The Rest Is Still Unwritten

Tuesday, 16 June 2015

Teaching Tips: Facebook Groups

Hello Everyone!

I haven't done a teaching post for a while so I thought I would use my spare time to write about something I use on a daily basis. Now Facebook is portrayed as something that can work against teachers, however when used correctly I've found it can open up many opportunities to share teaching ideas and resources. Hopefully in September I'll be starting serial days as my new placement school where I'll be training in Year 1. It will be my final placement before I graduate so I do want to do well to ensure I am able to secure a good job.

I trawled through Facebook looking for groups and I saw that one of my friends had joined the 'twinkl KS1 group'. I joined as I thought it would help me get creative when finally beginning to teach in Year 1. Groups like this are so helpful and it's really nice to be able to share ideas and talk to other teachers who have a range of different experiences. I've found everyone is so friendly and happy to offer advice and share planning in order to ensure that we are all, as teachers, performing the best we can in our classrooms. It's about sharing strengths and helping others with issues that we also might be facing. It's an extra support network to expand the one we already may have with colleagues at work. I think it's a wonderful opportunity as not all teachers are from one area of the world. Some are in different places of the UK meaning that their schools are different from the ones I am used to here in Yorkshire. Whereas in some cases there are some teachers who are from international schools sharing their own experiences and ideas.

I have definitely been in situations before where I've struggled on how best to tackle a certain lesson to make it fun and engaging for my class. This can be for a number of reasons, one being that it simply isn't a strength of mine. I've seen people use this group to ask for the members ideas on how to tackle a lesson and they get a number of responses each with a new and imaginative idea. I have saved many of these ideas and I will most likely end up using them should I choose to use this topic in my class.

If you're a trainee teacher, NQT, RQT, or have even been teaching for many years it is never too late to join one of these groups. There are groups that are specifically aimed at Year Groups so don't just write the idea off because I've just mentioned the KS1 group!

Whilst I'm on the subject of Facebook groups I will mention the benefit of Teaching Resources for sale. This group has a lot of benefit too as some teachers clear out book/games etc which are great to have if you're starting to set up your new classroom. It is also helpful for trainee teachers who are starting degrees and looking for second hand uni books off the reading list as many NQTs are selling their books after finishing their degrees. These books are still in excellent condition, but with a discounted price that won't hurt your purse/wallet too much!

I'll leave some links to the groups I have joined. Let me know if you find them helpful or if you have other teaching groups that you'd recommend! Just click on the names of the group and it should take you to the group.

LINKS:

KS1 Teachers - specifically Year 2

Primary School Librarians Group

Teacher resources for sale

Twinkl KS1 Group

KS1 teachers - specifically year 1!

Hope you enjoyed this post, please let me know what you think! I'd really love for you to recommend any other groups that you find helpful so that we can learn and help each other!

"The rest is still unwritten"

Megan

Social Media Links

Monday, 15 June 2015

Moody Monday's Volume 15: Let's have a chat

Hello Bloggers!

Yes, I know I'm terrible at remembering to blog recently! Awful and there isn't an excuse why I haven't so I won't start by making one! A lot of exciting things have happened over the last few weeks and coupled with the beautiful weather we've been having it has made an exciting start to my Summer!

Luke and I. Nice yellow jumper from Matalan cheers for the hole though guys! Will be taking this back!

I will aim to be more on top of posts this week I assure you! It will be nice to get back into a schedule.

I thought I would write this post early, it's Saturday and I'm watching my boyfriend play cricket however I have been blessed with wi-fi! THANK YOU THE CLOUD! So instead of sitting here pretending to understand the game, which I really don't, I thought it might be useful to do what women do best...multi-task.

Even though I've just mentioned the beautiful weather we've been having it's overcast today so I'm not loving the grey sky, although it is much better than the rain we'd had in the night/early this morning! The temperature isn't bad either so I am rather enjoying sitting in the car, window open, laptop on my knees, leisurely watching the game and praying my boyfriend's team wins (fingers crossed everyone).

Now for those who know me you'll know I am definitely not a sports fan. I despise it and would pick a Netflix day in bed over venturing out of the house to watch it let alone play any! Nevertheless, as Luke plays cricket and it has to be one of the things he possibly loves just as much as me I felt that it was only fair for me to at least try and watch/understand it. This is my third game I am watching now and I am understanding a few things. I finally know how to understand a score. How the scoring system works...I'm still terrible but I'm better than when I first started. I think that's one thing that you must try and do in a relationship, compromise. It's one of those factors that allows a relationship to succeed. I watch cricket and take an interest for Luke, however on a sunny day I quite enjoy it! So if I've done that I ask Luke to compromise and let me watch a Disney film or chick flick. This actually worked as last night I was allowed to watch 25 minutes of Anastasia before deciding to change to watch 'Morning Glory', which Luke actually liked! So yes you could say I'm incredibly happy!

I went into my old Secondary School/Sixth Form on Thursday as my Head of Year and Learning Mentor had been asking my brother if I was coming in to visit. It was nice seeing everyone and how different the Sixth Form looked since I was last there. My teachers said they could see such a difference in myself. I was more positive and definitely more confident. Its nice to hear that when A-Levels was by far one of the hardest two years I have experienced so far. I just look at how far I've come in that time and it's all because I have gone to University. I am finally doing something I enjoy and soon I'll be a fully qualified teacher with my own class. It's very overwhelming as well as exciting.

Sidenote: Luke claps a lot...more than everyone else. Now it's hard to envision this but it's very amusing. The best way to describe it is by thinking of that monkey from Toy Story 3 with the cymbals- yes hilarious.

So as I've said I have a lot of ideas for blogs it's just a case of writing them all so they are ready to be published on time. If I've got some exciting day trips planned I might vlog some bits to add to my blog, therefore it's easier for you to see my day. I will also continue to write my blogs as well as I thoroughly enjoy writing still.

I hope you're all well and enjoying this weather!

"The rest is still unwritten"

Megan

Social Media Links

Monday, 25 May 2015

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

Social Media Links

Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Teaching Tips: ABC does

Hello Bloggers!

My teacher has been so helpful with giving me tips and advice so that I can become the best teacher possible. As a result she told me to read up on objective led planning on abc does. It's a blog written by an ex-headteacher. I love blogs like this as they are real experiences coming from someone who has been in the game long enough to have seen the vast changes made to education over the years. After reading these posts I have found so many new ideas I want to try as well as helping me understand objective led planning. I can't express how much I love this idea. It allows me to take the learning to the children in provision differentiating the activities they're engaged in, without them even realising. It doesn't involve pulling the children from provision to a table. This makes learning fun for children instead of being a task they hate doing!

Reading blogs and articles such as abc does allows me to feel positive about going into my own classroom in the future. I'm really excited to put these ideas into practice because I want to see the results for myself. If anyone is struggling like I do sometimes, with EYFS then reading up on blogs such as this one really reassures you! They give you so many ideas and tips to try. It's trial and error and I can't say every idea will work as every class is different!

Please read up on this blog if you have some spare time it really is a good read! Also if you have any good teaching tips/ideas please share them below! Would be lovely to see us help each other!

ABC Does blog: http://www.abcdoes.com

"The rest is still unwritten"

Megan

Social Media Links

Monday, 11 May 2015

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

Social Media Links