Far and Away

Hiya @Faith-and-Hope @Former-Member @Appleblossom @Shaz51 @Snowie @Sans911 @MDT @eth @Teej @CheerBear @Bunniekins and anyone else following along...

First day back was not as taxing as I expected it to be. I have gotten most of the set up of the classroom done but will need to go in early to do some more. The desks, shelves, chairs and cabinets were already moved in for me and the attendants had put them (mostly) in the places they were last term - so that made it a lot easier for me.

Did some planning in our grade teams for the term so I have a direction in a couple of subjects - just need to do the other subjects myself but will do that progressively over the remainder of this week and the weekend.

The books I ordered a few weeks ago arrived today so I can take them in tomorrow - doing an illustrator study rather than concentrating on authors as most teachers do - he also has written several books so it will be a good collection for the kids. It is my favourite illustrator ...Robert Ingpen - his illustrations are amazing so we can do some art with the kids based on some of the books as well. My favourite picture book 'The Dreamkeeper' is written and illustrated by him and I'll do some work with the kids around that book for the first assembly that the class has to present at.

As you can probably tell I am a bit more excited today than nervous but tomorrow will be another matter - still some planning and organising to do tonight but that will mostly be focussed around 'getting to know you' activities and some testing.

Will check in on everyone on other threads soon then get stuck into the planning again.

Sending you all love and hugs

Fantastic post @Zoe7 I wish my child had had someone like you when they were at school. I love Robert Ingpen too. I'm sure the kids will really enjoy what you have planned. Have a good rest tonight xx

you will be wonderful my sister @Zoe7

@eth I have a pretty good collection of both his authored books and more popular ones he has illustrated so it will give the kids a really good selection to look through and read. The 4 I ordered came today so I will be able to organise a display of his books tomorrow - will need to go in early but I have been waking up super early so that should not be an issue.

@Shaz51 Sorry to hear about the loss of someone close to who you clean for. I bet you were your wonderful supportive self for them though my sister

I just looked up Robert Ingpen, and it was enough to say I love him too ..... 😏

Wow .... so cool ❣️

Glad that hat first day worked out well @Zoe7 . It must feel great to be standing in a classroom again and know that it’s yours for the rest of the year.

👋💕 @Shaz51 @eth ... anyone else around ....

Hi @Faith-and-Hope how are things going for you?

He is a pretty awesome illustrator @Faith-and-Hope and I think a unique way to introduce art to the kids. I am going to read Storm Boy to the kids as there is also a picture book illustrated by Robert Ingpen and a movie we can watch at the end of the term. The kids are really into animals as well - there is a toy Vet Clinic set up in the classroom that I have left because the kids absolutely love it. So I think it will all be a really good learning experience for them all. Several of Ingpens books deal with death and/or dying and we are also looking at Growth and Change as part of Science so it fits in with life cycles there too. A bit excited about it all really - it is coming together in degrees but seeming much more manageable also with the connections I have made across the curriculum

How are you doing today? How was Uni? ...and how is your back and shingles?

That is all sounding like it’s coming together well @Zoe7.

My day was good. I am working at stretching myself with my art, so trying new things, and I am very pleased with photography and mixed media images I have put together in the last couple of days.

The shingles seem to have passed effectively, but I had a neck and shoulders massage on Saturday (because that is where I store most of my stress tension), and later in the day I ended up with a really, really sore back, in the middle of my back, aligned with the shingles site ..... so I don’t know what that was ...... hopefully the massage helping to move ithe shingles along and out if my system......

I don’t even know whether it can work like that. I do know that stress ekevates pain levels, so maybe that is what it was telling me .....

@MDT How has your day been?

@Faith-and-Hope Not sure if that is how it works with shingles either Hon but I do get a lot of referred pain in my back from tension in my neck too so they are definitely linked. You have certainly been under a lot of stress so pleased you are keeping up the massages and it is helping a little.

I love hearing how much you are getting back into uni and stretching yourself into areas you have not done a lot in before. Youo will be an expert at Photoshop in no time - just look back on last year and how much help you needed from your baby dragons and now you are doing it on your own - that is awesome 🎉👍

How are the baby dragons going? Did S2 make it to uni today?