Back to school

I'm loving my new class, and they seem happy too. Looking forward to a busy year - it is a real privilege to teach these gifted and talented children. They are thirsty for knowledge and keen to learn. They learn best when the work is appropriate and engaging. I get to use my creativity in planning interesting lessons - 6 thinking hats, articles from the day's news, structured overviews, blogging, debates and discussions. And we haven't even started art, drama and music yet. Maths is benefiting from the fantastic websites available, and the interactive whiteboard.
Busy - but loving it.

Reflecting...

As the school year comes to an end, and my three terms on kindergarten (and well out of my comfort zone) come to an end, I won't say that I will actually miss working with 5 year olds; or that I would do it again in a heartbeat; but I will say this:

Ten things that are great about teaching kindergarten:

1. They 'explode' into reading
2. They 'explode' into writing
3. They 'explode' into math
4. They complement you on your earrings
5. They complement you on your shoes
6. They complement you on your dress
7. You get to sing - a lot
8. You laugh - a lot
9. You receive many, many. many lessons in patience
10. They hug you 

If you're gonna be a bear....

...be a grizzly. I've just taken on a new challenge by applying for the 'opportunity class' at my school. I had to compete with others, as it was advertised, and was interviewed by a panel of 4 people yesterday (gulp). I got the job! I start in term 1 next year. An 'OC' class is a 5/6 class of 30 students, drawn from the whole district, who have passed a very difficult test. My job is to keep them engaged, learning and stimulated. I guess I'll be spending the Xmas holidays teaching myself high school maths....

                                           

Some days are diamonds #2

...or what can happen if you let kids follow their curiosity. A simple lesson on triangular numbers caused much interest - two boys started doing each triangle individually (3, 6, 10 etc) then decided doing one big triangle would answer all their questions. They are only 9 years old, but I'm hoping the next step is that they look for a formula. The lesson only needed them to go to 10 to answer some logic questions, but they were so into it I let them carry on. "Can we stay in and finish it, Miss?"

Back to School!

It's a new school year in Australia, and what could epitomise day one more than this? The slightly too big, shiny new shoes; the crisp new uniform with slightly too big blazer; the very envious little brother, who is set for another year at pre-school with no lovely uniform! These are my beautiful nephews, Jack and Tom.