for my flight on Thursday. Georgie picked us up at the underground near her and took us for dinner at the Hilton. The story is that we stayed at the Hilton. That's the story. We're sticking to it.
The flights were fine - after ten hours of being in the air I was more than happy to hear "Welcome to Cleveland." I'm not sure I'm really impressed by American Airlines, but what can you do when you're on a budget?
Home-Home has been an interesting experience. My family has been great, my grandparents appreciative. Jen and Travis came out for a bit last night - that was excellent! I was so happy to see them. The boys - well - some people just don't get it. And quite frankly I'm not going to go out of my way to deal with people who are prats.
It seems when you pick up and move some people can't forgive you for that. And they can't grasp the concept of different time zones. No wonder the British dislike Americans....cocky and unaware there is a world beyond them. Well - you can see that in some of my friends. Maybe by the time I leave they will find it within themselves to come and visit me....and if not, I'm no worse off.
I do miss my UK family terribly! If I could have the UK family and the US family at the same time - how great would that be! As I have told them, I will be back for New Years eve. My current attention is focused on Christmas.
Christmas for my family consists of that Italian tradition of the seven fish. Not very american.....British...but Italian. I love being so cultural. Hopefully everything pans out. I have some cool things I would love to share with my family and friends! I spent a lot of time thinking about the perfect christmas gifts - can't wait to share them!
Well - I'm going to get my day going. It's 6:30.....but that's 11:30 UK time. I am not getting adjusted to this time zone at all!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Countdown!~
4 More teaching days
6 Days Until an Outing in London
7 Days Until Departure for the US of A
12 Days until CHRISTMAS
15 Days Until the Return Flight to the UK
18 Days until New Years Eve!
21 Days until the start of Spring Term
42 Days until Half Term Break!
My....How time flies....
6 Days Until an Outing in London
7 Days Until Departure for the US of A
12 Days until CHRISTMAS
15 Days Until the Return Flight to the UK
18 Days until New Years Eve!
21 Days until the start of Spring Term
42 Days until Half Term Break!
My....How time flies....
Monday, December 3, 2007
Just another manic Monday....
Living it up in the UK. Now that our first term is almost complete I look back at everything that has gone down since I moved here in August.
School is still brilliant. I can say that our staff is probably the best teaching staff I have ever worked with - in terms of academic matters and matters outside school. People generally care about each other and their well being. In the other schools I have worked in it always seems like it's every man for themselves.... What happened to community? Sure, there are things we disagree with here, but we still work and function together as a family. I really like the atmosphere here. It's excellent.
My teaching skills have definitely improved. I realize that it takes a lot of energy to be the kind of teacher I want to be, and some days I just don't have that energy. I'm still working out how to be poorly and still teach with high energy. Any ideas would be much appreciated. I also feel that my strategies have improved - MUCH better than they used to be. It's neat to be teaching drama because it really has helped me work on my discipline. I think transferring that to an English class will be much easier with my feet planted firmly.
Becoming British - well, I haven't exactly dropped my Americanisms - but I have a feeling that is why people tolerate me.... I can just declare "I'm a dozy Yank!" and all is well! I have become very used to a wide variety of foods though, and I have a secret crush on jaffa cakes and tea. I have no developed an accent, although I've learned some new words that I now sprinkle into conversations. I'm very proud of my ability to use "pikey" and "sod" in every day conversations.
And my British family? They are pretty much the coolest people ever. I never feel left out and I already have plans for New Years - I've NEVER done anything for New Years! I'm so excited!!
Overall I'd have to say the move to the UK was a brilliant idea. Even though I am ill at the moment and am getting ready to go to the doctors for the forth time since I've been here - I can honestly say that I'm happy.
....Now....if Mr. Right comes along....well, that will be a whole nother story....
School is still brilliant. I can say that our staff is probably the best teaching staff I have ever worked with - in terms of academic matters and matters outside school. People generally care about each other and their well being. In the other schools I have worked in it always seems like it's every man for themselves.... What happened to community? Sure, there are things we disagree with here, but we still work and function together as a family. I really like the atmosphere here. It's excellent.
My teaching skills have definitely improved. I realize that it takes a lot of energy to be the kind of teacher I want to be, and some days I just don't have that energy. I'm still working out how to be poorly and still teach with high energy. Any ideas would be much appreciated. I also feel that my strategies have improved - MUCH better than they used to be. It's neat to be teaching drama because it really has helped me work on my discipline. I think transferring that to an English class will be much easier with my feet planted firmly.
Becoming British - well, I haven't exactly dropped my Americanisms - but I have a feeling that is why people tolerate me.... I can just declare "I'm a dozy Yank!" and all is well! I have become very used to a wide variety of foods though, and I have a secret crush on jaffa cakes and tea. I have no developed an accent, although I've learned some new words that I now sprinkle into conversations. I'm very proud of my ability to use "pikey" and "sod" in every day conversations.
And my British family? They are pretty much the coolest people ever. I never feel left out and I already have plans for New Years - I've NEVER done anything for New Years! I'm so excited!!
Overall I'd have to say the move to the UK was a brilliant idea. Even though I am ill at the moment and am getting ready to go to the doctors for the forth time since I've been here - I can honestly say that I'm happy.
....Now....if Mr. Right comes along....well, that will be a whole nother story....
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Talk about a bad day....
Oh geeze....when it rains, it pours.
The race for computers was on today. Not only was our system down, but I realized it's virtually impossible to get my classes in to use computers. We just don't have the rooms available. SO I booked the laptops - had to run around mad looking for the key. When I eventually got the help, they didn't work. So when I called for assistance I was told it would be a few minutes -- 50 minutes later my class was over. Wasting time is my WORST ENEMY. So now my kids have a huge assignment they have to email to me by Tuesday so I can check word count.
Scaffolding is a great technique in the classroom - as long as little things like THAT don't get in your way.
This was followed by a 15 minute lunch detention with an entire year 8 class - me missing lunch was fabulous. Capping off the school day I was kicked out of my classroom for the last period and had to relocate in the gym - naturally the kids were off the walls. Cheerleading was stressful, but we did get plenty accomplished.
When Amy and I made it into town we were 8 minutes late for the sewing shop to pick up some materials I need for a Christmas gift. My mittens ripped open. Went for coffee and I emptied my wallet out on the floor by accident. We went to dinner and I got sick.
My entire mood was dictated by the stressful computer issue. That's terrible! Get over it! If you let these little things bother you, the rest of the day snowballs. In reality, I paid no attention to all of the good things that happened today. Some of my really poorly behaved kids were fantastic - great ideas. We came up with a brilliant project in one of my year 8 classes. I didn't forget to turn in my NFL picks. I am currently cozy -- AND my neck is feeling loads better.
For all of things that stressed me out and irritated me, I had something good happen. Bring on the positive energy!
The race for computers was on today. Not only was our system down, but I realized it's virtually impossible to get my classes in to use computers. We just don't have the rooms available. SO I booked the laptops - had to run around mad looking for the key. When I eventually got the help, they didn't work. So when I called for assistance I was told it would be a few minutes -- 50 minutes later my class was over. Wasting time is my WORST ENEMY. So now my kids have a huge assignment they have to email to me by Tuesday so I can check word count.
Scaffolding is a great technique in the classroom - as long as little things like THAT don't get in your way.
This was followed by a 15 minute lunch detention with an entire year 8 class - me missing lunch was fabulous. Capping off the school day I was kicked out of my classroom for the last period and had to relocate in the gym - naturally the kids were off the walls. Cheerleading was stressful, but we did get plenty accomplished.
When Amy and I made it into town we were 8 minutes late for the sewing shop to pick up some materials I need for a Christmas gift. My mittens ripped open. Went for coffee and I emptied my wallet out on the floor by accident. We went to dinner and I got sick.
My entire mood was dictated by the stressful computer issue. That's terrible! Get over it! If you let these little things bother you, the rest of the day snowballs. In reality, I paid no attention to all of the good things that happened today. Some of my really poorly behaved kids were fantastic - great ideas. We came up with a brilliant project in one of my year 8 classes. I didn't forget to turn in my NFL picks. I am currently cozy -- AND my neck is feeling loads better.
For all of things that stressed me out and irritated me, I had something good happen. Bring on the positive energy!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Schoooooool
Some days you just feel as though you've done your job. Allow me to explain two KILLER projects I'm working on in my classes currently.
I'm covering Storytelling with my Year 7s. I taught them the process of stories - you know, the dramatic process - Rising action and climax and all. Then we read "Where the Wild Things Are." I broke the story up into sections and put the kids into groups and each group is performing their part of the story. There is a narrator and the kids just act the story out. They have no props, only two chairs, and use costumes to show the wild things and Max!
In my year 9 classes we were looking at investigations. Different groups chose different news stories and are acting out the crime. We then have class investigators that go and solve the crime. It's like those old private eye tv shows - someone walks into the office, gets help and then the detectives go and solve it!
VERY cute!
I'm covering Storytelling with my Year 7s. I taught them the process of stories - you know, the dramatic process - Rising action and climax and all. Then we read "Where the Wild Things Are." I broke the story up into sections and put the kids into groups and each group is performing their part of the story. There is a narrator and the kids just act the story out. They have no props, only two chairs, and use costumes to show the wild things and Max!
In my year 9 classes we were looking at investigations. Different groups chose different news stories and are acting out the crime. We then have class investigators that go and solve the crime. It's like those old private eye tv shows - someone walks into the office, gets help and then the detectives go and solve it!
VERY cute!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Twos.....
They say that people die in threes - but I'm hoping that's not true. The sad thing about living in the UK is that people aren't going to wait for you.
Mary Racher and Mary Ellen Galluli passed away this week.
These are women who held me as a baby - they were strong women who led meaningful lives.
From far away, I'll be seeing you....
Mary Racher and Mary Ellen Galluli passed away this week.
These are women who held me as a baby - they were strong women who led meaningful lives.
From far away, I'll be seeing you....
Saturday, November 10, 2007
The KES soundtrack
I have compiled my KES soundtrack - tunes that are fabulously KES.
You Get What You Give New Radicals
((Opening school song))
Last Night (Featuring Keyshia Cole) Diddy featuring Keyshia Cole
((Car tunes!))
Wonderwall Oasis
((First night out with the PE lot - we sang this at their flat at 4 AM))
Zorba's Dance LCD Now Dance 2000 [Disc 2]
((HAHA -CHEERLEADING MUSIC!))
Never Gonna Give You Up Rick Astley
((Rossy has a great dance to this tune))
Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z) Rihanna
((Little Tommy B loves to sing this during class.....emphasis on the "ella, ella, ella, ella, ella,ella...."))
Foundations Kate Nash Foundations
((Car tunes!))
About You Now Sugababes
((Loving the Sugababes))
I'm Always Here Jim Jamison I'm Always Here (The Baywatch Theme)
((I'll be READY!))
We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off Lil' Chris
((Classic to the Globe))
Uninvited (Radio Edit) Freemasons
((MY year 9 class sang this on Friday...hysterical))
Let Me Think About It (Radio Edit) Ida Corr vs Fedde Le Grand
((Dave Shaw's song from Globe!))
Chelsea Dagger The Fratellis
((CAR DANCING!))
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) Whitney Houston
((It really doesn't matter where you go - you always hear this one))
Bleeding Love Leona Lewis
((Who doesn't love Leona?))
Fly Me to the Moon Ray Quinn
((X Factor!))
Gimme More Britney Spears
(("I''m kinda liking Britney's new song....."))
You Belong to Me The Duprees
((X Factor))
She's So Lovely Scouting for Girls
(("I keep hearing this song - and I shouldn't like it - but I do..."))
Jenny Don't Be Hasty Paolo Nutini
((My namesake! Love it!!))
You Get What You Give New Radicals
((Opening school song))
Last Night (Featuring Keyshia Cole) Diddy featuring Keyshia Cole
((Car tunes!))
Wonderwall Oasis
((First night out with the PE lot - we sang this at their flat at 4 AM))
Zorba's Dance LCD Now Dance 2000 [Disc 2]
((HAHA -CHEERLEADING MUSIC!))
Never Gonna Give You Up Rick Astley
((Rossy has a great dance to this tune))
Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z) Rihanna
((Little Tommy B loves to sing this during class.....emphasis on the "ella, ella, ella, ella, ella,ella...."))
Foundations Kate Nash Foundations
((Car tunes!))
About You Now Sugababes
((Loving the Sugababes))
I'm Always Here Jim Jamison I'm Always Here (The Baywatch Theme)
((I'll be READY!))
We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off Lil' Chris
((Classic to the Globe))
Uninvited (Radio Edit) Freemasons
((MY year 9 class sang this on Friday...hysterical))
Let Me Think About It (Radio Edit) Ida Corr vs Fedde Le Grand
((Dave Shaw's song from Globe!))
Chelsea Dagger The Fratellis
((CAR DANCING!))
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) Whitney Houston
((It really doesn't matter where you go - you always hear this one))
Bleeding Love Leona Lewis
((Who doesn't love Leona?))
Fly Me to the Moon Ray Quinn
((X Factor!))
Gimme More Britney Spears
(("I''m kinda liking Britney's new song....."))
You Belong to Me The Duprees
((X Factor))
She's So Lovely Scouting for Girls
(("I keep hearing this song - and I shouldn't like it - but I do..."))
Jenny Don't Be Hasty Paolo Nutini
((My namesake! Love it!!))
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