Hooray for four day weeks!

It's Africa Day on Friday, one school day down today, three to go. My class numbers are dropping like flies though, as a whole lot were off sick today and of those left, three wanted to go home before break time today. A friend told me about the vampire sneeze/cough and I introduced it. I do feel myself edging away from students with colds when they are reading to me in the morning. Need to eat lots of naartjies and keep my vitamins up. My one student this morning said to me, "Miss Lannas, I think you can't be that old as you do know what dubbing is right?" I hope that what he is referring to is what I thought it was, as have just looked it up and there are two options. I was trying to explain about building up suspense in a story for their creative writing and asked them to think about tv series they watch that do this. One of my boys said Game of Thrones and found myself saying weren't they a bit young to be watching that. One of my more innocent younger students said Peter Rabbit.

Missy, the tortoiseshell cat I am looking after is definitely my saving grace at the moment in getting me out of bed. Right on queue at 5.45 she starts tapping me and if I don't surface she becomes more and more persistent. She came in just now meowing while I was teaching my Chinese 5 year old online and I told him about her and showed him Simon's Cat. He thought this hilarious. I was trying to explain to him what a library is and he called it a "book hotel". His mum thought he was trying to say that you book to stay at a hotel but he was adamant that a library is a hotel for books where they go stay on the shelf. Showed him a video of a new library in China in Tianjin.

I have been given permission to do an assembly with an environmental theme, so am going to put something together on plastic and recycling. There's a competition being run by the Italian Embassy here to use plastic in collage to raise awareness but unfortunately I've just seen the competition closes today - bummer! May see if our students can still do something with the theme. Possibly see if as a school we can do more recycling too.

Did you know? WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY ON 5 JUNE 2018 will have as its theme Beat Plastic Pollution and to coincide with this the Italian Embassy has decided to use its annual "AMBIENTE" - Art and the Environment - project to raise awareness of this vitally important issue, especially amongst children. This awareness and educational campaign will highlight the effects of micro and , the food chain and human health. initiatives begun in 2014 by His Excellency Enrico De Agostini, Ambassador of Italy to Zimbabwe, to raise awareness about the protection of the environment through art. Previous themes have included the protection of Zimbabwe's wetlands ("Matoro Anoyera" - 2014), the importance of recycling ("Waste no Waste, Trash is Treasure" - 2015), the protection of birds' habitats ("Your Nest is My Nest" - 2016) and sustainable water management ("Wet-Land-Dry" - 2017). 

•  Enough plastic is thrown away each year to circle the Earth four times?! 
• There is more micro plastic in the ocean than there are stars in the milky way?! 
• More than one million plastic bags are used every minute of every day?! 
• All the plastic that has ever been made in the world still exists in one way or another?! 
•  Over the last ten years we have produced more plastic than during the whole of the previous century?!

Italian Ambassador Enrico De Agostini who is spearheading the Death By Plastic campaign

Yesterday morning I went to see one of my best friends and spent a lovely morning with she, her husband and little girl. It was really sweet that her little girl wanted me to read to her and I got lots of hugs. Definitely a good way to end the weekend.

Teaching my French student at 5 and then I have an online board meeting at 7.30 for my friend Xenoula's dance project XenArts that does therapy through dance in the UK and then in developing countries. In Zimbabwe Xenoula has worked with Oasis and women who have been abused. She also has worked with school children. In the UK she has done workshops using movement and art and also twinned up old people with children which had great outcomes.

Right, I better do some marking and lesson prep before I head out again.

Royal Wedding and Weekending

My week ended well yesterday. In the last period I got my class to play Kim's game and the Minister's Cat as memory games. Going to try do this every week or other fun maths games. We also had staff tea again and the deputy head had gone all out, ordering things from The Plot coffee shop. Golly, there was a cheesecake with feathering on it, beautifully decorated muffins, millionaire shortbread and mini spinach and then bacon quiches. It was quite funny though as in the middle of tea a muslim man, who is the uncle of one of the students and is exterminating the rats we have, arrived. He said maybe it was because of the teachers' tea there is a rat problem and did we do this every day? No, we would all be huge if we did and it wasn't possible to eat everything. He had a slice of cheesecake too. I really am going to have to think about what I'm going to bake when it is my turn to do tea - the bar is being set very high and Friday tea is a big deal.

I taught my Chinese French student. We digressed slightly when I was getting him to do a description as we somehow got onto the topic of Hitler's moustache. I told him Charlie Chaplin had had a similar one. My student wanted to draw the moustache but decided to add his own adjustment to it with twirls like Salvador Dali's! I thought this was very funny. I tried to explain to him why Hitler was a bad person. He had never heard of the Jews so I did my best in French to explain who they are. I learnt a new word - les tsiganes (gypsies) from the passage below. My student wanted to know if Hitler would have also not liked the Chinese and I said probably not.

Went to the Romanian film at the EU Film Festival in the park. They had done a great job making it festive and I had litchi craft cider which was yummy. I'm glad I had my friend Ioana from Romania next to me to explain the context of the film as it would otherwise not have made as much sense to me. She told me that at the end of the communist era many people had to go to court to try get their homes back, as many of the wealthier families had their houses taken by the state during communism. Interesting.

This morning I took Ginger the cat to the vet as he has a pulmonary infection. Managed to get him into the cat box with the help of Evermore the housekeeper, but he still scratched me. Shame, he had an antibiotic shot and I have to now try keep him in at night as it's getting colder (and wet). A friend invited me to join their family to watch the Royal Wedding which was fun, particularly as his brother is anti royalty and made funny remarks throughout. Found the American Reverend Michael Curry quite amusing as it was in such contrast to the pomp and solemnity of the monarchy. I did notice the Queen shifting her shoulders at one point, possibly unsure of all of this and the Duchess of Cambridge trying not to smile. My mum went to a memorial this afternoon, so she missed watching the wedding and is now watching a replay on E! News, of all channels (it's the only one showing the ceremony) as I do my marking. The commentary is just too much!

All the best reactions to Reverend Curry's royal sermon

But to work I must return after an enjoyable pause today. My headmistress did tell me to relax a bit this weekend. She will be pleased to know that I did.

Cupcakes, giggles and a fuel shortage?

One of my naughtier grade 7's had his birthday today. As is the school tradition, he brought in a box of cupcakes for the class. I made sure all the students got, although one of my autistic boys isn't allowed sugar. There were some left over, so I told him to take them to the other teachers and assistants. There weren't any left after this for him or me. I thought this was probably good for me but felt he should have had one. One of my other boys then came and said he didn't want his, so I offered it to the birthday boy but he declined so I had one in the end. After break they were supposed to be getting on with their English comprehension on the Daintree Rainforest in Australia. I suddenly heard someone making silly mouse noises. At first I thought it was one of the other grade 7s but it turned out to be the birthday boy. I simply said I thought he had turned 12 today. Well, the class erupted at this and one of the boys said, "Miss Lannas, wow, you really dissed the birthday boy!" I didn't know kids still say you diss someone, we said that when I was at school. Their reaction  was just too funny and I'm afraid I got the giggles and then they all did. Luckily the boy in question also found it funny and laughed too. If he hadn't found it funny it could have been awkward as I really did get the giggles.

I got the class to do some of the yoga stretches I do in personal training. Some managed, some complained but did it anyway. For their P.E. relays I got them to basket ball dribble the ball to the other side of the tennis court and then do a volleyball serve back to their team. This went down quite well. In my own personal training I did a fair bit of cardio today and then weights (the weights seem fairly light now compared to my box of books for school each day - that seems to just get heavier and heavier, especially going up and down the stairs where I am house sitting).

It looks like there might be a fuel shortage again. I saw two conflicting headlines on the way home. Passed the garage on Churchill/Second Street and they seemed to have petrol - will have to watch it and keep topped up. Don't really want to have to sit in petrol queues and it's not great if there is a fuel shortage as I do have to drive across town to school each day.

There's an EU film festival on in Theatre in the Park. I thought the Romanian film, Octav, that I want to watch was tonight but very relieved it's tomorrow rather. I need to finish doing quite a bit of marking tonight and still prep for tomorrow. Also have to submit my term plan tomorrow. Thinking I might do my assembly in two weeks' time on saying kind things to each other. Have noticed my boys can say some really hurtful things to each other at times (I thought girls were worse, but have been surprised.)

Just been asked to tour guide for another two French travel agents doing a rekkie visit for potential future clients in June. I have to meet and greet them at the airport and then escort them to Armadale Lodge where I am to sit and chat to them in French about things to do in Harare. Going to need to buff up my French more for this (last time was a bit of a shock to the system, I won't lie as you suddenly have words you didn't think about that you have to use 😁 and try think what that is in French). It's good news though that another travel agency in France is interested in setting up a program in Zimbabwe, besides the one we already work with.

To Jupiter and beyond and flossing

Today I managed to do my English lesson with my Chinese five year old online. Finished up at school and got home in time to zoom. Twice we lost connection though and when my student reconnected he first said he'd been to Jupiter and then Mars. I told him Mars was a bit closer and showed him a picture of the solar system. He remembered Saturn with its rings - he is is a bright button. He then brought up black holes and shooting stars. Wednesdays could work out well to fit in an extra lesson. Did have to tell his mum I don't think I'll be able to do his lessons over the Africa Day weekend as I will be in Nyanga and I don't think I will have good reception there (I also wouldn't mind a mini break, can do his Wednesday lesson).

Starting to get into a pattern for teaching, marking and work preparation. I think the routine and structure is doing me good and it definitely gives me a purpose. I do occasionally feel a little swamped when a whole lot of little people are flocking round me at the same time all wanting my help simultaneously. I do have to try get them to sit down and then tackle one at a time. A few are still very dependent and ask you things for almost everything and I find I have to keep repeating myself - A LOT! This does make me feel tired, I won't lie. Two of my grade sevens who sadly are the weakest are getting very anxious about their upcoming entrance exams. They have taken it upon themselves to stay in at break and work. Have told them they need a bit of a break (as I know they won't concentrate after break if they don't have a bit of a break) and we will start doing past papers from next week - they've been doing revision this week and last. I overheard the one today saying he just can't fail his entrance exam as his parents will be so ashamed - I really hope his parents can see he is doing his best. The sad thing is the schools he is applying for may not be able to cater for his needs, even though they are the only schools that take students with major challenges in Harare. I don't know that these two will cope with O Level.

Another student has come back but his parents still haven't finished paying off fees from last term and unless they do and pay this term's he won't be able to continue. I feel desperately sorry for him as he is a very sweet kid and is one of my harder workers.

Managed to teach pollination today without the words "sexual reproduction". I had thought one of my older boys might make wise cracks on some of it but he either didn't make the connection or just luckily kept quiet. For the lesson I stuck up information around the classroom and the students had to look for it and make notes. Seemed to work quite well and kept them busy.

Yesterday in P.E. one boy did a dance move that is currently all the rage apparently called flossing. Luckily I had seen a video on it and knew exactly what he was doing. He seemed fairly impressed by this and I got him to teach the others - it's quite good for coordination.

Had a fun quiz at the Mustard Seed last night. Halfway through it bucketed with rain (unusual for this time of year) and the poor quiz master had to really shout to be heard. It was quite funny though as he has a fairly thick Scottish accent and a lot of the questions were linked to Scotland.

Les écrevisses!

Monday has been a bit chaotic. Started this morning well by getting up on time but I suddenly couldn't find the keys for the garage where I am house sitting and got into a fair flap and was delayed by a good 15 minutes. Evermore the house keeper came to my rescue and had the sense to look for a spare set (I  didn't think of this - instead my plan B was to get my mum to pick me up but she hadn't left home yet). Got to school at 7.10 and launched straight into reading. My one student who had outstanding fees has now returned. I am happy he is able to continue but my goodness he drove me batty today with his constant background conversations, my word!! I think I need to rethink my seating plan, AGAIN.

At lunch a mother came in with bee sting medication for her son who is highly allergic. She wanted the expired medication back from last term - I had no idea where this had been put - had been told about it but had forgotten to ask where it was now. Turns out it had been given back last term. I also need to contact her son's educational psychologist about him using a laptop to type rather in class. This and needing to use the generator to print meant I couldn't take my Chinese student online. Have said I can maybe try a bit later but it is proving really stressful trying to squeeze him in. Weekends may be safer and better.

Tutored my form four and French Chinese student this evening. I was delighted that my form four was finally engaging with his literature and giving some good ideas in his analysis - yay! It is so much easier teaching high school than my dear lot in the morning and not having to repeat myself twenty times. When I got to my Chinese French student, his whole family were already in their pyjamas even though it was only 5 pm. Have noticed they all do seem to wear pyjamas at this time, except when the parents are playing mahjong (which can get quite noisy in the next room). My student cheekily told me to go have a look in the kitchen sink and so I did. It was full of crayfish that were all still very much alive. Apparently they were on the menu for my student's dinner.

Right, back to the mound of marking on my desk.

Armadillos and Space Rockets

Have been working at a fairly leisurely pace this weekend. Went for lunch at Aroma to celebrate my mum's birthday but then came home and worked. Have done my comments and records and almost finished my forecast for the week. Then need to crack on and prepare everything for tomorrow. I need to also pack to go house sit for a friend just now - it's a bit more of a move now that I have to lug all my books and teaching stuff with. Luckily I'm not far away to pop home and get stuff and see my dogs, but need to make sure I at least have everything for tomorrow.

Went to the Reps quiz this morning which was fun. We won thanks to one of our team members knowing lots of random flags. I at least knew Michelle Dockery and Sophie Kinsella (my main contributions 😝). Need to plan ahead with work so I can make quiz at the Mustard Seed on Tuesday.

Made it back in time to teach my Chinese five year old on Zoom. We looked at the moon landing again but he for some reason chirped up with armadillo for Buzz Aldrin, so we looked at armadillos too and their ancestor. We also watched a bit of the video below of the International Space Station. I asked him what the moon was made of and he said blue cheese and then gravity. Was impressed he knew of the word gravity but had to explain what it is. We are to try again at using a hotspot off the phone my student's dad has lent me. The only trouble is the phone switches to Chinese and I get a bit lost on it. The battery on the phone I am using otherwise doesn't last very long. Fingers crossed tomorrow works.

Zimbabwean history

Yesterday was a slightly more laid back day compared to Thursday, which was hectic. Most of my boys did not dress up for Mothers' Day but I looked up from my reading register and did a double take when three of my boys had gone all out. I tried to keep my facial expression neutral but I think I may have looked a bit aghast. One had had a great time using his mum's make up - lipstick, mascara, eyeshadow - the lot! and was wearing a sequinned top. Another boy had on his mum's wig and kept it on all day, flicking the hair occasionally out of his face to great effect. The very autistic boy who only joins us for two hours a day for the social interaction had on a dress. I did keep catching myself wondering who they were all day. It was super being able to wear slippers, wish I could teach in my slipper socks everyday. In one of the lower classes, one little boy had dressed up in his mum's lab coat as she is a lab technician and he even had her goggles and mask. He looked very proud to be sporting this but then proceeded to do a rollypoly down the garden slope decked out in all of this.

The standard has been set high for providing staff tea on a Friday. Our head had baked and made cheese scones, banana bread and crunchies. She even managed to source farm butter. Am going to have to think about what I am going to bake. Might make my friend Nina's recipe of hikers' fingers as one thing. My one student announced when I was doing his reading that his parents were expecting me to have already emailed them his weekly progress report - sorry what? This was the first I had heard about this. The head also didn't immediately know what he meant by this but it turned out she had said last term we would give weekly feedback on how he is doing. Sigh, I now have to do a daily rating and comments. I hope all the other parents don't hear of this and want that too. Need to work now on finalising my time table and my weekly records and forecasts for Monday.

So, we did some basic Zimbabwe history and social studies yesterday - well tried to. When I started off asking the class what the politically correct name is for the first people who lived in Zimbabwe, I had been aiming for them to say the Khoisan rather than bushmen. Well I wasn't quite prepared for one little boy's response of monkeys!!! Noooooo, very politically incorrect - but I am giving them the benefit of the doubt that they were thinking of early man and pre-hominid species. I did tell them though that it could be highly offensive. I wasn't about to tackle teaching human evolution, as it wasn't part of the lesson. We progressed from the Khoisan and I asked who arrived 2000 years ago - the answer I got was the Rhodesians! Oh dear. I asked again and was told the British and then the Portuguese. Eventually we got to the Bantu people who were the ancestors of the Shona. They seemed to enjoy the lesson overall though, but were horrified when I gave them homework on a Friday to look up the Zimbabwe flag and draw it and tell me what the colours signify. I think it's good for them to do a bit of research themselves, as a bit of enquiry based learning is not a bad thing.

Was supposed to try teach my Chinese student after gate duty yesterday but I was told I could only photocopy and print before 2, as the generator would then be switched off. I had to cancel my lesson but was just about to print when the generator ran out of fuel, so will have to do it all on Monday. At least one lot of stuff can be sent to Boss in Borrowdale for copying. They are trying to work out if it is more expensive to run the generator for printing or sending it to Boss. Felt pretty brain dead after I finished my marking at 4. Managed to make it through my lesson with my Chinese French student. We did more Greek mythology but he found the relationship between Zeus and his mother "dégueulasse". Went to a friend's birthday braai after with a friend out from England but did feel rather jaded. Got home to a message from my form four student wanting a lesson at 8.30 this morning to help him with another poem by Gillian Clarke titled "Journey". I really enjoy her poems and it is fun analysing them. My student hasn't done any more on summaries for Macbeth and Spies though. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't force it to drink.