Surviving My First Teaching Term

Surviving my first term wasn't easy but it got better as the weeks went by. It all happened so quickly, I can't believe that it is already the holidays. I guess it is a sign that I am enjoying my job, my class and the challenges it brings me. Today after everyone had gone, I cleaned my room and organised myself for the start of Term 2, a challenging one, getting into the thick of things. I love my kids, I enjoy teaching them and discovering their interests and strengths. These photos were taken a few weeks ago. I should have taken one today, but the day was crazy with so much to do before that final bell to signal the end of term. I take a few things from this learning experience. The most important one is how being organised and prepared pays off, the second is to never underestimate the power 25 children have to both bring life into a dull day or to turn a happy day into a nightmare.

It will feel like I have gone deaf for the next two weeks, without those 25 little voices asking me questions, telling me stories, dobbing on someone or simply being noise little people. I am looking forward to my rest and to returning to my classroom refreshed for a new term. Mrs Z, signing out.

Happy 22nd Anniversary

It was our 22nd wedding anniversary yesterday...wow 22 years! To celebrate we had dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant in Fitzroy. The food was fantastic and cheap! We had to laugh though because we ordered two entrees to share and one main each plus fried rice. When the waiter finished taking our order he asked us to swap tables because ALL our food wouldn't fit on the the one we were sitting on!! Ha ha ha! I ordered flounder which I had never had before and I loved it! It was delicious! I loved this place, you can't miss it because it is so brightly decorated with lime seats and walls and lights everywhere. My beautiful husband woke me up with flowers and gifts.

I can't believe we have been married for so long already, we were reminiscing about our wedding day, ceremony and party. We were so few! Out of our love our son is on this earth now, and I think that there couldn't be a higher achievement than that, such a beautiful creature he is.

Ayer Ricky y yo cumplimos 22 anos de casados...wow 22 anos! Para celebrar fuimos a cenar a un restaurant Vietnamita en Fitzroy. La comida fue excelente y para nada cara. Nos reimos mucho porque pedimos dos entradas para compartir y un plato principal para cada uno mas dos platos de arroz para los tres. Uno de los platos que pedimos era lenguado y el mozo nos dijo que era bastante grande y nos pidio si nos podiamos cambiar de mesa porque en la que estabamos no iba a entrar toda la comida que pedimos jaja! El lenguado estaba riquisimo, yo nunca habia comido asique me encanto! Me gusto mucho el lugar tambien, es imperdible porque esta decorado con asientos de color verde lima y luces por todos lados. Mi marido me desperto con flores y regalos.

No puedo creer que hace tanto nos casamos, ayer nos acordabamos de nuestra humilde ceremonia y fiesta, con tan poquita gente. De nuestro amor nuestro hijo habita esta tierra ahora y creo que no puede haber ningun logro mejor que este, una criatura tan hermosa es el.

Warrandyte Stroll

Today we took a stroll around Warrandyte to soak up the warm sun and Autumn breeze. I wasn't feeling very well so the outing wasn't one full of excitement. The Yarra river looks so much cleaner up there, washing up against the stones. The town looks so old style and small. It's like civilization hasn't intrude there yet and one can still find a very "country feeling" despite being so close to the hustle and bustle of the surrounding suburbs. When I look at all those trees and bushes I wonder how places like that survive the hot summer without burning down?

Hoy hicimos una caminata por Warrandyte para disfrutar un poco el sol y la brisa otonal. Yo no me sentia muy bien asique la salida no fue muy aventurera. El rio Yarra parece tanto mas limpio ahi, chocando contra las piedras. El pueblo es tan chico y conservado antiguo que parece que la civilizacion todavia no intruyo ahi. Todavia puede sentirse ese "estilo campestre" a pesar de estar tan cerca del ruido y del ajetreo de los suburbios vecinos. Cuando miro a todos esos arboles y arbustos me pregunto como lugares como este sobreviven el calor del verano sin quemarse?

I found a pair of old glasses on a bench and wondered what have those glasses seen throughout their life of someone's face? Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could put them on and see through someone else's eyes?

Encontre un par de anteojos viejos en un banco. Me pregunto que habran visto esos lentes a lo largo de su vida sobre la cara de alguien? No seria fantastico si pudieramos ponernos esos lentes y ver las cosas a travez de los ojos de otra persona?

Lovely Autumn Labor Day

I had such a lovely Monday today. It is amazing how a day's feel changes with the prospect of freedom :) Not that I'm complaining about my job, because I really love it, but I think that it is still part of who we are to always want to have the choice. Today I got up at around 9 and after a relaxing breakfast did some work on the computer, cleaned my house, enjoyed the freshly cut lawn with my bare feet and went to Fitzroy to have a nice stroll under the autumn sun. It was just divine, the traffic was minimal and all the shops were opened on Brunswick Street (except for a few). We went to a cafe/restaurant called Madame Sousou. We have never been there before hence never noticed the decor and how cool it is. We sat at a table by the opened huge window and had our coffee and croissant. The service was very friendly and their coffee was nice. We could hear the music and the noise of the outside street, a really nice combination. We really liked it, the atmosphere, the peeled paint job, the tables, the chandeliers...it all seemed to fall into place for a true French feel. One only wondered if the Seine was nearby.

Long Walk

In the beautiful autumn afternoon, Ric and I went for another long walk to the city from Camberwell. I really enjoyed the warmth of the sunshine, the soft lights and the atmosphere of a Monday off. Nothing like a Sunday afternoon when Monday is not a working day. Everyone in Melbourne seemed to be out and about. The rugby was on and Moomba Festival filled the city streets with music, laughter and noise. I took this photo because I really like this corner on Swan Street in Richmond with the yellow onyx and the pot plants hanging. It makes me think of happy moments.

Inspirations

Someone said to me once that if you can inspire at least one child as a teacher, it means you are doing a good job. How proud was I last week when a day after doing a class Autumn Tree and hanging some Autumn Stories written by my students, a child walks in with a home made autumn tree, designed and put together by him complete with animals and all. I nearly cried when I saw it! He collected some autumn leaves and stuck them on a branch with sticky tape to make look like an autumn tree and because he loves animals he put an owl, a bat, and a bird looking at its pray (a little worm laying on the soil of the pot). How awesome!

Alguien me dijo una vez que solo basta con inspirar a un alumno como maestra, para saber que estas haciendo un buen trabajo. Que orgullosa me puso la semana pasada cuando un dia despues de hacer un Arbol Otonal en mi clase y colgar historias otonales escritas por mis alumnos, uno de ellos entra a la clase con un arbol otonal disenado y hecho por el con animalitos incluidos y todo. Casi lloro cuando lo vi! Mi alumno junto algunas hojas rojizas y las pego con cinta scotch a una rama seca que puso en una maceta. Y como a el le encantan los animales dibujo una lechuza, un murcielago y un pajarito mirando a su presa (un gusanito que puso sobre la tierra de la meceta). Que fantastico!!!

Autumn Begins

As the weather cools down and the light becomes softer, the first dried leaves have started to fall. I know it's still early days but the prospect to talking walks, riding or driving under the orange canopies is exhilarating. I captured these leaves on my drive back from the coffee shop this afternoon. I stopped the car to get closer and I looked up to see some more dry leaves still hanging from the branch above, but yearning to fall and be a part of this beautiful natural cycle.

I made a paper tree in my classroom to be filled with tales of Autumn from my Grade 3 students. As I wait for nature to surround my senses with burnt reds and yellows, soft breezes and gentle lights, I hope to slowly enhance my students' awareness of this mesmerising season.

Mientras la temperatura va bajando y la iluminacion se torna suave, las primeras hojas secas han empezado a desperenderse. Se que es temprano todavia pero la posibilidad de hacer caminatas, andar en bici o manejar debajo de las copas anaranjadas es estimulante. Hoy capture estas imagenes en camino a casa de vuelta del cafe. Pare el auto para ver mas de cerca y cuando mire para arriba vi mas hojas secas todavia colgando de las ramas, pero anhelando caer y formar parte de este hermoso ciclo natural.

Hice un arbol de papel en mi aula para que se vaya llenando de historias de Otono de mis alumnos de 3er Grado. Mientras espero por la naturaleza a que rodee mis sentidos con rojos quemados y amarillos, brisas suaves y luces calidas, espero de a poquito ir elevando la sensibilidad de mis alumnos para esta estacion hipnotizadora.