Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 187

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“The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.” – Khalil Gibran

Thanks, Spidey.

This.

This is what I feel teaching is all about!

As a teacher of the youngest in the school chain, the Nursery and Reception classes, I have always said, and continue to utter, my job is to create a love of learning.

It’s not called the Foundation Stage for nothing.

We are building the foundation for the rest of their school careers.

We, as educators of the first-timers, have a responsibility to instil the importance of education and school within these little mites, make their learning interactive and fun, so they go on to have successful school lives, where they feel prepared for all the curriculum is going to throw at them.

We should make them realise they have all the capabilities within – they just need to work out how to tap them.

They need to realise that there isn’t just one way to do something, but there are myriad ways to solve problems.

We need to grasp their thoughts and help them go with the flow, sometimes losing all track of the planned lesson, when someone poses a question that can ignite further exploration and learning.

We need to teach them how to learn.

I haven’t forgotten.

Miss Wilson.

She was my nursery teacher and the most wonderful teacher ever, making my first days in school, a three year old with English as a second language, such a joy.

So much of a pleasure that I went back to her as an sixteen year old, and volunteered in her class, where she was, by then, known as Mrs Haynes.

I felt so happy, and secure there, it impacted upon my whole school life, and going forward, because of her, and some other amazing teachers, I realised that this was what I wanted to do.

And I hope that I am one of those teachers, remembered for her impact upon children’s lives, but something that irks me, when you ask someone about their teachers, the comments are always about secondary teachers, or late primary ones. Does everyone forget those that shaped their educational futures?

Tell me, do you still remember your Nursery/kindergarten/preschool teachers? 😘

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps ❤ And enjoy your week!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 186

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“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Confucius

Thanks, Spidey.

Oh that Confucius, he is a wise man, isn’t he! 😜 (Yes, I know who he is!)

But what a true thought.

I do feel blessed to be a person who is engaged in a job that I do truly love.

Teaching is hard, especially in this day and age, when governments push their teachers to the limits, creating layers and layers of paperwork, that detracts from the job in hand.

It’s easy to fall out of love with teaching if you let that side of it get the better of you.

I very nearly did that.

Twice.

The first time – after wanting to teach from the tender age of 7, and embarking upon my four-year qualification, I realised that the powers that be had changed things up a bit, and made teaching be a job where red tape was to become a must.

Forget the kids, you need to tick boxes.

Don’t give them choices, they need to learn this, and only this. The thats of life were flung aside as if they were only good for those rare spare afternoons where you needed a filler. Gone were the drama and art lessons. Music took a hike too.

Basically, unless it was numeracy or literacy backed, it wasn’t really that important.

But, as you know, I did end up teaching.

The second time – as I was stretched and pulled in all directions, placed in two separate classes, with a subject lead role and a governors position, I feared I was going to snap.

But after a tough few months, I pulled myself together. I learned how to organise myself better, how to talk worries and problems through with the right people, and it really helped.

Coupled with that mind-blowing talk we attended on The Art Of Brilliance, I was all set.

I realised that I had allowed the outside world to influence my thoughts. I was turning Mood Hooverish when it came to my work life. My job was not just a career, but a vocation.

And so, I started this term with a renewed vigour.

Sure there are going to be issues with certain kids and parents. Definitely there will be clashes with others about how to do things, but I know that.

I’ve learned to let go of the small things, do what I feel is going to be right, and enjoy each day that the teaching world throws at me.

I have finished my first week, not exhausted, but super-charged and positive that each new day will bring new achievements to light, and that if I can be that positive person, my kids will be too.

I truly love to teach!

Tell me, do you love your job? 😘

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps ❤ And enjoy your week!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 185

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“Don’t save things for a special occasion. Every day of your life is a special occasion.”

Thomas S. Monson

Thanks, Spidey.

Now, I shan’t go into this too much here today, but this quote is really something that resonates after a, quite frankly, inspiring INSET morning at school on Friday.

A post all about it will follow soon!

 

Tell me, what do you keep for those special occasions? 😘

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps ❤ And enjoy your week!

Taking Compliments – #FridayFeelings

How are you at taking compliments?

Are you one of those who is able to graciously take one, smiling and not looking smug, or do you colour up and just not know what to say?

I’m not quite sure where I stand.

I don’t get outwardly embarrassed – it’s quite hard to flush as an Indian! But on the inside, I feel like a bit of a fraud taking a compliment.

The other day, my mum was so proud, telling me that one of my Hubby Dearest’s aunts had been on the phone to her, and within the conversation, she had mentioned how she thought everyone should have a perfect daughter-in-law like me.

That was so very sweet to hear, but I am good with the outward appearances. My parents have brought me up well, to understand about respecting elders, how to speak to everyone, having a smile on my face, and being happy to help.

I can do all that easily, but I’m not perfect, seriously. I still have my faults. I don’t do all the cooking and cleaning for my in-laws, I can get a bit stroppy with them, heck sometimes I don’t actually want to go there EVERY DAY, but I do. Because that is what a good daughter-in-law does.

I’m a wonderful wife and mother, apparently.

No, I am good at making sure everyone is fed, and had clean clothes. I know all homework is complete and I am a fantastic taxi service.

But I’m too tired to spend quality time with my Hubby without wanting to just fall asleep. I spend half the time yelling at my kids because I have used up all my patience on the children in my various classes.

My colleague told me she looks up to me, as a teacher.

I’m good. I’m not great. She is absolutely fantastic. I am calm and have a way with people so I can keep myself organised (Virgoan trait), and I can tell stories amazingly.

But I don’t think I am an inspiring teacher the way she is. There are days I want to walk out of the classroom. I don’t know my craft inside out – sometimes I totally wing it!

And as for being ‘Best Blogger’…

Really? I love what I do on this blog. I try my hardest. Yet I look at others, and I am in awe of them and what they achieve. I’m not the ‘best’. I just put my heart and soul into it, and I hope for the best.

But I’m not inspiring. I don’t write things that are out of this world, just my jumbled up thoughts and interpretations.

So you see, I feel like a fraud. Somehow the outward appearance belies what I really am, and how I feel inside… And when someone compliments me, I feel awful, because I know it’s a facade…

I’m not some role model – I’m just me…

Though there is one thing that is true… I will most definitely always have a smile for you!

Tuesday Thought in Poetic Form

I feel a little anxious today
I feel I wanna hide
I want the world to stop and let me off
I don’t wanna ride
I feel so much uncertainty
I really don’t feel right
I wish I knew what was going on
I wanna sleep at night
I spend nights tossing and turning
I’m not sleeping well
I feel the Heaven around me
Is turning into Hell
I need to think what to do
To turn my thoughts around
If I look hard enough
Positivity can be found

Ritu 2017

Seeing all going on around the world, with attacks, elections with no hope no matter what the outcome, poverty and greed, it is so easy to become worried and upset.

Please look around you. There is good, no matter where you look.

As the saying goes, “Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining”.

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