Half Term

This morning, I had the opportunity to go and hear a speaker at a local secondary school.  He had some fabulous ideas about differentiating lessons and great ways to get all kids engaged in the lesson from the get-go.  There were great ideas that I hope to be able to use here and when I return home.

Today was also the end of my first half-term.  The school year here is divided into three terms; in the middle of each term there is a one week holiday and at the end a two week holiday.  I really think I am going to love this schedule of working for six or seven weeks and then getting a week off, although I do hope that my brain will still work in the summer term!  There was a movement a while back in Alabama pushing for a schedule more like this, but I believe they failed in naming it "year-round school" rather than "frequent holiday school."

To celebrate the ending of a great first half-term, a few of us went to the local pub for a drink, and yes, many of the drinks were actually hot chocolate that we sipped near the cozy fire!  It was a great way to end the first half-term.  I'm excited for a week of more traveling adventures, but I'm also looking forward to starting back, feeling better about the curriculum and classroom routines.