Sometimes it is the small things! I was humbled to recieve this small note in my pigeon hole during World Teachers Day.

​Thank you, whomever you are!

Everything comes to an end! I'm not sure how I feel about the Year 12's finishing up. In part I'm glad that they are moving on to their new adventures and I'm proud of what they have all achieved; however, I am not used to being a "class down" during Week 5 of Term 4. It's a really odd feeling!

Taking down the display in my Media Studies classroom was bittersweet but I'm forever grateful for being given the opportunity to teach outside of my comfort zone with a group of students who were willing to learn alongside me!

​Now, onwards to Graduation next week!

What started as two of us getting sick of being asked "is Hitler part of WW1?" and various other questions (and repeating the outline several times) turned into me creating subject posters for each of the subjects that we either teach, have the potential to teach, or currently teach.
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They took a while and did end up on the back burner while Stage 2 Media Studies was wrapped up but I am so glad that they are finally done!

** Post will be updated with the PDF's.

I think I said that my last lot of displays would be it ... well, they've been added to. I've added some key terms that are featured in both of the current units as well as printed and laminated an alternative title for "Natural Disasters" - "Hazards" instead.
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Now, do I **finally** think my class will remain until its time to take it down? Yeah, I think this is it!

11/11/2024

We will remember them.

​Now, forever, always.

I bought this a year ago from Melbourne with the idea that I would add it to my senior years (Year 10-12) library. I started reading and immediately thought "this is good, but not suitable for high school students." There a plenty of R-rated and graphic descriptions, particularly of a sexual nature that while I didn't mind, I could not in good conscience have in my classroom. I would, however, keep this as a teacher resource and use excerpts from it in my classes where appropriate.
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Towards the end of the book, I was craving a solid full length story that was more than 5-10 pages so finishing this was rather painful. I'm glad I read it, not sure I would read it again in a hurry.

In writing this review, I fully acknowledge my privilege as a white woman living in Australia. Learning more and as much as I can about First Nations people is a priority, especially as I teach so many incredible young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. I selected "My Tidda, My Sister" because, honestly, I loved the cover, and I also found it so interesting from the blurb on the back.

Having said that, I did find an issue with my reading of the book. I felt that Maree Silva spoke a lot of her own story (which she is 100% entitled to!), but I really wanted to know the stories of the women that we wrote about. I wanted to get in-depth into the stories these women wanted to tell.
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My intention is to put it in my classroom library for my students to read and - hopefully - enjoy!

Our final units for the year! Geographies of Human Wellbeing for Year 10 Geography and Natural Hazards for Stage 1 Geography. Both units I enjoy teaching quite a bit (although I do have to encourage the Year 11s to pick a natural hazard other than bushfires for their final assignment!) but next year, I think I'm going to re-order the Stage 1 Geography tasks or maybe re-do some parts of the course ... we will see!

"It'll be fun!"
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​Yes - it is a table in a tree!

This has been quietly bubbling away in the background for a little bit but I finally took the plunge and applied. Next year, I'm starting my Graduate Certificate in International Baccalaureate Education through the University of Notre Dame Australia. Housed at the Sydney campus, however, I am able to do it online which is fantastic. I can't wait to see how I go and get the study brain back into gear!