30.11.07

divine chaos

A friend sent me this quote last night...

"Fall in love or fall in hate. Get inspired or be depressed. Ace a test
or flunk a class. Make babies or make art. Speak the truth or lie and
cheat. Dance on tables or sit in the corner. Life is diving chaos. Embrace it.
Forgive yourself. Breathe. And enjoy the ride" - Solbeam

I Googled Solbeam. And found this ..... Incredible blogger.
So I'll take her words to heart these holidays...so much to do ....or not do.

Breathe. And enjoy the ride!









27.11.07

A bowl of cherries


I know light flares are not desirable but I rather like this one. The cherries were R11,00 for ten. I bought three bunches. ;-)



25.11.07

The Last Week

Five days to go. I think there's nothing nicer in this world than break-up day. And teachers get to experience the thrill, the wildness, the sheer exhilaration of it every year.
Lucky us. This is payback for a job that, any other day in the school year is as demanding as that of an air traffic controller. So said some successful, celebrity-type ex-headmaster earlier this year when he gave an auditorium of Catholic teachers some strategies on how to manage discipline in the classroom. It stuck in my mind and I've been using it to dazzle anyone within earshot since then.
However, I've just tried Googling 'most stressful jobs' and am bitterly disappointed. In Ireland, it seems teachers only came fourth..after traffic wardens, vehicle clampers and voluntary workers!
In 2006, the BBC News reports that librarians suffer the most stress. Helloo?
All fellow teacher-librarians out there...much respect, dudes!

All that aside. I will be saying farewell to another class of nine- year olds. At the end of my first year I swore I'd never get so attached to my kids again.
But after a year of being mom, nurse, guide, cheerleader and friend who would not get a lump in their throat at that last hug goodbye?
Certainly not me.

Carpe diem, little ones!

18.11.07

Kids



As the school year winds down to a close I can afford to be sentimental and mushy about my chosen profession. Knowing that there are precisely ten more days of school left before we all pack up and head off for the beaches gives everything in the classroom a kind of rosy glow.

I sit on the desk and swing my legs and indulge in why I went into this profession in the first place. A chance to see the world through a child's eyes. To look at everyday things with a naivety and enthusiasm that only a child can. I'm constantly peppered with silly stories, tall tales and age-old knock knock jokes (9 year
olds love those) and I am able to face them all with this benevolent smile on my face.
Nothing can phase me now. Ten more days.

And then freedom!


We threw out the boring, politically correct syllabus and spent last week talking and writing about super heroes. I mean, puleeze! What nine year old wants to learn about clouds and wind and how water is filtered?!