For the Secondary School Teachers

I know the high school teachers don't tend to drop in here too often.  Just in case you happen to be passing by, I will tell you that I happen to be a very talented writer and you might just find something interesting and fun.  You might find a lesson idea or two, you might find some writing samples that you can share with both your colleagues and students.  

If you are interested in awesome Literacy teaching in the middle school and secondary school environment, you might want to check this out.  

http://theeducatorsroom.com/2013/10/5-ways-to-incorporate-literacy-in-the-non-ela-classroom/

You also might want to check out this excellent blog.

http://litcoachblog.wordpress.com/

I have to go back to school on Tuesday after a two week break.  I've been rather enjoying myself and I have this feeling that I'm going to get detention for not doing my homework.  Isn't that silly!!! 

FUTSAL FANATIC

I never thought it was possible.  Many said it would never happen.  They can hardly believe it and neither can I!  But, the proof is in the pudding and I love pudding.  There is no denying it, there were too many witnesses.  

I am a convert.  I can no longer keep it a secret.  I LOVE FUTSAL!!!! 

Futsal is 5-a-side indoor soccer.  It is a fast game with 20 minute halves and a harder ball.  It is played on a netball court (with soccer lines).

I can't control my excitement at these games and I am sitting (LITERALLY) on the edge of my seat as I watch the ball roll and bounce and the players slip and trip and kick and run.  I was even cheering on my team!! 

This new phase of sports spectator nuttiness might have something to do with my Nephew (remember #1?) representing QLD in the National Futsal Competition this week.  It might.  

What a week?!  I'm really very tired.  You wouldn't have thought I would be, I was just watching, but I had chest pains during the FINALS!!! That's right!! My little man was in the FINALS! I'm so proud.  It's hard to believe that I held him in my arms as a baby and changed his nappies and kicked the soccer ball with him in the backyard.  Now, he is a FINALIST and a NATIONAL CHAMPION for his age group.  

Will wonders never cease?! 

Will I ever use the exclamation mark appropriately?

Will the capital letters GO AWAY?

I'm getting on a plane home in a few hours and then the roller coaster of getting organised for school will begin.  I'll be back in a day or so.  First, I have to go and cuddle my Shelly and hope she doesn't scratch my eyes out for being away so long.  

Nap time! 

My Fluffy Shadow

I have a furry shadow

No matter where the light-

She follows me all through the house 

And sleeps with me at night 

My multicoloured shadow-

She scratches at the door.

She's always chasing little things 

That skip across the floor. 

My fluffy little shadow, 

She climbs into the drawers.

She hides in places out of sight

This kitty, I adore.  

I have a furry shadow,

She can curl up in a ball, 

She always lands upon her feet

When she's silly enough to fall.

I love my fluffy shadow.

I know that she loves me.

This clever kitty's not my friend-

She is my Shelly baby! 

A series of noises and events.

My parents planned a holiday to Tasmania.  

I didn't know that booking flights and accommodation online could be so loud.  

They packed for the trip.  

There was banging and slamming of drawers.  

Clothes and shoes were thrown to the back of wardrobes.  

Suitcases with wheels were dragged down the hallway and parked at the front door.  

Everyone went to sleep. 

Hugs, kisses and farewells were exchanged and I went to work.  

My cat watched as Mum and Dad left for the airport.  

My phone beeped and I checked the message : "the eagle has landed, call you tonight- luv mum".  

When I arrived home that night, the cat "meowed" at me and I answered with my usual sing song voice.  

Everything was quiet.  

It was quiet for more than a week. 

My parents returned home from their holiday.  

It was the end of the quiet.

Attitude Check... Positivity isn't what you think

I have been having an oxymoronic/ paradoxic/ ironic type of issue with my attitude of late.  It is difficult to explain and has felt even more difficult to change.  Attitude is something I have written about several times before and I have often practised the 'gratitude' thing with my Thursday Thank You posts.  I have also shared about times when my attitude has been a little negative while I reside in the midst of darkness.  My mind is a scary place some days.  Are you intrigued yet?

My doctor (pain specialist with qualifications related to psychological, pharmacological and neurological fields) is very happy with me.  He seems to think that I am presenting positively in his office more than ever before.  The seed of doubt which is often germinating in his mind when I am smiling and joking has definitely died.  Either, I really am more positive, or I am getting better at outshining the darkness.  

People around me (my deputy principal and my parents) seem to think that I am (quote unquote) doing better.  They say that I'm laughing more and working well.  I seem to be thinking faster and looking happier.  All of this is based on comments from others, not from me.  

If you peeked inside my mind each day, you would see the roller coaster of emotions that I ride every hour.  I am happy.  I joke.  My mind is clear.  I am tired.  I am sore.  I laugh.  I bite my lip and chew on the inside of my mouth. My toes twitch.  I stare.  I read and my brain begins to bounce.  I talk to my students and they actually learn something.  I manage my classroom.  I produce new learning activities and print worksheets with relative ease.  I help colleagues.  I realise a mistake and I shake inwardly.  I cry.  I blink and I squeeze my eyes shut.  I breathe deeply.  I lie on the floor and my muscles spasm.  I hold my breath.  I apologise and admit defeat.  I stretch and I bend and I overreach.  I walk slowly.  I get lost.  I forget what I'm doing or where I was headed.  I move with purpose.  I giggle.  I get sharp pains and dull aches.  I sigh.  It never ends. 

Inwardly, I am constantly struggling with the up and down of mood and brain function.  I swing between brilliance and bumbling.  Outwardly, I am managing well.  

The fact is, that I am managing.  I am not perfect.  Perhaps, I need to remind myself of that every morning.  You see, even my biggest mistakes are minor.  I beat myself up over small things.  I fret over problems instead of focusing on the solutions for them.  Even after I have solved a problem, I worry about its cause.  I blame myself.  I take far more responsibility than is necessary or even reasonable at times.  I am too ready to fall on the sword.  I need to step away from that and realise my worth. 

While we are talking about worth: I need to acknowledge the worth of solutions.  The worth of results.  The worth of coincidence and failure.  It isn't the end of the world.  We have proof of that.  In fact, the world will keep turning and life will go on.  It will be fixed, or it won't.  But, if I have done my best, then that is all that I can give.  

There are days, when I am not giving my best.  There are days when I am ashamed of my best... I know that yesterday I did better.  I know that last year I did better.  But, I have to accept that today is what it is and my ability and my best today is all I can do today.  I need to stop waiting for the day when I will feel better.  That day may never come.  

In case you hadn't seen the paradox... I feel ill and often struggle with my pain.  But, apparently, I can manage that on my own and do my job.  There are days when I should probably be more sensible and stay home in bed, but most of the time, I'm okay.  

Sometimes, the best we can hope for is okay.  Sometimes okay is okay.

END OF RANT! 

I'm okay.  Everything is okay.  
Just breathe.