Yr 10s

My Year 10s (I taught them year 11 Latin) surprised us with flowers and chocolates and a homemade card. I ate the chocolates before the photo, they were great.

Kids

I am going to miss my kids so much.

 One delightful cherub gave me this and it makes me ridiculously happy.

So this morning I did this, which just made me happier.

It was a fine day filled with tea cosy knitting, tea, and giving things a thorough tidy. It didn't involve any giving away of the cats because the lady who was supposed to come and pick them up today didn't.

oops

I was absentmindedly looking at the graffiti on the tables in class and asked my yr 12s the meaning of a word I didn't recognise. They dissolved into fits of giggles and I said 'Oh dear, I might just ask google, then.' And got a rousing chorus of 'NO!!!!'s.

One kind, bold student drew breath long enough to give a definition and I was reminded to never ask questions in class when I don't know the answer.

I have set a new record on how brilliantly red I can blush.

Evolution?

All Stars

Six kids, sitting in a row in class, all wearing All Stars.















I kinda want a pair.

Tapping on the desk -

I don't cope very well with repetitive noises. So, you can imagine, there are times when I go a bit spare in class. And there is always at least 1 persistent tapper per 10 children. Mostly they are gorgeous about it and will stop when you ask. For the inveterate tappers, my secret weapon is blue tac. Gives the kid something to fidget with and it is silent.

The day a kid in my class can do this is the day I let that kid tap as much as they want.

Impromptu Wear a Suit to Work Day -

I nicked this photo off my friend's facebook. You will notice that I am the only lady-girl-person wearing a suit. I felt a little silly. You may also notice what a fine, handsome bunch of boys I work with. Yup, my work place comes with a view.














And the suit, in all its glory (all day people kept looking at my legs and smiling).


















The best part? It totally freaked out the students. They went mad trying to work out why we were doing it.

Best week of skiing ever -

First night was like this:














The phone worked quite well, but I wish now that I *had* taken my camera. We saw maybe an hour and a half of sunshine for the week, but there were still some great shots I'd love to have taken.

We took forty kids skiing and they were champions, even the most nervous, un-sporty beginners were skiing black runs by the last day (though, we didn't tell them it was black until we got to the bottom). I have rediscovered my love of teaching and the whole week was just a delight.

This was the second last day:















The night this photo was taken we got 18cm of fresh snow and spent the next morning skiing in powder up to our knees. It was the most incredible (scary) fun.

Most of the week was spent keeping an eye out for yellow armbands. I found counting the kids, picking them up when they fell and helping beginners very tiring, but it was totally worth it. I loved taking skiiers who were terrified on even the easiest slope and teaching them skills so that by the time we reached the bottom they felt confident and in control.

The amount of snow we got on the last day caused an avalanche across the road, which meant a *very* late return time. We got back to school well after 2am, and some parents didn't turn up til 30 minutes after that.

I knit another koolhaas in the evenings out of the chocolate malabrigo from Canada. I think it is a little big. I might have to rip out one repeat.

Why I like my job -

Was it wrong to tell him he could leave it there? -
















This is why I like teaching.















Interesting things keep happening.