Be a post whore! - Page 128

Sundae · 06-23-2010, 05:10 PM

We (the school I volunteer for) had an OFSTED inspection a couple of months back (an Orwellian abbreviation to do with office and education I think)

It's not enough to teach the children; evidence has to be available to check. I spent a whole morning today glueing worksheets into science books. Not because of this year's inspection, just because that's the way education works now. Of the three topics I was glueing in, one a "mini-beasts" hunt. In other words we went looking for insects. It was numeracy and identifying and drawing and writing. But it only counted if it was written up with a heading and a date and the objective was clearly stated and achieved and the work is shown and is marked and a comment made by the teacher. A thirty minute session in school time and an added thirty minutes out of school time for a teacher/ TA/ Parent Helper.

I understand that the need for evidence can be used to judge sub-standard schools. But I'm lucky enough to work in a superb school and I still know they could not function as well as they do without parent commitment. That seems terrible to me. If a good school needs 4-5 parents (and me, a non-parent) a week to meet the targets of reading and recording and practice and art, what about the schools that don't have that?

Well, I know what happens to those schools. Or local estate school is failing. Our Councillor blames the parents for not being engaged. He's probably right, but it seems like a double bind for the children involved. One of the issues is how to motivate parents from different cultural backgrounds, especially when English is not spoken at home. He's appealed to the community to take more interest in education, and I hope he succeeds - we don't need ghetto education in a town this size.

Sorry, wandered off subject. But I was being a post whore so I forgive myself. St Cherry, patron saint of thread-drift-non-drift.

Clodfobble · 07-05-2010, 09:08 PM

I saw the most horrific thing in a parking lot this afternoon.

It was an IKEA delivery truck--small as far as those things go, more like the size of a U-Haul truck--and one entire side of the trailer was a huge flatscreen TV screen, looping an IKEA infomercial, including loud audio. Holy fucking road hazard, Batman.

Now, it was idling, and I came in and left again before it moved, so maybe, just maybe, this video does not actually play while the truck is driving down the highway. But I'm inclined to think it does, because one of the sound effects in the infomercial was a very startling truck horn honking. It actually honks at you to make sure you're watching the 10-foot-tall television instead of driving.

ZenGum · 07-06-2010, 07:59 AM

See, that is why Americans need enormous cars.

'cause sometimes, there's some things that just need to be run off the road.

Cloud · 07-10-2010, 07:27 PM

Okay, this is fairly amazing; a crocheted representation of Terry Pratchet's Discworld:

http://www.planetjune.com/blog/amigurumi-discworld/

jinx · 07-11-2010, 04:09 PM

The girl acquired a right distal radius buckle fracture about 5 minutes after we arrived at the gym today. Cast on tuesday.
The new ER at Paoli is pretty impressive. There was an illegal alien wanting to get stitched up in the next room but refusing to answer any questions.

Griff · 07-12-2010, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinx

The girl acquired a right distal radius buckle fracture about 5 minutes after we arrived at the gym today. Cast on tuesday.

Summer in a cast... irritating.

ZenGum · 07-12-2010, 06:08 AM

Cloud, that is great, thanks.

Quote:

There was an illegal alien wanting to get stitched up in the next room but refusing to answer any questions.

He wouldn't answer 'cause he was worried they were going to stitch him up for something.

classicman · 07-12-2010, 07:41 AM

... and itchy. Sorry to hear that Jinx.

Sundae · 07-12-2010, 01:30 PM

Sorry for the girl, Jinx.
Is there still at least a cool factor to it?

Hang on - homeschooled (and coming up to summer anyway) I guess there aren't as many kids to impress with it. And the worst weather otherwise.

If you manage to get her in a kayak I'd love to see pics

I'm going through the volunteer database at the mo.
I have 2.5 days left at school then nothing for 6 weeks.
And I know Mum will e.x.p.l.o.d.e. if I don't find myself something to do during the holidays.

I shouldn't be so mingy about it - even if I get stuck with something I don't like I guess I only have to stick it for 6 weeks. More likely 4 once I get trained up and then start back at school beginning September.
And there is a good chance I'll find something I enjoy... Maybe.
They want volunteers on the maternity ward - welcoming, door monitoring (to prevent baby snatching, sadly) and escorting postnatal parents to the waiting area. Sounds like something I can do.
Another which has caught my eye is pushing the Chaplain around on ward visits. She is in a wheelchair. A good way to sweat off a few pounds? The Chaplin is described as "small", but they want volunteers to push patients to chapel on Sunday mornings too. I reckon I could handle a little old lady or too. As long as I don't have to sit in...

I'll find something.
Watch this space.

jinx · 07-12-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

Sorry for the girl, Jinx.
Is there still at least a cool factor to it?

Hang on - homeschooled (and coming up to summer anyway) I guess there aren't as many kids to impress with it. And the worst weather otherwise.

If you manage to get her in a kayak I'd love to see pics

Apparently there are waterproof liners that can go inside a fiberglass cast so it can get wet. The ER doc said it just depends on what's available at the ortho - but I'm thinking we might ortho shop if it's not available at the one we've made an appointment with. It's important, for swimming and kayaking. I just can't see her having to sit these out or 4-6 weeks.

Yes, she's home schooled, but school has been over since June 1. She has cheerleading camp and then practices comeing up on a few weeks... will have to make due impressing all the kids at the gym (they have summer camp there, as well as members like us) until then.

monster · 07-21-2010, 10:55 PM

you.
have.
no.
idea.

that is all.

monster · 07-12-2010, 01:54 PM

Is paid work still not an option at this point, SG?

Sundae · 07-12-2010, 02:06 PM

What I'm looking for is work with children - I'd be willing to take even part time and then any number of additional part time work to support that.
That way I'd still be moving towards my goal of full time teaching assistant position.

From September I will volunteer three days a week.
To be reviewed (by me) at Christmas.
If I'm up to three days a week with no trouble, I'll accept I have to go back into an office short term. I'd still have my volunteer experience behind me if and when there is a vacancy within a five mile radius.

At present the job opportunities locally are limited. In every field, even jobs I do not want to take or am unqualified for.
The only real option available would be the office based admin that brought me down so far last time. And saying that I haven't even seen one of those jobs recently. I do look every week.

I'm also looking at working as a volunteer for the Brownies/ Guides.
Again, that would look great on my CV and keep my hand in.
That's part of the plan which involves taking any job I can to get back in the workplace.

monster · 07-12-2010, 02:10 PM

Do they have summer reading programs at the library, SG?
that might be a good place to volunteer. Maybe you could even start one if they don't have one?

Also, get first-aid and CPR certified. that's great on your CV too, when you want to work with kids.

monster · 07-12-2010, 02:12 PM

Most kids get waterproof casts in the summer. I'm amazed at the number I see swimming with them. And they're such cool colors too. You can't really write on them like the old plaster of paris ones, though -Sharpie works OK, and nail polish..... but at least they're cool colors to start off with.

06-23-2010, 05:10 PM	#1
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	We (the school I volunteer for) had an OFSTED inspection a couple of months back (an Orwellian abbreviation to do with office and education I think) It's not enough to teach the children; evidence has to be available to check. I spent a whole morning today glueing worksheets into science books. Not because of this year's inspection, just because that's the way education works now. Of the three topics I was glueing in, one a "mini-beasts" hunt. In other words we went looking for insects. It was numeracy and identifying and drawing and writing. But it only counted if it was written up with a heading and a date and the objective was clearly stated and achieved and the work is shown and is marked and a comment made by the teacher. A thirty minute session in school time and an added thirty minutes out of school time for a teacher/ TA/ Parent Helper. I understand that the need for evidence can be used to judge sub-standard schools. But I'm lucky enough to work in a superb school and I still know they could not function as well as they do without parent commitment. That seems terrible to me. If a good school needs 4-5 parents (and me, a non-parent) a week to meet the targets of reading and recording and practice and art, what about the schools that don't have that? Well, I know what happens to those schools. Or local estate school is failing. Our Councillor blames the parents for not being engaged. He's probably right, but it seems like a double bind for the children involved. One of the issues is how to motivate parents from different cultural backgrounds, especially when English is not spoken at home. He's appealed to the community to take more interest in education, and I hope he succeeds - we don't need ghetto education in a town this size. Sorry, wandered off subject. But I was being a post whore so I forgive myself. St Cherry, patron saint of thread-drift-non-drift. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

07-05-2010, 09:08 PM	#2
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	I saw the most horrific thing in a parking lot this afternoon. It was an IKEA delivery truck--small as far as those things go, more like the size of a U-Haul truck--and one entire side of the trailer was a huge flatscreen TV screen, looping an IKEA infomercial, including loud audio. Holy fucking road hazard, Batman. Now, it was idling, and I came in and left again before it moved, so maybe, just maybe, this video does not actually play while the truck is driving down the highway. But I'm inclined to think it does, because one of the sound effects in the infomercial was a very startling truck horn honking. It actually honks at you to make sure you're watching the 10-foot-tall television instead of driving. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

07-06-2010, 07:59 AM	#3
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	See, that is why Americans need enormous cars. 'cause sometimes, there's some things that just need to be run off the road. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

07-10-2010, 07:27 PM	#4
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	Okay, this is fairly amazing; a crocheted representation of Terry Pratchet's Discworld: http://www.planetjune.com/blog/amigurumi-discworld/ __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

07-11-2010, 04:09 PM	#5
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	The girl acquired a right distal radius buckle fracture about 5 minutes after we arrived at the gym today. Cast on tuesday. The new ER at Paoli is pretty impressive. There was an illegal alien wanting to get stitched up in the next room but refusing to answer any questions. __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

07-12-2010, 07:41 AM	#8
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	... and itchy. Sorry to hear that Jinx. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

07-12-2010, 01:30 PM	#9
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Sorry for the girl, Jinx. Is there still at least a cool factor to it? Hang on - homeschooled (and coming up to summer anyway) I guess there aren't as many kids to impress with it. And the worst weather otherwise. If you manage to get her in a kayak I'd love to see pics I'm going through the volunteer database at the mo. I have 2.5 days left at school then nothing for 6 weeks. And I know Mum will e.x.p.l.o.d.e. if I don't find myself something to do during the holidays. I shouldn't be so mingy about it - even if I get stuck with something I don't like I guess I only have to stick it for 6 weeks. More likely 4 once I get trained up and then start back at school beginning September. And there is a good chance I'll find something I enjoy... Maybe. They want volunteers on the maternity ward - welcoming, door monitoring (to prevent baby snatching, sadly) and escorting postnatal parents to the waiting area. Sounds like something I can do. Another which has caught my eye is pushing the Chaplain around on ward visits. She is in a wheelchair. A good way to sweat off a few pounds? The Chaplin is described as "small", but they want volunteers to push patients to chapel on Sunday mornings too. I reckon I could handle a little old lady or too. As long as I don't have to sit in... I'll find something. Watch this space.

07-21-2010, 10:55 PM	#11
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	you. have. no. idea. that is all. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

07-12-2010, 01:54 PM	#12
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Is paid work still not an option at this point, SG? __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

07-12-2010, 02:06 PM	#13
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	What I'm looking for is work with children - I'd be willing to take even part time and then any number of additional part time work to support that. That way I'd still be moving towards my goal of full time teaching assistant position. From September I will volunteer three days a week. To be reviewed (by me) at Christmas. If I'm up to three days a week with no trouble, I'll accept I have to go back into an office short term. I'd still have my volunteer experience behind me if and when there is a vacancy within a five mile radius. At present the job opportunities locally are limited. In every field, even jobs I do not want to take or am unqualified for. The only real option available would be the office based admin that brought me down so far last time. And saying that I haven't even seen one of those jobs recently. I do look every week. I'm also looking at working as a volunteer for the Brownies/ Guides. Again, that would look great on my CV and keep my hand in. That's part of the plan which involves taking any job I can to get back in the workplace.

07-12-2010, 02:10 PM	#14
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Do they have summer reading programs at the library, SG? that might be a good place to volunteer. Maybe you could even start one if they don't have one? Also, get first-aid and CPR certified. that's great on your CV too, when you want to work with kids. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

07-12-2010, 02:12 PM	#15
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Most kids get waterproof casts in the summer. I'm amazed at the number I see swimming with them. And they're such cool colors too. You can't really write on them like the old plaster of paris ones, though -Sharpie works OK, and nail polish..... but at least they're cool colors to start off with. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

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