Two posts in a week...a record!!!

Hi Readers,

After a few weeks where I looked like i had gone into hibernation I have now cranked out two posts in a week. That must be something to celebrate!!

Actually, it is bucketing rain here in Bendigo after a few days of glorious sunshine, and I'm housebound and can't just sit around as I always find I need to be doing something.

So, why not add to the blog? I also have a fair bit of schoolwork to do, but that can wait a bit!!

In a week where we lost the great Leonard Cohen, I came across this clip where 1 500 people came together to form a mass choir in a shed and sing 'Hallelujah'. It is totally amazing, and what captures me most is seeing the passion in the faces of the people singing it. Maybe the camera people just nailed it, but I get the impression that these people are singing with true passion, regardless of their singing ability. How good is that!!

Go to:

https://powerofhumans.com/2016/07/inspiration-powerful-moment-1500-people-sing-hallelujah-together/

Now I just have to decide who does the best version. KD Lang rips out a classic version...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE

But then again, Jeff Buckley does an outstanding version...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKnxmkOAj88

Let's end the discussion with the man himself. You be the judge...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrLk4vdY28Q

Exciting lessons this week at school...

For those readers who do not know me, but just enjoy reading my ravings, I am a school teacher in a large primary school in Bendigo.

For the past few years I have been more in an administrative role and do not have a classroom, although I do spend time in various classes providing support.

One thing I do with our Grade 2 classes each week is to do a demonstration lesson with one class, and then that teacher explains it to the other 3 teachers in their team during their planning time together later in the day. We rotate the classes each week so that each teacher has a crack at explaining what has been done to their colleagues in the unit.

I love going into these classes because not only are the kids excited and receptive, so are their teachers.

So last week I went into one class and we began by trying to make 3 digit numbers in different ways.

We started rolling dice, and every time we got ten ones, we created a ten, and then ten 10's created a hundred and so on. We call this 'Bundling' and it is a fantastic way to understand and comprehend our place value system. 

My focus is to use a range of materials for bundling so that they don't see materials as only being useful for certain activities.

If I had my act together I could have brought in a box of rice bubbles or Fruit Loops and used them, or Smarties, Skittles or dried pasta. Anything that enables counting and grouping.

Here the kids are using popsticks and blocks.

These boys are using more formal ones, tens and hundreds blocks.

This boy is organising his groups into hundreds and tens and ones very neatly.

The highlight was this girl who often struggles with maths being able to really demonstrate her understanding of the value of her numbers.

So what do we do with the numbers?

Their class teacher and I then created a large grid on the floor using masking tape.

It was important that they saw the grid being made, rather than having it all made up beforehand, as it created a context for using their numbers.

Maybe we could use my growing bald patches as a launching place for some activities on area and perimeter???

We then discussed what the grid looked like, and how we might be using it.

So many fantastic suggestions were put forward.

I then had one child put her number on the grid, and told the class this was now a counting chart.

Another child was asked to put his number on the grid, based on the one that was first put on.

We now had a reference point for our numbers, so now everyone could try and see where their number could go.

There was much discussion, shifting of numbers and debate.

After checking out our result, they collected their numbers for another go, but this time I got the first girl to put her number down, but in an entirely different place. This changed the layout of the grid dramatically.

Since then, the grid has remained on the floor and is used in a number of ways.

For instance, I went in there before school the other day and placed two numbers in specific spots. The plan is for the kids to investigate what the counting pattern is, and then complete it.

I love this activity as it is so open ended and enables all children to work together at the same time. There can always be a multitude of answers and all children can contribute and participate regardless of their ability.

Olympic visitors to our school...

Last Friday our school hosted a Leadership Day for Grade 5 children from all of the Bendigo Catholic schools. There would have been a few hundred children in attendance.

The kids were treated to a number of activities that were conducted by some of our current and past Olympians.

For the life of me I cannot remember their names except for one, who I remember well as he was in an event that I followed closely in the past.

From left to right we have the organiser, a gymnast from the Rio Olympics, Kyle Vander Kuyp (Australian Hurdles record holder and dual Olympian from the 80's and 90's), a soccer player from the 80's, a gymnast from Rio and a swimmer from Rio.

Just some of the many children in attendance.

The Olympians addressing the kids.

Remembrance Day 2016

As our main assembly area was being used for the Leadership Day , we conducted our Remembrance Day commemoration over the PA.
Massive credit to these kids for the way they did it and also to the teacher who guided them.
Extremely reverent and well received throughout the school.

So readers, who nows when my next post might eventuate?

We are quickly heading towards the end of the year and so much needs to be done between now and then.

Tomorrow I am off to a maths PD day in Shepparton which I am really looking forward to as the presenter is brilliant, and is also the one who introduced me to the activity that I did with the class last week.

The rain has started to abate and there is even a glimpse of sunlight coming through, so it looks like it's off the couch for me and into something more energetic!!

Until my next post...

Cheers!!

Back to the Blog!...

Hi Readers,

I have been having a big case of the guilts lately as I have really neglected this blog.
Hard to believe that it is 6 weeks since I last posted, so if you are one of my regular readers, sorry for the delay.
I could make up lots of excuses, but that's what they'd be, just excuses, so I'll just meander on as usual and see what ends upon this post.

The funny thing is, I never really plan what I'm going to bang on about, I just start with nothing and see what happens from there.

I just had a read back over my last post, and I can still vividly remember the excitement that I was having back then at the prospect of having our entire family back together again, as our eldest son came home from London for a few weeks.
The ironic thing however, was that I think there was only one night when the five of us were in the house together and we still failed to get a family photo done. One son had to go to work and didn't get home until well after midnight, and by that time my wife and I had already crashed to bed. We couldn't really wake him early in the morning as we were heading off to work, and by the time he surfaced another son had already headed back to Melbourne where he attends Uni.

So, despite our best intentions, we got photos of each of the boys, but none with all three together.

Despite this, it was great having all three around at different times, and just hearing them slag off about each other in the most jocular way only emphasises how much they love each other and like to be together.

Lachie on a quick visit home, but Will was at work!!

Lachie and Sam, now to get Will.

Sam and Will with Jen, but no Lachie!

Seeing Sam off at the airport last week, something I never look forward to.

I just wish that he took these Mango flavoured Tim Tams back to London that he bought just before leaving. They will still probably be here when he comes home again in a year or so.!!

We also managed to have a great get together last week before Sam headed back to London, and were joined by our great friends from next door, Nev and Nat Zimmer. 

When we get together with these two there is never a shortage of laughs and good old fashioned banter. The day after always finds us feeling a tad shabby, must be due to lack of sleep!!

Nothing better than just sitting around with family and friends.

Last weekend I was lucky enough to head back to where I grew up, a small town only 30 or so minutes drive from where we live in Bendigo. It is strange how I never get back there much, but it just seems that life moves on and we make new lives wherever we go. Still, I have some of my closest friends still living there, and after the events of this year where we lost our brother suddenly, I am now more conscious of keeping in touch with friends who I may have lost contact with for a variety of reasons.

After taking some photos of my brother's house as I am in the process of selling it (any readers want a bargain???) I popped out to a farm to see my good friend Raj, who was best man at our wedding nearly 30 years ago.

I must point out here that very few of us go by our proper names, as nicknames are the norm!

For example, they call me Barney!

Anyway, after an hour or so with Raj and his beautiful family it was off to see another mate, Stumpy, who also has had to deal with tragedy this year.

Was it just coincidence that a few nights before I went to visit my friends that I watched a documentary about the importance of men being able to speak up and express their emotions?

With both of these great men we talked like we had never done before, without fear of 'not being manly'. The documentary advocates that is more manly to actually 'man up' and talk about things. Maybe that's why it was called 'Man Up'!!

Walking into Stump's front yard was a bit of an experience, as the picture shows. He had recently finished shearing, and also needed his grass down around the house, and his sheep were more than happy to oblige!

A beautiful day in Colbinabbin, showing why it is such a rich wine making area.

Stumpy's front yard.

Keeping the grass down at Stumpy's.

I should also mention here that next door is his Winery that he runs with his wife, Mt Burrumboot Wines. I'm not a wine drinker myself, but my wife and friends rate this wine highly. The same applies to Raj's wine, which goes by the name Hennings.

A great shot of a lush wheat crop as I approach Colbinabbin.

And finally, my health. Or lack of it!!

As regular readers are aware, I've had a bit of shoulder trouble this year after surgery. I had a few other procedures done, all to no avail, so last week I was sent to a rhueomotologist (Clearly that's not how you spell it!!) in Melbourne to see if she could shed any light.

Initially I had been told by my surgeon that he was predicting rheuomotoid (another crack at spelling it unsuccessfully!!- maybe I should google it!) arthritis, but this new doctor put me at rest by not dispelling it, but saying that she was confident it was not the main problem.

So, her advice? Go back to Bendigo with these forms "and get some blood tests done"

This is what they took from me when I waddled in for some simple 'blood tests'...

Just take away one test tube and you'll get the picture.

They took 11 vials of blood, and by the end I was beginning to wonder if they'd leave me with anything at all!!

I have to ring in a few days for some results, so with that many samples they should be able to test me for anything ranging from arthritis to the Black Plague. Or maybe they are just searching in vain for any sort of intelligence???

So readers, the Blog is back, sorry for being so slack of late, as I do really enjoy doing it.

I've noticed of late a lot of readers from France, so if there is a reason for this, let me know.

Any comments from anyone, anywhere always welcome, even if you just list the city you come from, I won't stalk you!!!

Until my next post...

Cheers!!