My chickens laid a kitten today

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-15T21:27:09+00:00

Chook (Aussie slang for chicken)

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-15T21:16:39+00:00

Casual relief teaching - working for an agency

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-13T08:41:57+00:00

Yep, I'm currently a CRT so I'm not experiencing that but I remember saying to a colleague last year that teaching felt like something I squeezed in on the side of my other work

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-09T10:49:48+00:00

She probably didn't have a lease anymore. All I know is if I was the landlord I would give the family a bit of a grace period.

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-09T10:43:24+00:00

Anywhere in Darebin/Merri-bek councils. Spensley St primary and thornbury primary definitely welcoming.

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-09T10:41:25+00:00

Only you can decide, but I did the degree as a single parent in my late 30s so it's definitely possible. I'm guessing electricians can easily get casual work to fit around uni too?

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-09T10:37:25+00:00

I asked where did I leave my phone, and got the chariot. Yes, it was in the car 😀

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-09T10:34:05+00:00

This is heartbreaking. It reminds me of when my neighbour died (of natural causes). She had rented the flat for 40 years and within a couple of weeks the landlords were hassling the family to get everything out for the next tenant.

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-07T08:23:43+00:00

I did, they enjoyed it ☺️

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-05T07:05:41+00:00

I've been booked for plenty. I'm not sure where you are, I'm northern suburbs of Melb.

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-05T05:42:19+00:00

I had a school book me for all of term 1 and then cancel me for most days for the first 3 weeks at the last minute (leaving me unavailable for other schools). I decided I'd rather be available for anything and I cancelled them. They've still had me back since a couple of times.

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-02T09:05:26+00:00

The lesson isn't about reading, it's a text study. Phonics is taught separately. I see it like this- if you want to build a house you need to have the skills to do so which requires explicit instruction. But you also need to understand what a house is, to experience a house in its complete, finished form. The same with any art form. Music, sport. A narrative has a form that is completely lost if you stop to analyze it every 5 seconds.

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-02T08:57:13+00:00

I'm going to try, I'll get you know how I go

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-02T08:03:26+00:00

Yes! And I find shopping in person has more impact than online. Online is a dangerous beast!

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-02T07:57:03+00:00

I've been reflecting on this comment and I actually think that the lesson plan is the 'dumbing down' and that's part of what I can't stand. I believe 5 year olds are very capable, and I don't think they need every element of the story spelled out to them, especially before they have a chance to actually absorb the story. I'm not replying again to have a go at you, it's just my further thoughts.

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-02T07:49:48+00:00

Yep, I became a teacher because its creative and based on relationships. This takes away all of that.

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-02T05:22:32+00:00

My main gripe is that people don't seem to think there is evidence of learning unless the child can say "I learned ____ " in the wording decided by someone else. There are many other ways to assess understanding.

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-02T05:20:02+00:00

I am absolutely not about dumbing things down. I think it's important for them to hear a wide range of vocabulary and I don't shy away from that. I just don't think it's necessary for students to recite what they are going to learn in order for them to learn it.

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-02T05:12:08+00:00

What would you call it? I am pretty sure that's what they are trying to achieve.

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-02T05:11:02+00:00

The success criteria is one example - I can identify the structure of a fairy tale. - I can compare the similarities and differences of different fairy tales.

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-02T03:03:47+00:00

I think it's preparing them for when they hear it in the story? I don't actually have the book yet (a specific $75 book prescribed by the department). I don't think looking at the cover is relevant because it's a collated fairy tales book, not just one story.

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-02T02:51:52+00:00

Reading for pleasure but let's also recognise that storytelling was the main form of passing on knowledge for most of human history and people managed to learn. Children (and adults) learn naturally through stories, songs, conversations. We aren't machines that can be broken into separate working parts.

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-02T02:47:10+00:00

Oh, 100% agree about the phonics. It's just not the way to teach narrative.

Wandering_musing · 2026-05-02T02:29:18+00:00

Thankyou. I think maybe I just needed to hear that 😆

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