Unfulfilled Plans for Holiday

Reading, reading and writing and sorting out unfinished topics and ideas. That was  my plan for this holiday. What happened? I was having parties, drinking, having cold and did nothing to heal myself... Just nothing will stay behind from this wasted time. Apart from memories of good time with my friends I had on Christmas Eve.

Enough! I need to do something with my self discipline. I hope, that Steve Pavlina's series on this topics will help. I like his Ideas. Let's go to 'whip' into the shape... I am just creating a training plan for next week  - simple to do list of what I want to have accomplished by next Sunday. I am hoping to get done twelve 30-40 min long writing tasks and few hours of reading, which should not be so difficult as I am reading a lot anyway.

The major problem is, that I have soooo many things, I would like to start or learn... Like learn fast reading, finally decide on Open University course, I want to take in February, create a bogging series on one of educational topic, I am interested on - decide which and start little research. And finish things, which are waiting on my desk - book, plans GTD (Irony of life - my Get Things Done system will never get done...)

And now, when I fell productive I have to go... Isn't that annoying?

RE: Social skill of a foreigner...

I just thought to share, how it went on the last day before Christmas  at school. I mentioned that I lack some skills and I don't feel confident enough to lead rolling tutor. It went actually well. I had amazing and good day at work and I was pleased with behaviour of this young people I was in care of. DVD worked well and 'after eight' as well. I am looking forward to see all kids and colleagues after Christmas again. But now we have holiday and I should take some rest and relax. Happy Christmas to you all and I hope you enjoy Celine Dion.

Merry Christmas to all...

Social skills of a foreigner...

Tomorrow I will cover a rolling tutor. It is before Christmas and I suppose kids would like to be with their regular tutor, but they cannot. They will have me instead. That is ok, but... they may expect some treats from teacher just before Christmas, they may have some surprise. I had that last year as well. This time was a nightmare. And I don't really want to have this again. I am ready - I will have some DVD. But I don't want to buy them sweets. Is there any strategy how to survive disappointed kids? How to make them feel, they are special, even if I am not their tutor and I don't know them really well. I am still exploring the life here and I am not equipped with social skills for this occasion...

There are few things I find rather hard and I miss social skill to cope with them. They are mostly related to special occasion like Christmas. Now it is this class and what is expected from  form tutor during last day at school. Yesterday it was... Christmas cards. Am I supposed to give a card to everyone at school, or just to my close colleagues? Or no one? I asked. I took the 'via media aurea' approach and gave card to HoDs and close co-workers. I still feel I missed someone out. And I realised, that males usually do not do this... so I could save some money and time... I hate doing it. (not like I didn't want to give them)

The same with gifts. There is a lot of things I do not know how to do, why when... I do not want to lose my identity or became 100% British I just want to blend more in. I bet I will have similar problem after break and then again and again... Well I try and learn. 

cov picture

Back in blogging?

 

Ok, I have not been able to force myself to write a single line since summer. I think the summer holiday and lot of other stuff including laziness are to be blamed. Anyway, now I need to turn the page and move on. This really has to became a learning and reading journal, notes for experience and professional portfolio if you like...
I do not know, where this place will be in future, what I know is, that I desperately need this place, and I need to find time and power to post here. My Google notebook is full with notes tagged 'blog idea' and I read lots of others posts, which I want to have in something like 'My library'.
Other think is my professional life and target (all schools in the UK are full of them), where I want to move next and how to achieve this. In my old posts, I started to write about classroom management and learning objectives. Well, this year I had opportunity to try out some Ideas. First term is gone and I had just meeting with line manager and my colleagues. It's probably time for review... Yes. Using clear objectives and refer to them during lesson, or make a point at the end during plenary makes a huge difference. And classroom management? Clear boundaries and strict approach made the magic most of the time.
Ok. Enough of this. Time to make a to do list, plan for posts and review and link my 'blog ideas'