Day 228 - Data Handing Is Easy

Monday November 30th

A good day today. Kept plugging away with 9.2.2 on percentages and ratio and I seemed to have got the pitch right on this one. It really does make a difference as they stay on task and aren't so needy. I can praise them as well which they lap up.

10.2.2 was OK as well. We did cumulative frequency graphs and they settled down and got on with the work. Data Handling, as the whole area is called, is relatively easy for them to grasp as conceptually there isn't much to it - just learning a bunch of different ways of collecting, analysing and representing data. Easy.

I'm on a course tomorrow so no lesson planning. Glee. I did however lend a hand to my friend Vinay from Diageo days. He left over the summer has a mad scheme to get them to pay for him and his friends to travel around the world and drink Guinness. It might just work...

Day 205 - Burn A Catholic Night

Saturday November 7th

Lots of football this morning followed by a mad dash down to the Old Oak pub in Bank to have a traditional pub lunch with M&D. Sat around a big table drinking Guinness with Dad charming Debbie and Ann before a brisk walk amongst the trees and a cream tea in Brockenhurst.

Rushed home to put on the warm clothes, pick up our sparklers and join the Bonfire Night celebrations in town. What celebrations they were! The flaming torch procession down the High Street was a sight to behold and not a Health and Safety Officer in sight to keep the torches away from flammable clothing, hair products and out of the hands of babes and small children. 22,000 turned up and witnessed a magnificent fireworks display at the recreation ground. Brilliant. Debbie and Ann were very disappointed not to see a Catholic flaming on top of the mountain of old pallets

Day 81 - NCL

Monday July 6th

So my 3 letter "signature" next year will be NCL. Somewhat reminiscent of NCR as in National Cash Registers but I will live with it as it a the first concrete indication of my new status as a teacher at Kings. I am observing for the week and spent all day in school. Enjoyed myself very much although didn't pluck up the courage to go to the toilet so it was a desperate dash home at 3:15. Thank God we're living just up the road.

It was encouraging to be recognized by a few of the kids from back in March, especially the naughtier ones! First up was Jane's tutor group. Jane is my mentor for the year which means she helps me get through my first year. She has a full timetable but has found time to make feel welcome so I'm sure we are going to get on well together.

Sat in on some very excitable classes which was good. For the life of me I have no idea how I'm going to deal with a class that is out of control. My fear is that I will be too tolerant and then lose my temper on occasion. That would be awful so need to be really careful. Sat with the class I taught in March and they remembered the "Guinness" lesson.

Had a complete panic attack when Alexis asked me to help someone with construction. Stayed one step ahead and showed no fear! Got home and fell asleep on the floor!