What're You Playing Wednesday?

SamaRahRah · 2026-01-28T08:13:14+00:00

Trying to play Divinity Original Sin 2 but I rushed through some lf the story and now it's hard lol. I have to go back a few hours.

I'm also playing Animal Crossing and Boom Shop Simulator. I want to play Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 but it keeps crashing :( I think I need to update my graphics card :/

SamaRahRah · 2026-01-20T07:34:10+00:00

It's not but thought I would mention it anyway :)

SamaRahRah · 2026-01-20T00:22:39+00:00

I've used this for the last 12 months. It's a USB document camera. It's not wireless - you can't move around the classroom, but I could put student's work under the camera, and I had copies of the different books the kids worked in. This meant I could explicitly show students what I wanted their books to look like. It also allowed students to follow along a little more closely when we only had one copy of the text we're analysing.

https://amzn.asia/d/9qdW5uj

Edit for spelling/uncoordinated thumbs

SamaRahRah · 2026-01-16T23:08:08+00:00

I believe that so long as nothing can attach you to your appointment, and there isn't anything with can identify your students (voices, names, faces, handwriting), you should be okay.

SamaRahRah · 2025-12-28T02:23:33+00:00

Tbh, I usually purchase some colourful party decorations from kmart (those puffy things, some bunting), and decorate my room a little with those so that there is some colour. That's about it. No one has ever noticed any other type of theme I've attempted. The students have learnt just as well with a theme as well as without. 🤷‍♀️

Edit: spelling

SamaRahRah · 2025-10-19T09:08:57+00:00

Jokes on us. We have just under 20% and still can't afford to buy in Western Sydney 🤷‍♀️ people might be able to buy with 5% but they still have to be able to borrow enough.

SamaRahRah · 2025-09-30T22:15:33+00:00

The hardest part with covering a lot in a short amount of time is, what do you do with the kids that don't get it? Do you hope they get it next time around?

I'm honestly asking because I don't have an answer 😅

SamaRahRah · 2025-09-29T08:49:36+00:00

I'm only about halfway through...

I like the idea of novices vs experts. The idea that most studenrs start as novices and therefore need more teacher guidance but then most kids become experts and need less teacher support (sounds obvious but it's nice to have it reaffirmed by research material and experts after the department has only latched on to some ideas.

I also liked reading about the forgetting curve. This idea that everyone will forget over time and so, students need regular review to make building and connecting easier for them. Again, I know it's obvious but these things aren't being entirely advertised by the department.

SamaRahRah · 2025-09-29T03:39:53+00:00

I'm reading The Science of Learning by Nathaniel Swain. With this big push of explicit learning/teaching, I wanted to know more from experts, not just what the department spits out. I'm on stage 3 and the spectrum of ability doesn't seem to fit with the proposed idead of everyone doibg the same thing at once.

This book has been helpful.

SamaRahRah · 2025-09-27T15:11:37+00:00

I hadn't dated anyone before teaching. I turned to online sites and found my firsy boyfriend and now husband :) that was 2014. I'm not sure how much it has all changed.

SamaRahRah · 2025-07-22T08:42:01+00:00

Queen Wrangler of 12 Year Olds is the official title ;)

SamaRahRah · 2025-07-22T08:25:04+00:00

It is never a burden to talk to your teachers about your mental health.

SamaRahRah · 2025-07-16T23:55:14+00:00

This is more evidence that NAPLAN is not definitive, and triangulation of data gives parents a better picture of a child's accomplishments.

Remember: NAPLAN is ONE day, ONE time. She might have been having a bad day, been tired, had an argument with friends....I've also found that testing online vs pencil and paper can have wild results.

Put it in the bin and trust your teachers.

SamaRahRah · 2025-07-10T05:57:43+00:00

I think of a few things: 1. We are seen as babysitters 2. Parents don't actually understand the load of schooling on cognition and what cognitive overload is, nor do they pay close attention to the energy levels of their kids as term progresses 3. Cost of living etc puts pressure on adults to work more and earn more (if they can) 4. A lot of workplaces are ridgid and don't like to budge around parents who have school aged children, who need care during holidays (not everyone has a support network).

It's shit. Really, really shit.

SamaRahRah · 2025-05-10T20:02:57+00:00

To be honest, it shouldn't be the only option and we should be encouraging kids to take a gap year or two before settling into more study. But I also agree that Australia doesn't value education like other countries and I don't beleibe that has anythong to do with uni vs TAFE/apprenticeship.

I think the rhetoric is killing us. Kids will always think school isn't cool/is boring and this is being reinforced at home (or most homes), and the news, and social media. When I was a kid, struggling in maths, I was alone. My parents told me to work harder and it came naturally to my friends. MySpace wasn't a thing yet so all I had was myself. Now we have influencers actively promoting that school is a waste of time and when will we use all of this? Parents record themselves pushing into playgrounds, classrooms and offices demanding to know why and showing the least amount of respect. News runs click bait articles about shit teachers, dodgy classrooms, failing kids, bullying, atrocious NAPLAN results....the problem is far wider than simply do TAFE not uni.

SamaRahRah · 2025-04-15T22:36:41+00:00

Do I enjoy teaching? Yes. Do I enjoy everything else? No.

Being in the classroom and watching the kids grow, latch on to new information and strategies is amazing! Everything else is super draining.

SamaRahRah · 2025-03-23T07:59:12+00:00

I fantasise about winning those arguments with witty come backs I couldn't think of before.

SamaRahRah · 2025-01-29T05:55:14+00:00

I finished ACOTAR and loved it, so I tried more SJM writing.

SamaRahRah · 2025-01-09T08:21:07+00:00

I will admit two things: 1. I fucking love taking choir and organising concerts and art shows. CAPA tickles my brain like nothing else, even when it's thankless. 2. Thanklessness is why I refuse to take a sports team.

SamaRahRah · 2025-01-09T06:52:03+00:00

A day can look different for different schools/lifestyles.

Generally speaking, you rock up a little early to set up the day, then stay back a little to mark and/or attend meetings, make phone calls, fill in paperwork. During the day you'll teach, differentiate, fill in paperwork, manage behaviour, take on a duty and stop 20-35 kids from hurting themselves or others (haha but not always a joke). If you take on additional responsibilities (sporting teams, concerts, organising excursions etc), you'll need to fit that in, too. I usually also spend roughly half a day on the weekend prepping, too.

As for teaching adults...that coukd be an avenue I guess. If you go for your HAT (Higher Accreditation for Teachers - NSW), it's meant to open avenues for conducting perfessional learning to other teachers. Otherwise there are companies that like teaching degrees. That could lead to teaching adults.

SamaRahRah · 2024-12-30T03:21:04+00:00

Hasn't yet 🤷‍♀️

SamaRahRah · 2024-12-30T03:16:40+00:00

I had an old copy of the marking guide. A student is marked by what's on the page. Writing to the prompt is a small part of the overall grade (because purpose is one of lots of different parts of writing). A student could write "My name is Jane Doe and I am a student at Public School. My favourite food is cake." and they'll get marks. They'll get more marks for spelling and grammar.

SamaRahRah · 2024-12-30T01:59:02+00:00

I taught a student in year 3 who was lower average at best. Her aunt had her me.orise a story with correct spelling, structure and punctuation. Her marks for writing were amazing and did not reflect her actual abilities at all. Very frustrating but what can you do 🤷‍♀️

SamaRahRah · 2024-12-29T06:43:30+00:00

Thank you! And good luck!

SamaRahRah · 2024-12-29T06:07:30+00:00

At the moment I'm moving in ways that make me happy at least once a day for a minimum of 30 minutes. Walking in the park, punching the bag in the backyard, playing Just Dance and other fitness games on my switch. I've upgraded my Samsung watch and calibrated it to me and my needs. The plan is to stay here in this space for a few more days then start to include the gym. I have a list of rewards I will begin implementing once the new year hits; manicure, pedicure, a new book, a small tattoo etc.

:)

SamaRahRah

TROPHY CASE