Sunday, September 11, 2005

Weh-hey!!!!
I am now an official D-VOR-CEE. It's been a long time coming and I feel really relieved that it's all over. It's sad but you move on and find that life gets better each day. I have learned that love isn't enough, no matter what people say. You need common ground to walk on and a shared vision for the future. If the basics aren't there then your're doomed. DOOMED, I say. But anyway.

Just finished my planning. It took forever but I'm tired and was feeling pretty uninspired. It's difficult at this time of year as I only have the kiddies in for half a day. I am teaching them to: sit, walk in a line, try to listen, not hit each other, share the playdoh, clap in time, sing the right notes, hold a pencil, hear the right sounds, know when to speak and when to listen and that the world does not revolve around them. These are skills needed if they are to develop into well rounded adults. You might think walking in a straight line is pointless but it is a vital element of queuing. As it is, we line up and I set off. I take 1 child with me and because the second child does not know how to walk in a line of children, they don't go. Hence I arrive at my destination with one child and the other 23 are still in the classroom. Luckily I have another adult with me who can guide them and say 'Off you go...' from the back. Tell you what, it can be very tiring saying the same thing over and over again. I also don't get to finish about 90% of my sentences. A typical session goes like this.

Me: (To little 'Molly')'Right, now first we're going to...
Kiddie A: Can I go outside?
Me: Yes, but you didn't need to ask that. You know you can go outside. Right, Molly, can you...
Kiddie B: I need a wee?
Me: You mean please can you go to the toilet? Yes you can... (to child who is climbing over story telling chair with wooden spoon from house in hand) Ummmm don't climb on the chair, no! Get down!! Quickly or I'm going to have to come and move you...Well done, you made the right choice. Right, sorry Molly, let's start this...
Kiddie's C, D, E arrive.
C: He hit me...I'm telling on you!
D: Didn't, he smacked me and snatched the frog away
E: He hitted me too.
Me: Right, tell you what Molly, you go and play. Now you three, what happened...
Kiddie B: Can I have a wee?
Me: You've just been to the toilet, no...(The same child as before has just climbed on the chair again.) Right I'm coming over...

And on it goes. I swear down that sometimes I'm holding atleast 4 conversations at once. Bit like the stock exchange I suppose. Without the silly hand gestures. But with added sand and lego...