Back to School.

So...today I was back in school, one of the local village schools, for a days teacher cover.I was expecting a Prep to Year 2 class but for part of the day it was Prep to Year 3. There was actually only one Prep student and when the Year 3's were not there I had only 7 faces looking up at me.The day had been planned for me Spelling Mastery, Reading Mastery, more Reading Mastery, Narrative Texts, Maths Assessment and Health. I was to get some quick coaching from the Teaching Assistant before the lesson on the correct hand signals to use during the 'Mastery' lessons but she just looked aghast and said "You will never learn them in one day!"In the end she volunteered to take the groups that relied on these hand signals, because she already knew them, and I took the groups that were just beginning to learn them. It made perfect sense except that at one point she was taking a group of thirteen and I was sat with one little girl.It was pretty straight forward, all you had to do was read what to say from a book. It was so overly scripted it was quite insulting but hey, I was just thinking of the money.I had a short duty at Morning Tea. The older year groups were playing baseball or something like it so I hovered by the littlies on the climbing frame."We are playing Mums and Dads" said one little girl and I was just thinking 'Ah, things don't change that much' when one of the boys added,"....and Zombies.""Will you be the Zombie?" Asked one little cherub."Certainly not!" I snapped and walked off.Back in class a lesson on Narrative Texts was planned for Prep to Year 3 except that where the planning said the worksheets were on the desk....they weren't. I had to make something up quickly so waffled on about Narrative Texts and that beginnings, middles and ends of stories are important and got them to think of a well known story and draw a series of pictures telling their story in order. The older ones did 6 pictures and the younger ones three. It was the best I could come up with."What is your story?" I asked one of the older boys."Jack and the Beanstalk" he said."That's good!" I said "I can see Jack with the cow at the start of the story what will you put for the last picture?""Jack and the Giant are good friends," he said."No!" I said, "that's not right. How does Jack and the Beanstalk end?" I asked the whole class."Jack and the Giant become friends." they said."No, no, no!" I was shocked. "The giant climbs down the beanstalk and Jack cuts it down and the Giant falls to his death.""That's not appropriate," said a small disapproving voice."Oh, and I suppose playing Mums and Dads and Zombies is?"I just got blank stares.The daughter of the normal class teacher was in the class."What is your Mum doing today while I am in?" I asked."Putting embryos in cows" came the unexpected reply.That's small country schools for you. 

Super Blue Blood Moon.

So...it is apparently 30 years since the last Super Blue Blood Moon and how we were looking forward to this one especially as it comes as we are in the middle of building Blue Moon House....but after weeks of stifling hot weather and clear blue skies last night was completely overcast and we missed it completely.We did spend the night in Blue Moon House to mark the occasion but it would have been nice to actually see it!

Jumping through hoops!

So...I have recently been filling in forms, searching for, collecting and providing evidence for two reasons.Firstly, after much soul searching, I have decided that I cannot throw away my teacher registration and so I have reapplied to the Queensland College of Teachers for the renewal of my provisional registration for another 4 years. After 27 years of full time teaching I gritted my teeth at having to send proof of the three teaching practices I completed in the early 1980's. I have since heard that I have been re- registered and so I am able to continue to do supply teaching at my leisure. I am already booked in for two days (one tomorrow) and have had to turn down five more because I was either booked in at another school or working at the library on the days they needed me. I will not take any contracts and will only do supply now and have emailed all the local schools to inform them that I will only cover Prep to Year 2 classes. I am going to be choosy.Secondly, on the fourth of February I will have been a Permanent Resident of Australia for four years and as such am entitled to apply for Citizenship. If successful it will mean I will finally be allowed to vote in future elections and plebiscites. I have completed the 36 page form, scanned and attached the 12 pieces of evidence to prove I am who I say I am and paid the $280 fee. I will have to sit an Australian Citizenship test at some point but know all about Kylie Minogue so am pretty confident it will be a doddle.Now I just have to wait and see if they will have me. Would you give Citizenship to this man?(I was trying very hard not to smile as facing me, in the Post Office, was a huge queue of impatient customers while I commandeered two of the three available customer assistants to take this photo. One had the camera and the other was holding up a large envelope to prevent the sun glare on my bald head which ruined the first three photos.)

Coming soon to Frogknot!

So...Pacha is sitting on 10 White Crested Polish hen eggs (she accidentally broke 2!) that are due to hatch around the 14th Feb!

Job done!