Liz's Diary

Just over a year ago, one of my nursery children bought me a cactus as a goodbye present. It flowered till Christmas, and I thought it was probably what we used to call a Christmas cactus. But then it flowered again all through the Spring. When it paused in the summer and began to look a bit sorry for itself, I gave it some fertilizer and hey presto, here it is flowering like mad again! I don't think I've ever had such a successful house plant......except for an African violet I had years ago, which flowered riotously until I noticed it, and promptly watered it to death!

I shall studiously continue to treat this lovely cactus with haphazard care and attention, and hope it continues for a few more seasons in glory!

I had my Performance Management assessment observation today. One of everyone's targets was to show that we are trying to promote boys' learning.

The main teacher of my class (she does 3 days, I do 2) had provided sets of Dr Who books and the boys love them - even the poor readers will independently ask a better reader to share a Dr Who story with them.

This week we are having our ICT suite upgraded and the staff computers all linked to the pool. The children have been watching the men working through the glass door.

So, having made chocolate crispy cakes this morning for our science lesson, I went in this afternoon all awestruck, and told the children the amazing news that our new improved computer system had allowed Dr Who to communicate with us! The children's eyes were on stalks and there was an intake of breath.

Apparently "Dr Who had sent" a PowerPoint illustrated message asking the children for help against his fight with the Daleks. There was immediate imaginary girding of swords by the boys, prepared to up and at 'em there and then.

But what it seems Dr Who needed was a chocolate snack to increase his energy and powers. Some of the children independently volunteered the cakes waiting to be taken home to eat; others demurred - they wanted to eat them - then one of the reliable ones suggested "We don't need to send the cakes - we could give him the recipe." Bingo!

But it further transpired that the Tardis was malfunctioning again (knowing nods - they recognised that scenario of old) and could only understand diagrams. "What's a diagram? " asked one. "It's two letters that make one sound," replied E, who had obviously been listening to his phonics lesson and knows a digraph when he sees one!

The lesson progressed and they all went off enthusiastically to help Dr Who out with a nicely sequenced set of diagram instructions on how to make crispy cakes.

I got full marks for getting the boys on board!

PS. Dr Who has just sent the class an email of thanks, with a warning that now the lines of communication are open, they may be hearing from him again....

I have a child in my class who tries very, very hard to join in class activities, but hampered by learning difficulties, often doesn't quite succeed.

On the carpet during discussion, the hand will shoot up enthusistically and a comment or question emerges that is barely articulate. We know that with support, we can help to unravel the word tangle and create a sensible comment that we can praise and encourage. If, as is often the case, the question has already been answered or may be somewhat off-topic, we reply suitably anyway and give credit for the contribution. The third time the hand goes up, we point out that other children want a chance to comment too and suggest listening carefully for a few minutes.

But recently we have had visitors to the class talking to them on our history topic and it causes a bit of difficulty. We see how glad the visitor is to see the enthusiasm of our little questioner, and then how nonplussed they are with what comes out. Like us, they do their best to work out the question and answer it sensibly, but then they KEEP ON RESPONDING every time the hand goes up, even when they must realise the exchange isn't likely to add much to the general learning.

All praise to the patient visitors; but I sit there thinking "No, no, ignore it - or say it's someone else's turn!"

Reminder to self - take camera in the car next time I go to Tesco! Every time I shop in Tesco, I drive home via Bencombe Rd. This is a short but steep hill in my suburban area, flanked by an avenue of lovely trees. I'm not sure what type of tree they are, but they are all the same and have particularly lovely foliage.

I drove up the hill again today and enjoyed the sight of the leaves, now turning yellow gold, drifting slowly to the ground around me. In summer, the bright green leaves form almost a tree tunnel - one of my favourite road features. Every time of year these trees provide moments of pleasure as I drive up the road.

I keep telling myself I'll make a visual diary of a year of the trees. One day I'll actually do it!!