Saturday, January 28, 2006

Inspired by an email

I recieved a funny email today which asks you to do the following:

Go into google and type in your name followed by "needs" : E.G. "Michael needs" Then submit the search and see what comes up.

Here's some I tried earlier:

Matt needs an Xbox 360 --> Oh how happy he was with that result

Ant needs some pipes -->? Do you?
Mark Needs A Chick --> mmm>?
Apparently Ezzat doesn't need anything...? but..
Dunk needs your help so good luck.

Hannah Needs A New Name.
Glenn needs to pay attention. --> Hannah, any comments on this one?? lmao

Kelly needs to be on top of the details of her job
Greg Needs a Friend
Tiggy needs a cuddle partner.
Monkey needs to raise his profile this year.

Michelle needs to just shut up --> I swear to god!!!! oh my god!!! lol try it. it's what comes up!! lol
Gaynor needs to consume 3500 calories daily to maintain her training regimen, --> LMAO!!
Raymond Needs You!

TERENA needs to stay at the forefront of developments
All Paul Needs Is Love ---> Ahhh

Rachel Needs Some Good Thoughts.
Ann needs to get a spine --> didn't know you were havinG back probs mate ;)
Jeremy needs to have a system that will allow him to move --> Have you both got spine issues??? lmao
Darren needs parents who will enjoy his many attractive qualities while being realistic about his limitations.
Suzie Needs Exercise & Health Talk.

Jill needs a resolution
Sally needs more action in the Valley --> MMMmmmm? LMAO!

Stanley needs a new home please --> OH NO!! :(
Hendrix needs to do a better job at being quick on his feet and answering such criticism

Jac needs proper medical treatment on his injured foot
Rowan needs another rowan nearby to make fruit
Gerin needs defending --> Why what's he been up to??

ADI needs to. absorb more energy to have carbide precipitates or. stress-induced martensitic Transformation.--> Adi... Full interpretation required.
Sarah needs to get her life back & establish herself as a person in charge!--> Nah she has Adi well under control ;)

Tina needs someone nice ;o) in TV/TS/CD and Fetish swingers photo ads. --> But she's getting married!!
Matthew needs an adoptive family with a positive male role model -->lmao -all that ABBA has to be attributed to someone!!
MONTY NEEDS NEW HOME URGENTLY --> is he going to run away with stan??
Thea needs psychiatric help --> what are you doing to these cats???

Megan needs a theme song MEGAN NEEDS HELP Megan needs lots of encouragement
NICK NEEDS MEDS Petition -> Always knew that there was something wrong there ;)
EMMA NEEDS A HOME --> No. 14?
Wayne needs to Use the Bathroom Letterbox --> ??
Craig needs to sell his '92 Saturn
Claire needs to shear all her sheep in a matter of days --> Baaaa




Thursday, January 19, 2006

Finding sanctuary upstairs

Much to many people's horror I have a real dislike for Tarentino films. I watched Pulp Fiction and although I get the complex narrative sequence etc (and respect its cleverness) I think that Tarentino is a silly bloke who likes to make films with unnecessary violence and swearing; because of that he lost all of my respect (not that it'll bother him much!). So when Matt went out one lunchtime and bought Kill Bill 1 + 2 in the HMV sale I knew that there would come a night when I would be hiding, upstairs, out of the way. -Well actually... I kind of figured he'd choose one of those nights where Span and I are drunk and LOM and LOF are doing bloke things ( like watching films with OTT violence and swearing). Alas, he did not so I am upstairs hiding from the bad film.

On a more positive note this gives me a bit of time to update my Blog.

I am glad to report that Dunk has arrived in Cairo unharmed... Check out "The unofficial one" link. I hope he has lots of fun... If the only thing I forget to pack when I go to OZ is a "USB cable" then I'll be very happy :)

The last few weeks have been very hectic, what with starting my new job so I haven't had much time to muse on Rockinmochin. Getting used to new routines, new faces, new pupils and a school which was clearly originally a giant maze had been quite time consuming. I am starting to get used to it all now. Typing up every lesson plan in the OFSTED style format isn't as time consuming as I once thought and I seem to be keeping on top of things quite well now.

My new classes are full of interesting, but lovely kids and I am loving the challenge. Span was sooo right all those months ago in the Old Joint Stock. I did need a change, something to get my teeth into and I think I could really help to make a difference at Shenley. I am pretty sure that I have already left a lasting impression on some of the kiddies there ;)
I have only just started loosen up a little with them now... I performed my first 'I'm so excited about this lesson' learning dance in front of Year 7 yesterday when I took them to the computer room to use the track changes mode in word so that they could demonstrate to me how much they'd learnt... (Don’t ask) I was so excited to be using ICT with a class who were responding that I started singing "Holler Back Girl" and jigging up and down the rows of machines.

There are some subtle differences between Tommy's and Shenley kids. Years 7 are less OTT at Shenley and they settle quickly with hardly any attention seekers or overly cheeky chappies. Year 8 are ready to learn but a challenge because their ability is sooo diverse. I have kids who are barely level 3 with kids who are trying to achieve level 6! Whoa.. Good fun to plan for though. Year 9 were a challenge because they'd already decided English was crap (too hard) and had switched off. They're getting interested now, slowly...

The kids in the upper years were slightly harder to crack as they've had to put up with the crap for longer but they are all so bright and intelligent and I can't wait to help them see their potential....

I have learnt so much already just being there. There are so many excellent teachers who are willing to share their good practice and, because of the circumstances the school is in, we actually have time to do just that. It's like working in a place where some of the best teachers in the LEA have been pooled together and it's an absolute pleasure to be a part of that. It's really energizing me and driving me to improve my practice even further. I am thriving and really enjoying what I always loved doing… I just wish that all my former colleagues could feel the buzz that this job brings.

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Ode to a traveller....

Runky Dunk spunk is off for a short while
He's flying on Monday to another isle
No he's not the co-pilot so he can sit and relax
as he zooms across the earth hoping he's packed
His computer, his suit, his clothes, his clean pants
as he's off to Egypt to learn more about it's lands

I first met Dunk at secondary school
He was a loveable rogue, his brother famed cool.
He loved to work sums and draw Gorman on my books
He helped me with maths and gave the girls his keen look.

I like to think that I've influenced his life
And, guiltily, I think that I may have helped, in year 9
To get him excluded for a short time.
You see Dunk is a knight who fights clean battles
and when Max annoyed him he punched him in the knackers.

I remember the heady days of the A level Syl
When Great Expectations were over the hill
He discovered Dickens' use as a tennis bat
and spent hours studying how to hit the rubber with meaningful attack

I remember the days when this pure breed would drink
I have heard all the stories and shudder to think
of events on back seats and days with police
the witnessed accounts of drunken reverie
the night of his birthday when a kiss was 10p
the flashing lights inside, the flashing dunk outside.

He told me last week he was sad to be leaving,
that the 1o years past was pulling his heart strings
He needs to know now that it hasn't all ended
His friends, the ones who love him
will always be waiting
and on his return, whenever that might be
we'll be looking forward to the massive party, (alcohol free.)

So here's to Runky who's off to Eggy put
We'll watch your blog closely to see what you wrote
We'll wait for the piccies, the written accounts
and hope that this trip will inspire him to travel around.
Enjoy your 6 months without any code.
Stop writing about biology, grammar and polls.

Bon Voyage mon ami, Bon Chance et j'espère que tu as une bonne journey!

So I've started a new job, in a new school, with new kids. It's supposed to be in special measures and I thought that, as a result, the kids would be bonkers, the school would be in mayhem and I'd have a jolly ol' time for the next few terms...

In fact the kids are really not that different from those at Tommys. The younger ones, I might add, are probably better behaved than my former pupils. Yeah it has its problems and Year 10 + 11, having suffered the most, are the most resistant to change but all in all I've had a really nice experience so far.

I have a bigger work load and seem to to spend much more time planning and researching than ever before. Even that's getting quicker now though as I set up my systems and routines and am able to find the things I need a little faster. I think I'm going to like it here....

I hope I'm not speaking too soon... lol

Monday, January 02, 2006

IN 2006

It's not where the train's going that's important... It's whether or not you get on.