A bit of news!

I've been so busy at work this past couple of weeks, and I finally finished writing my classes reports this evening. There I was looking to have a good play with my craft stuff over the weekend. I should stop planning! The Rwandan head teacher whose school I am visiting in September (Yeah - very excited!) is going to be staying with me over the weekend. Not entirely sure what we are going to do for two days, but I think a trip into the countryside is in order, as he asked if we have elephants in our national parks today! He was totally blown away by a trip to Tesco too. I moan about the government here interfering in education, but their schools spoke and taught in French until 2008, and then were told it all had to be done in English! I think we may have to resort to some French over the weekend - thank goodness Meg is doing GCSE!
I will do my best to visit those of you who have left me lovely comments on Sunday afternoon after I have dropped him at the university from where he will head back to Rwanda. Hoping normal service will resume after that. In the meantime my craft space needs to become my dining table!

Birds and a feather...

I've made these over the past few days. The first was an experiment to see what sort of effect you get colouring with promarkers on pearlised card, and it's quite good. You need to use darker colours, but the sheen does show through. The stamp is from the Elusive images Peacock Glory themeplate.
You know that saying 'a stamp in the hand is woth 2 through the post'... well I found the butterflies and birds inchies (Inkadinkado) on Victoria Market in Nottingham, and although they were probably £1.50 more than I would have paid elsewhere I had to get them. Don't look too closely. It isn't very straight.
Finally, here is Bernard (Digistamp boutique) teamed with my mind's eye papers and leaf stamp.
Well, I'm back to work tomorrow so I've been rushing around a bit today. I turned up the sleeves on Meg's blazer, made a cake, made a box, printed out timetables, planning and Data for the school and wrote down what I want to talk about in tomorrow's meeting. I completely forgot about Passion for promarkers (might get round to it later in the week). I'm really nervous about tomorrow. I know, I've been a teacher for 20 years - I should be used to it, but I am acting deputy until Christmas, and there is that little bit more pressure. Still, the extra money will help my new car and craft funds, lol!

Snow and Teaching

Today I have decided to have a bit of a rant. Over the past few days the press have been very negative about teachers, and I really want to set the record straight. Today is the first day I have not made it into school and that our school has been closed. I set off at 7.15 - ten minutes earlier than usual, and took an hour to get just less than a mile. Our school was announced as closed at 7.50 and I still haven't heard how many staff have made it back home safe and sound. I spent over half an hour stuck on a road in Sherwood. The ring road was down to a single lane. I eventually managed to get myself back to the road where I live, but had to leave my car at the bottom of the hill after hitting the curb several times whilst attempting to get up the road. I am feeling really fed up. Believe it or not I really wanted to go to work today. Some children in my class are really beginning to make good progress and I want to use every possible moment to make sure they succeed. When I've finished my rant I will be making some resources to use with them and planning for next week.
I feel a responsibility towards the children in my class that is not very far removed from the responsibility I feel as a parent. I teach them, yes, but I also put plasters on their knees, mop up their sick, return their hugs and tell them that I am there for them every step of the way, because in some cases I'm the only adult in their lives that will be. So, when some local radio presenter says that Teachers are lazy, am I over-reacting by feeling upset? What is that saying about walking a mile in someone elses shoes? This week I have delivered staff meeting, dealt with cuts and bruises, 'Choral' vomiting (Why do parents send their children to school when they have been throwing up all night?) headlice as big as rodents, computer gliches, snowball fights, falling out over football and still managed to teach 5 lessons each day to a class of 27 wonderful, vibrant, positive children who want to make me proud of them. I'd love to see that Radio presenter do the same.

Reflecting on last week and what's left to do

I never mentioned did I? the school panto was a huge success. We totally sold out for all the performances. The children were amazing - every single one of them. My class were little stars and we had no mishaps. There were a couple of comic moments , one involving a child lifting his head as a girl was leapfrogging over him and they both sat down with his head up her skirt! Fortunately everyone saw the funny side and no one was hurt! The two ugly sisters were year six boys in drag - completely out of character for them, but they were phenomenal. I take my hat off to all of them. Over the next two weeks we have a nativity with carols, an achievement assembly, christmas parties, christmas cards to make, calendars to make...the list is endless. I also have a new child starting in my class on Monday - that's 6 since September, although 2 have left. we normally get a few extras, but not this many so early on! Well, can't complain - more chidren means more money in school and less chance of any redundancies, which is more than can be said for most lines of work at the moment. It's not the biggest class I've ever had - I had 36 four and five year olds once.

Anyway, back to the present. I have written letters to post in cards (a round robin cheat I'm afraid), most of the Christmas presents are bought and I've made a card for a friend who has a birthday a week on Monday. It features a butterfly stamp from Aspects of Design range by The Stampman and the crafty notions creative colour sprays. I'm now trying to decide what to put on a card for Mark, who also has a birthday a week on Monday, and was our best man. He has had cards featuring a chocoholic stamp, cats and computers in the past and I just don't know what to do for him. A tree would be a cop out! I'm wondering about DIY or a cake...I'll post it when I've done it.