Happy Monday to you all! I hope you’ve had a great week!
- If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that my patience has definitely been tried this week! Firstly we had the staffing ins and outs… never easy for any of us, adults and kids, but hey, we coped. Then there was the planning and prepping. My colleague and I managed to get the planning done before our official day, so it left me to create and locate the resources needed for the following week, alone. It’s easily done, but just time consuming. Oh, and we had a visit from a specialist teacher to observe my autistic Beaut. They are wo well meaning, but sometimes they forget that we are not a special school, and aside from that one child, I have 28 others to think about… Did I tell you I have another space in my class? One of my lovelies has left, as her family moved too far from the school for it to be viable for them to bring her here daily. So that leaves me with a spot… And seeing what I got when the last spot was filled, fills me with a new dread…
- If we were sipping chai together I’d go on to news about my Growler… She seemed to have such a good week. Yes, there were a rew growls, but it was also her birthday, and with plenty of cuddles, smiles and cadjoling. Then Friday came. Oh my, what a Friday! We started off wonderfully, then breaktime was great. She’s starting to play with a couple of others, which is wonderful. But trouble started when she had to go to do her phonic learning with another group. Shoes flung off, and curled into a corner, her group leader had to bring her in separately, once the rest of the children were back from the lesson. Then I started our Numeracy learning. She appeared happy, and was especially pleased when I set up a special game for her to access on my class SMART TV. Better than her sitting and not understanding what our work was about. A couple of visitors into the classroom threw her, and the next thing I knew, growl central started up… She was curled up in the tiniest of spaces under the TV. I tried to move her gently, and got her one of the soft toys she likes to hold for reassurance. She managed to slip back into the gap. Then when we were finally out, she growled as I led her to where I was sitting, hoping to engage her in an activity near me. She started to grab herself, so I thought maybe it was a toilet visit she needed. The one other adult in the classroom, my support, was asked to take her. I kept the rest of the class busy with their tasks, until a few moments later, she reappeared, saying she was going to get help; the girl had locked herself in the toilet. Basically, in the last 15 minutes of her time at school, we had the headteacher, and office manager, trying to open the door, then attemtps to extricate a 5 year old who had attatched herself to the toilet bowl, accompanied by high pitched screams. Her mum’s arrival didn’t immediately help. It took mum a few minutes to get her out of the cubicle too. Heaven knows what she will be feeling like on Monday! And I wonder why I was so exhausted in Saturday, that after a visit to the temple, I literally ended up in bed the whole day!
- If we were sipping chai together I’d have to mention that I have found a new hobby. I want to learn calligraphy! I have created a little kit for myself, and I must share this beautiful quill pen that I aquired…! That’s just me and stationery!
- If we were sipping chai together I’d say that I am nervously excited now. It is two weeks to the release of the book, and the last time I looked, preorders were at over 40! You guys, I am overwhelmed by your support! I have to share something funny though. I have been experimenting with Facebook Ads. I set up a small one to run, long term up to the release date, and targerted the UK, USA, Australia, India, Pakistan and the UAE… And since then, the ad has been inundated by likes… by random Asian men! 😂Surprisingly, no sales from there…
- If we were sipping chai together I’d mention that Lil Man wanted to return a basket ball that wasn’t up to scratch, so the kids and I ventured to Bluewater to return it, and had a lovely meal out as well.
- If we were sipping chai together I’d have to share this too. Friday was Chinese New Year and we had an afternoon of celebration at school. The kids had noodles to try, games with chopsticks, dragon masks to make, and at the end, I bought them all Fortune Cookies to share. They loved it all! There were a few fortune cookies left, so I bought them home. And this was what one said…
- If we were sipping chai together I’d admit to falling for another of those challenges on Social Mendia. I swore I wouldn’t, but I ended up having to. Have you heard of the #DollyPartonMemeChallenge? She posted a meme of her alleged profile pics on various Social Media sites, spoof ones, obviously, to show how different a single person can be perceived by their profiles… so, here’s mine!
- If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d say that this week, will be the calm before the storm, so to speak. The last week of January, then Feb hits with a BAM! We have ALL the birthdays in my in-laws family, my bro-in-law first, Hubby Dearest and my Mum-in-law on the same day, and then my Dad-in-law and Lil Princess on the same day too! Coupled with Valentines day, and a couple of weeks in, my Publishing Day, I think I should try and get my thinking cap on for gifts, and also get a little more rest in!
- If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that it’ll be assessment time before I know it at school too! Dear God, help me!
Right, that’s me done Peeps! Let me how your week has been!
But I Smile Anyway... 
Feb 04, 2020 @ 14:27:53
Your classes are too big, girlfriend! Here in the Lone Star State, pre-k classes are 20-22 at the most, and if special needs students are included, the cap may be fifteen, and even then the teacher has an aide, even if it is a trained volunteer like a retired kindergarten teacher or somebody’s retired-teacher grandmother.
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Feb 04, 2020 @ 15:34:29
We have ratios that we work with. Once they are at school, of which the first class is Reception where I am teaching this year, legally it is just a teacher needed for 30 stsudents!
Thankfully my head is more forward thinking than that and we have 2 full time assistants, and I have a one to one support for my autistic child.
But even that is sometimes not enough!
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Feb 07, 2020 @ 16:39:18
I understand–boy, do I!
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Feb 03, 2020 @ 13:39:58
Oh, that child! We don’t have locked bathrooms. We don’t have doors on the front, just sides on the stalls. I have a child like her, too. He is big and strong, and I often come home sore from his pushing and pulling. Sigh! I am also birthday-heavy in February, as in all but two. Yikes!
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Feb 03, 2020 @ 15:40:44
As this is main school, we can’t have easy access toilets, but we can still get inside, with difficulty….
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Feb 04, 2020 @ 01:22:47
I feel for you, Ritu. That is hard!
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Feb 04, 2020 @ 07:00:19
So tough…
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Feb 04, 2020 @ 11:34:07
🙁
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Jan 28, 2020 @ 20:41:07
I took a calligraphy intensive in NYC a couple years ago and I loved it! I need to get back to practicing!
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Jan 28, 2020 @ 22:20:51
I would love to go somewhere to take a course, but it’s just time! Thank goodness for youtube tutorials, eh!
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Jan 28, 2020 @ 17:14:08
Sending calm and lots of support 💜
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Jan 28, 2020 @ 22:20:09
Thanks, Sis! She had a pretty good day today, but every day is a fresh page for her, we never know where her moods will take us! ❤
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Jan 28, 2020 @ 23:42:06
Bless it’s so hard having a disruptive child , I often think it so unfair on the rest of the class. I do hope they all can learn from eachother 💜 I used to work in a school where every child was like your little growler. 💜
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Jan 29, 2020 @ 06:49:17
A whole class? Ooer!!!! 💜
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Jan 29, 2020 @ 07:27:14
A whole school 💜
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Jan 29, 2020 @ 07:29:50
Oh my!!!
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Jan 29, 2020 @ 11:15:53
Yes it is a Barnardo’s and every child is either disruptive or disturbed. It’s residential too. It was for children from 11 to 16 but now the they also have a junior school unit . It was very hard work but rewarding, I stuck it for over 10years. 💜
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Jan 29, 2020 @ 12:12:00
Aaah! That explains it!
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Jan 29, 2020 @ 16:21:00
Yes indeed, gosh it was never a dull moment there 🥴💜💜
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Jan 29, 2020 @ 17:45:41
I’ll bet!
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Jan 29, 2020 @ 17:58:00
Lol💜💜💜
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 17:13:04
Teaching would not appeal to me on the basis of what you have described. I find it hard enough teaching adults and working with them. What a busy week you have had.
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 17:26:07
It is as rewarding as it is tough, Robbie. A vocation, truly xx
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 16:34:21
Just pre-ordered, and will be doing a “Wednesday Bookmobile” segment when the book is released…again, good luck!
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 16:57:29
Thank you so much. John, your support is so appreciated!!!
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 17:04:44
Yes, looking forward to the release date…it’s pre-ordered on my kindle!
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 17:24:52
🥰
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 14:33:12
If you write your memoirs later, it will surely be a very special bestseller, Sis! You don’t even need a dramaturge, in the experiences.;-) When I read this with the toilet, I was already thinking of the headline of the tabloid press: “Child disappeared in the toilet!” However, you are a wonderful teacher, calmness is your second name. 🙂 Now, head over to the kitchen. There needs to be a lot of baking action, and if i know teenagers right, you will be alone with this. Right? Best wishes, Michael
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 16:09:24
Thankfully, Lil Princess loves to bake, and really wants to learn to be more independent in the kitchen, so I will have some help!
And yes, my life certainly does have some crazy real stories!
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 16:22:03
Sounds great, Sis! Never thought about. Keep on baking. There are a lot of fantastic recipes on the internet too. 😉
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 16:24:26
True!
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 19:24:00
:-))
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 14:32:38
Have a great week ahead, Sister. Ever so close to that special date📚
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 16:08:23
Less than two weeks! So nervous!
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 17:28:16
😁💜
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 12:57:58
You’ve had a busy week! I would love to have nice hand writing, but most of the time my hand writing looks like a spider ran around the page with ink on its feet! Hopefully you have less stressful week this week. Great post!
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 16:06:30
Thank you!
Believe me, my usual handwriting is so rushed, it is definitely doctor worthy spider scrawl!
But I like the idea of taking my time to create something beautiful!
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 12:31:32
I know how it is when the day starts out well and then BAM. I, too, reach for the cake or make cupcakes.
As for calligraphy — it’s not an art for people with dyslexia. 🙂
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 12:43:32
No, I guess it isn’t, but sometimes, just making flowing marks is so soothing!
That BAM day was definitely Friday!
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 07:52:58
hi ritu i always love reading what u’ve been doing during the week….
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 12:42:17
Thank you!
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 06:11:29
What a busy – and challenging! – week you had, Ritu!
If we were sipping that chai together this week, we would have had an engrossing and interesting discussion of the merits of women in positions of responsibility versus men in the same positions. Here is what I would have contributed to that chat:
An American women’s magazine – LADIES HOME JOURNAL – used to have a slogan (starting in 1941) that highlighted the purchasing power of women to it advertisers, yet also suggested something else about this demographic: Never underestimate the power of a woman.
Yes, if you have a tough task, a woman is your best bet! I was a supervisor at one point before I retired, and that usually was my finding when relying on my staff to get tough tasks done. (The men were more concerned about their future plans to become supervisors, whereas the women were focused on doing the job and doing it well!) Clearly this is your work ethic, too!
p.s. Women make better supervisors, too, I’ve learned, because of this focused attention to detail.
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 06:52:06
Thanks Doug!
It was indeed a crazy week!
And I think it really depends, not only on the job in hand, but the person in question, as to who does it better!
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Jan 27, 2020 @ 13:30:32
There is a lot of truth in that, Ritu.
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