Experimented with Audio Note today, but while handy is difficult to use with kids around because they want to yell into it, tap the screen or yank one or both of my arms out of a socket. Also need to listen & transcribe myself.
Happy again to be with Legs11 who engages with me from the start, says Hello and invites me to join in - important, because I am not tasked to leap up at the front and make a monkey of myself...not my classroom and I never know what the room teachers' plan for the day involves, and whether or not they want me to be there/actively participate, or be a wallflower, or use my skill & judgment to lean in and guide from the side when I see necessary. Hard to call this level of observer v teacher participation.
We did a song on request, but it was on the hoof & I completely forget what it was - a familiar one needless to say.
Lunch trying to get Boss & music station set up within sight of the yard - in this case the corridor window nearest the hedge. Still requires long distance telepathy but at least I can roam the yard! Re-chalked the colour words & hung large colour hints as well, same as yesterday basically: "I see something blue" - wait until I say "GO" then a mad scramble, with the destructive intent to wreck whatever poster was hanging there. Altogether 8 colours done, and re-did in the classroom finding colours in each others clothes etc. Walking Walking song and the Goodbye one on request.
Kid I have not interacted with before wanted to use me as a swing while Legs11 was running around in the yard athletically, which was good. Beautiful day & enjoyable, with the weekend to look forward to and GW on the horizon.
Rob's memorial day yesterday - FB activity suggests he was not forgotten, and brain cells suitably rearranged in Tokyo. Would not have known what to say if I'd gone.
Dan's visit from US cancelled due to appendicitis - very poor physiology that lad! Holiday plan in tatters, skint and keen to avoid grog. Chance of that?
An old man with a dog/puppies in the back of his van worries me considerably, hanging around at the school gates - in other countries would be lights & sirens and a bit of a chat down the nick. Am I the prev for thinking of worst possible situation?
Friday 25 April 2014
Thursday 24 April 2014
Positive feedback & semaphore colours
Gorgeous morning with Moyes gone
Previously never spoken mum came up to me with colour by numbers print & big "tannoshikatta" thank you. Wow :)
Ikuko reveals my plan/sched wrong & my day in bits as no materials. On the hoof it is; will use park. Choriso blindsided; I'm in her class but then wants impromptu 10 min activity. BINGO might have to do.
Tech issues to listen to tracks outside....chalked out colour words in the playground (using the football line marker thing, with some difficulty making letters to scale!). From the playground need someone in the office 50 yards away though a gate to understand semaphore & operate the music through external PA. have to stand in the one place I can be seen whilst trying to direct the activity?! Very hard to pull off, especially as kids rush back to base with a bulls-eye in the middle of my groin.
Running activity essentially, to Super Simple Song's "I See something Blue/Pink" songs. Did the job despite issues above - ran the children ragged & perhaps sight read a few colours.
Previously never spoken mum came up to me with colour by numbers print & big "tannoshikatta" thank you. Wow :)
Ikuko reveals my plan/sched wrong & my day in bits as no materials. On the hoof it is; will use park. Choriso blindsided; I'm in her class but then wants impromptu 10 min activity. BINGO might have to do.
Tech issues to listen to tracks outside....chalked out colour words in the playground (using the football line marker thing, with some difficulty making letters to scale!). From the playground need someone in the office 50 yards away though a gate to understand semaphore & operate the music through external PA. have to stand in the one place I can be seen whilst trying to direct the activity?! Very hard to pull off, especially as kids rush back to base with a bulls-eye in the middle of my groin.
Running activity essentially, to Super Simple Song's "I See something Blue/Pink" songs. Did the job despite issues above - ran the children ragged & perhaps sight read a few colours.
Tuesday 22 April 2014
Down in the dumps
Plans for Jim time using YouTube screwed. Intended to model 10 in the Bed.
Still no name lists in English & name tags rare.
Fried tuna lunch
Escaped to replan unexpected Jim time, but bit of a hodge podge. Grey skies & lack of enthusiasm stuck with Fski'sowdy gang; idea of singing is shouting. 3 naughtiest boys Anji ringleader
Hello song flat, Seven Steps flat & took forever to make groups; ditto 5 monkeys & colour by numbers far too long. Cut out art for middle lot & do all activities as 2 halves max; smaller groups take too long.
Hinari the aggressive little grouch in green; very sharp tongue.
I'm fed up:
Next Luna not available
Banners not used BS
No parking
Drinking far too much
Not enjoying teaching
Enjoy making materials
Still no name lists in English & name tags rare.
Fried tuna lunch
Escaped to replan unexpected Jim time, but bit of a hodge podge. Grey skies & lack of enthusiasm stuck with Fski'sowdy gang; idea of singing is shouting. 3 naughtiest boys Anji ringleader
Hello song flat, Seven Steps flat & took forever to make groups; ditto 5 monkeys & colour by numbers far too long. Cut out art for middle lot & do all activities as 2 halves max; smaller groups take too long.
Hinari the aggressive little grouch in green; very sharp tongue.
I'm fed up:
Next Luna not available
Banners not used BS
No parking
Drinking far too much
Not enjoying teaching
Enjoy making materials
Friday 18 April 2014
Contrasting colleagues
Cherry blossom flying away in the wind & grey skies, walk & bento, enjoying mini flirts with Legs11. Think she's tremendous. Kids quiet, quick & well behaved; Fski's children came in & were rowdy hooligans, with her schlepping along not really in control, possibly looking for a cream cake?
Jim Time =
Jim Time =
Do you like
food songs & drawing of today's bento.
Forgot to photo but saved a lot of time.
Legs11 joined in a lot & asked sensible Qs after eg how much Japanese to use.
Thursday 17 April 2014
Felt tip rules and printed csv file blues
Madge has a funky new haircut :)
Tells Hina to wait until name taken in register before she can have a wee...poor judge of bladder! Hina walks back into room with wet trou & knickers around ankles!
Teacher wants me to take register but... but I do not have any data - as I've previously hinted at, a print out of a spreadsheet when all I need is a csv copy of their file - would take 20 seconds per class to import to Teacher Assistant Pro (if they ever gave me internet access). Instead takes me about 30 seconds per child, of my own time. Cannot organise names the way I want to thereafter - alphabetical by name (surname or given, fair enough) but their lists are by date of birth girls/boys split, or by age group split, or by hiragana...Obviously very US-centric.
(Note - some of the children some of the time have names on their clothes or nametags, but in hiragana. Children respond to family name first = even with very good listening skills, hard to pick out one from 30 in an alphabetised list of first names. When asked names, always respond with family name first too, so anyone unfamiliar with Japanese names inevitably finds the blend impossible to discern. Even with my experience, a shy/mumbling kid mumbles even more when asked to repeat their name - and that is when they want to give it/are standing right in front of you...I have a good memory names/faces, but need to know at least one part of the equation. Can't yell across a playground at a kid x about to do something dangerous, or tell a colleague about a conflict between y & a, or warn of imminent bowel eruptions from q!)
Madge asks for felt tip pen rules, including don't put in mouth or rub too hard & make holes in the paper!
Took time out to teach Boss about Edmodo, Flickr, Stupeflix, Fotobabble. Think blew his socks off!
Missed a colouring job; miso mackerel. Mums in the hall eating likewise, ushered away from windows when tried to sneak peaks! Did grace etc too; found Minii's mum to get email address for Ohanami pics (sent)
Quick review of lesson plan in quiet room but Ts found me & nicely complemented. Nervous again.
Went over time again: need more structure to art activity, pre-label & put names on things; iLeader says give prints away to take home a better idea - totally agree.
Nozomi popped by.
Tells Hina to wait until name taken in register before she can have a wee...poor judge of bladder! Hina walks back into room with wet trou & knickers around ankles!
Teacher wants me to take register but... but I do not have any data - as I've previously hinted at, a print out of a spreadsheet when all I need is a csv copy of their file - would take 20 seconds per class to import to Teacher Assistant Pro (if they ever gave me internet access). Instead takes me about 30 seconds per child, of my own time. Cannot organise names the way I want to thereafter - alphabetical by name (surname or given, fair enough) but their lists are by date of birth girls/boys split, or by age group split, or by hiragana...Obviously very US-centric.
(Note - some of the children some of the time have names on their clothes or nametags, but in hiragana. Children respond to family name first = even with very good listening skills, hard to pick out one from 30 in an alphabetised list of first names. When asked names, always respond with family name first too, so anyone unfamiliar with Japanese names inevitably finds the blend impossible to discern. Even with my experience, a shy/mumbling kid mumbles even more when asked to repeat their name - and that is when they want to give it/are standing right in front of you...I have a good memory names/faces, but need to know at least one part of the equation. Can't yell across a playground at a kid x about to do something dangerous, or tell a colleague about a conflict between y & a, or warn of imminent bowel eruptions from q!)
Madge asks for felt tip pen rules, including don't put in mouth or rub too hard & make holes in the paper!
Took time out to teach Boss about Edmodo, Flickr, Stupeflix, Fotobabble. Think blew his socks off!
Missed a colouring job; miso mackerel. Mums in the hall eating likewise, ushered away from windows when tried to sneak peaks! Did grace etc too; found Minii's mum to get email address for Ohanami pics (sent)
Quick review of lesson plan in quiet room but Ts found me & nicely complemented. Nervous again.
Went over time again: need more structure to art activity, pre-label & put names on things; iLeader says give prints away to take home a better idea - totally agree.
Nozomi popped by.
Tuesday 15 April 2014
Falling in ditches
Cherry blossom full swing, Swallows have arrived a few days after the martins, & hay fever woke me up this am :( (and C had wet the bed)
Lethargic kick or two with new footballs, but dominant Anji makes rules & picks up the ball. So that puts everyone off, including me. My job to set playground rules? Don't think so; go with the flow. I think if I was younger and more inclined to run around first thing in the morning, I might take the lead...but really can't be bothered, especially as I don't want to sit around in a sweaty mess for the rest of the day > get to my own classes all stinky.
Girl gets grit thrown in her face; nice girl gets foot stuck up/around a pole & hurts her knee; I get covered in gravel. Ohanami walkies blue/green/yellow classes minus any objective. Told boys not to golly in the roadside ditch...3 times. Then one fell in head first & swallowed a mouthful of filthy gunk! Little sympathy :)
Lots of mums return 10:30 for a pow-wow & v odd to see iLeader helping, not leading.
Origami cat/dog on Snapguide; quiet lunch with nice girls. Lay down to fine tune plan, girl lay on top & nearly fell asleep! One shin kicked, several tummy thumps, one blind-side bolly wallop.
Nervous about 1st run with middle group & "hello". Hoping tech works smoothly; main app (Teacher Assistant) does not synch across apps which is extremely annoying. Came upstairs to get crayons & given coffee - can't resist as hay fever induced sleepy/sore eyes.
Lesson Plan did not take into account sleepy sheep herd mentality after lunch with new group of tiddlers! Choriso a big help, but couldn't effectively model "Hello. I'm ......." with own names! Kept saying teachers'. Getting them into 4 groups quickly proved impossible - kept gravitating back to middle like Terminator in the furnace!
Self-portraits rewarding mementos (since class have shared to Edmodo library, but need to pre-write names & colour code). Adding names would work if Boss gave me a csv file in English to import; instead took 20 mins overtime to achieve, especially as the app crashed after each photo...and app (teach asst pro) doesn't sync. Bollocks!
Lethargic kick or two with new footballs, but dominant Anji makes rules & picks up the ball. So that puts everyone off, including me. My job to set playground rules? Don't think so; go with the flow. I think if I was younger and more inclined to run around first thing in the morning, I might take the lead...but really can't be bothered, especially as I don't want to sit around in a sweaty mess for the rest of the day > get to my own classes all stinky.
Girl gets grit thrown in her face; nice girl gets foot stuck up/around a pole & hurts her knee; I get covered in gravel. Ohanami walkies blue/green/yellow classes minus any objective. Told boys not to golly in the roadside ditch...3 times. Then one fell in head first & swallowed a mouthful of filthy gunk! Little sympathy :)
Lots of mums return 10:30 for a pow-wow & v odd to see iLeader helping, not leading.
Origami cat/dog on Snapguide; quiet lunch with nice girls. Lay down to fine tune plan, girl lay on top & nearly fell asleep! One shin kicked, several tummy thumps, one blind-side bolly wallop.
Nervous about 1st run with middle group & "hello". Hoping tech works smoothly; main app (Teacher Assistant) does not synch across apps which is extremely annoying. Came upstairs to get crayons & given coffee - can't resist as hay fever induced sleepy/sore eyes.
Lesson Plan did not take into account sleepy sheep herd mentality after lunch with new group of tiddlers! Choriso a big help, but couldn't effectively model "Hello. I'm ......." with own names! Kept saying teachers'. Getting them into 4 groups quickly proved impossible - kept gravitating back to middle like Terminator in the furnace!
Self-portraits rewarding mementos (since class have shared to Edmodo library, but need to pre-write names & colour code). Adding names would work if Boss gave me a csv file in English to import; instead took 20 mins overtime to achieve, especially as the app crashed after each photo...and app (teach asst pro) doesn't sync. Bollocks!
Friday 11 April 2014
Classroom management - pro at work
Drooling at Legs11's classroom control today. Totally has her class eating out of her hand; quiet, smiling & responding to the kids with charm. Love it. I cannot distill 'presence' into words - as a teacher you know it when you see/hear it...as do the kids, and therein lies the whole ballgame! Know what you want to achieve before you start, set the parameters together, allow them to explain for themselves the why & wherefore, and give them the responsibility to stick to their rules. All done with warm but strong eyes, quiet voice, patient delivery & meaningful pauses, and lovely smile.
Set the toilet rules & "be nice to the books" explanation. How to wear/carry book bag. And thence library, Encho-Sensei's books so look after them; big book read.
Fried chicken after being useful - much better mood in Sola. Given coffee while doing some prep (iLeader already did my photocopying) & photographing yesterday's output.
Slower paced Jim Time = more relaxed
Built me up 2 or 3 times already + Jim Time:
Make a circle song,
Walking walking x2
If you're happy.
Set the toilet rules & "be nice to the books" explanation. How to wear/carry book bag. And thence library, Encho-Sensei's books so look after them; big book read.
Fried chicken after being useful - much better mood in Sola. Given coffee while doing some prep (iLeader already did my photocopying) & photographing yesterday's output.
Slower paced Jim Time = more relaxed
- cut out "Jim says".
- close curtains next time (remove external distractions like kids playing in the yard).
- poster on wall
- photos done
- returned to all classes as parents want to see something.
- hope Boss puts my music on at home time?
The music was on, nice showcase for me/kids explaining to mums what they had done today. Wish he thought about this a bit better, but I suppose to do that he'd actually need to know what was happening in the classrooms, and he clearly doesn't as he never shows any interest beyond leaning on a doorpost taking one-handed snaps once in a blue moon.
Thursday 10 April 2014
Day 2 - 1st 'Jim Time' Day
Cherry Blossom falling on head & 1st House Martin of the spring spotted.
Expedition of old/young pairs around the block, boys sliding hands along everything: lamp posts, fences, parked cars but tripping over kerbs all the way.
iLeader pinch hitting for Madge, with Bacardi now supporting; she started the day very nicely with lovely piano & dialing down the shouters.
Invites rules for skipping rope & everyone agrees to best behavior. V nice trick, shushing one with finger & eye contact without stopping talking to rest of class - keeps everyone engaged. Also like the reduction by clapping 54321 to zero & sit straight.
iLeader is great but her element is tiddlers. Big help with Jim time & has volunteered short cuts already, given me crayons & glue. How sweet!
Managed to use excuse of Jim time to be scarce after lunch - Mick Jagger & dim sims - need the time out of action to think, cobble together ideas and scribble down a 40-minute running plan. Can hardly do that with nendo & test-my-strength challenges. came up with
Expedition of old/young pairs around the block, boys sliding hands along everything: lamp posts, fences, parked cars but tripping over kerbs all the way.
iLeader pinch hitting for Madge, with Bacardi now supporting; she started the day very nicely with lovely piano & dialing down the shouters.
Invites rules for skipping rope & everyone agrees to best behavior. V nice trick, shushing one with finger & eye contact without stopping talking to rest of class - keeps everyone engaged. Also like the reduction by clapping 54321 to zero & sit straight.
iLeader is great but her element is tiddlers. Big help with Jim time & has volunteered short cuts already, given me crayons & glue. How sweet!
Managed to use excuse of Jim time to be scarce after lunch - Mick Jagger & dim sims - need the time out of action to think, cobble together ideas and scribble down a 40-minute running plan. Can hardly do that with nendo & test-my-strength challenges. came up with
How's the weather today after x3 Hello, How are you?
Older group of 2 classes
Modeled then had boys face girls & do
Weather+ wheel, modeling weather words, then + TPR. Dicta pic on rudimentary template. iLeader & Bacardi, but also Boss, Chief, Dragon.
Fotobabble done & art collected. Final 10 mins = Jim says .....please
& quick goodbye song.
School gate observation - tight sky-blue jeans mummy kicked her shoe off trying to be fancy! Nice wiggle of bum as she exited with my fave v-neck sweater.
Tuesday 8 April 2014
Back to School - proper
Sunny 1st day back...
A few weepers, one malfunctioning unit kicking hitting punching & face down in the dirt. Fski unable, not Choriso's problem...Chief deals with him as the rooms fill in unfamiliar groups.
Curious to see how the dynamic in Green goes; last years bollie punchers vs her rampant fight club boys. Will she feel more connected not being in the Wendy House?
Hands up high with big voices to answer roll, praised & smiled at. I'm
Actually introduced?! How to sit on chairs properly - hands behind back & knees together.
Walking tour with a little buddy, being told where rooms are, mind fingers in doors, don't run. Don't play on the room dividers, piano in the main hall. Use slippers in the lavatory, don't open cupboards.
Don't scare the school fish, go up the teachers' stairs, mess with teachers' shoes. Found pink & red classes.
Found outside taps, change shoes to play outside. By request, no punching/hitting Jim
How to use climbing frames etc, don't open gates or play around the gas tanks. Remember kid killed by gate? Don't mess with the bikes.
Free play; twin boy S - the kicker - edging closer to the room. We spent 10 mins on the floor trying not to look around the door/ignore the nice smell of grilled chicken & temptation of strawberries!
Followed me into the room a few minutes later & sat next to another insecure newbie. Relatively calm feeding time after that, but the 1 o'clock purgatory remains - Jim Time already cancelled so my schedule out of whack from the start. iLeader gave me kanji confusion yesterday so still none the wiser.
Strawberry toban markers being made along with scissor rules. New kids all joining in except one who'd rather read a book!
Free outside, little K now king of the pitch, making rules & walking around with the ball, scoring goals from 3 feet & not passing to anyone. Boy ran into steel crossbar; one triple repeater from green hitting me got a finger wagging - cheeky Fski pedigree
A few weepers, one malfunctioning unit kicking hitting punching & face down in the dirt. Fski unable, not Choriso's problem...Chief deals with him as the rooms fill in unfamiliar groups.
Curious to see how the dynamic in Green goes; last years bollie punchers vs her rampant fight club boys. Will she feel more connected not being in the Wendy House?
Hands up high with big voices to answer roll, praised & smiled at. I'm
Actually introduced?! How to sit on chairs properly - hands behind back & knees together.
Walking tour with a little buddy, being told where rooms are, mind fingers in doors, don't run. Don't play on the room dividers, piano in the main hall. Use slippers in the lavatory, don't open cupboards.
Don't scare the school fish, go up the teachers' stairs, mess with teachers' shoes. Found pink & red classes.
Found outside taps, change shoes to play outside. By request, no punching/hitting Jim
How to use climbing frames etc, don't open gates or play around the gas tanks. Remember kid killed by gate? Don't mess with the bikes.
Free play; twin boy S - the kicker - edging closer to the room. We spent 10 mins on the floor trying not to look around the door/ignore the nice smell of grilled chicken & temptation of strawberries!
Followed me into the room a few minutes later & sat next to another insecure newbie. Relatively calm feeding time after that, but the 1 o'clock purgatory remains - Jim Time already cancelled so my schedule out of whack from the start. iLeader gave me kanji confusion yesterday so still none the wiser.
Strawberry toban markers being made along with scissor rules. New kids all joining in except one who'd rather read a book!
Free outside, little K now king of the pitch, making rules & walking around with the ball, scoring goals from 3 feet & not passing to anyone. Boy ran into steel crossbar; one triple repeater from green hitting me got a finger wagging - cheeky Fski pedigree
Monday 7 April 2014
Back to school
Entrance Ceremony;
Yard packed with suits & woolen skirts/cheap jewelry
Nervous looking parents, bewildered little ones.
Boss in tatty jeans still
Chibbies at front marshaled by A/K/S/M senseis.
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