Why are we teaching these wonderful children Status Quo? Why oh why oh why oh why... Surely there are other three chord monkeys more deserving of our tonal derision. What next, Christmas songs by septegenarian legends? No, no and thrice no.
So anyway, what have we learned since last we blogged? (One thing we've definitely learned is that is you press the publish button too quickly, your entire blog is wiped out. Very interesting that was...) We have learned that, no, we have re-learned that our community are incredibly generous, once again showing their kindness for Children in Need. Once again, I have been reminded that, when asked to show a little respect, our children will always show a lot - the silence at remembrance was deeply, deeply moving and humbling.
So what else have we learned?
- Year 6 can really, really write.
- Year 5 love a puppet.
- Year 4 have to be asked, politely, at clockhand point, to stop working ... no stop ... no please stop ... no, please, we really mean it ... Oh okay, we'll stay in and work through playtime, again.
- Year 3 know how to look after new friends, if not older ones;
- Year 2 can write in the most amazing paragraphs;
- Year 1's phonics are incredible;
- Reception and nursery have the most amazing set of learning skills, and amaze me just about every day.
And, as we hurtle tinsel-laden towards "festive" activity, let us all take a step back and consider the sensitivities of slightly chubby skinheads the world over, but from Birmingham in particular, and acknowledge that singing "Wizzard" repeatedly from the 23rd November is not, necessarily, a good idea (Ruben). December 23rd, well then they join in...
Well done on a super November friends. That is all.
Monday, 28 November 2011
Thursday, 10 November 2011
A black and white flag denotes ...?
So, having once again forgotten my kit for running club, I am forced at biscuit point to get on with the blog. Not that I want people to think that being this witty, erudite, badinage is a chore, no, no, no, no. It's just that there are more difficult ways of securing a biscuit.
Anyway, into term 2 and what do we find. Attendance is slipping (doh!), displays are amazing (yeah!) and work, as ever, continues onwards and upwards. I have had the pleasure (and colleagues, I use that word deliberately) of enjoying and joining in with several lessons in the course of the last two weeks, and I have seen some amazing stuff. History, PE, art, garage building, skeleton making, firework impersonating (I kid you not), it has all been nothing short of brilliant.
So what have we learned?
- Year 5 and 6 know their flags (and, thanks to them, so do years 3 and 4);
- Years 1 and 2 know a thing or two about bones, and not all entirely human ...
- EYFS know plenty about construction, and about treasure hunting;
- Year 3 appear to know a lot about pizza;
- Year 1 can do the most amazing graphs and charts;
- Year 5can as well;
- Year 4 are, quite simply, mesmerising at a front straddle. (Honest.)
In between we've learned a lot about cake, soup, and, at the risk of repeating oneself, (skeleton) biscuits. And it's not even Children in Need day...
That is all.
Anyway, into term 2 and what do we find. Attendance is slipping (doh!), displays are amazing (yeah!) and work, as ever, continues onwards and upwards. I have had the pleasure (and colleagues, I use that word deliberately) of enjoying and joining in with several lessons in the course of the last two weeks, and I have seen some amazing stuff. History, PE, art, garage building, skeleton making, firework impersonating (I kid you not), it has all been nothing short of brilliant.
So what have we learned?
- Year 5 and 6 know their flags (and, thanks to them, so do years 3 and 4);
- Years 1 and 2 know a thing or two about bones, and not all entirely human ...
- EYFS know plenty about construction, and about treasure hunting;
- Year 3 appear to know a lot about pizza;
- Year 1 can do the most amazing graphs and charts;
- Year 5can as well;
- Year 4 are, quite simply, mesmerising at a front straddle. (Honest.)
In between we've learned a lot about cake, soup, and, at the risk of repeating oneself, (skeleton) biscuits. And it's not even Children in Need day...
That is all.
Thursday, 20 October 2011
That is all for term 1
Well done on a fantastic term 1 everyone.
Work - excellent.
Attendance - getting there, but still some way to go.
Behaviour - years 1, 2, 3 and 4, nurseyr and reception, simply marvellous. Years 5 and 6 ...
Smiling - top drawer.
Have a well deserved break everyone.
That is all.
Work - excellent.
Attendance - getting there, but still some way to go.
Behaviour - years 1, 2, 3 and 4, nurseyr and reception, simply marvellous. Years 5 and 6 ...
Smiling - top drawer.
Have a well deserved break everyone.
That is all.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Jockey Wilson said ...
Some truths are irrefutable. You play well, you win. You play badly, you lose. Act like an idiot, people call you one. As the Olympics near, shall we make "not behaving like a toenail" our national sport?
So, as we hurtle at considerable speed towards the final week of term 1, what have we learned, and what should we celebrate?
We have learned that:
- Mr Davies doesn't like an art project unless its massive;
- Year 1 like numicon. A lot. Really, really a lot;
- Crickets' ears are on their legs (at least, that's what I think I overheard);
- Some adults don't listen to important messages;
- Nacny D'ell Olio is as daft as she appears;
- Miss Dark and Miss Norman have hidden talents;
- Year 6 can write extremely well when they put their mind to it;
- Year 4 can write for Britain, and write well;
- Year 2 can use 4 digit numbers, dead easy, without taking off their shoes and socks.
That and much besides. So, what should we hold up as exemplary? What should we hail as the true way? What is truly praise worthy?
- Key Stage 2 attendance - 96.9% for September;
- All our category A behaviour pupils, e.g., Holly Hulin, Emily Rustill, Logan Prince, Kessie Jones, Callum Searle, and a thousand others (well, about 180);
- The work I got to show off to our visitor on Wednesday (now that was awesome);
- (Never thought I'd type these words) Wales' performance;
- How cool our new reception class are;
- How amazing our Polish gang have become in a very short space of time.
A successful term 1? Why yes, in all the obvious important ways, such as the progress, the leaching and learning, the environment, and the 100 un-noticable but extremely important ways, such as how helpful people have been, how much people have been smiling, how much energy and effort people have put in to good habits, such as turning up on time, saying sorry, working at home. Let me count the ways...
Let's keep it going.
(Again, never thought I'd type the words, but here we go) COME ON WALES! No irony intended, I would very much like to see you in the final. Go for it.
That is all.
So, as we hurtle at considerable speed towards the final week of term 1, what have we learned, and what should we celebrate?
We have learned that:
- Mr Davies doesn't like an art project unless its massive;
- Year 1 like numicon. A lot. Really, really a lot;
- Crickets' ears are on their legs (at least, that's what I think I overheard);
- Some adults don't listen to important messages;
- Nacny D'ell Olio is as daft as she appears;
- Miss Dark and Miss Norman have hidden talents;
- Year 6 can write extremely well when they put their mind to it;
- Year 4 can write for Britain, and write well;
- Year 2 can use 4 digit numbers, dead easy, without taking off their shoes and socks.
That and much besides. So, what should we hold up as exemplary? What should we hail as the true way? What is truly praise worthy?
- Key Stage 2 attendance - 96.9% for September;
- All our category A behaviour pupils, e.g., Holly Hulin, Emily Rustill, Logan Prince, Kessie Jones, Callum Searle, and a thousand others (well, about 180);
- The work I got to show off to our visitor on Wednesday (now that was awesome);
- (Never thought I'd type these words) Wales' performance;
- How cool our new reception class are;
- How amazing our Polish gang have become in a very short space of time.
A successful term 1? Why yes, in all the obvious important ways, such as the progress, the leaching and learning, the environment, and the 100 un-noticable but extremely important ways, such as how helpful people have been, how much people have been smiling, how much energy and effort people have put in to good habits, such as turning up on time, saying sorry, working at home. Let me count the ways...
Let's keep it going.
(Again, never thought I'd type the words, but here we go) COME ON WALES! No irony intended, I would very much like to see you in the final. Go for it.
That is all.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
We're not convinced ...
"What shall I play?" said the one we call the 'new Scaiff'.
"The right chords...in the right order...at the right time," we chorused. "And none of that free-form jazz." A B-minor chord progression impresses no-one. No-one.
The Indian Summer (which, if the meteorologists are to be believed, came from the Med, not India) has raised the temperatures of everyone concerned, and quadrupled the water consumption during science lessons. I dare say it has in other academic subjects, but I've only taught science this week, and therefore cannot comment.
Our latest accolade:
That's what she said: attendance for 2010-11 was the best in a decade. And this year's, so far, is awesome.
So, the end of September approaches, and what have we learned, other than the fact that we still do not have an international rugby team worthy of a mention?
- Some of our new reception friends are really rather clever, including rather numerate;
- Year 6 really can excel - when they try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try...
- Year 5 is full of scientists;
- Key Stage 1 is packed full of writers, by all accounts;
- Year 3 are happier without a carpet;
- Year 4 are just amazing people. But I suppose we knew that already. They've merely confirmed it.
A great September, with all sorts of exciting projects, at all levels, kicking off. I have been delighted to watch displays appearing showing off our wonderful work, and very impressed with the books I have had the pleasure of seeing.
So, we lurch unceremoniously and unco-ordinatedly towards October and (so they say, but they think India is near Istanbul) cooler skies, let us continue all the good things: the good uniform, the good attendance, the good humour, the good work, the good ... stuff kind of thing. Well done everyone.
That is all.
"The right chords...in the right order...at the right time," we chorused. "And none of that free-form jazz." A B-minor chord progression impresses no-one. No-one.
The Indian Summer (which, if the meteorologists are to be believed, came from the Med, not India) has raised the temperatures of everyone concerned, and quadrupled the water consumption during science lessons. I dare say it has in other academic subjects, but I've only taught science this week, and therefore cannot comment.
Our latest accolade:
Best Attendance For 10 years!
That's what she said: attendance for 2010-11 was the best in a decade. And this year's, so far, is awesome.
So, the end of September approaches, and what have we learned, other than the fact that we still do not have an international rugby team worthy of a mention?
- Some of our new reception friends are really rather clever, including rather numerate;
- Year 6 really can excel - when they try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try...
- Year 5 is full of scientists;
- Key Stage 1 is packed full of writers, by all accounts;
- Year 3 are happier without a carpet;
- Year 4 are just amazing people. But I suppose we knew that already. They've merely confirmed it.
A great September, with all sorts of exciting projects, at all levels, kicking off. I have been delighted to watch displays appearing showing off our wonderful work, and very impressed with the books I have had the pleasure of seeing.
So, we lurch unceremoniously and unco-ordinatedly towards October and (so they say, but they think India is near Istanbul) cooler skies, let us continue all the good things: the good uniform, the good attendance, the good humour, the good work, the good ... stuff kind of thing. Well done everyone.
That is all.
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