When The Sun Went Away

 

The kids were pretty excited

about today’s solar eclipse.

So, we did some art!

They produced these pieces

with no help from me…

after looking at a few different

photos of eclipses.

So many of the kids

loved their art so much,

they took it home

to share with their families.

What An Act

School Performances

I’m glad to be at home,

with today packed away…

stamped with success.

A bunch of 9 and 10 year olds

performed for the school

and their parents, today.

 I’m a bit of a wallflower –

like to hide away

and let things pass over me.

So, come my assembly performance day,

 you will not find me

sitting in front of my class,

drawing attention to myself.

I’ll be the one hiding

at the side of the hall…

Well, actually, today…

I was the one hiding

to the side of the stage.

The kids wanted me there…

just in case.

And their performance?

They rocked it!

They acted out a picture book-

which I chose for them.

The rest, they did themselves.

They auditioned for parts.

They selected the actors for each part.

They arranged everything –

the painting, the costumes, the props.

They acted so well.

Their voices were loud and in character.

Their stomping and yelling were appreciated

and they delivered their lines flawlessly.

 It all went very smoothly.

 Their parents loved it –

and were impressed

with the newly uncovered talents

 in their children.

And the kids…

they knew they had done all the work…

they knew they were fantastic.

They knew they rocked it.

The kids were so proud.  

After everything…

that’s what matters most.­­

For The Kids

United Nations Day

Tomorrow, we’ll be dressing

in our bluest blue clothes

and donating a coin or two

to support the kids around the world

 who will not go to school.

While this may seem like

a dream come true to many people,

(not going to school)

is no dream life.

So many kids

cannot afford to go to school.

 Their parents cannot afford

to let them go to school –

as the kids usually

spend their days earning money.

Some kids live in such remote areas,

that schooling is not impossible.

Luckier kids get to school.

They may not have eaten that day…

and they may not be wearing shoes

 (which they cannot afford),

they may have to travel

a couple of hours

before reaching their classroom.

They may not have books,

pencils or shoes.

Their teacher may not be qualified.

I remember being in a school

in remote Thailand,

where some generous business people

had donated computers to the school.

This was an incredibly generous gift,

though the computers could not be used…

 the school had no electricity!

We’ll be raising some money

for some kids who have

far less opportunites

to obtain an education…

an education which may provide

more hopeful and positive futures.

 

With around 7 billion and 75 million

 people on the earth,

we need to be united!

Check this page to

watch the population

as it continues to grow.

(It’s a little staggering to watch, really.)

 

Teachers’ Day

Teachers get too many holidays…

they get too much pay…

they finish work at three…

Teachers drink coffee

and chat in the staffroom…

all day!

whinge, whine, whinge

I don’t know how long it’s been

since teacher-critics

have been in a school, but…

teachers work much harder

than they ever get recognised for.

 Much harder.

(Recent data suggests that

an average teacher works

10 hours and 40 minutes a day

– that’s a 53 hour week!)

Then, there’s this:

During an average school day,

teachers are spending:

an average of almost 5 hours on instruction

• approximately 36 minutes on student supervision and discipline
• 45 minutes planning, preparing, or collaborating with colleagues
• 36 minutes on grading and analyzing student work
• almost 15 minutes communicating with parents

That leaves teachers with

a whopping 23 minutes for lunch!

No wonder I often go home

with lunch uneaten

and busting for the toilet!

Teaching is not easy…

it’s hard work…

rewarding, but hard work…

What I do in a day

can make a huge difference.

That looks that crosses a student’s

 face when they finally grasp

 a concept they have

 been struggling with…

 that’s amazing! 

 The moments you feel the class

 hanging off your ever word…

total engagement and enthusiasm…

that’s amazing!

When you see them

reach their goals and watch

 their confidence grow…

amazing!

That’s why we do it.

That’s why we teach.

Unfortunately, we have to

 deal with so much

inappropriate behaviour… 

We get judged and gossiped about…

We get yelled at

 and we crumble under

the never-ending work load…

And then, we put on a brave face,

 walk into our classroom

and create the magic of learning…

all over again.

 

Teachers are incredible.

They take baby people

and teach them to read…

to write…

to speak and to really listen. 

They teach little people to count

 and to think,

to believe and to imagine.

Life lessons are taught…

Frog lifecycles are explored

 and investigations on why

volcanoes erupt take place… 

 Teachers mend fights

between life-long friends

 and act as nurses

for a myriad of illnesses.

Teachers do so, so much more

than just teach

and absolutely deserve a day.

 

 Happy Teacher’s Day!

When I read this

Real Teachers poster,

 I had to grin.

I am a real teacher.

Picture from here.

 

A Close Shave

I was sitting in a staff meeting…

paying attention

and showing enthusiasm…

when something

grabbed my attention.

 One of the ladies at work

was going to shave her hair. 

Off. 

She’s been living with leukaemia

 for ten years and needed to

do something big

to mark the anniversary.

  I let the idea float around

 my head a while

and then headed home.

I couldn’t think of a single reason

 not to join her. 

Not one. 

My sisters couldn’t give me

a reason not to, either…

It seemed I had no choice. 

 With my baby nephew

fighting liver cancer

and boasting a cleanly shaven head….

I had plenty of reasons

 TO shave my hair. 

 So, the next morning,

I surrended my hair. 

 A few days later,

my hair was plaited

and three little sets

of fingers each cut off

a section of my hair. 

Dad snipped some off…

and I was left

with chunky hair

at the back of my head. 

 The next day,

my hair was full of plaits…

Kids from my class revelled

in the chance to cut

 their teacher’s hair…

and I was left

with scrappy, messy hair.

  Not for long. 

Clippers soon fixed that. 

 In a blur of crazy moments,

my hair was puddled

on the floor and I was wearing

a short number two style. 

It was amazing! I

 felt younger.

I felt fresh.

I felt clean.

And, I felt good

for supporting a friend

and for supporting Dexter. 

It was amazing to feel

the wind lift the tiny tufts

 of hair on the back

of my head. 

 It was incredible to feel

the water drip through

my shaven hair in the shower…

 Oh, and two flicks of a towel

and my hair was ready to go!

Now, almost a week later

and I can feel how much

my hair has grown.

I love it…

though I have to admit

to the greys

I just cannot cover!