Here we go again...

I am a pile of goo.

I am no longer existing in a solid state. My brain, and all associated faculties have turned to mush.

Welcome to Stage 1, 2016.

I have forgotten how exhausting teaching is. How?! How could this happen in a mere 5 weeks?!

WHY DID I NOT SLEEP MORE???? WHY DID I SPEND TIME CLEANING AND WEDDING PLANNING WHEN I COULD HAVE SPENT TIME SLEEPING!!!???

Me. At 3pm today.

               
Now don't get my wrong. My class - BEAUTIFUL. They were fantastic. Settled, attentive, focused - we got through most of the day's activities in the morning session. I was blown away.

Oh god I hope I didn't just jinx it.  *does complicated anti-jinxing manoeuvre*

I've just forgotten what it's like to get a bunch of brand new little munchkins with very short attention spans. I regret wearing a dress to work today. So much floor work.

Anyway.

I took a big break from the blogosphere last year due to some personal issues and this year I'm going to make a consistent effort to be reflecting and writing in blog form, while bringing you much laughs and much happy from 1/2Superstars.

Today, our happy moment? The hugs from kids that I had only met 6 hours earlier, while telling me they were excited to come back tomorrow.  Makes it all worth it.
                                             

Find me online!

Twitter: @bswain1

email: missswain24@gmail.com

pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/bswain14

or comment below!

A whole new world - and not the Aladdin kind.

If you're Australian, its more than likely you've just finished the hard slog that is the first 3 weeks of Term 1.

3 down, 7 to go!

It's tough. They don't know you, you don't know them. You can't help but compare them to last year's bunch and reflect on just how much work you have to do. It's a balance of highs and lows, and you slide into home at the end of the week in a crashing heap ready to do it all over again on Monday.

In my case, I'm balancing this with a feeling of absolute bewilderment.

You see, being a cocky 3rd year out teacher, this is a summary of my thought process in Term 4 last year:

Oh yeah. I'm pretty decent at this whole Stage 3 thing. I've got some great learning happening, we've got this mutual respect thing going on and I can manage challenging behaviour. Teaching Year 1 and Year 2 will be a breeze!

You said it Jean-Luc.

I know.

I KNOW.

WHAT THE #@!* WAS I THINKING?!

I've entered Stage 1 - a mythical magical land of phonemic awareness (what's that again?), 8 minute attention spans (on a good day) and a whole lot more bodily fluids and touching.

Seriously, little X. Hands out of your nose/mouth/pants. And don't touch me. Please.

We sing songs without being sarcastic. We dance without being ashamed of our lack of rhythm. EVERYTHING IS FUN. 

HEY GUYS. WE'RE ABOUT TO DO SOME HANDWRITING!

My class:

Pretty much every kid in my class is Buddy the Elf. All the time.

I'm in a whole new world. It's a very happy place, but also one that really REALLY tests your patience. And your voice box. AND your gag reflex.

So, for your amusement and a big dose of schadenfreude, here's a list of 10 things I have learnt so far:

1. Never tie a child's shoelaces. Especially a boy's. Aiming is not a talent for them.
2. Hand sanitiser is a handy investment. You'll use it multiple times a day.
3. Don't try to get your bottom reading group to read independently for 20 minutes. They'll have a pillow fight after 2 minutes and subsequently disturb the whole Guided Reading session.
4. Wobbly teeth are a constant occurrence, and I had no idea how truly creepy Ifound them until I had six kids showing me their teeth at once. *shudders*
5. You will find sandwiches/discarded fruit everywhere, and they won't pick it up, subsequently leaving grapes permanently cemented into your carpet.
6. CHILDREN EAT THEIR OWN BOOGERS.
7. AND ANYTHING THEY FIND LYING ON THE FLOOR. Seriously, X, get the masking tape marking my floor area out of your mouth. I've already asked you twice today.
8. Don't get annoyed when they tell you they forgot how to spell 'the'. You're going to be asked 5 more times in the next 10 minutes.
9. You will get random gifts. Some of which (food, tissues, things from their bags) should go straight into that 'special box for later' (aka the bin).
10. But....little kids love you. Wholeheartedly. Nothing you do will change that. Even if you get frustrated and keep them in half of lunch because they can't stand in two lines, they still come running back with big smiles. 

Find me online!

twitter: @bswain1

email:missswain24@gmail.com

pintrest:https://www.pinterest.com/bswain14

or comment below!

Beyond Appian Way?

I'm currently sitting collapsed on my couch in the lounge room, after approximately 36 hours of travel getting from Boston, MA to Sydney, NSW. I have a warm, fluffy, slightly overweight cat sitting on my lap and a cup of caffeine beside me, as my body tries to figure out what time zone I'm in. 
(For the record, I think I'm floating somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.)

So, in my attempts to somehow stay awake until a socially acceptable bedtime, I'm doing some reflecting on the events of the last week that have gotten me into this very unattractive, sleep-deprived state.

I've just come back from a week at Harvard Graduate School of Education, attending Project Zero Classroom - an annual summer institute that invites participants from all over the globe to share insights and understandings into the various ventures of the Project Zero researchers. 

I'm still getting a little thrill saying that I studied at Harvard.

Oh what's this? Why yes, It's my HARVARD ID.

I spent the week working 10 hour days, learning from some of the most incredible educational researchers and minds of this era. It was exhausting but absolutely exhilarating. I felt empowered, engaged and ready to take on the world - that was the atmosphere created by the forward-thinking group of participants who gathered for this conference. 

Oh look - I was in a lecture with HOWARD GARDNER! :O

Even in our most stressful moments, the positive energy created and facilitated by the attendees pulsated throughout campus, lifting us up and reassuring us that we are doing something amazing, not only for our students, but for our own development as teachers. This was achieved through our plethora of activities to make our thinking visible, including art assignments, thinking routines and a surprising amount of interpretive dance. You can check out some of our zany antics (and some truly stunning pictures of me) on our Smore here.

You heard it here first - Tissue paper is in this summer.

Sounds incredible, right?

It was.

So now, as my cat's fat rolls slowly envelop my legs and I drink caffeine to prevent any keyboard drooling, I'm starting to think formatively about my situation. What is the next piece of learning for me? Where should I go next?

As teachers, we know the best way to figure out our next stepping stone is to look back at where we have already walked. So this week, I'm going to be bringing to you my adventures at HGSE - the highlights of my foray into the depths that is Making Thinking Visible, and my reflections on how it can be used in a public school classroom. 

And, as per usual, feel free to languish in my wit and generally incredible humour.

In addition, I'm hoping to start up a 'study group' of sorts for interested parties, so that anyone who is interested in learning more about MTV, or just want to give it a go, can take part. If this tickles your fancy, feel free to tweet me @bswain1, or email me at brianna.swain1@det.nsw.edu.au

A quick giggle...

I've been out of action the last few days with some sort of stomach virus, hence my absence.
Note: now dousing myself in Dettol every time a kid breathes on me.

I'm still a bit under the weather, and not really capable of my usual wittiness and hilarity.
(yes, even when sick, my ego remains)

So here is a quick giggle for any teachers out there - it was National Teacher's Day in the US last week and this was a message sent out by their national union.

Happy Wednesday!