January Teacher Survival Guide.

I'm linking up with Melissa over at Mrs. Stouffer's Music Room for a linky party called Teacher Survival Guide.

I often find January a difficult month after the fun and frivolity of December.  As my summer holidays draw to a close and the reality of a busy teaching year looms, my survival techniques are predominantly designed to strengthen my spirit and re-energise my mind for a positive and refreshed return to work.

#1. Sleep – I know it sounds obvious but I am and always have been a bad sleeper, so January is a time for me to try and get back into some healthy sleeping patterns.  I need to get myself ready for the 5:30 am rise required to be at school for my early morning rehearsals which start in a few weeks. As a natural “Night Owl”, this is a challenge for me, but I am resolved to be in bed before 11 pm in the hopes of drifting off by midnight!

#2. Hydrate – I discovered to my shock and horror a little while back, that it was ridiculously easy for me to go a day without actually drinking any water. Tea, Coffee, juice and wine (!) were the main sources of refreshment in a 24 hour period. Not good I know, so my January Survival plan (particularly in this 37 degree Celsius heat), is to hydrate with water and a twist of lemon or lime. I feel genuinely, so much better for it.

#3. Open my Mind – January is often a time of reflection for me. Processing the year “that was” and dreaming of the year that “might be”. I t is a time to be open to new beginnings and possibilities, both professionally and personally. Remembering to be open in my heart and mind puts me in a fantastic position for the creative juices to flow and a happy and fulfilling year to uncurl before me.

"…to provoke our students to break through the limits of the conventional and the taken for granted, we ourselves have to experience breaks with what has been established in our own lives; we have to keep arousing ourselves to begin again." Maxine Greene

If you are a teacher blogger with some January Survival techniques you’d like to share, you can link up at Melissa's blog.

2015 New Year's Resolutions

I am hoping to squeeze into my first ever linky party before it closes at Mrs. Miracle's Music Room.

There are so many "new" events about to occur in my life. Moving house the weekend before school starts back, meeting my new boss (the Director of Music at school), meeting a new School Principal, having a new Performing Arts Co-ordinator, new classes, new classrooms, new students and new parents.... (and no, I haven't started a new job!) Although I begin my 9th year at my school, I feel 2015 is looking exciting and maybe a little overwhelming at the same time.

The idea of setting some "new goals" for the year seems like a great one! So here goes:

Personal: 

 

I want to do everything I can this year, to save money in order to travel to see my brothers, and my parents in North Queensland, along with my 3 little Nieces and my sister-in-law. I also hope to spend time with my 2 beautiful Southern Nieces in the ACT and Victoria. We miss them all so much!

Professional: 

 

I'm sure we can all relate to this dilemma! This year I will be having Saturdays free of conducting or teaching and have cut down significantly on my home teaching studio after school on week days. I am also hoping 2015 will see me employ some assistant conductors to help to manage the 7 ensembles I currently look after.

Classroom: 

 

This year I have quite a mix of classes. I will teach 5 classes a week of beginner strings, 5 classes per week of Year 5 classroom music, 4 classes a week of year 10 music, 4 classes a week of year 11 music and private string tutoring as well. Our year 10 class this year is  brand new "Year-long" subject! I am planning to create a fun online learning environment to support our classwork in the form of a blog for my year 10 students.  I'll let you know how it goes!

Blog/TpT 

 

2014 was a very slow year for me with regards to resource creating and blogging, so I am really looking forward to having a bit more time to invest in this wonderfully, creative process.

Just for me: 

 

When I am organised, I love to make myself beautiful, healthy salads for lunch (and they have become quite famous in my staff room). I am determined to pack my salads every night this year for a fresh and healthy alternative to the tuckshop!

I have absolutely loved my summer break and in particular, I have lost myself in books. This has inspired me to keep the reading joy going once school starts back. Let's hope I can :)