Tales of a Traveling Teacher

Yesterday, I got a whole lot of school work done, so I decided today would be a day of play! This week, Mumford and Sons, one of my favorite bands at the moment released their second album.  What better way to enjoy a new CD than with a car ride?  I headed south this morning to see the ocean and breathe that salty air.  Mumford and Sons did not disappoint with lyrics like: " I'm a hopeless wanderer,  I will learn, I will learn to love the sky I wander;" " We will run and scream,You will dance with me, We’ll fulfill our dreams and we’ll be free;" " Keep the earth below my feet, For all my sweat, my blood runs weak, Let me learn from where I have been, Keep my eyes to serve, My hands to learn;" and a remake of "The Boxer" with Paul Simon.  It was a wonderful way to pass the two and a half ours there and back.  Although, the way there was a bit longer as I was so engrossed with the songs, that I didn't stay right, and exited where I ...

It was a glorious, sunny Saturday, so I went up to see the golden strip in the park marking Greg Rutherford's 8.31 meter jump. Seeing the distance in person made it seem even more unbelievable! A jump like that must feel like flying!

Woburn Sands, a small village just big enough to be home to a couple of pubs and one church is home to a gold medal winner.  In the summer olympics this year, held just miles down the road in London, Greg Rutherford jumped 8.31 meters into the spotlight.  This little village, very understandably, is proud of their local golden boy, and today, there was a parade in his honor.  An open topped bus carried Greg down the main street (High Street) surrounded by hundreds of fans waving flags and inflatable torches.  The bus then stopped at a local park where seemingly the entire village came to gather to hear from local leaders and then Greg.  He was very humble and very appreciative of everyone's support.  To honor him, a gold strip, 8.31 meters long was laid in the ground at the park, marking for all eternity the jump that jumpstarted him into the hearts of a village.

At home, stopping for a tea or coffee break sort of sounds like a joke.  Sure, the teachers have breaks, but as they are all at different times, we don't really sit and visit with one another.  Here, the break times are a time for the teachers (and students) to gather, chat and relax for a few minutes.  Don't get me wrong, the teachers here work just as much as we do at home, it is just a different mindset.  Stopping for tea or coffee is part of a daily routine here. Tomorrow, I'll be participating in the World's Biggest Coffee Morning.  Tomorrow, all across the UK, people will be having coffee breaks, as usual, but with special baked goodies all while raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Parents will be bringing in home made goodies that we can all purchase and enjoy during our extra-long break tomorrow.  Of course I wanted to participate (you know, besides just eating!), so I decided to bake some cookies.  And yes, as I understand it, thes...

If you are a Birmingham (Alabama), at the mention of a smiley face cookie, the tips of your lips rise in a smile. Savages Bakery is a staple in the Birmingham area and their bright orange cookies have been treats for generations of those who wander through the bakery doors. I love going in the bakery, watching children linger at the display as they overlook the smorgasbord of deliciousness smudging the glass with their hands and faces. Today I received a box from my parents and inside I found a box full of those treasures! No wonder they are called smiley face cookies; they certainly brought a smile to my face! And if my new co-workers are lucky, I won't eat them all tonight and I can share some tomorrow!:) And on a side note... A man in the grocery store asked where I was from. When I responded with "Alabama," he asked: "have you ever heard of a man named Lynyrd Skynyrd?" Why yes, in fact I have!:)

It's those small things, those sweet moments that make every day worth living!  Like when you are marking papers and come across "Some of my favourite things about Fulbrook..." and see that includes "seeing you."

Today, I started the last year of my twenties in a wonderful way! It was different, and I wasn't surrounded by the people I typically have around me on my birthday, but I couldn't have asked for anything better! I was flooded with emails, texts, messages and cards from new-found friends and from dear friends and family back on the other side of the pond! My co-workers and new friends went out of their way to make me feel special and ensure that I had a great day. Pam and Mark, my incredible neighbors could not have been kinder! They fixed a delicious dinner, greeted me with a happy birthday banner and finished the evening off with a delicious cake complete with a candle on top! So many wishes have already come true! Thank you to everyone who helped to make my birthday a special one!

I had the absolute pleasure of spending the weekend with other Fulbrighters from the UK in London. I left school during lunch on Friday and walked to my train station here in Woburn Sands, although train station seems like a generous term.  It is such a precious little village that in fact there are just tracks and two platforms, so it is fairly easy to know if you are in the right place!  When I arrived in London, I was nervous about the timing about getting to the hotel, changed and to the Embassy on time.  I arrived in a hustle and bustle type crowd in London, no doubt looking like a lost puppy.  But then, thanks to the generosity of my former fourth graders, I was able to move right through the lines and at least look like I knew what I was doing.  My fourth graders gave me a pre-loaded Oyster card at the end of the year last year.  This magical card is used as an easier and cheaper way to pay for underground rides.  All I had to do was hold it n...

This weekend, I've been reunited with some amazing people in a beautiful city!

Typically, my students are dressed incredibly smartly in their school uniforms: a white button up shirt, a navy jumper(sweater), a green and navy striped tie, black trousers or skirts and black shoes. But today was Mufti Day! I remember mufti days in New Zealand-days when students didn't have to wear their uniforms-although I'm still unsure of where the term comes from. Today's Mufti Day was for a good cause: a father of two Fulbrook students passed away several years ago in the middle of a bike race that was raising money for a hospice organization. So, any one who wanted to wear something besides their school uniform was asked to bring in one pound, and well, I didn't see a single kid in his/her uniform! It was fun to see the kids in their own brightly colored clothes showing off their own fashion sense! As I was giving instructions for how we would do this photo, I made the mistake and said, "I just want to see your shoes, socks and pants." That brought...

Today was a really good day! My lessons went well, the kids were engaged, we had fun together, and we even did the hokey pokey! I'll be very honest that the days are not always great, it's amazing how difficult it can be sometimes. In all honesty it's not the school, the curriculum, the standards or the kids, it is me. I'm a brand new teacher again after feeling like I was beginning to be an expert. I don't know the best ways to do classroom routines, I don't know the best way to present this new curriculum, I don't know what sorts of prior knowledge the kids should have, and I don't know all the little ins and outs of the school. Everyone has been incredibly helpful, it is not that at all. It's things I'll have to figure out on my own in my own time. The days are full of ups and downs, but today, almost all of it was a really good day! I have no doubt that soon, they'll all be good days, but there are still some things I'm learning and...

Today when I got home from school, I was thrilled to have a box that my parents had shipped me. The box was full of a few things I was unable to squeeze into my suitcases on the last day (I am not a light packer!). It was just a few little things-some books that would have tipped the scales, a couple of clothing items and a magnet set I had forgotten I had stuck in. Heifer International is an organization near and dear to my heart. It's an organization that works to end world hunger by helping families become self sufficient with the gift of an animal. They also have great gift items, like the magnet set I found several years ago with phrases that you can change out. I believe there are 50 different messages and this one just happened to be the one I had left it on when I took it down several months ago... Everyday continues to be a new adventure and I'm certainly exploring the unknown!

I must admit, that while meeting parents of my students can be stressful, I thoroughly enjoy it.  It is absolutely amazing how meeting the parents can sometimes make you say, "Ohhhh..." and suddenly, you understand the child.  As they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  This phrase often has a negative connotation, but I don't think that is necessary, it can also be a very positive thing. Tonight, I had the pleasure of meeting the parents of my year 5 form class.  I was thrilled to see so many of them turn out on a school night to hear more about the expectations for their children.  As I introduced myself to the parents, there were many that required no introductions as theirs looks and mannerisms mirrored that of their own children.  The parents sat in the same seats that their children do, so it was even easier for me to look out amongst them and see their children in those same chairs.  The same chairs that hold children intently han...

Last week, I gave my year 6 English class an assignment. They were to do a synopsis of a short story; perhaps a fairy tale they knew really well, a picture book, or something similar. They were to give a basic summary including the characters and the moral of the story. While I wouldn't necessarily call myself very religious, I consider myself to be a very faithful person, seeking guidance and support from up above, believing and hoping in a power much greater than myself that watches over us all. Today, when looking over the collected assignments, I came across one written about Cinderella. It's amazing how the words of a child, even the misspelled words of a child, can seem profound. I'm so very thankful to have the opportunity to work with children each and every day.

Today, I walked to the neighboring village of Woburn, just under 3 miles away.  I debated on a drive or a walk, and was really very glad I chose to walk, for several reasons: it was a lovely walk, parking appeared a bit difficult, and had I driven, I would have spent a lot more money! Woburn Village Farmer's Market is held every third Sunday.  It is a small village, so I was expected a few booths of vegetables - man was I wrong!  There were a couple of booths of vegetables, but then there were booths of fresh breads, meats, cheeses, honey, jams, freshly made cakes, oils, and much more!  So, I bought as much as would fit in the purse that I purchased at the craft fair on my way to the Farmer's Market and then headed on home.  Next month, I'll make sure not to go grocery shopping just before the Farmer's Market - and take the car! My purchases for the day - everything from fudge to squash to pesto cheese!

As of today, I've been living in the UK for one month - wow!  Where did all of the time go?!  To celebrate my one month of being in this beautiful little village, I decided to do normal, "home" things including a walk, some errands, going to a fair in the park and organizing some drawers, and it was absolutely perfect. I woke up this morning to a glorious sunny day with blue skies and decided to take full advantage of it with a walk.  I really haven't been for a real walk since I've been here, at least not one that was intended for exercise on my own.  At home, going for a walk is something I do very frequently, and in all honesty, I don't know what took me so long, but it was absolutely lovely! I found a back gate out of the estate (neighborhood) that I live in, with a lovely path that went along the outskirts of Woburn Sands.  I had a general plan for the direction I wanted to walk today - I'm a planner, so I needed something, but as I set out, I dec...

I made it through my first full week of teaching, so I thought a little award was in order!

The last couple of nights have been rather chilly (last night, the low was around 2), so even the doves decided to huddle together for warmth. This photo was taken today.  He's about ten days old now, and I'm fairly certain we couldn't squeeze him back into that egg if we tried!  The feathers are beginning to come in, but I'm still not sure I'd recognize him as a dove unless I knew who his parents were. For someone who is used to having someone greet her when she comes home, I've thoroughly enjoyed checking on this little guy at the end of my busy days.  He's not as furry as the special little guy who used to greet me, but he's a joy to see, no matter what.