Ghostbusters Sky

Storms and terrible weather were forecast yesterday. But all we got was this Ghostbusters sky and heavy rain for about an hour. Then it was a lovely day. The first of each photo is the unchanged one, but I couldn't resist making it more dramatic with the help of photoshop! To my eyes it looked more like the dramatic versions. 

This Week and Last

Last week was half term, and apart from debating what to do with my life, I also had to go into work twice-once for planning, and once for making this display-with the other teacher in Nursery. This is our topic table. We are looking at 'Bathers at Asnieres' and started by asking the children to talk about the painting. Obviously talk about seaside visits came up, some mentioned sharks and fish, and so we took that as licence to include lots of sea type things, I made the cardboard boat shelf from large card, papier mache and then painted it in a way supposed to be reminiscent of a battered old rowing boat. Also the oars. The two ships were a lucky find at the boot fair and the postcards from Rochester for 10p each. 

The topic was imposed on us, so is not child initiated as we like to do. So in addition to all the boat and sea related things, today was spent starting to make a BMW cardboard car-one that they can sit in. This came from a boy in my class who has been talking about cars a lot recently, especially BMWs. He never looks that impressed when I tell him I have a renault! It started with him, but lots of children helped. We found cable reels for wheels, looked at a real car outside the fence to see features of a car. measured and cut a large box, cut one door, tested my seat idea, (another box!) then painted the bodywork, (and each other, the sinks and. in one case a leg) black. We all cleaned up the mess pretty well though. Tomorrow we will paint the interior green, cut the other door and then on Friday hopefully fix the wheels and the other things like lights, number plate, dashboard and steering wheel.  A picture will follow!

Other bits and pieces from this week and last... Cassie being cuddly on the day after her trip to the vet (for boosters) She hadn't quite recovered from the horror of it.

 Another big ship in Greenwich last Friday. I love the way the water looks. 

 Another day after the vets shot. One exhausted little cat!

 My petunias are blooming beautifully. This is an old teapot I have had for years which I love. It does stay out in the garden so I thought it would appreciate a plant.

 I don't know what plant it is from, but this cottony seed carrying fluff was everywhere at the start of the week and the end of last week. As well as looking like snow as it moves through the air, it does a good impression of it on the ground.

Another part of our boat related work. A big boat picture for my carpet sessions this week. It started as a line drawing but it needed colour as you could not tell what was what. A perfect excuse for some relaxing colouring in.

I have been feeling creative again-I was too stressed to even want to make anything-ever since ofsted, but after deciding to leave I feel like doing things again. I saw Kachina figures on tumblr last week-they are Hopi spiritual dolls and are amazing. I love the simple shapes and bright colours. I particularly liked this one so had a go at making a cardboard papier mached one. Having finished it I can see that the head is too big, but I still like him. He is a  morning singer-so should help me wake up in the morning!

 

The Financial Times is my newspaper of choice for papier mache. It does not seem as pink as it used to though.

I had a lot of trouble getting the turquiose colour. It seems I have no turquoise paint at all. I bought a paint sample from B and Q as I didn't want to drive all the way to Hobbycraft. I used a mixture of paint sample pots, acylics, gesso, gouache, watercolour tube, and cassein paint. I am not at all sure if all those go together but it seems not to be peeling!

The base is an old (splintery so obviously had to be removed) wooden block from school. I hot glued two golf tees onto it, with a stick stuck to each, then pushed the hollow legs of the doll onto these. It worked well and suited my impatience to see it finished.

Little Things

A flower that fell off a bunch given to me by one of my lovely colleagues last week. I didn't want to throw it away and it survived quite well in a little dish of water. 

 One of the many hundreds of snails that appeared in the garden in the rain earlier in the week . They were so happy-or had that appearance anyway. Andy left a scratch card out on the steps and they ate most of it, then did little paper poos. Interesting.

Thanks for the supportive comments on my last post. I really appreciate them.

Looking Up and Two Dog Tales

This last week has been quite something. Last Thursday I had a meeting with the new head. This was the first time he had spoken to me in person, apart from a quick visit to Nursery on the morning of Ofsted where he said a few words as he passed through. I was not sure what to expect in the meeting, and didn't realise it was feedback related to the observations he did a few weeks ago. My feedback was not good. In fact it is the worst feedback I have ever had, and contained nothing positive. I am not going to go into detail but I was pretty devastated. When I had time to think about it I don't actually agree with most of what he said, and am also amazed that he can form an opinion of my teaching on so little evidence. I was told that I would be put on an informal support plan next half term to make improvements. After a very miserable weekend from the shock of being in this position when nothing like this has ever happened to me before, and in which Andy was super supportive, I came to some conclusions. Namely that I could not face the thought of working for this man any longer. That if I went through this support plan and didn't come up to his expectations, then I could actually lose my job next term. That I am not going to let twenty years of teaching and my self-esteem be damaged by this. And that I was going to resign. And yesterday, I did! And I am so happy. The old cliche of a weight being lifted from your shoulders is so true. The way the school has changed in the last few years, and the difficulties in the new setting have really taken their toll and carrying on there is just not possible for me. I am going to apply to supply agencies for September, and also the art group I mentioned. I have been researching my own history all week and today made a start on my CV and my supporting statement for the art group. Friends and colleagues have been great in helping me and I feel very optimistic. Things are looking up! 

 I looked up in Rochester on Thursday and saw this pretty gable,

this mossy rooftop, and this bunting.

Dog Tale Number One

Just after my friend and I arrived there, we heard lots of barking. We looked over, and were shocked to see what was happening. A dog-some kind of Staff type dog, had got its jaws clamped around the leg of a guide dog-a labrador. The guide dog was yelping and trying to escape. The other dog's owner was trying to prise the jaws of his dog apart without success. A man strode across and managed to do this for him. The whole thing went on for a number of minutes and was really horrible. The poor guide dog owner at one point cried out 'What's happening?' Lots of people were trying to help. I went over but there were so many people that I didn't stay. Amazingly the guide dog was not seriously hurt. The poor thing had not tried to defend itself by attacking the other dog, just cried. Apparently guide dogs get attacked by other dogs fairly frequently, and it is an offense to let your dog do this and can result in a jail sentence.

Dog Tale Number Two

This is a much happier tale, and happened today. I was unloading my shopping from the car-and had the front door open while I did so. A little dog appeared from across the road. He was the cutest dog-some kind of medium terrier, not sure what breed. He went up to the front door wagging his tail, and put his front paws on the step. I said hello but stopped him from going in as I didn't think the cats would appreciate it. I expected his owner to appear but nobody did. He walked up the road to my neighbour's house and had a sniff around. I called him back and he came. He had a collar and name disc so I had to go in the house for my phone-he tried to follow me again. I then held onto him while I called his number and luckily the lady was in. She had been putting the bins out and didn't know he had escaped! He started barking but not at me. When she arrived she said he was barking at an aeroplane as he doesn't like them. As well as being such a cutie he had the cutest name-Jasper Baggins. Once I started calling him by name he became even more sweet and friendly. He can come round again! 

Poor Devil

Seen on bin day when I was coming home. I stopped the car and went back to take photos as it was quite striking really. 

 I was tempted to have a look at its face but didn't want to appear any weirder than I already may have done by taking photos.

 I wonder if the binmen will attach him to their lorry? I shall look out for it. If you don't come from the UK do bin people do that where you live? They tie an abandoned cuddly toy to the front of their trucks like a kind of mascot. Quite sweet really.

I just googled it as I was thinking that I have not seen this practice for a while. And look at this. Banned!

A Bootless Giant

As the giant chased Jack down the beanstalk, he lost one of his boots. He rang me up to complain about this. I passed his message on to the children and we decided to make him a new one. We looked at the giant's baby's boot (the size 12 hiking boot on top of the model) as the giant wanted his new boot to be just like it. We had a lovely week making it, finally finishing yesterday by painting the sole of the boot around the bottom. 

There were opportunities for all of the children in the nursery to work on the boot if they chose, but there ended up being a kind of core boot making committee, who were there at any time the boot was in production. Each part of the process involved them fully, the only really adult done part being to cut the chicken wire. We are proud of our boot, and received a lovely letter from the giant telling us how pleased he was. The boot will go to him over half term, but then come back (for a display) at the end as he will be wearing his sandals in the warmer months.

What also happened last week was Ofsted. Wednesday afternoon we found out. They were in Thursday and Friday. We had staff from the other school we are partnered with in to help us which was great. Most staff were there until 10 or later on Wednesday night. (I was there till ten then went home and worked till half one) One teacher didn't go to bed at all. I felt alright on Thursday, in fact remarkably positive. After another late night on Thursday I was then exhausted and emotional on Friday when we were properly observed. I had a terrible carpet session, one of the worst I have ever done, then nearly cried on the inspector. She was very nice and told me 'shoulders down, deep breath'. She asked quite a lot of questions which I think I answered ok but it was so stressful. I was really upset afterwards and if it hadn't been for lovely colleagues might just have given up there and then. As it says at the end of my last journal below-FIN! There was no result given on Friday. Then Monday, Tuesday and today. We still don't know what the judgement is. It will be either Special Measures or Requires Improvement, (the old Satisfactory) Neither is good but the second is preferable. On top of that the pressure of the rapid changes in how we do everything, plus looming report writing, and yet more assessment tracking updating, means I am feeling very trapped and a bit desperate at the moment.

 The day before Ofsted, I had started making some fabric flowers like this one-you cut circles, then petals then fold, glue and attach around a circle. Some pretty beads in the middle and voila a lovely flower. That has been on hold.

 I am seriously considering applying to work for the company 'Arty Party' who were in Foundation Stage last week making large and decorative insects and flowers for our playground. They employ artists, art students, teachers and TAs so I might be in with a chance. I need to write a CV as I have not done that for a long time.

 The only creative things I have been doing are journal pages. It takes my mind off my worries for a while.

 Lots of birds around at the moment. 

A red house.Cassein paints have come out. I bought them ages ago but didn't use them. They have the weirdest smell, like disinfectant. They have a very matt finish, even more so than gouache.
Well, I expect that's it for another couple of weeks. Will attempt once again to be positive next time. Maybe I will have written a CV by then.

Five Little Peas in a Pea Pod Pressed

We have been growing beans, writing and drawing a bean diary, making a large bean stalk, drawing character portraits, and have started to make a boot for the giant who lost one when he was chasing Jack down the beanstalk. I remembered this little rhyme, and found a good version on you tube. I also made a quick pea pod. I need to crochet the peas really but there wasn't time for that so I had to make pom poms. I need to take the kids some peas next week so they can see and eat the real things as they may not have a clue what I am talking about!

 PVA glue for the eyes and mouth. Seems to work pretty well. 

 Pressed, squashed, squeezed and squished!