So Much to Learn...So Little Time

An Interesting Week

It's going to be an interesting week.

I thought that on my return from Addis things would get back to some kind of normalcy. No chance. I thought I'd at least be able to do some room tidying during my now free S4 periods. No chance.

So much stuff to try to organise and do.

• multi cultural day
• edit films
• teach
• P7 Languages Work to film
• teach
• INSET presentation in front of all MFL teachers from Grampian
• Blogging workshop in Graz to prepare for
• Blogging/Podcasting workshops in school for teachers

Thats what I can think of at the moment...oh I forgot another one TEACH.
Often have to remind myself that's what I'm actually paid to do, compared to most of this other stuff, which I'm not.

At the moment my S1's are trying an experiment wherein they are learning their school unit stuff by doing. Instead of teaching them the vocab they are preparing films and radio shows about the school. As ever in their eagerness to produce something interesting they keep  forgetting to use their vocab guides which leads to all kinds of internet translator-ease. I have given them til the end of the month. I'm quite prepared for failure in this venture as I'm not convinced that we've gone about it in the right way. I think a certain level of direct teaching will be necessary if there is to be a next time for such a project.

Anyhow. I've been putting together some more of my Addis footage so here's a video trip through Addis Abeba starting at Mount Entoto.



 

Truth and honesty time

So I'm not the altruist I thought I was...I can't afford to be.

Revision Classes

Today we started the Easter Revision classes in school. Over the next 3 days about 150 pupils will voluntarily come into school every day for extra help with their SG, H Int 1/2, AH revision before the exams kick in. I'm just sat here with six credit French pupils who are working away on a vocab exercise, and what a pleasure it is.
I've done this for the last 3 years and have found that those who attend really get a kick start for their revision programme and are often more motivated in the short period before they go off on exam leave. It is also quite a social gathering and staff get to teach pupils who are not in their own classes.

I wish I could be totally altruistic and say that I sacrifice 3 days of my hols for the sake of my students, but I can't. We do get paid for it, which is only normal and considering all the extra unpaid hours most teachers put in above the 35 hour week (and 35 hours CPD) it is a nice little bonus and we deserve it.

My Eclipse photo

Don't give up the day job.

Here's my rather rubbish attempt to capture the majesty of last nights lunar eclipse.