This week has been very busy. So much so that I'm exhausted again and may even need another holiday but that could be wishful thinking....Although this is a long weekend.....The reason for todays post is kinda different to my usual posts. I'm not gonna tell you about my hols today. I will at some stage but today I have a genuine question that I can't find an answer to online that makes me happy. Or at least not one I can even pretend to agree with or care to believe. The backround to this question is fairly easy. Being a student teacher I get the odd bit of subbing in some schools. This week while I was in a classroom I noticed something somewhat distressing...ALL of the boys in this particular class were taller than me. Now I could let on to be this massive giant of a girl and claim to be 6foot etc and lets face it very few of ye would know the difference. Gavin would but may not point it out here since he enjoys teasing me about being small. Which I am. I'm a 5foot nothing teacher. Not the best in a 5/6th class where the pupils have been bathing in miracle grow I'll admit. But I just don't get why it is kids are so much taller now then they were when I was that age. I went to an all girls school so I know the heights wouldn't have been as drastic but I've been in a few schools and classes now and I can honestly saw that kids are definitely taller now. I tried to look it up online but can't find much that could be remotely helpful to my curious mind. This link tries to say its a generation thing and it happens due to economics-the more money we have the more food the more we grow. Ya ok I can buy that but surely we'd grow outwards rather than up? And we are in a Recession so should these growth spurts be happening if you are to believe this piece? It's the chemicals said one friend of mine....ya ok but surely some of those nasty chemicals we ingest, with or without prior knowledge, must stunt our growth? And lets face it some young boys in 5/6th could do with this if they are still growing and the chances are that they will be.....boys do that I'm informed. I didn't find anything online to back this up....Feel free to correct me though and send me the links you find as I'd love to read them!! And one Miss Niamh just says they wash in Miracle Grow....made me giggle but I'm sure that stuff stinks and defeats the point of washing?? Me and my 5foots in height felt very short in class this week and would love to know why this happens?? As a side note, Americans I read are generally taller then the rest of the world....they eat more and do have larger sizes, enough said. In Ireland I still don't know the answer and can't wait to find out.....
"A good essay is 10% inspiration, 15% perspiration, and 75% desperation"
My First Hibernia Exam
Hi there. Me again. The oft-referred to but mostly silent Gavin here with a quick line about my Hellie’s studies.
We’re just back after a refreshing holiday in Kerry, which I’m sure Hellie will tell you all about at another stage, but there’s another story that I’ve wanted to write here for a few days now. I have sat and passed my first ever Hibernia exam...kinda.
The exam in question took place before our holiday, on a Thursday evening about ten days ago. While I’m well used to ‘Google Elf-ing’ and even typing up a few handwritten notes (in Irish as well as English, which can be tough) this was the first time that I was ever present for an actual exam. The subject...religion. Now I’m not much use when it comes to chatting to him upstairs – I barely know my Padre Pio from my San Diego Padres – but nonetheless, there I was sitting at the kitchen table in Glanmire helping my Hellie with her exam.
Now, there was no cheating going on here, let me make that much clear. My Hellie inputted every answer in a multiple-choice exam, and the decisions were Hellie’s alone. I just helped her in any little way that I could, while eating dinner and playing Football Manager.
For over an hour, I was looking up all sorts of things that I didn’t know then and don’t know now, but thankfully did at the time. The results were given straight after the exam, and judging by the big hug I received from a smiling Hellie, we were happy with what we got.
So what did I learn from it all? Well...not much in terms of religion, that much is for sure. But I did get an insight in how hard my Hellie and all the other Hibernias have to work to get through this course. As a multiple choice exam this seemed easy on paper. However, that was not the case, I can assure you, though I have no doubt that it is far easier than Irish oral exams and, God forbid, actually standing in front of and teaching twenty-odd little munchkins.
The saying goes ‘those that can do, and those that can’t teach.’ Bullshit. Teaching, as a profession, requires passion and integrity, and the ability to be able to deal with things not covered by any curriculum book. Bare facts have to be learnt, but so too does the ability to relate to children from 4 upwards, about problems you yourself may never experience, nor receive training on how to deal with them. I’m glad I’ll never have to deal with those issues – I would not be able. Hibernias and other teachers alike – having been given a brief insight into how much hard work it requires to be one of you, I salute you all....especially my Hellie.
We’re just back after a refreshing holiday in Kerry, which I’m sure Hellie will tell you all about at another stage, but there’s another story that I’ve wanted to write here for a few days now. I have sat and passed my first ever Hibernia exam...kinda.
The exam in question took place before our holiday, on a Thursday evening about ten days ago. While I’m well used to ‘Google Elf-ing’ and even typing up a few handwritten notes (in Irish as well as English, which can be tough) this was the first time that I was ever present for an actual exam. The subject...religion. Now I’m not much use when it comes to chatting to him upstairs – I barely know my Padre Pio from my San Diego Padres – but nonetheless, there I was sitting at the kitchen table in Glanmire helping my Hellie with her exam.
Now, there was no cheating going on here, let me make that much clear. My Hellie inputted every answer in a multiple-choice exam, and the decisions were Hellie’s alone. I just helped her in any little way that I could, while eating dinner and playing Football Manager.
For over an hour, I was looking up all sorts of things that I didn’t know then and don’t know now, but thankfully did at the time. The results were given straight after the exam, and judging by the big hug I received from a smiling Hellie, we were happy with what we got.
So what did I learn from it all? Well...not much in terms of religion, that much is for sure. But I did get an insight in how hard my Hellie and all the other Hibernias have to work to get through this course. As a multiple choice exam this seemed easy on paper. However, that was not the case, I can assure you, though I have no doubt that it is far easier than Irish oral exams and, God forbid, actually standing in front of and teaching twenty-odd little munchkins.
The saying goes ‘those that can do, and those that can’t teach.’ Bullshit. Teaching, as a profession, requires passion and integrity, and the ability to be able to deal with things not covered by any curriculum book. Bare facts have to be learnt, but so too does the ability to relate to children from 4 upwards, about problems you yourself may never experience, nor receive training on how to deal with them. I’m glad I’ll never have to deal with those issues – I would not be able. Hibernias and other teachers alike – having been given a brief insight into how much hard work it requires to be one of you, I salute you all....especially my Hellie.
Holidays are coming!
I'll be the first to admit that I've been a tad lazy the last 2 weeks and haven't posted much other then links to newspapers that I've enjoyed. Or at times that I haven't. But I'm being good now and updating my Hibernia life as we know it. without tp I'm feeling a little lost, I actually miss the lesson planning. But I am loving the chance to catch up on all the terrible tv I missed out on over the 5 weeks. Last week we had PE-a nightmare for me usually but on some level I almost enjoyed it. Not the clumsy Little Miss Bump part of me but the rest enjoyed the giggles that PE entailed. It was nice to catch up with everyone again after TP. But now the assignments are still going on and the first ever Hibernia exam is this week coming-religion. ICK. Do I look like I'm into this stuff? Or that I even understand it? I'm avoiding it. This week has a lot more to offer me than just religion. This week I'm off on HOLIDAYS!!! It starts Thursday with a trip to Galway to Gavin....WOOHOO (boooo for the exam) and on Friday we're off to see Derren Brown in the Grand Canal Theatre. My lovely Christmas pressie from my lovely Gavin! Thanks baby :) thats Saturday night and on the Sunday we're off to see the Mighty Munster take on Connacht (I know I laughed too but Connacht did win this weekend so you never know!) It will be fun and I really can't wait!! Then its Kerry on Monday!! Hoping to see Dingle and go over the Connor Pass. Gav needs to be shown the sights and taste Murphys Ice Cream!! There's also loads of scrabble, uno and cards to play when we're there in the mobile and a BBQ that needs some attention. What?? I wanna BBQ some steaks!! As for plans there?? Ashes and Spillane's will be must visit places this time around too!! Can't beat Ashes for ice cream Kerry style or Spillane's for decent tasty and perfect food!! Everytime!! It's the perfect holiday!! We're making lists of music we want to bring, films we want to bring and any games we wanna bring like UNO!! I love boardgames when in Kerry and its horrible outside and have music on, some cozy comfort food and fantastic company-GAVIN!! A nice sunny day involves a walk on the beach around the long way to the village and up to Ashes for ice cream for going back in time for dinner. It's the perfect getaway for us cash strapped students (and Gavin who isn't a student lol) I can't wait!! The countdown is on and its just 4 days until the holiday begins!!
Taking INTO into the breach - The Irish Times - Tue, Apr 06, 2010
Taking INTO into the breach - The Irish Times - Tue, Apr 06, 2010
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2010/0410/1224268021955.html
"It is not MY fault that I never learned to accept responsibility!"
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2010/0410/1224268021955.html
"It is not MY fault that I never learned to accept responsibility!"
| Irish Examiner
| Irish Examiner
I may actually be in shock....read it!! It's well worth it.....
"It is not MY fault that I never learned to accept responsibility!"
I may actually be in shock....read it!! It's well worth it.....
"It is not MY fault that I never learned to accept responsibility!"
News: Teachers split over pay deal
There's been a lot of talk about this conference. As it stand INTO aren't happy with the deal and neither are any teachers I know. I'd love to hear what you think of it all....I can genuinely say I wish people had a better idea of the importance of a great teacher in the life of a young child. Shaping the future shouldn't come with a price tag. Without the hard work of a primary teacher who's going to teach the Doctors of tomorrow the basic maths skills needed? Who's going to teach the law experts to read? Who's going to teach the next generation of politicians to well do whatever they do...talk through their hats in my opinion but there's oral language skills needed there and that's an essential part of primary school.
We need teachers. We can't forget that when we keep cutting resources, jobs and pay. We're affecting generations to come. Not just our own.
"I can resist everything except temptation."
Oscar Wilde
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