Do I really not speak English? Just kidding, but I am still just as funny to my class now as I was to start.

Washroom.. Toilets

Bins.. Tubs

Markers or Felts.. Texters

Bootroom.. there just isn't one (but what they call the room with their jackets is just nothing

Sticky tape.. scotch tape

Crosswalks.. Zebra crossings

Candy... Lollies

Popsicles... Iceblocks

Math... Maths

Legal Paper.. A4 (bigger is A3, smaller A5)

They write the date as Friday 17th February,  2017 (everyday I start it wrong)

Scrapbook just gets a giggle when I say it and I am not sure why.

There is so much more that is different that I am working on changing how I teach constantly throughout the day. I am happy to say that this week I am felt more like me in the classroom. I am learning that asking for help all the time is okay (thank you to all that help me daily). I am also really taking in all the "new" to me ways of teaching. Next week I get to start training for the TENS math program and am looking forward to it. 

Lollipop lady? Who is that. From the kids I learned that it is a lady who gives out lollies when you cross the street properly. I am teaching Road Safety here right now and I took them to google maps and was so excited and so were they to look at Beaumont on Google Earth. I am sad to say that right now on Google Earth it is the middle of summer in Beaumont so no snow.  I did they venture to show them pictures of the ice castles my family went to last year and now they all want to move to Canada. I am also showed them pictures my class from Beaumont skating and building snowmen. I am going to teach them about Carnival next week as well. 

This week was Valentines. Wow very different at school. No party, not cards from each student. We did some fun GoNoodle dancing, made cards for home, talked about our unit on relationships and then completed a math valentine mystery. It was great!

 

 At home we made our traditional Valentine Heart Shaped Pizzas. Had some wine, and some delicious desserts. It was a great way to spend the night with the family.









All in all, this week I have started to feel more settled at work. I have even made a few friends that get my humour about teaching! Matts legs are sore from running everywhere, Maëlle is still loving school, making friends and even got a swimmer of the week award at swimming and Malia is just enjoying life and has been testing Matts patience as usual.

Wow! What a second week at work!

Week two is over in the classroom and what a week of learning and extremes it was.  Extremes in that one day it is over 40 degrees and the AC in the classroom isn't working or it is raining so hard that there is water running down the hills both of which result in indoor recesses here in Australia. 

This little friend was popping our from it's hiding spot at our lunch break today.

This collection of book orders comes in one package all ready to go for me! One booklet to send home, no tearing apart 4/5/ or 6 packages and stapling together. It is simply wonderful.

This week I had a a planning day out of the classroom where I got a better ( I think) understanding of the programs and what I am teaching in the classroom. For the most part it is really similar with different names/ layouts. I have a lot more to take in and learn, but I am feeling much better about it this week. I have really started to let go of some of my "ways" and embracing the new "ways" for this year. My students are fabulous and I am starting to get to know more about them every day. Kids are kids and I am enjoying being challenged everyday by my new surroundings. 

One really great thing that Girraween does is how they recognize success in their students. This week I got to give out 5 merit awards to my class in our weekly stage assembly. I think this is wonderful! It really motivates the students and I can see how proud the students are when they earn the award. 

On that note, Maëlle earned a similar award this week at her school. She was very excited to show me this week. I think she has settled in wonderfully to the full days and is happy to go to school and loves learning and even practices on her own. Blue one she got in class and the yellow one she got at the weekly assembly I believe. Very proud of her. Still shy and quiet but gaining confidence all the time.

 Matt and Malia have been busy too! Running every where Matt is taking them to gymnastics, library, gardening club and Matt is playing Ultimate Frisbee with a group at the Y while Malia goes into the playroom.

I would say we have found our routine. I am working a lot right now, but hopefully I can get some more stuff set up and be home earlier sometime soon.

It is a hot weekend coming up.

NSW teacher exchange picnic

We ventured the the NSW teachers exchange picnic on Saturday.  

It was so nice to meet the teachers who have been on exchanges and those who are currently in the same position as us. The good news was to hear that everyone was in the same mind set for the most part. Loving Australia and trying really hard to settle into the classroom after the first week and also figure out the programs and expectations of a new school system. I think I heard the statement "I feel like a new teacher" quite a few times. 

I am looking forward to catching up with everyone at the end of the month again. 

Back to School: Fun with words and extreme weather on the other end of the thermometer

First day of teaching is under my belt. Maxine went to school on her first day in close to -40C and I got to experience school at +40C. Both result in not being outside for the kids. The heat though resulted in loss of power multiple times today. Loss of power for those back home means loss of not only technology, but AC! It was sweaty hot. I was lucky enough to be offered what we call a freeze at afternoon tea time (they don't call them that here though and I can't remember right now what it is they are called).

Today I started to learn some different lingo:
"Where are the rubbers?" (eraser)
" Please check your pigeon hole for the notes to go home" (mailbox)
"Mrs. Bowkowy it is not bathrooms, that is where you take a bath." ( They are toilets)
"Do you want this done with texters?" (markers)
Crunch'n sip (morning fruit/ veggie snack), afternoon tea (afternoon snack) are wonderful.
"Assemblies are fortnightly" (Every other week)
"It is my birthday tomorrow and I am bringing a lolly bag for everyone" (candy).
It is year two not grade two, which I correct over and over again.

Having assemblies outside is awesome! A school of over 1000 students and they we all sitting quiet and listening to the teacher talking.
My class was so excited to have a teacher from Canada. One little sweetie was very proud to let me know what the capital city of Canada was. I think they found me very entertaining today and were more than happy to share the exciting things about Australia and the school that they go to have to offer. I have 27 wonderful students and the most friendly and helpful of staff to share this year with.

It is going to be a lot harder to learn names in uniforms that is for sure. Some I have definitely learnt already :) as you have those few every year that you seem to say more than others.

I was exhausted at the end of the first day, but am ready for the rest of the week (I think) and few good Robert Munsch books will definitely make an appearance this week in my room.

Maëlle had a great day in her first day at her new school. She doesn't know who her teacher is yet as they stay in their old classes for the first few days. She handled the full day very well and has had nothing but good things to say! Can't wait for more exciting times for her as well.

Stepping way out of the comfort of my grade two classroom and into year two

Walking up to my classroom. The students can eat out here as well.

School is starting soon (ahhh). The walls, the resources, the programs and the teaching partners I have come to rely on are back in Beaumont. The adventure/ challenge that awaits me starts in this week. I have met some amazing colleagues and have been given small insights into the programs (L3, TENS, and more) and the differences that await me.

Some notable differences:

1) they have different paper sizes A3, A4, A5 

2) the binders are two holes not three

3) page protectors are used for everything (really everything) 

4) afternoon tea is on the schedule 

5) staff room treats are frozen! 

6) the content I am teaching in year two is very different form grade two

So much is the same! Teachers are all so helpful. I am nervous, anxious and excited all at the same time for Monday. I can't wait for the questions about Canada, and to ask the students all the questions I have about where they live.

I finally have my room with no desks.

Oatlands- the small escape from the big city

I just realized I haven't really told you about Oatlands. Oatlands is our home for the next year. It is a small walk/bike from the busy life of Parramatta. It offers just the basics that we need without having to travel in the car. Here is what the little section of shops in Oatlands looks like:

Funday Sunday are a thing for the Bowkowy's in Sydney

Sunday's are great days to get out and explore around Sydney. We have discovered that public transit is cheap on Sundays. $2.50 max for the day. Today we set off to Darling Harbour and to explore the events of the Sydney Festival. I will have to say that we have figured out how to pack for the girls to be happy for the Ferry rides and the heat. A good chapter book and the ferry ride goes by quicker and food (lots of it).
The Sydney Festival looked like a lot of fun. Unfortunately we really only looked into it at the end of it, but what we did today was a lot of fun.
The Beach at the Cutaway, Barangaroo Reserve: so much fun! At first a little anxiety producing as you really feel like you are sinking into balls, but after you realize you can sink and breathe it is all good.  Also a great workout!

The Darling Harbour Playground: Water play and climbing as well as coffee for me! Also the food scene around here is so good. We found a great little Chinese noodle house! 

Hyde Park: Music and Entertainment

We ended our day with the express ferry back to our car and then a short drive home. I have a feeling that many a Sunday will be spent travelling by the various methods of public transit to the many places it takes us. With places like the Zoo, Aquariums, plus all the major landmarks we have yet to see and so much more how could we not.