Getting Personal...

                                   

I'm having 'one of those days' that might just be 'one of those weeks' that I'm afraid to admit even could be 'one of those years'. You know, the ones where motivation is low and everything just seems too hard.  When the hours of planning and preparation go seemingly unappreciated by children, parents and admin.  When at the end of the day, it's easy to look back on the day and feel that you have failed as a teacher. 

Last year, I had a great year.  My class was eager to learn and revelled in being at school.  They loved any and all activities I planned for them and their smiles and enthusiasm made each day fulfilling.  Their parents were supportive and appreciative - many of them would thank me daily for all I did for their children.  I worked long, long hours to make sure that each of my kidlets left me at 3pm excited about something they had done and bursting to tell mum or dad something they had learned, achieved or created.  I was always searching for new ideas and innovative activities for my kidlets to try.  Was I a perfect teacher? Nope, but I was doing the best I could and it was enough.

This year... Not so much.  Don't get me wrong, my kidlets are divine.  Yes, there are quite a few tricky characters but I love them all the same.  I look into their eyes and want to be an amazing teacher for them - but day after day I feel like I've let them down.

Is it me? Is it that I'm not quite understanding what they need to be engaged and eager learners? Am I letting the demands of school get on top of me and dull my love of teaching?  Am I just being a big baby? Whatever it is, I need to snap out of it.  My gorgeous kidlets need more from me.

I'd love to hear from you... Words of encouragement, links to amazing Pinterest boards or blog posts that can reignite my teaching fire, quotes, images, anything.  If there's one thing I've learned from being a part of the blogging community it's that sometimes it can be the greatest support system.

Thanks in advance friends.

Lauren

Read Alouds: Reminiscing and my favourites!

Today I broke out my all time favourite read aloud.  Of the hundreds (thousands, more likely!) of books I listened to at home, school and on 80's TV shows like Romper Room and Play School, this is the one I remember most clearly.  There used to be a presenter on Australian Play School who was known as Funny John, but his real name is John Hamblin.   He was absolutely hilarious, engaging and warm.  My memory of him reading this story is so vivid!  Have you heard of 'The Elephant and the Bad Baby'?

It's an old one, but when I read it today my kidlets were enthralled. The Elephant carries the Bad Baby all through the town, collecting up treats (without asking!) and and various store owners along the way.  When their journey (rumpeta, rumpeta, rumpeta!) finishes, the Elephant is very concerned that the Bad Baby never once said please!  Don't worry, it all ends happily when they have tea with the Bad Baby's mummy.  I don't read it as well as Funny John did, I'm sure, but I still try to make my voice sound just like his each time the Bad Baby says "Yes!" :)

It struck me as I was reading that if I remember this story so well many years later, my kidlets will be absorbing each story that I read to them and (hopefully!) being affected by them as much as I was.  Remembering the language, the expression, the repetitive patterns, the images....

If you're searching for a few new read alouds to share with your kidlets here's a few of my favourites:

If you don't know this book you might think this one is mean, so here's a page from inside so you get a better idea!

And the list could go on, and on, and on, and on....!  I read at least one story to my kidlets each day - more if I have time - and they love listening to and talking about all of them.  What are your favourite read alouds?  I'd love to have a few new ones to share with my class! :)

Lauren

It's Currently April!

April! Let's get straight to this Currently business...

Most of my Currently categories are themed towards the fact that it's the last week of a busy term! :)  I got home late tonight after a long day of parent teacher interviews and have flopped on the couch after a hot shower.  If it wasn't for The Big Bang Theory on later I would already be asleep in bed, I think.  I need one of those fancy TV's that records things!  Luckily, there's only 3 more days until our 2 week Easter break.  I'm off to Canada, and can't decided if I'm excited or dreading the long trip there.  I'm a good traveller and I love the thought of a stretch of uninterrupted time to read and sleep, but I'm thinking that the stopovers and long layovers that I have will make the journey there a bit tiring.  Time will tell I guess! If you could see me you would be able to set an idea of the type of term I've had - black circles under my eyes, a good 2 inches of regrowth, no tan etc.  Looking forward to going to the hairdresser on Friday to at least set 1 of those things right! :)

Farley wanted to know when our day starts and ends and when our last day is.  I like to get to school early, about 7am, and I usually find things to do until about 5pm.  Our first term ends this week, but the end of our school year is on the 4th of December, a.k.a millions of days away!

Go and link up with Farley to share some Currently love!

Lauren