Moody Monday's Volume 21: Honesty

Hello Everyone.

Now for those who tune in at 5pm every Monday to read my post you probably saw that I wrote about a recent break up I was going through. After speaking with Luke I decided to remove it, as although that was what I was feeling in that moment, maybe it wasn't right to post it on social media at that time. I want to be completely honest with you all that I am actually going through one of the most stressful and confusing times to date, the last time I felt this way was in Sixth Form in my final year of A Levels. I put it down to it being my final year of University, it's important and becoming a teacher means I am entering into one of the most stressful and hard jobs there is right now. There is no right answer on how to do things right, and that's really scary.

I did spend the weekend with Luke and we seem to have resolved our issues for now. One thing I have learned is that you can't fully forget a problem, but you can move past it. I don't want to dwell on all the bad things that went wrong, I want to focus on the here and now and be with someone who genuinely does make me happy. We just need to work on a few things. I guess another thing I have learned is communication and listening. I find it so difficult to admit I am wrong, but I am aware more than ever now that I have a few things to work on. I just need to remember to find a balance between Luke, University, Friends, Family and Placement, because right now these are my main focus.

Blogging is also something I love and if I'm being honest (again) it really is a way for me to get my feelings down and out there for all to see. I want you to see me for me, with a few edits in places of course. I now understand that I just need to be careful what I write. I didn't think how the previous post would affect Luke and for that I am sorry.

Another big change in my life is losing someone who I thought was a close friend. I guess we ended up taking different paths and moving on to other things in our lives and we weren't the right fit for each other anymore. A few events that happened over the weekend left me feeling betrayed, but I truly did want to work out the issues we had. I guess you can't force someone to want to see you as a friend and that was a hard thing for me to realise. I can't call someone a true friend if they're willing to hurt me and not think of me as a friend. *cue BMTH- True Friends*

I just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who reads my rambles. Half the time I write a post I sit in silence staring at the screen letting my fingers type away every thought in my mind. Sometimes it can be great writing and other times less than perfect. However, I enjoy writing and posting for you all. I feel like this is my safe place to just tell you all how I'm feeling in the hope that someone, maybe one of you understands me? They say everything gets better and you understand life more when you're an adult. Although, I feel as lost as ever and my mind is definitely confused. Nevertheless, I'm not going to be beaten and I am going to get on with my assignments and prepare for placement, which starts next Monday (16th). Now that is a scary thought!

Once again thank you for reading. I welcome you to comment below if you are going through similar things to me or you just want a chat with me! My email is available here too. I hope you are all well and you're ready for this new week. I want the days to drag because I really need to get stuck into these assignments if I have any hope of doing well.

"The rest is still unwritten"

Megan

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Moody Monday's Volume 20: Motivation

Hello Bloggers!

It has been such a long time since my last post and honestly I have missed writing on this page. These past couple of months have been a whirlwind for me with regards to University. I'm half way through the first term back and I am already feeling the pressure of final year! I have all these assignments due in for the 12th of November as well as a presentation and getting ready for my final placement. I have to admit it's quite overwhelming for me. We had a meeting the other day about final year placement and the importance of it. That was such a scary meeting, simply because the reality that I would soon be applying for jobs hit me. I will soon have to grow up and realise that this is now my career. Daunting. On the other hand I am ready to be a teacher of my own class. Only then can I begin to learn more from experience and get one step closer to being the teacher I hope I will one day become. As well as being daunting, it is also exciting. I am looking forward to graduating and celebrating with my friends rounding off what has been a fab three years at University. I hope to graduate with a first and that's why I'm using this blog as a break for myself between writing assignments. I am more than willing to put in the effort so that I am able to improve on my essays with the help of the learning hub, hopefully allowing me to bump my high 2:1 up to a first.

One thing I have also noticed with the pressure of final year is my diet. Wow, I am unhealthy. My reliance on sweet treats and fatty guilty pleasures has become ridiculous and my ever growing waistline is becoming a problem for me. I really wish that whilst I was trying hard at Uni, I felt motivated to go for a run or diet. I suppose I can't have everything in that sense, and sometimes my mood causes me to lean towards the very foods that don't do anything for me. BOO. Nevertheless, I'll continue to hold out hope that one day my body will soon reduce in size and I will end up looking fabulous. Until that day though I shall just continue to slouch in my pjs watching Netflix to pass the time.

I have a busy few weeks ahead of me and the hard work starts now! For all of you in my position we CAN do this! If you're like me and you are striving for a high grade in your degree work hard. I know it feels like you aren't doing enough, but I assure you that you are. Just take your work in stages and the workload will soon decrease and you'll feel better when you see your hard work rewarded. I will also say that you need to remember how valuable your close friends are. I have never been so thankful for best friends these past few weeks. They help me keep on track with my work, they read through my essays when I'm worrying and they also listen to me rant about how I'm obviously going to fail final year before reminding me that I can succeed this year and that I need to keep going.

I also need to thank my family as well as Luke for sticking with me even when my moods turn ugly. I will admit I have resembled Bridget Jones these last few months, personality as well as comfy attire! However, I won't apologise for that and will instead thank them for reminding me that I can do this and one day I will be a fab teacher. Sidetone: Thank you to Luke for buying me pie. It's bad for my waistline, but good for the mood.

Anyway I will cute this post slightly shorter than normal. I just wanted to let you all know I'm still alive and kicking. I'm just swamped with Uni work!

I love you all, let me know how you're doing!

"The rest is still unwritten"

Megan

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Moody Monday's Volume 14: I'M BACK!

Hello Bloggers! 

I'm very happy to finally say I am back! I have finished placement and I have finished University for the Summer which means that I will be able to spend more time writing my blog. I have to say I have missed writing my blog. It's so nice to cosy up in bed with a cuppa and sit and write some posts, I definitely have a lot to say and don't get me wrong I tried to sit and write a post (hence why I've returned to quite a lot of draft posts), but I've not had the time to finish them. Teaching takes over your life especially when on placement, because I've been working so hard to ensure I get good grades and luckily that's happened I've improved and I finally feel like I can definitely do this! I can't wait to graduate and have my own class!

After going back to University on Friday to hand everything in from placement I have to admit I'm feeling a little worried about final year. Of course the final year is harder, however I have to juggle studies, placement as well as a job hunt! Very, very, very stressful (screams)! Nevertheless, I don't have to think of that until after Summer! 

Summer, Summer, Summer! I am so excited about Summer this year, I have a lot planned for once. If I think back to what I was doing last it was spent watching every season of Gossip Girl on Netflix (totally worth it in the end). However, this year I have lots of exciting things planned that actually involve leaving the house and my bed (shock). 

I'm seeing Dirty dancing tonight at Love Rouge bakery with my friend Adeline. On Thursday I'm seeing Hozier at the O2 Academy with Adeline as well. On Monday it's my little brother's 17th birthday as well as seeing Maroon 5 with Hollie. On the 26th June I'm heading to London with my bestie Adeline again to see Taylor Swift in Hyde Park (very excited), it will be an amazing weekend in London! As if that wasn't enough I'll be going back to London on the 27th July for a short getaway with my boyfriend. So I have a lot planned for this Summer which should mean I must have lots to write for my blog. 

I am blogging whilst watching Gossip Girl again and I'm already on Season 2 and I only started re watching it on Wednesday! Although I assure you all my unhealthy obsession for Gossip Girl will not keep me in this Summer.

I would also like to say I have just started watching Prison Break with Luke as well and I am so engrossed in it! I couldn't recommend it enough! Thank god for Netflix. Think I'll be having a lazy bank holiday Monday watching more episodes with him (yay)! Hope you're all enjoying your extra long weekends!

"The rest is still unwritten"

Megan 

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Moody Mondays Volume 13: Feeling positive but ill!

Hello Bloggers!

I'm sat in bed feeling a little worse for wear so I thought I'd take a break from planning/resourcing and write a quick post! My observation went so well on Friday and I'm so so so happy and positive about my progress. I really feel like I can do Early Years- well! Unfortunately, with being in school  comes the dreaded illnesses and germs that get spread around like wildfire! I'm currently feeling sorry for myself with a sore throat, headache and snotty nose. Yes this is a very attractive picture I'm painting of myself (oops). Nevertheless, I've sat and watched 90210 in bed and done planning as well as reading up on teaching blogs to get ideas.

I am really enjoying being positive Megan for a change. I might not be feeling great right now but everything is going good so far. I have lots to look forward to this Summer! I have two trips to London planned, one with Adeline to see Taylor Swift and one with Luke probably to sight see and spend more time together doing 'coupley things'. I am seeing Hozier and Maroon 5 in a few weeks as well as going to a cute cinema screening of Dirty Dancing with Adeline at a bakery in Headingley! Cupcakes and cocktails sounds like an amazing idea (if I do say so myself).

I have less than 11 days till I finish placement and University and then I can look forward to a nice long relaxing Summer to prepare myself for third and final year...wow how time has flown. This time next year I will be preparing for graduation and starting a job...as a teacher...with my own class (screams). That idea seems even more daunting than placement itself! NQT year will be hard, but when it's over I know I will continue to improve as the years progress.

I hope you're all doing good! Let me know about your exciting plans for the Summer/weeks ahead! Don't forget to follow me by using the links below!

"The rest is still unwritten"

Megan 

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Moody Monday's Volume 11: Easter Holidays

Hello Bloggers!

Sorry I've been absent and posts have been patchy. Placement has definitely been full on, in a good way. It's nice to get stuck into this placement even though I'm not as familiar with Reception as I am with Years 1/2, but it's reassuring to know I have some fab mentors who are really giving me the best help and support. 

We've just broken up for Easter and I am so happy to get a well deserved break! My holiday won't be spent abroad or in the sun, however I will be spending my time planning for my placement and seeing my friends. 

It's not long till my birthday and I don't think it's sunk in that I'll be 20 soon. That makes me feel so old. I mean so much has happened in a year and I definitely need to mature a little! This will obviously help me when on placement as I'm really struggling to manage the class. I need to assert myself as a strong adult that the children listen to as I feel I'm sometimes 'too nice' and trusting that they run rings around me! To be honest I see a lot of this happen in my life as well so it doesn't surprise me that children do the same thing to me!

As a teacher I've also seen an increase in the amount of money I'm spending on books! I'm slowly building up a nice little stockpile that I can use in my own classroom. It makes me so excited to graduate as well as more determined to do well on this placement. 

Organisation is key and I definitely feel I've become so much better with this lately! I'm able to juggle placement, a boyfriend, family and spending time with my friends without worrying too much which is a shock for me!

Overall, Megan is pretty happy and back to her usual self again! I'm really happy with Luke and I'm glad things are going well with him (so so so so so happy) I could sit and talk all day about how happy he makes me but that's because I am so soppy. I've also been able to see my friends Lucy and Hollie who I haven't seen in a while. It's really nice to catch up with people who you haven't spoken to recently. It's made me realise how I want to make more time to see those that I've missed and see more of my friends. With having less time it makes you realise who's still your friend and interested in you. When you have little time you don't want to waste that on people who can't make time for you!

I hope you're all well and you've had a lovely weekend! Hopefully my posts will get back on track and my blog will be more active!

"The rest is still unwritten"

Megan 

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Teaching Tips: Ice Experiment

Hello Teachers!

Last year I was on my first teaching placement for my University course. Even though I had spent time in classrooms a lot the idea was so scary and daunting. I was placed in a Year 2 class and one of my observations had to be a Science lesson. Now I've never planned my own lesson before and I had to fit in with what the children were already studying. The topic was 'Fire and Ice', however my focus was on 'Ice'. Obviously, I picked to do a melting ice experiment.

'Save The Penguin' Experiment

The children were learning about animals in Antarctica and their favourite was the Penguins. I decided to freeze a picture of a penguin (which had been laminated) using the 6 paint palette trays. The ice cubes were a lot bigger for the children to see them melt and when they saved the penguin they could take him/her home.

We used 5 different materials to test melting these ice cubes. I used Sugar, Table Salt, Road Salt, Pepper and Sand. Due to the size of the ice cubes I had made up some word searches which focused on getting the children to find our key words. This allowed them to stay on task and wait to see which one melted the fastest.

I did this in table groups, 5 to a table. Each child on that table had a bowl and an ice cube and they each had a different material. This allowed everyone to be involved and in charge of something.

This experiment was done in Summer which was the worst time to do it in. It was good to talk about the misconceptions children had, as some thought pepper/sand was best to use, however this had melted faster because of the temperature. This was introducing the children to the idea of how some factors can affect our experiments and give us wrong results (anomalies).

The children loved this experiment and I would say it was a success. Of course like every lesson there would be somethings I would do differently. The most important thing is to keep children engaged and the best way to do this is to do practical work where possible. Children in Early Years and KS1 love being active and involved. This ice experiment was allowing children to explore and see what they found. We could then discuss the table results as a class and talk through the problems we faced e.g. the affect the temperature had on the ice cubes.

It was really nice to see some children had taken their penguins home and made bigger ice cubes and tried to melt them. We discussed in the morning how bigger ice cubes would take longer to melt than the size we had in the lesson.

Do you have any ice experiments that worked well with your children?

"The rest is still unwritten"

Megan