Update

Hi! It's been awhile, but I thought you'd all like to know what has been happening in my life this past week. I got a text from Sean last Sunday telling me that I was going back to Harefield Infants School all week... so that's what I've been doing! I'm in a Year 2 class, and it is quite a challenge, as they always keep me on my toes. Monday after my first day in this class, I came home and drank a bottle of wine. I'm not ashamed to say that I was in bed before 9pm. What I can tell you though, is that if I'm not a better teacher after this experience, I'm doing it wrong! I have my ups and downs, but the staff at this school are quite amazing. I've met some amazing people there! :)

I am going back to the same class this week, since the head teacher told my consultant I was doing a quite good job at building a rapport with the students, and not only managing them (HA HA) but they were also learning. Although I know that it's going to be a challenge, sometimes you just have to look for the tiny positives of the day and focus on those, rather than the million negative things that happened. It should be a fun week too, since there will be Halloween and Harvest celebrations on Thursday and Friday, and then we're on half term break for a week! Dare I say it, I can't wait for half term- I want to have a break and do some fun things!

Day Trip to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath

I finished the week off by teaching at Roxbourne Infant's School in a Year 2 classroom. Not only is this school closer to me than other schools I've been at, the students were so well behaved and courteous... I would definitely go back there again! 

Early Saturday morning (5:15am!) I woke up to get ready for our excursion. We were out the door by 6:10am, and caught the tube to King's Cross/St. Pancras station to meet up with Kaitlin. While Jess got in touch with the travel company to arrange our pick up, I got myself a Chai Latte from Cafe Nero for some much needed caffeine. Then, we had to catch the tube to Victoria Station. We waited in line forever to get on the coach bus, but we talked with some Americans, so time seemed to fly by. Finally, we were able to load the bus, and we took off! Our tour guide Geoffrey was an especially insightful and funny bloke... I found myself constantly laughing at things he said! He pointed out some interesting things along the way. 

Dana and I sitting on the coach bus.

We finally arrived at Windsor Castle. It was quite something to behold! It was contradictory: you will never be at a busier tourist location that is more silent. There is a quiet reverence associated here... being surrounded by the history, the royalty, the wealth, the tradition... it was overwhelming. I will admit to being brought to tears as I walked around. I don't care if it makes me a nerd. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside, but we took as many as we could outside!

The flag means that the Queen is at home!

Spectacular landscaping

After we toured the castle, we met back at the bus for noon. We travelled to Stonehenge from Windsor Castle. There were some nasty rainstorms that we drove through on the way... and I had a nap! The landscape on the drive there was quite breathtaking. The rolling hills, the farmland, the vastness... it was a picturesque scene of English countryside. I loved it! We finally arrived at Stonehenge, and got to spend a little under an hour walking around and taking pictures. It was an awesome site to behold!

Jess, Kaitlin, Dana, and I

 From Stonehenge, we journeyed to Bath... where Jane Austen resided, and the epitome of historical greatness! I loved the Georgian style of architecture, and the story behind the Roman baths. With so much history, you could almost feel the people of the past. It was definitely spooky. One room in particular gave me goosebumps! 

On the edge of the healing springs. I wonder how many people have sat in that exact spot?

We got to sample some (clean!) spring water from Bath! Its water is said to have restorative and healing properties because it contains over 40 different minerals. 

 After we left the Roman baths, we toured the city of Bath for a bit. There were gorgeous gardens, and some lovely buildings to see! 

Golden Jubilee landscaping!

We left Bath a little after 5pm, and arrived back in central London a bit after 7pm. Then we took the tube from Gloucester Station, and arrived home shortly after 8pm. It was certainly a long day, but it was a memorable trip that I am grateful to have taken! I'm taking today to rest and prepare myself for another week of teaching. Although there are times I miss home, I LOVE it here. There is always so much to entertain, and I am so grateful for this opportunity!

Colham Manor (that's my school)

I have spent the past 3 days at Colham Manor Primary School-- apparently this schools loves me! I've been all over that school this week! On Tuesday, my consultant Craig calls me to tell me to cancel my plans for the Year 3 at the other school, and head to Colham (pronounced Cullum) instead. I arrive to find out I'm covering Year 2F for the day while the teacher does in-service. At the end of the day, I try to get my timesheet signed, but the booking lady says she's booked me for Thursday, so just wait until then to get it signed. So, I knew I was going back on Thursday for sure.

Wednesday morning, Craig calls me and says "Colham again, mate!" I covered Year 2T in the morning (such a sweet class) and then 1SH in the afternoon. My time spent in Year 1 has confirmed that really young children are not for me. I can deal with Year 2, but Year 1 is just too young for me. Today, I was in Year 6, which was totally, totally my style. This class was the smallest one I've had so far- just 22 kids. They were so well behaved, and so funny! The only downside to teaching Year 6 is that they are preparing them for Key Stage 3, and they are doing tests to figure out their secondary school placement (kind of like SAT scores in the States) and there is a lot of work for them to do. I spent over an hour marking at the end of the day. A HUGE thank you to my roomie Dana for helping me mark their Literacy, where they were writing their own myths, while I marked their Maths and Handwriting.

I definitely like Colham, and I know they like me. If they were to keep offering me jobs, I wouldn't complain, but I do want to get some experience at other schools as well. I have only been to 2 other schools, for 1 day a piece since I've started here. The rest of my time has been spent at Colham!! I'm not sure where I am tomorrow- hopefully somewhere nice! And tomorrow is pay day! Woohoo!

We're going on a tour this Saturday to Bath, Stonehenge and Windsor Castle, and I am getting extremely excited about doing something other than teaching haha. I will definitely update you all on that experience, with pictures of course, when I get back. Lots of love xo

Just another day in the life of a supply teacher

It's Monday- and I survived it! I woke up slightly better this morning, but still quite tired. I shall be turning in early this evening!

Anyway, I got myself ready this morning (curse you 6am alarm clock-- every morning, I always think OMG it's only 1am at home, and here I am starting my day!), and then around 7:30 I travelled to the tube station to wait not-so-patiently for my consultants to call with work.

Around 8:15am, Sean (who, by the way is a doppleganger for Ryan Gosling) called me up and said a school just called and needed someone. I had to make my way to Uxbridge which is the last stop on the Picadilly Line. As he was explaining this, I was fumbling with my Oyster card, and lo and behold, there was a Picadilly train waiting at the platform! I jumped on as the doors were closing, only to find out that this was not the one that went to Uxbridge, but rather, the one that went to Heathrow. WRONG! So I got off at the next stop, and waited for the next tube to come and take me back to where I started. As I got off of that one and made my way westbound again, an Uxbridge train came right along. I got on and bided my time to Uxbridge (which takes a good 40 minutes).

Sean then called me and gave me some directions from the tube station. I had to get off the tube and exit to the bus stops. He said I had to get on the U331 for about a 20 minute bus ride. As I rode along the bus, I kept wondering where in the heck they were sending me! I saw horse pastures and then major highways, and I felt like I was lightyears away from the tube station. It turns out that I was going to Harefield Infant School, and was covering them as teachers got pulled out for hour long sessions with the principal. I got there around 9:30am, which my other consultant Craig told me was really "well done" since I travelled so far. Here is a map for you at home to see how far these boys actually send us for a day of work (but I still love them):

I went to Harefield today. Last week, I went to West Drayton (Yiewsley more specifically) every day. See if you can find it!

I started my day in a Year 1 class for Maths, and then I took them to assembly. After that, they had wet play (indoor recess), and I had to move to a Reception class (Kindergarten, at home). I worked with them in small groups about what nurses do. After that, I was supposed to cover a teacher who I guess could be described as an LST, but they were in an important meeting that arose from nowhere, and I couldn't attend, so guess who got paid to sit in the staff room for an hour and a half? Yup, this girl! I also met another Canadian teacher, who used to work for Engage but is now on contract with the school. He's from Paris ON, and actually knew where Aylmer was! I was shocked lol! 

After lunch, I covered another Year 1 class, and did P.E. with them. This was by far my favourite class and lesson! They were adorable, and I actually like teaching them gym. After they were done, I spent the rest of my day in a Year 2 classroom, teaching them literacy. This class was quite behavioural, so it was quite interesting, to say the least, but I had 2 TAs for support, which was helpful. I ended my day marking their work, and chatting with their homeroom teacher who was shocked to find out that I was only a first year teacher who has only been teaching here for about 3 weeks. She said she hoped to see me again- which tells me I did a job well done!

Today I felt like a puppet on a string, and never really knew what I was supposed to be doing, but everyone was happy at the end of the day, so I guess I did okay!  Oh well, it was interesting, and it's money in the bank! And it's sure as heck more teaching than I would be getting in Ontario!!! I already know where I am going to teach Year 3 tomorrow at a school that's not as far away as the one today. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone at home!! xo

First Foray to the British Museum

It's finally the weekend, even though this week went by quite quickly. I received so many hugs and so many "awww do you have to leave" on Friday from my Year 3s. One girl even made me a card on Thursday night and gave it to me Friday morning. They asked me when I was coming back too. I felt so loved! I'm glad I was able to have such an impact on them, even for a short amount of time.

So, despite being quite ill (thanks to my darling kiddies), I dragged my butt to the British Museum with Dana and Jess yesterday.

The British Museum!

Me outside the British Museum 

One of my favourite parts of the day: Ancient Egypt

Rameses The Great

THE ROSETTA STONE

Mummy

Another Mummy

Names of Egyptian Pharoahs in hieroglyphs and cartouches. That's my shoulder on the left!!

So we first completed an audio tour about Ancient Egypt, and then we moved onto Ancient Greece/Rome and that whole lot.

This is a tomb of a rather wealthy aristocratic woman. I think I remember the audio tour  said she was around 50 when she died.

Head of Augustus.

From the Parthenon Galleries.

Dana and I.

A Gladiator helmet. 

Lely's Venus (Aphrodite)

These were really cool letters that are written on thin pieces of wood. It is surprising that they are still in such good condition. The picture below is the translation of what they say.

This is a mosaic from Hinton St. Mary's, which is thought to be the earliest image of Christ.

Relics from the Sutton Hoo ship burial. SO cool!

From Sutton Hoo- some weapons and chain mail.

I absolutely loved that tiara!

Gorgeous pearl and garnet (my birthstone!) necklace from the opulent Victorian era.

The building itself is quite breathtaking.

 Roomie pic!

Being inside the building itself was history enough, but the massive collection they have of relics from the past is just so overwhelming. Since I'm a history and English nerd, this experience was quite wonderful, even though I couldn't breathe, my throat was scratchy, and I have a mouse voice. I'm definitely going to head back another day because I barely touched to surface of what there is to see. Hopefully next time though, I'm feeling a little more energetic! 

Teaching... lots and lots of teaching

Hi all! Well, I finally have "real" internet, so I can finally do a really long post. I wish I had been able to do this in real time, but I will have to just do my best recalling what has happened from memory.

The most important thing that has been consuming my time of course, is teaching! I have survived one and a half weeks of teaching in the British education system!!

Last Monday and Tuesday, I had "days off" because apparently the girls from the Canadian Office forgot to get one piece of paperwork, and therefore, I wasn't allowed to teach. The good news is, I got a percentage of my daily pay, since it wasn't my fault and my UK consultants are amazing (Seriously though, they are so fun!).

Wednesday morning I got my first call. I went to a school called Cowley St. Laurence and was placed in a Year 2 class. Well, I got lost, had to power walk for 20 minutes in the rain while my consultant was giving me directions on the phone, and showed up late at the school. Not so good for my first day. I felt like a fish out of water! I coasted through the day, just adjusting to the differences and behaviours. These kids are crazy! Anyway, I survived.

Thursday, I got a call for a Year 3 class at a really nice school called Colham Manor and I have been there ever since. It feels as though this class is mine now, even after just 7 days! I have been told that the school is really impressed with me, and I've been put on their "request" list for supply teachers! Yay! These students are growing on me, and I'll be sad to say goodbye! Part of me wishes that their teacher doesn't get better, but I know that's awful lol. So last week I had 3 days teaching, and this week I've had a full 5 days. I am finally getting to do what I love to do, and it feels so great! I come home so tired, but happy, most of the time. The little darlings have given me germs and I have been battling a cold for a couple of days, which is making me even tireder.

I know that next week, I'll have to find new schools again, which equates getting lost and navigating tubes, trains and busses. Dare I say it, this country girl is getting comfortable with the tube! Sometimes, when I'm walking home, it strikes me that I'm actually living in London, and not in Aylmer anymore. I've grown so accustomed to living here that it barely phases me. I truly do love living here, and don't regret the decision for a minute. Tomorrow I get my first ever pay cheque as a teacher, which I am really excited about, since money seems to leak out of every pore here! I will be spending some of my money on groceries and a grande pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, which is a new thing here, but we've known for ages at home! I also need to buy a few new pairs of trousers (we call them pants. But, if I say pants here, it really means underwear and the kids get a big chuckle out of that), since all of this walking has made my current pants a wee bit big!

And finally, here are some pictures of my new home on The Ridgeway. Yes, that is the name of my street- cute, eh?!

Our abode!

The foyer

Jess' very yellow downstairs bedroom

Our living room

The kitchen... that is our "washing machine" ... it fits about 6 articles

The garden

Bathroom

My bedroom!

View from my bedroom window

Dana's bedroom

Sam's bedroom

View from Dana's room

Well, that's about it for now. I think we're going to do some touring in central London again this weekend, so I shall update you about that as well. I miss you all, but now that I have real internet, we'll be able to keep in touch!