G is for Great Great Grandma Gertrude

Great Great Grandma Gertrude gently guides, 

giving glimpses, generating guesses with gewgaws and gadgets.

History unpacked from her Gladstone bag.

One of my alter-egos, who would "visit" the classroom looking for her great, great granddaughter (the class teacher) who unfortunately always seemed to be out of the room when she appeared!!

We had "driving history" with bits of automobiles - bulbous car horn, starter handle, petroleum can, headlight etc we had "washing history" with washboards, brushes, soap and dolly, we had "toy history" with wooden spinning tops, pottery animals, lead soldiers etc and "seaside history" which even ended with a Punch and Judy show and other "history days" when the need arose.  I always loved having the children explain to Great Great Grandma Gertrude how things had changed and help her understand the differences, look and describe her historical objects closely and figure out what they were or how they would have been used.  The children used to ask so many fantastic questions and we had lots of laughs as "Great Great" tried to understand what the children were telling her about how they lived now. These sessions would often be spoken about by parents (months afterwards at parent evenings) telling me how much their child had talked about what "Great Great" had brought in and sometimes asking me if indeed my own Great Grandma had visited???  

Can you remember being told stories by your more aged relatives about how their lives were long ago?  Do you still have old artifacts you use today?  Did you like learning about history at school? What was your favourite historical period?  Please leave me a comment below because I'd love to know :)

F is for Fighting the Fidgets

Fighting the fidgets, finding fortitude,

Frowning, forcing through frustration,  

The child with ADHD battles on.

As I have said many times on my blog, I feel truly humble in the face of some children who try so hard to overcome their difficulties despite the many problems they may have - some even stemming from their own families.

We all know how hard it is "fighting the fidgets" - either we're bored, we're not interested, we've got other things to be doing. But just stop and think how hard it is for a child in a classroom, who everyday has to sit in a chair and do what others do, when told to do it, often within quite strict parameters and who is diagnosed with ADHD - what an uphill battle it must be to come into that classroom each day! 

I have worked with several of these children who try to keep everything together and naturally don't always succeed but don't give up their struggle - each and every day. They have worked with me on their environment (sitting turned away from others, at the front or back of the class - one even asked for a box either side (a bit like blinkers on a horse) to help them stay on task), their social cues (because others don't like their outbursts), their passions (because each has a gift they can relax into if found) and acting as liaison between them and their family (because they need better understanding at home too sometimes) but they are the ones who have to work at it, holding it together each and everyday and for that I feel truly humble to have been their teacher.

When did you last have an attack of the fidgets?  Were school days some of your most golden times or did you dread going?  Leave me a comment below :)

E is for Entertainment

Everyone excited, eagerly expecting

enjoying entertainment.

The pantomime live in the school hall.

I've worked in several schools where the pantomime came to us.  Looking back, I am amazed we managed to squeeze a whole school into the hall as well as the actors and stage but that's part of the magic - we did!  

I'm hoping that my A-Z posts are acting as Entertainment but I'm experiencing exasperation at posting a comment on the A-Z webpage for others to see my daily posts - is anybody else finding difficulties?

Now back to the theme - What is your favourite pantomime memory?  Did you go to the theatre or did the theatre come to your school?  I'd love to know so leave a comment below :)

D is for Dogged Determination

With dogged determination, despite difficulties

 disappointment disappears & deserved delight 

as egg and spoon finally crosses the finishing line

Sports Day is an annual occurrence in most schools with its wide range of peculiar races (I once won the space-hopper race!) but I think most of us can remember doing something where we needed to have dogged determination to succeed at it - so why not share yours below?  Or tell me which was your favourite event at sports day and why?

C is for Careful Calligraphy

Clever Cat, Curly Caterpillar, Cuckoo Clock

children's careful calligraphy

Tongues poking out slightly as hands grip pencils tightly

I have taught letters and sounds through various schemes to children over the years - Letterland, Ruth Miskin, Jolly Phonics and know how hard it is to get them to form those letters correctly once they know their sounds.  I can't really remember learning how to form my early letters but I do know I used to sit at the dinner table with my plastic placemat on which there were the letters of the alphabet in both upper and lowercase along with the object depicting that letter. I can recall the red apple for a and the blue yacht for y and I can remember tracing around each letter as I waited for food - my own careful calligraphy.

Can you remember your first letters and how you came to write them?  Do you rate your handwriting now or not?  You know I'd love to know so leave a comment below :)

B is for Building Bridges

Big, bold, bright blocks

begin building bridges

and slowly the child's hand unfurls from their mother's.

It's so good to be back taking part in the A to Z Challenge.  Reconnecting with those from Challenges past is just like meeting up with old friends.  I was nervous to begin with because I didn't really know how the Challenge would be with no list - and I like my lists!  But I am beginning to see now how I will build bridges and connect to new "friends" as I scroll through the comments on the main site and see those who have commented on other blogs too.  I'd love to know how you are building bridges in this challenge too?

A is for Anxiety

Anxiously awaiting,

Awkwardly angled,

The new child clutches their mother's hand.

Well I really wasn't going to but then I thought I can't NOT be a part of it again as I owe so much to the A to Z Challenge which has helped me with my blog over the past three years.  So I hope no-one minds that I'm slightly late to the party and I'll be hanging on by the skin of my teeth and yes this year really might have that dreadful feeling of anxiety but we're all good friends here and we'll help each other out - won't we??