5 things (Sept 2013)

hello.

Can it really be nearing the end of September? How is that even possible?


I was going to do a post about the new spelling program I found for the upper grades, in addition to sharing some aspects of the writing program I like so much at this school. Anyway, can't find the pictures...another time then!

Here are some pictures that sum up my past week!

Love this show! I'm not huge into cooking by any means, and I have no desire to attempt what they make, but I love it anyway!

LOVE Jamie! Went to his restaurant this past weekend with my husband and a friend. Such a special treat. Everything.was.amazing.

My husband and I are going to Vienna for a week in October-can't wait!! Anyone been there and have any tips?

I am going to the ENT Dr again this week. I'm really hoping there will be a solution...surgery...anything!

Love him. That's all.  


Hope you have a great week!

Kelli xx

sweet award

Thank you so much to Becky at Musings from the Foreign Teacher, and Michelle at Big Time Literacy, for nominating me for the Liebster award!! I am so happy to be recognized (especially since I feel like I've been away from blogging forever!)

To accept the nomination I must:
1. Link back to the blog that nominated me.
2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers.
3. Answer the questions posted for me by my nominator.
4. Share 11 random facts about myself.
5. Create 11 questions for my nominees.
6. Contact my nominees and let them know I nominated them.

OK, I will probably just pick a few questions from each person so it's not too many for you to read. 

Becky's Questions:

1. Why did you get into teaching? I got into teaching because a) I had an awesome time in school myself. Loved the structure, loved the specials, loved the social time. Love. b) I'd rather hang out with kids than adults. I am quite a big kid myself.

fond memories of listening to the librarian

2. What is your favourite age to teach? Why? Oohh. Tough question. I've spent a lot of time in kindergarten and first grade, but in the last couple years I've stretched myself with fourth and fifth grade. I'm pretty smitten with uppergrade now. But I still love K-2 as well.

3. What was your favourite subject in school? Spelling! Man I could spell! Science was my worst.

4. What type of music do you like? Lots! Temper Trap, Gotye, Rhianna, Coldplay, Regina Spektor. All over the place.

5. What is your most annoying habit? I put things off. Then I feel like everything comes at once. But really I should prioritize better.

6. What is your favourite word? Right now it's Muggins. This comes from a (not-so-nice) British word 'mug' as in stupid or gulliable (example: 'Don't be such a mug!' Or,' You're muggin' me off in front of my mates!'). Anyway, my husband and I think it's funny and we say Muggins as a nicer way of using it in public and we work it into any sentence. Silly. (have you heard this word Becky?)

 

Michelle's Questions:

1. When did you know you wanted to be a teacher? Probably in high school when I worked in a daycare. It felt very natural.

2. How long have you been teaching? I've lost count with all my moving around. 11 years I think. Can't believe it!

3. What subjects/grades have you taught? What is your current position? I've taught (through a variety of full year contracts or maternity covers), K-6, 3-5 gifted, Reading Specialist (Literacy Lab) and a New Arrivals Programme (English and Math to refugees and immigrants to Australia). The last was my absolute favorite.

English Language School in Australia

4. What is your biggest accomplishment as a teacher? Creating a safe, fun, positive atmosphere in the classroom (I try anyway!)

5. Any special summer break plans? Make the most of London! Museums, parks, beach. And rest.

 

Natural History Museum in London

6. What is your secret super power? I have endless enthusiasm/energy when I teach lessons, regardless of how tired I am. 

 

Random Facts (I'll keep it short as I feel I've made this really long):

*I have to work SUPER hard at all things technological. It is all very foreign to me.

*I don't like scary movies. At all.

*My husband and I got married in a hotel in Wimbledon.

*I don't watch sports (except the Olympics) which is surprising as I grew up playing sports! I don't mind rugby though.

*I love hot chai tea lattes. Yum. 

 

 Blogs I nominate and love:

Ladybug's Teacher Files

Fifth in the Middle

Rambling About Reading 

Young Teacher Love 

Finding JOY in 6th Grade 

 

 

Off to bed!!

Kelli xx 

Birthday SALE!!

 Hope you're having a great day!!! A sale in honor of my birthday!! Click here for the sale!

Remember, you're only as old as you feel! Be silly and have some fun today!

Kelli xx

Been awhile....school almost finished!!!!

Wow!!!!!!! I've totally neglected my blog in the last couple months. It's good to be back. How have you been? What have I missed? What's bloglovin? I've seen this mentioned but not sure what it is.

Anyway, I have 2 and a half days left of school!!! British school year: Sept-July...can't wait to start living again. I have barely been existing since I returned from my trip 3 weeks ago. I feel like the worst wife, daughter, sister and friend ever. Lucky students seem to get everything I've got and then I go home and collapse. Big play production? Check. Parent conferences? Check. School carnival? Check. Prize giving ceremony tomorrow night and Year Six Leaver's BBQ Tuesday night then finished Wednesday!! I can almost touch it!!

Just finishing a gift for the class:

Anyway here's some photos from trip to see family in Illinois and relaxing time in Florida. There's also a sneak peek at a K.CC journal printables pack I'm working on (can't wait to get back into creating!)

Can't wait to catch up with everyone's blogs this week!! 

K xx

 

 

The latest journal pack (picture the pages on the left and middle to be a foldable type):

Have a good one!!

100th post!!!!!

Wow! I can't believe I've posted 100 times! (well my last post was actually the 100th, but it was a test post because I was having problems)....anyway! Thanks to those of you that stop by-I don't post as often as other bloggers do, but thankfully you continue to come by and see what I've got to say!

So, before I fall into bed, here are 5 things that are on my mind these days:

1)  My husband and I went on a date Saturday night to see this. It wasn't The Notebook, but I still really liked it. It made me feel so girly and romantic. I grabbed my sweetie a little closer to me the rest of the night. Must do more dates!

 
 2) My job has been extended to the end of the year (July) and *should* be mine in September!! I've got so  much freedom at this school...my mind is thinking about a million things I'd love to do!

 
3) Cape Town, South Africa!!
My husband and I are going to spend time with his family there in a couple weeks (over Easter holiday)...can't wait for some sunshine!!!!

  

4) Help me come up with a title for my friend's blog! She is a British uppergrade teacher with some great resources (video, notebooks, etc)...I've introduced her to the blogging world-help us out with a name!!!

5) I am so grateful for this man. He treats me so well and is so helpful, supportive and loving. So happy.


Have a good one!
Kellixx   

Looking Ahead!

Well, I've seen this everywhere and just had to jump in. Since I'm behind (no surprise there!), I'll do all 5 now!

TECHNOLOGY:
I would like to give some attention to my blog. The blog thing has been completely learn as I go along (tech things are not my strength) and I started pinning tutorials that have helped a lot. I still have a lot of questions like: what happened to the 'followers' thing and what does subscribe in Google reader mean? Also I would love to be able to create lots of columns on my pages like Ashley Hughes at School Supply Addict has done (how do you do that?)--

Ashley's awesome pages

ORGANIZATION:
I am trying to combat this by doing my lesson plans for the next half term during the winter break and by reading about some of my new topics for the next term now (The Stuarts, Rivers, Recycling, Buddhism, and I need to read the book Holes). 

That is the main focus for me as far as organization with this current job. Just lots of new topics to learn. Luckily they do most of their work into journals/notebooks (so random papers are never an issue), bulletin boards are done/created by them as homework, and the room is soooo small (I should take a picture) that there is not really anything else to organize!

history bulletin board

PROFESSIONAL GROWTH:
There are so many things I would like to do in this area. 

-Read books that Tammy at Forever in First and others have recommended
-Complete a TEFL or CELTA course for teaching others English
-take on a teaching position in a new environment when this job finishes


DOWNTIME:
More research on cooking from scratch/healthy eating!

Very happy we got a crockpot recently and very excited about the Vitamix we are getting with gift certificates!

can't wait for those smoothies!!

 I am also hoping to read more, worry less, and work on 'being in the moment'!

FITNESS:
Something has to change. As we are trying to watch our money (upcoming changes to employment for my husband and I means we gotta be extra careful!)...we have opted not to have things with monthly costs if possible for the moment (a gym membership or a car because of insurance)...no car is fine since England has buses and trains everywhere BUT----

with the dreary winter weather...I need a gym!! I do not feel like myself at all when I don't go to the gym. I'm investigating whether I can do something from home on youtube...any thoughts? I'm not as discipined at home though ; )

Hope to read about your upcoming goals! 

Kelli xx 

questions and answers!

 

 

I have been nominated for The Leibster Award by two lovely ladies, Tania (Mrs. Poultney's Ponderings) and Rae (Mindful Rambles)-how kind!! I will answer 5 questions from each  blogger so that you don't have read too long!

Here are the rules: (eh...it's up to you how you do it)

1. You must answer the questions set for you.

2. You must create 11 questions for the people you nominate.

3. You must choose 11 other blogs with fewer than 200 followers to nominate and link them in your post.

4. You cannot “tag back” the other blog, but leave a comment on this post with the URL of your Liebster post so I can learn more about you & see who you nominate.

 Questions:
1. If you weren't a teacher/educator/your current occupation, what would you be? OH! A job that I always thought would be amazing would be to do soundtracks for movies. Not like the composer, but the person that picks the songs for the scenes, etc. ya : )
2. What is your favorite genre of music? You may have gathered that I like music from the question above. I lOVE many types of music. Fits the mood. 

3. What was your favorite subject in school? What was your least favorite? Fav-reading/spelling. Least-science.
4. What is one way that you do to ensure a healthy lifestyle?

No soda, no fast food.

5. How many hours of sleep do you get a night? 7-8

 6.What is the scariest thing you have ever done?    Getting married: being the center of attention, doing it without my best friends (in another country). Worrying if everyone would have a good time. (it was great!) 

7.Do you play a sport? I played volleyball, basketball and softball in high school. 

8.How many stamps in your passport? I am a blessed girl : ) 

9.What is your favorite season? Fall/Winter 

10.Who was your favorite teacher when you were a student? I loved my third grade teacher Mrs. Nakamura. She was sweet, nice and I learned how to do my times tables really well.         

 

Katie's great blog is here!

Renee's fantastic blog is here! 

Here are my questions:

1) What word annoys you?

2) What is the best movie you've seen recently?

3) What is your idea of a perfect Saturday morning?

4) What is the best concert you've seen?

5) 3 things I always have in my fridge are...

Have a great day!!!                                              

Does acupuncture really work??!!

I have not blogged in awhile. I would like to, but these chronic sinus infections make me sooooooo tired. 

I seem to have one every fall (and spring) for about 6-7 weeks. Last year at this time I had sinus infection after sinus infection............and here it is, fall again. Sick again.

Someone suggested I try acupuncture. Has anyone tried this? I think the needles would hurt. But the netti-pot, nasal spray, decongestants, avoiding dairy, etc is not working! I really should see an ear, nose and throat dr, but the health system here is a bit different and I have found it hard to get a referral.

Any tips?

Hope you're having a great week and have avoided any sinus/cold/flu stuff! 

Kelli

I'm back!! And it's my 50th post! And I'm almost to 100 followers!

Wow, I've been gone forever it seems!!!!

My official London wedding went great!! Exceeded my expectations. Don't know what I was worrying about. Still waiting for the pictures from the photographer, but here is a picture or 2. A full post on it is also here.

I have just started catching up on everyone's blogs. I feel so out of it. Our families left about 2 weeks ago, and a friend from Australia left this week.

So now.

The job hunt has started.

 

The good news: the UK government changed the rule about not recognizing teaching qualifications for teachers from AU, NZ, Canada and the US!!!! So I am now seen as QUALIFIED!!!! This opens so many doors now! Can you believe that my Bachelors and Masters degree was nothing until this rule changed? I know.

But onto trying to get a job here.

I don't know if you know how it goes here in England when one wants to get a teaching job.  Maybe this is how it is in your state, and Arizona is just super relaxed. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

HOW TO GET A TEACHING JOB IN ENGLAND

1. Look up on a website for job vacancies (not organized in school districts like I'm used to).

2. Call up schools to come 'round for a tour and chat. (this takes so long since I'm on public transport and don't always know where these schools are).

3. Get an application PACK and submit it later to school, along with a 2 page personal statement about how you are exactly what they're looking for, according to their Teacher Spec sheet from application pack (it's all very formal here in England.......formal and cold).

4. Maybe, maybe you will get shortlisted to come in for an interview.

5. If you come in for an interview, the interview consists of a formal lesson with an unknown class or classes while Head Teacher and others (possibly governing board as well) watch.  Some of the schools said online that the interview would take ALL DAY. Some said you have to give a presentation ALSO. Then comes the question and answers.

6.Be careful you don't get used during this "lesson as your interview" situation. I had to do a P.E. lesson (not trying to get a PE job, but state schools don't have specialist teachers so you have to teach everything)........anyway PE lesson, tennis with kindergarten. How did I get myself into this is exactly what I thinking. But guess what? No one came to watch me until the very end. And then I discovered they weren't really looking for a teacher. They were looking for a substitute teacher for part of the day. For free. Super.

7. I forgot how formal and scary and hard it is to get a job here (it's been several years since I was here).

8. I hate that no one here really knows me, and doesn't know how hard I work and how much I care!

9. Good luck to me!

how about I get paid to do this instead?

I am tired just thinking about this whole process!! 

I also have another theory on why this is all so intimidating for me. I'll try and make it quick.

Often times when I go to the schools for interviews (or when I did the last time I lived here), they immediately seem disappointed that I'm American.

"Oh where are you from?"  I detect a hopeful look that I might be from Canada, a country that in the top 5 for student achievement.

"Phoenix, Arizona from the States," I say softly.

"Oh."

If you're confused, I have said in past posts (or when I was writing 'notes' on facebook before blogging), I have learned that Americans are not popular. Anywhere I go. England, Australia, France etc. I hear weekly, if not daily, negative comments about Americans. In passing, on the TV, at church, in conversations, in staff rooms, everywhere. I don't disagree with all of it, but I can see that my nationality precedes me when I walk into a room. But I try to defy the myth that I carry a gun, eat fast food 3 times a day, am arrogant, and can't find England on a map. But I'm getting off topic here. 

 

 OK, all of that aside, things are going really well! The wedding was a success, I had a great time with my family, and I am enjoying being married tremendously. I really love it and am so happy after all our time apart, the deployments, the waiting.......yay! Together and happy!

 

SO tell me! Is it this formal and tough to get a job where you live? Or perhaps I'm being a baby.

Oh and here is my latest printables pack for K-2 notebooks! Maybe when I get to 100 followers I will do something fun! I always read that in other people's blogs : ) Now it will be my turn! What should I do? Can you do me a favor and get some of your friends over here?! I'm 5 away from 100!!

A few samples:

 

 

Have a good one!!

Kelli