Peak of the week

On Friday afternoon in Room 8 they shared their peak of the week, this is a highlight from the week, and it can be something that happened at school or something that happened outside of school.

I have to share two of my favourites from the children...

- "the whole week"

- "coming back to school"

My peak of the week was when Molly bought her Mum into meet me when she dropped her off to school on Thursday, Molly's Mum told me that she had heard lots about me and this made me feel pretty special! If any of the other parents are reading this, please pop in and say hi if you can, I would LOVE to meet you! :)

Without a doubt the thing I always enjoy the most about placement is the children, and this placement is no exception. They are an amazing bunch, bright, cheerful, friendly and eager to learn. Another highlight of my week was when one by said at the end of a challenging maths session, "that was fun", I asked him if it was hard as well and he said yes! What an amazing thing that maths can be hard, yet fun, I know I am in the right career when that gets me excited!

This weekend has been a busy one with lots of planning for next week when I take full control of the class, Megan will still be there keeping an eye on things and helping me when I need it but it is my responsibility to take control of the planning and teaching of the class. I still have some more planning to do before I am ready for tomorrow but I am also going to find time to go to the beach... my happy place!

Megan is a student teachers dream AT, she is friendly, kind, thoughtful and helpful, Ranzau is lucky to have her, as am I!

Looking forward to next week, I wonder what our peaks will be come Friday...

Learning aims and learning names

Well day two is done and dusted, and I am proud to say that I just looked at the Room 8 blog (http://room8ranzau.blogspot.co.nz/), at their class picture and I know all of the kids names! I have no doubt that this will come unstuck tomorrow when they are all wearing different clothes but it is a start!

So far I have taken one lesson and the roll twice, baby steps! The first week is mostly about learning the routines and the childrens names (YUS, check!) so that next week I can take over where Megan (my associate teacher/AT) has left off (well that is the plan...).

I already feel like I have been there forever which is a nice feeling, our class has been doing some weaving (http://room8ranzau.blogspot.co.nz/2014/07/cd-weaving.html) with room 5 so I have been meeting and working with a whole other class of children and I have been blown away by how willing they are to accept me as part of the team, the frustrating bit is that they all know my name and I haven't managed to learn the room 5 students names as well.

Today some of the girls requested that I watch them on the monkey bars (well that is what they were called back in my day) which made me feel quite special! I think there are a few future gymnasts in this group! I also enjoy strolling around while on duty having random chats with all the children of different ages, they are so warm and welcoming, ready to tell you what they are doing, some of the younger students made me a "latte" at morning tea time on their new/second hand coffee machine, as their teacher has upgraded! I have to say that it was delicious and warmed up my cold hands remarkably well :)

Trying desperately to keep up with my planning and failing miserably, which has  me worried for the rest of my career! I have no idea how teachers/student who are also parents do it, hats off to all of you working/studying parents!

Tomorrow after school I am going to venture into the resource room! If you don't hear from me in the next 48 hours, send in a search party! Just kidding, it looks very well organised, I just haven't spent a lot of time in them before. I am hoping to find some good non-fiction texts for the next few weeks based on the ideas of cooperation and competition.

Well that's it from me for the night, better go before I start rambling on...

Goodnight all!

Final Placement & Introduction to Ranzau School

I started a blog before going on my last placement (I regret not starting it sooner), but it was a way to communicate a little bit about me to the parents of students in the class I was going into. It has since become a bit boring while I have been completing assignments but as I am heading back out onto placement next week (YIKES) I thought it was time to create a new post to introduce myself to a new group of students and their parents, so read if you are interested...

I am 27 (and yes I know I don't look it), my Mum is Sally Oates who used to be a teacher and is now working at Fresh Choice in Takaka, my Dad is Greg Oates who is a farming contractor and he is married to Lea who is a super stay at home mum to my younger sister Shaye who is in year 7 this year. I have an older brother Michael who is working on a farm in Haupiri, near Greymouth, he is married to Lisa and they have two children Zoe (nearly 6) and Logan who is only 3. I also have two step brothers, Dan and Ari who are both in their early 20s and busy living their lives. 

I was born in Nelson hospital, but grew up in Golden Bay, based in Collingwood, Rockville and Bainham throughout the years. When I was 16 I moved to Nelson to live with my Aunty Jo and do my final year of school at Nayland College. In 2005 I studied the New Zealand National Nanny Certificate in Nannying at NMIT before working at a variety of jobs until I again decided to study in 2012.

It took me a long time to decide that I was going to study to be a primary teacher, I can remember talking about wanting to do it and then it all happened really fast, I downloaded the application form just to have a look and before I even consciously knew I had made a decision I was posting it off. I think it was one of those decisions where good things take time; I weighed up all of the options and made the right decision, I think taking the time was a valuable step for me as I now know that I am fully committed.  So far I am really enjoying my study, it has been incredibly full on and overwhelming at times but I have no doubt that it will be worthwhile in the end (which is sneaking up REALLY fast!).

I have been babysitting and looking after children since I was 14 and I still do a lot of babysitting in my spare time. Other things I like to do in my spare time are reading (as long as it's not a text book), baking, going for walks, going to the beach or just getting out in the sunshine. I LOVE cats (but currently don't have one, and it has become something of a joke among my friends, one look at my facebook page will make you think I am a crazy cat lady.... which I am not....quite) and my favourite colour is yellow! 

I keep saying that I wouldn't mind working in a rural school somewhere once I graduate, so I have been testing the theory to find out if it is something I could actually see myself doing. Rural schools are very different to city schools, something I have found quite interesting having come from a rural, community based background myself. 

I must admit to being a wee bit nervous about going on placement as it is our final one before graduating at the end of the year, but I am very much looking forward to it also as placements remind us why we have undertaken this crazy degree! 

Well I think I have waffled on enough for now, I am looking forward to meeting you and I look forward to spending 5 weeks with your children in Room 8.

Ka kite anō au i a koutou, 

Sarah 

aka Miss Oates (on the boil)