Change can be a good thing

This year, my job changed.  It changed dramatically.  There are always changes in my workplace, every year another layer is added to my already complex job.  Every year, teachers get a little more tired and it gets a little harder to be the teacher I dreamed I would be.  Last year, multiple changes almost monthly had me in tears most of the time and my physical health in decline.  How I pulled myself together is another story for another time.  Be assured, I am better than I was 8 months ago. This year, the changes were much greater and much more beneficial for my health, my social life and my work.  This year, the changes were good.

I don't want to go into specifics, because I think one of the reasons this was such a good thing, had a lot to do with my attitude about it.  The changes are ones I fought for a long time.  Changes I thought I couldn't abide or manage.  This year, I welcomed the changes.  I made a list of all the benefits of these changes and I embraced them.  I tried to think about the possible problems and worked out ways around them.  I also decided that I wasn't going to let the stupid stuff get in my way.  I decided I was simply going to focus on my job and only my job.

This was all going very well until this week.  You see, this week, I landed in the middle of a pain episode.  This is a span of a few hours to a few days of high pain levels and discomfort.  I was having not only pain, but I was shaking, itchy and having muscle spasms, I was nauseas and had a headache.  It was impossible to focus on anything.  It was impossible to relax or sleep or even breathe with any real depth.  I was exhausted, but couldn't sleep.  Heat packs and ice packs offered no relief.  None of the usual strategies that usually offer me some comfort, were rendered useless.  I took the maximum safe dose of medication and still felt awful.  There was nothing for it, but to wait it out.  That meant I missed a day at work.  

The fall out from this 12 hour episode continues.  It cost me a trip to the physio, pain medication, sleep, exercise and energy.  I am still trying to catch up on the work that I missed.  I am still feeling the impact of the muscle spasms, aches and change to my sleep pattern.  It will take time for everything to settle down again.  All of this has made me a little bit irritable.  I'm sure everyone didn't suddenly become nasty and annoying this week.  I sure it's just that my patience is thin.

Anyway, my point is..... some change can be really good and often the outcome of the change can be influenced largely by our attitude.  The cause of this episode is difficult to determine.  While much of my lifestyle is geared towards managing mild pain and pacing activity so that these episodes can be prevented as much as possible, I am not sure what I could possibly have done differently.  You see, the warning signs were almost non-existent.  Usually there are alarm bells, not little whispers.  So, I must take the attitude that moving forward (however carefully) is the best option for tomorrow.

If you are facing change... or the need for change... think about the benefits, imagine the possibilities for positivity and progress.  Take the step with an attitude of hopeful anticipation and see what happens.
:)

How to Ace the Test

Today I'm sharing an article that was published on Mel The Literacy Coach's blog.  I know the author!  ;)

Everyone gets nervous before a test.  The best way to achieve a great result on a test is to prepare for it.  While people learn in different ways, there are some test preparation strategies that will work for everyone. 

All the Time

#1 Pay attention and Participate in Class!

Believe it or not, your teacher wants you to succeed!  Teachers plan activities that will help you to learn and remember the important information you need to know for the test.  Of course, you won’t remember something that happened in class if you were too busy playing a game on your phone or talking to your friends.   You need to listen to the teacher, participate in the activities AND write down key information.

#2 Take Organised Notes

Your teacher will provide lots of hints about what you should write down. They will probably repeat important points and they may even say “Write this down!” Writing your notes is not the only step here.  You need to keep your notes altogether and organised.  Reading your notes later will help you remember what you have learned.  It will be easier to find it if you keep it in the same book/ file.

Before the Test

#1 Sleep Well

The night before a test: GO TO BED!  Get a good night’s sleep.  If you are tired, you will find it harder to concentrate. 

#2 Eat a Healthy Breakfast

Everyone knows that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  A healthy, balanced meal at the beginning of the day will help your brain function at its best.  If you are hungry, it will be hard to think clearly and you will be distracted.  That’s the last thing you want to be in a test.

During the Test

#3 Read the Questions Carefully

This might seem obvious, but lots of students lose easy points on a test because they didn’t read the question.  Don’t Predict the question… read it and after you have answered it, read it again!

#4 Check your answers

Read those questions again.  Read your answers and make sure you didn’t make any mistakes.  Everyone makes mistakes!  Everyone!  We all miss out words or press the wrong button on a calculator. Check it!

#5 Stay Positive

Answer as many questions as you can. Even if you aren’t certain about the answer, write it down anyway.  You could get part marks. Remember that exams are an opportunity to show what you know.  Do your best work and DON’T GIVE UP!

Best of AGT: The Light Bulb (a poem)

This poem was first published on 4 February in 2011 here at AGT.  In honour of my two 'happy' lists last week, I thought it was time to revisit this poem.  Enjoy

 

The Light Bulb

Today I saw a Light Bulb

In all its shining glory.

Before you scoff, remember,

Every Light Bulb has a story.

It begins with doubt and darkness,

A task that is unclear.

There might be tears or anger,

Confusion mixed with fear.

This child doesn't get it

It makes no sense up there

'What is the point?' she questions

'I don't even care!'

The teacher frowns, uncertain

Into a smile her lips then curl,

"I'll show you a trick," she says

As she sits beside the girl.

Sometimes a child just can't see.

They think a different way.

This girl feels very lonely, 

The worksheet's suddenly "mislaid."

The teacher talks to others.

She tries lots of games.

She even gives the topic, 

A bunch of other names.

One day the teacher gets it right,

She breaks right through the wall.

The little girl before her

No longer slips or falls

Instead she gets the concept.

Something up there clicks.

This little girl is smiling,

She's finally found the switch!

Then we see the Light Bulb,

It comes on behind her eyes.

Her hand shoots up into the air,

'I know, I know,' she cries.

Today I saw a Light Bulb,

In all its shining glory.

I smile because I'm so privileged,

A character in its story.

 

 



Best of AGT: 6 Signs your Teacher Friend is Back to School!

This post was first published in 2016.  The links and freebies are all still available, which is awesome!  ALL 6 signs are still relevant.  My eye is twitching, so I will see you next week! 

The Aussie Teachers are all back to school this week.  Here are some signs that your teacher friends might need some help with the transition (or at least a little compassion) from the rest of the world. 

How to Know your Teacher Friend is Back to School!

1. That twitch under her eye, which you haven’t seen in 6 weeks, is back!

   

   
   
2. You go shopping for clothes and she drags you to the discount spot for stationery supplies!

   

   
   
3. 
   

   She asks you over for coffee and you end up labelling classroom items.

   

   Click here to get these FREE printable labels from 1+1+1=1

   
   
4. Her freezer is full of pre-cooked meals ready to microwave at a moment’s notice.

   

   Click here to see these 20 recipes from Stockpiling Moms.com

   
   
5. She keeps practicing her attention-getting signal on you…

   
   

   e.g. “I’m on the talking spot!”   “Give me eyes and ears everyone!”  “Hocus Pocus -- everybody focus!" 

   

   Click Here to get this FREE poster  from Mrs Heeren's Happenings

   
   
6. She bought 3 new pairs of comfortable shoes. 

Be nice to your teacher friends this week, everyone. They are super busy (which is like regular busy, but they’re wearing a cape under their work clothes). 

One Day Late...

Okay, so it's Saturday.  I have been a busy lady. I wanted this post to be so much more, then I decided that if waited any longer to find the time I need to make this perfect, it would be next week before I got it done.  The plan was, to show you some of the cards I have been making lately.  There have been quite a lot.

What have I been doing? Wednesday was our school's Parent/Teacher Interview Evening.  I was unable to attend for various reasons.  This meant that I had to contact the parents of the students in my class and offer them the opportunity for a 10-20 minutes phone call regarding the academic progress, behaviour and effort in my class.  This is sometimes a nice chat about a great student.  Unfortunately, I have found that most of the nice kids have nice parents and they know you are a busy person and as long as things are going okay, they don't want to waste your time.  The parents of the children who are not very nice OR are struggling fall into two categories.
1. They know their kid struggles and they don't want you to tell them again so they don't even respond to your messages.
2. They know their kid struggles and even though they have been to every interview every year and asked the same questions they still want you to meet with them.  They still want you to fix their child.  They want you to give them a different answer.

Parent Teacher Interviews are exhausting.  I'm sure it is difficult for the parents too.  I don't know, as I am not a parent.  I just know that I feel tired after.  Sometimes it's a good reason that I'm tired, like I have been excited to talk to a parent who truly cares for their child, doesn't make excuses, respects me and my colleagues, wants to work with me and has my back.

I think I'm exhausted because talking to a virtual stranger: tell them what can sometimes be the hard truth about their child, gain their respect, advise them on educational issues, listen to their stories about siblings and work and how hard life is, then remind them that you are here to see their child succeed. That's hard... it takes effort, restraint, a sense of humour, tolerance, patience and kindness.  It takes a lot of thought and energy.

So, if you are friends with a teacher, and they tell you it's Parent/ Teacher night, Hug them.  Cook them dinner.  Give them space.  Let them have a nap.  Forgive them if they don't want to go out and party.  Cut them some slack.  I know you did that during Report Card season, and Beginning of the Year season too.... but, you know what.... just be nice to your Teacher Friends ALL THE TIME!  They need it.  They deserve it!  They will love you for it!

Happy Teachers Day

for yesterday, everyone!!! 

Next Week: I promise there will be cards.

Best of AGT: An Odd Story

This is a story about a teacher and students, a typical lesson in an atypical classroom.  It was first posted on 17 February 2013 and you can check it out here. 

Down to business...

During our numeracy lesson on Tuesday, I asked for a student volunteer to tell me if the daily number was odd or even.  Patrick raised his hand and eagerly announced that the number was odd (it was, in fact, even).  I replied, “Okay Patrick, why do you think it is odd?”  Patrick, without skipping a beat, answered, “I don’t know Miss, it just looks kind of weird.” 

The class erupted in laughter and even I had to grin. 

Remember!

6 Signs your Teacher Friend is Back to School (plus teacher Freebies)

The Aussie Teachers are all back to school this week.  Here are some signs that your teacher friends might need some help with the transition (or at least a little compassion) from the rest of the world. 

How to Know your Teacher Friend is Back to School!

1. That twitch under her eye, which you haven’t seen in 6 weeks, is back!

   
2. You go shopping for clothes and she drags you to the discount spot for stationery supplies!

   
3. She asks you over for coffee and you end up labelling classroom items.

   

   Click here to get these FREE printable labels from 1+1+1=1

4. Her freezer is full of pre-cooked meals ready to microwave at a moment’s notice.

   

   Click here to see these 20 recipes from Stockpiling Moms.com

5. She keeps practicing her attention-getting signal on you… e.g. “I’m on the talking spot!”   “Give me eyes and ears everyone!”  “Hocus Pocus -- everybody focus!" 

   

   Click Here to get this FREE poster  from Mrs Heeren's Happenings

6. She bought 3 new pairs of comfortable shoes.

There you have it.  The Bonus Post for this quarter.  Be nice to your teacher friends this week, everyone. They are super busy (which is like regular busy but they’re wearing a cape under their work clothes). 

 

Thank You Cards and Glue and Stuff

If I don't see another thank you card until next year, I will be a happy lady!!

I have been making thank you cards and compiling gifts for the teacher aides who supported in our Learning Support Programs.  There were a lot this year! This was mostly due to timetable changes and the extra funding we decided to spend on TA support. 

The teacher aides who support in our classrooms are amazing.  They really do make a huge difference to me and my students.  I feel it's important to acknowledge their effort - especially when they go above and beyond - and tell them how much I appreciate them. 

I have to say, I do love my circle/ square cutters and my washi tape collection which made it so much easier to create this little collection.  None of these are perfect, but I'm really happy with most of them and I got better with practice so that's a good sign!  Each card will go with a small paper bag containing Freddo frogs, a pen, a pencil and a highlighter.  Each bag will be tied with gold ribbon.  :D Here are photos of the cards I made. 

 

 

 

 



The Best of AGT Borrowed Label: Kids in the Armour of God

In February 2013, I did a series on The Armour of God and outlined the various activities we did at Junior Soldiers/ Kids Church each week while we were studying this passage of scripture.  One or two of these posts have been really popular!  Many of the posts in the series were quite long with additional information about other things in them.  Instead of linking all of these posts, I have condensed them into one long article here.  This series was included in the "borrowed" and the "church chatter" labels.  At the bottom of this post there are links to resources for Kids Church/ Junior Soldiers and parents who might like to explore the armour of God with children.  I have used lots of images too, which you might like to copy.  

 

 

Introducing Ephesians 6:14-17
We started by thinking about school (as we went back to school this week) and all the new things we buy to get us through the school year.  J brought along his soccer and boxing kits and told us all about the clothing and protective gear that you use when playing each sport.  We talked about the importance of each item and that if you don't have even one of them, you could get hurt or perform poorly on the field/ in the ring.  Then we read Ephesians 6:10-18 and as each item was mentioned we put labels onto my drawing of a soldier in armour.

Week 2
Today we played a few games.  One of the boys got very distressed (he threw a tantrum) because he didn't win the game.  We completed an activity sheet where the boys had their own soldier and a page of Armour pieces.  We cut out the shield, sword, sandals, helmet, breast plate, belt and then glued them onto the soldier in the correct places.  D finished first so he then added labels to his solider to make it look like mine.  While we were completing the cut and paste activity (with a bit of colouring), I talked to the boys about times when Satan tries to get us to do the wrong thing.  I reminded them that things don't always go our way and we might be tempted to hurt other people.  God tells us to put on His Armour so that we can stand firm against the Devil.  I asked the boys to mention times when we might be tempted to hurt others.  When we wear the sandals of the Gospel of Peace, we don't have to worry about other people or Satan or situations making us weak, but we can return to the peace that only a relationship with Jesus can give.  When we wear the Belt of Truth we don't have to worry about the horrible things people say to us, because we know the Truth about ourselves and God's love.  

When the kids were finished their soldiers, we played hangman (which I later decided we should probably change) using 'parts' of the Armour.  When we worked out the "Sword of the Spirit" I asked the boys if it was a real sword.  They remembered, thankfully, that it wasn't a sword but what it really meant was The Bible.  God's Word is the greatest 'weapon' we have to 'fight' against Satan. 

Home Activity- put on your Armour every morning when you get ready to face the world.  Remember every item and that God is with you always.  

Scroll to the bottom for links to black and white posters/ worksheets you can use to do this activity. 

Week 3- God's Cricket Bat
This particular week, I only had one student so I planned the lesson around him.  D and I had a great chat about his favourite sport.  Cricket!  

I heard about ducks and sixes and fours and men with long and complicated names.  I heard about summer conditions and helmets and pads and types of shoes.  I heard about the seam on the cricket ball and the wickets and teams and the scores.  

The message we discussed was about Jesus' temptation in the desert.  We talked about how Jesus 'fought' off the Devil.  D worked it out all on his own that Jesus was using the Armour of God.  Of course, there are some things that are not the same but basically Jesus stood firm in the knowledge that He was the son of God.  He was ready and He stood firm against Satan in the sandals of peace and in the breastplate of righteousness.  Jesus used the shield of his Faith and especially, the Sword of the Spirit to put Satan in his place.  Jesus was the perfect example of a soldier of God.  

Week 4- More Cricket and Armour

D brought his cricket kit to Junior Soldiers and showed us all the bits and pieces.  He put on the padded gloves and both D and J told me all about the ball and the bat and the gloves and the pads and their purpose.  D used a 'soldier' template to make a Cricket Player with all his gear on.  We talked about how the pads protect the body and the helmet protects the face.  D told me that no one wore helmets to play cricket until a professional player broke his jaw during a game when a ball hit him.  From then on it was decided that players who were in close range of bowling and batting would wear helmets.  
The kids constructed their own "Armour of God" today.  I brought along two large boxes (one had initially housed an air conditioner and another had contained a chair from IKEA) and we cut pieces from the boxes.  We cut up Pepsi Max boxes for helmets and wrapped parts of the cardboard in aluminium foil to make swords and breastplates.  At the end of our lesson today, we filmed a video of Ephesians 6:10-20.  I read from the Scripture and the boys dressed up in the armour as each item was mentioned.  While his handmade sword was pretty cool, J insisted on using the cricket bat as his "sword of the Spirit".  

That was the end of our series.  The boys really enjoyed exploring this topic over a period of time and I think they learned so much more than if we had only done these activities in one day and moved on.  Here are some images that I used in blog posts and to show the children throughout the month that we learned about the Armour of God.  There are some link and resource below as well.

RESOURCES: I created my own cut and paste sheet by drawing a soldier and the accessories myself.  But if you would prefer to just press print, check out these links. 
Black and White Poster 
Printable in various colours

More Best oF AGT: Diamante Poem of Opposites!

This post moves between 2nd and 3rd on the list of most visited posts.  Clearly people find this one informative as well as entertaining.  It happens to be one of my favourites too, so that is a bonus!

Diamante is a seven line poem where the theme or topic of the poem ends opposite to the opening topic.  This is an excellent activity for students to use their knowledge of synonyms and antonyms.  When published and displayed around the room they also provide environmental print for students to use during other writing activities.  This form is more difficult than it seems so teachers should provide appropriate scaffolding for students, throughout the writing process.

Line 1 - Name (Noun) Theme/Object

Line 2 - Two adjectives describing the noun in line 1.

Line 3 - Three participles (-ing or -ed), relating to line 1 and 2 of the poem.

Line 4 - Four nouns (2 refering to the noun in line 1 and the other 2 refering to line 7).

Line 5 - Three participles (relating to noun in line 7)

Line 6 - Two adjectives (describing the noun in line 7)

Line 7 - Noun (names the Theme or object which is the opposite of the noun in line 1.

( http://home.vicnet.net.au/~poems/ps/html/other_structures.html )

Confused? Yeah, me too!!! Here are a couple of examples.

Children

Young, energetic.

Growing, playing, learning.

Boys, girls. Dads, mums.

Loving, working, providing.

Grown, tired.

Parents

Day

Light, lively.

Awakened, Shining, Revealed.

Sun, Rainbows. Moon, Stars

Sleeping, Darkened, Covering.

Lonely, Quiet

Night.

One Thing I have learned from Being a Star Babysitter!!

You know I'm the best aunty in the world, right?

I have resources.  I have cash in my pocket, a seemingly endless supply odds and ends for craft, heaps of fun ideas and I am just a little bit silly!  I love my nieces and nephews and the best thing is, they love me too! 

I have had lots of experience with little people - as in babies and children- as well as teenagers.  I'm not sure I really want to add up how many years of experience I have.  Okay, let's see... (2 and 2 is 4, then... whisper whisper, carry the one, furrow eyebrows,)... it's about 20 years of playing with other people's children and helping look after their needs.  My nieces and nephews are not the only kids I have entertained... I have worked in schools (Prep to Year 12), volunteered and led Church youth activities too. 

The hundreds of children I have cared for and entertained over the years have taught me a lot about myself and the world.  My recent play dates with the two littlest nieces (number 7 and number 8) have taught me quite a bit too.  Today, I'm going to share only one thing with you.  One very important lesson I have learned in my almost 20 years of child care....

There is no such thing as Mess Free Craft!!

Colouring in doesn't make a mess, right? wrong!

 

Even when the cat helps you clean up... there is mess!

Paint and Mess-Free are not words that should ever be in the same sentence!!

Don't believe the internet!  These well meaning bloggers who tell us that they have Mess-Free Craft to share with you are delusional... don't be sucked in!  The activities they describe may be designed to create little (or no) mess but when little people (or let's face it, big people) are involved, there will always be mess!  That's how it should be!  Kids need to be kids.  Let them make a mess and teach them how to help clean up. 

Wisdom imparted.  My work here is done.

Best of AGT: 10 things I learned about Attitude!

This Listicle first appeared on A Great Title on Tuesday 4 September 2012.  It was the post with the most views of all time on AGT.  I’m pleased that lots of people are reading this and I hope it is helping them to look on the bright side and consider their attitude.   Have a great day!

1.  My attitude is my choice.  My attitude is one of the few things I   have complete control over.
2. The attitude of the people around me is their choice.  I can’t control it or change it.
3. I do not have to be influenced by the attitude of those around me.  Their attitude certainly affects mine, but I am in control.
4. If each letter of the alphabet was given a numerical value according to order (e.g. a=1, b=2… z=26) then the only word in the English language that equals 100 is ATTITUDE.  Go and try it.
5. When an adult is having a bad day, it is not an excuse for having a bad attitude.  For example: I have been having a few bad days and as a result there have been certain “actions” of a certain “deputy principal” that have been bugging me.  But, I don’t go and yell at him or swear at him or call him names.  I am not rude to him when we converse. 
6. If I did choose to use my “bad day/s” and his “irritating actions” as an excuse for poor behaviour, I would probably lose my job.  At the very least, I would be burning bridges between myself and a friend (as well as a respected colleague).  A bad attitude is very unprofessional.
7. When students have a bad attitude, the teacher can’t change it.
8. When students have a bad attitude, their teacher has a responsibility to HELP them turn it around.  Teachers can model the behaviour that goes with a positive attitude.
9. Attitude is directly related to respect.
10. Having a positive attitude is hard work but is certainly worth the effort.