Maths

If I have to hear someone say Maths groups one more time, I am pretty sure I am going to go postal. I don't know who thought it would be a good idea to add an s to the end of math. Today we had a student with behavior problems who only comes on Thursdays in the class so we had to stick to a pretty strict routine. We had spelling and went over the onset and rhyme for a couple of their spelling words. We then did reading groups and I helped out a little with guided reading. After that we worked on some syllables work and then went outside for a 5 minute game on the jungle gym before lunch. Lunch was good, I am starting to get to know the teachers a lot better so it is not just me sitting there awkwardly. After lunch the kids had silent reading because it is one of the activities that the student with behavior problems can do well without getting upset. Then it was time for Maths groups. We have the highest group and we were working on fractions and decimals and adding decimals today. I was trying to help out as much as I could for the kids that were confused, but I feel like there wasn't a lot of explaining how to do things before so it was a little harder. After afternoon tea, we went over our celery experiment, which turned out really well. We used edible powder food dye and the celery stalks were very vibrant. Then it was time for Sport....aka PE taught by the teacher. Personally I don't think that is a bad idea. These kids get almost an hour total of recess and then 30-45 minutes of Sport once a week. There is no need to pay someone extra to tell them to run around. We went to the blacktop and played some tag games. After work I got to hang out with some of the teachers for a while and then drove with Adam and Ryan to a training (just an fyi, sitting in the front seat on the left was WEIRD, i felt like I needed to be doing something). We stopped at the house he is staying at to let the dog out, which is an UGLY dog. It was right across the street from Sydney University, which from the back side of what I saw is a pretty university.

We went to a training for new teachers and I got to see all the differences between becoming a teacher in the States and in Australia. They have a new program where you graduate from university, but have never really been in the classroom for a pro-longed consistent basis so you have to wait and get accredited after you get a job. A lot of people do not get permanent jobs right away and become temps or casuals (substitutes). I think that is weird. If I graduate and don't get a job, I am not going to substitute, I am going to find a different job. It also seems that a lot of people take pro-longed time off and still keep their jobs. There are so many people that are temps for the term or semester. If anyone in the states tried to take that time off they wouldn't have a job. After the training we went to dinner at a really nice pub nearby. Dinner and drinks were all paid for by the teachers federation. It is still weird to go out and order a drink, not used to it yet. After dinner Adam and I talked a little about the program and I talked with the people in charge about the differences and everything. They were very surprised that you have to apply at every individual school. They simply apply for a job in a certain area and then they are placed. I also learned that at Rozelle, homework is not mandatory! How weird is that?!?! The kids get one homework sheet a week that has spelling and math on it and they can do it or not do it. Most kids do apparently, but it is not mandatory and not graded. I can't imagine. I think it would be nice, but I have never heard of any school in the States doing that.

Today is Friday and I cannot believe I have been working for a week. Only 9 to go now. After school I am staying to talk with Adam about what I want to start teaching next week....A little nervous, but excited too. It should be interesting next week. We are also having a big barbecue and drinks get together with all of the tenants tonight, which should be a lot of fun. I have to find the post office today and try and pick up my package that Tal sent me. Apparently they won't leave those if you are not here and seeing as that we do not have a front desk or door bell or anything, it is kind of hard to be here. Hopefully I do not have a hard time picking it up since I don't really have anything proving that I temporarily live here.