I went out last night!! Woo-hoo!! God, I miss that! There were about 6 of us that went to a pub close by. Two were French, two were British, one was Swedish - we were the International table in the pub. We drank five bottles of wine, ate bags of crisps (potato chips) and just talked and talked. It was wonderful! Afterward, we went to one of the girls' flat (which was right across the street) and had late-night chips (French fries), more wine and some SALSA dancing lessons. Catherine and I stumbled home around two in the morning. I don't think I could do that every weekend, but it was nice to get out of the house on a Friday night. I should have taken a B12, though.
This morning I slept in until 11, or so. Then decided to march myself to the infamous ASDA. ASDA, it seems, has been bought-out by Wal-Mart (and I love aimlessly wandering the aisles of Wal-Mart, so it could have meant trouble). I'd heard so much talk of this UK version that I had to see for myself. ASDA does not compare. Its main focus is groceries (which is never my main focus), so I was disappointed. The electronics aisle is about 6 feet long - that's it!! I looked at the signs labeling each department and they were right on top of each other, not miles and miles away like in Wal-Mart. Meaning, there is little to no selection of anything (other than food). I used to spend hours walking up and down the aisles, contemplating life and whether or not I really needed the microwavable egg poacher. The stores in town close at 5:30, the Pubs close at 11:00. Guess it is probably a good thing that the ONLY 24 hour place in this town sucks. I'll have to find somewhere else to contemplate the meaning of life.
In my running around town this afternoon, I missed a second opportunity to see a Rugby Match. One of these days I'll make it. There's always next Saturday...
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Follow Up
Thursday I asked to speak with the (acting) Head of Department and asked her for some feedback. I explained that she is the only person that has spent any time in my classroom and was just wondering how things looked from her perspective. She was positive and didn't mention anything about subject knowledge, but I also don't feel she was being completely honest with me. Instead of feeling miserable about it all, I wanted a chance to confront her and say "I hear a lot of talk about this other teacher, if there are issues or concerns about me, please bring them up now." I don't like to be talked about, I'd much rather have someone in my face because, hopefully, things can get worked out that way. At least I said something... Maybe it will open a door.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
More Happy Mail!
Got a package from Krissie today! :) She sent two Dexter Freebish CDs. The live one I have been listening to all night. Thanks, K!
It has been a rough few days. The kids have not been especially bad, they are who they are and you can't exactly fault them for being kids. Unfortunately, adults can behave like kids and that's where I have issues.
The problem starts with the fact that I am not the smartest individual in the group. I know enough to get by, but I don't know (if I had grown up in the UK) if I would have been accepted to a University here. Only a small percentage of students go on to year 12 or year 13, and those are the students who are considering college. A-Levels and GCSEs, I'm not sure what all is involved, but I have doubts as to whether or not I would make high enough scores. I have a degree in Middle Grades education, which allowed me to take a variety of classes within my two concentrations: science and social studies. I did not major in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which makes it difficult to be a "subject expert" in any of those topics. My most-recent experiences in Science were in Environmental Studies and Geology (which I won't get to teach here).
One of the other new Science teachers is having some real difficulties in the classroom. It started to become the topic of conversation in the break room whenever she was not around. Now, while her problems have mutiplied in the classroom, that is about the ONLY topic of conversation in the break room. Being a new teacher, myself, I can sympathize with her problems, but in all honesty she is really making some BIG mistakes. Kids are out of control in her room, and while I feel that way about my room, I know that it is not the same. We are now into Week Four of school, and the complaints in the break room have turned to subject matter knowledge. I understand that I may be a little sensitive to this issue, but I draw the line at citing her for that! Number One: Subject matter is the last of your worries when you are trying to manage classroom discipline and lesson planning, etc. Number Two: Sometimes people know more than they realize and only experience and confidence will let that show through.
It finally dawned on me last night what was happening in the Science Department. There has been so much talk about this particular teacher, but I am starting to wonder if (when I leave the room) my name doesn't get replaced for hers. It's sad, really, we are all adults and yet we are acting like children. Last night at Open Evening I met the new Head of the Science Department (she'll take over in January) and her first question to me was, "So how are you feeling about this subject content?" Hello and it's nice to meet you, too. If that didn't give it away...!!! I went home furious, but can I really fault them? I am not a subject expert... Of course, I've never claimed to be one, so why should I be made to feel stupid?
It has been a rough few days. The kids have not been especially bad, they are who they are and you can't exactly fault them for being kids. Unfortunately, adults can behave like kids and that's where I have issues.
The problem starts with the fact that I am not the smartest individual in the group. I know enough to get by, but I don't know (if I had grown up in the UK) if I would have been accepted to a University here. Only a small percentage of students go on to year 12 or year 13, and those are the students who are considering college. A-Levels and GCSEs, I'm not sure what all is involved, but I have doubts as to whether or not I would make high enough scores. I have a degree in Middle Grades education, which allowed me to take a variety of classes within my two concentrations: science and social studies. I did not major in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which makes it difficult to be a "subject expert" in any of those topics. My most-recent experiences in Science were in Environmental Studies and Geology (which I won't get to teach here).
One of the other new Science teachers is having some real difficulties in the classroom. It started to become the topic of conversation in the break room whenever she was not around. Now, while her problems have mutiplied in the classroom, that is about the ONLY topic of conversation in the break room. Being a new teacher, myself, I can sympathize with her problems, but in all honesty she is really making some BIG mistakes. Kids are out of control in her room, and while I feel that way about my room, I know that it is not the same. We are now into Week Four of school, and the complaints in the break room have turned to subject matter knowledge. I understand that I may be a little sensitive to this issue, but I draw the line at citing her for that! Number One: Subject matter is the last of your worries when you are trying to manage classroom discipline and lesson planning, etc. Number Two: Sometimes people know more than they realize and only experience and confidence will let that show through.
It finally dawned on me last night what was happening in the Science Department. There has been so much talk about this particular teacher, but I am starting to wonder if (when I leave the room) my name doesn't get replaced for hers. It's sad, really, we are all adults and yet we are acting like children. Last night at Open Evening I met the new Head of the Science Department (she'll take over in January) and her first question to me was, "So how are you feeling about this subject content?" Hello and it's nice to meet you, too. If that didn't give it away...!!! I went home furious, but can I really fault them? I am not a subject expert... Of course, I've never claimed to be one, so why should I be made to feel stupid?
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