Crepe Fear!

[GiddyGiddyGoat]

Ta Da.

Ah, I thought it linked to a particular one. I like the blue hairy one with white piping, and the red tartan. Though yes, one has to be very careful. The rest are gimmer-tastic.

Herbs, (from my miniscule teaching experience of running a 1 hour 15 writers club after school) that looks like plenty and also fun. In your shoes I would just be concentrating on breathing deeply and pretending to be calm

Dressing gown looks delicious.

NU that meal sounds flipping good too.

Herbs, I would keep a spare activity up your sleeve - contrary to the others, I tend to run out of stuff. I was given some vg advice about keeping it like a kids' party - always have an extra for them to do. I never travel without 14 copies of a subbing exercise now. it is most reassuring.

Been to see parents. All my fellow-inmates sulky. DM in pretty good form, though I don't agree with her suggestions about my novel. Am knuckling down to draft 3 tomorrow.

Just catching up with this, and was thinking, like MI, about the children's party idea - you don't want to run out of stuff to do. I became an absolute whizz stringing out games at children's parties , but I think when teaching you can't tell them all to hop, then skip, sit down suddenly etc etc.

That's my feeling too, crepeys. Less is not more, in this scenario. I know - I'll give them a wordsearch puzzle. Always goes down well.

Herbs, do you have access to t'internet (for the students)? Lots of interactive EAL stuff on there that I keep coming across.

Whole-class Hangman on the board is a good "filler" too, if necessary

Hangman. Of course.

These aren't EAL students, BTM - literacy. They're all native English speakers that need to learn to read and write more betterer like wot i do.

I don't have the internet on Mondays, but do on Wednesdays!

Oh yes, sorry! Well, they are probably at a similar Literacy level to mine. There are loads of games and stuff for an interactive white-board - surely you have one of them?! Really good because it is visual and they have to move to interact with it - Kinaesthetic Learning

I do have an interactive whiteboard, but am very unfamiliar with this particular version - might save anything like that for when I can work it!

(But do point me in the right direction. There is an absolute forest of resources out there, in which I am struggling to see the trees.)

I usually just google and try them to see if they do what I want them to! And yes, good to have a little play on the board before the students, although they might enjoy helping you out - even some of mine are better at it than me! It may be that one or more of them is a bit of a whizz with technology and you can use that to your and their advantage. One of my more attention-seeking students is great at helping others with using the laptops and how to play different literacy/numeracy games

Ive just found some ace ones I'll use in my voluntary work tomorrow morning, with my non-literate 11-year-old.

And an excellent 'match the contractions' number. Thanks BTM! I'll sleep easier tonight.

Great!

I'm not much use for teaching ideas for literacy and yoof. But my tricks are....lots of small group work, getting someone from the floor to teach something previously done (tests if they were listening the first time, and is fun...),icebreakers,warm ups, cool downs, like Tilly says... loads of kinaesthetic learning including my latest favourite which is building voice skills into a sort of Hukka (went down brilliantly with my hyper Fd degree lot), cartoons/talking heads, I could go on but none of your clients are pregnant or in theatre school so this must all sound quite, quite mad...

I am tired. Up early to drop DS2 at school to get coach to the wilds of Kent and his choir residential trip. Hours of shouting helping DD with French writing CA prep. (now she's at that stage where if she remembers all the correct grammar, tenses and accents, she misses out chunks of content. If she gets the content all the grammar goes to pot.... ) Visit to DDad, still in hospital and a terrible journey back. No lunch til 3.30...collapsed in local cafe with DD. Then visit from DS1. DH on way back but stuck in block on the M11. He has had an ace weekend away.

Rose, that sounds busy! I fear my DS will be similar with his French CA's. I think one is due to start on Monday

Yes, DD has her French on Tuesday...and there is an English one she's preparing for at the moment too....hateful.

Hello,

Good luck tomorrow Herbs!

Anyone any suggestions - want to go away fr two days between Christmas and new years, somewhere that has good walks from the front door, no more than two hours drive from sw London, probably a pub with rooms as dh will want good beer and no pretentions, but a pretty one, as dd will want Richard Curtis movie-style. And not completely booked yet. Anyone?

Beachy, read about somewhere closing to you so I'll pm you, hope that's ok. ILs will have been with us fr a week at this point and although they are lovely I will need a break.

?

Good luck Herbs - you will be fine!

Back on the commute......

Addl, we were looking for cottages to stay between Christmas and NY (albeit for 8) and decided in the end to just stay at our friends! Good Luck! Hopefully the one near Beachy will come up trumps.

Good Luck BD and Herbs.

Back to the grind here too. I may not have had much rest this holiday, but I do feel refreshed! How long will it last?

That daylight saving thing works, doesn't it? Would be light, if not for the fog....

Good luck Herbs, you'll ace it.

Adele, got your pm. I'll send back with another couple too...

Beachy, now I'm wishing we were going to a country pub...

Beachy hope your fears re work are unfounded!

All the best to those starting new jobs!

Off to take the Cressethound to the vet for spaying, and feeling awful at having to deprive a Lab of her brekkie. She doesn't understand and thinks she's done something wrong, poor love. There will be treats later.

Good luck today, Herbs!

BD, I'll be thinking of you. Hope the return to work goes OK.

Good luck Herbs on the first day and also BD on returning, hopefully refreshed. More later.xx