Day 144: 24/5/13
I got a call this morning at about ten to seven for a school that I went to weeks ago. It was a long way away an I remember getting up at 5:30 for it. Aswell as a long train the school starts at 8:30. I asked them what train I should get as I didn't think I could get there on time. They started looking it up and then decided I probably wouldn't get there on time either! So they said they would get someone else. I was hoping it wouldn't affect my changes of work today and luckily they rang back about 10 minutes later with work in the school I was in last week. I just about had enough time to get there. Life would be so much easier if they just organised it the evening before!!
I forgot to write yesterday that a child asked me whether I was a teenager or a grown-up! I was explaining that I was a teacher in Ireland and I'd be going back to school in Septemebr to tell them what school was like in Australia. She thought than when I said I was going back to school that I was a teenager. At the school the day before aswell the kids had a conversation about how old I was and they thought I was younger than their teacher who was 25- so I must look like a teenager these days!!
Also yesterday the grade 2's were learning about the olden days and they were all in costume. The teachers had long skirts and big puffy dresses. The girls had skirts, petticoats and aprons over them. Some had shawls and hats too. The boys looked like right little ragamuffins with braces, waistcoats, short trousers and caps. It looked like lots of fun!! I don't know how I forgot all that yesterday!!
Anyway, today a lot of the 3/4/5/6's were doing cross country so I was on to mind the ones that were left. They didn't go until 11 so I was in one of the 5/6 classes until then. I had been in it before- there's a few right heroes! The teacher was coming and going anyway. First she got them to do their Just Get Active exercise programme which they had very little interest in! Then they had to work on some writing or finish a Maths activity. All the 5/6's had a level meeting then. They all came into the one classroom with all their teachers and they discussed a few things coming up. Then they had reward time. They had a choice of different activities and I had to mind the girls that were doing craft. They had to make whatever they wanted from clay. There was only about 8 of them so they just chatted and played with the clay.
After break I had the grade 5's that weren't doing cross country. They were supposed to work on their term 2 goals, their recount of their school camp trip or work on some writing. Of course they all needed a computer- the class teacher had said they might and that they were allowed. It just meant that they were between three different classrooms in the 5/6 block. They were mostly working on what they were supposed to be. Of course there was an odd one playing a game on the Internet when they thought I wasn't looking! Luckily I have very good eyes and ears!! They are a cheeky enough bunch and try to make you believe that they are supposed to be on these games!
After lunch they had a news segment called behind the news to watch on the Internet. Then they were just supposed to read until assembly. They had no interest in reading and were passing notes instead, most of which I'd say weren't complimentary so I showed them a PowerPoint on Ireland instead which they were slightly more interested in! I almost forgot assembly then as I was so distracted talking to them about Irish history and stuff!! We got there on time anyway. It was quite short today as there were a lot of people gone to the cross country. We went back to the class afterwards and the cross country people had arrived back. The teacher was like a lunatic with them as they had behaved really badly! They were all chatting and being cheeky so she ate them and then sent them home!! I'd say they would definitely grate on you!!
I had gotten a text yesterday to work there next Friday but when I checke with the office they didn't have that down at all- there was confusion between the two Fridays I think so I still don't have anything for next week. I hope I get the calls earlier than I did this week anyway.
I had a fairly boring evening this evening as I had to wash a load of clothes. The joys of that in a hostel is that you have to stay nearby so you can take them out when their ready so noone will take them out to put in their own! While I was waiting I was looking up some stuff on the east coast again. I think I'll get the bus pass booked tomorrow hopefully. We'll see. I hope to do a bit if sightseeing aswell!