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[Anni]

OK you are right Iain, that was bad wording :D

[Tammie]

Chris wrote: "Ok so I can't let this slide.... We all need to email spam the network director of Goodreads for something that I just witnessed on their home page that has left my mouth agape!

You know when you ..."

Lol, That's too funny!

[Ahdam]

So I had a bit of a random thought that came into my head and it is book related so I don't know where to put it and the is class readings. This will be a bit difficult but have you guys ever had to read a book where each person takes turns to read a couple of sentences and it was essentially forced reading because I remember doing this a few time such as in primary school we read the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as a class and unfortunately I cant remember any of it maybe I wasn't fond of it back then and then there was Of Mice and Men which I'm sure a lot people here can relate with in English language for GCSE and I liked it despite being forced it was very interesting and if I was smart enough to do English lit I would have done An Inspector Calls (JB Priestly is very popular over here for those who know him)

Anyway I'm rambling but have you guys had anything like that where you had to read a book as a class I know there will be a few here that have read of mice and men but yeah.

[Zaara]

Well Ahdam...yeah but that was when I was in school...learning Arabic (don't ask...I move arnd A LOT) and he'd (creepy beard teacher fella) get us all to start reading aloud in turns and then he'd fall asleep within minutes....really loud snoring by the way. He'd wake just as the bell went. I practically taught myself the language...we all did!
Thinking bk I can see where the generic inspiration for (view spoiler)[ Sybill Trelawney came from.... (hide spoiler)]
He never made any interesting prophecies about a Dark Lord tho'....

[Nyssa]

We have kids read like that all of the time, but not novels. They're usually reading articles, poems, or shorter stories - and each kid (or as many as it takes) reads a full paragraph out loud to the class.

We do this for a few reasons, but mainly to keep the class on track, and engaged, as well as to reach students who are more auditory learners than visual - a learning style of which many are not even aware they have.

When we read novels when I was in high school, the teacher would assign a specific number of pages or chapters - more often to be read independently at home - and then they were discussed in class the next day.

I can not remember our having to read the books out loud in class unless we were being told to underline or highlight a particular section.

[Zaara]

@Nyssa...nice points! See there's the logic and sense behind the pedagogy...

And yes Ahdam...I have read An Inspector Calls.
Wasn't it widely believed to have inspired Christie's Mousetrap?

[Ahdam]

Nyssa wrote: "We have kids read like that all of the time, but not novels. They're usually reading articles, poems, or shorter stories - and each kid (or as many as it takes) reads a full paragraph out loud to t..."

Hmm I think for some reason in my primary school we had done work that was related to the lion the witch and the wardrobe because I remember reading the book or a few paragraphs of it and we had also did a puppet show of some of the famous scenes in the film and then we went to see a play of it which was nice

We did something similar to oliver twist but without reading the book and it was mainly focused on the 1968 film but yeah it was an interesting experience we also did stuff on pirates as well which was good and slightly cringy now

I looked at your profile Nyssa and that makes a lot of sense but you might be right and I might be remembering stuff wrong maybe we only read paragraphs but I do remember being given the Narnia books so who knows haha

[Ahdam]

Also don't worry I'm not hating on the school system or anything like that I just found it interesting considering when I think about my life in primary school or schools in my case and it was something I just remembered so yeah no hate or anything like that

[Zaara]

You know Ahdam daaaaaahlin' at this rate I'm gonna have more ideas for your YouTube channel than can fill a moleskine.
I now demand a puppet show video...
Were they sock puppets?
😝😀

[Nyssa]

Ahdam wrote: "Also don't worry I'm not hating on the school system or anything like that I just found it interesting considering when I think about my life in primary school or schools in my case, and it was some..."

You are free to hate them if you like. They are far from perfect (except for in Finland from what I hear). :)

Don't discount your memories. Everyone's experiences are different, and we're all (at least those of us who give a damn) still learning.

I'm an Education major, so I am both student and teacher at the same time. I think it widens my perspective on things. I see how I'm being taught now, remembering what I was taught in primary and secondary school, How and what I'm being told and trained to teach, and what my children (as in offspring as opposed to students) are learning.

That's a lot of input, which I can only hope will make me a better classroom teacher. I have coworkers who I think are wonderous at what they do, and others who I don't think should work with children at all much less teach.
Teaching is as much a skill as it is a science. We can have all of the facts, figures, and data in the world, but at the end of the day, we still need to know how best to present it in a way that the student can and wants to invest, learn, grow and succeed.

[Ahdam]

Nyssa wrote: "Ahdam wrote: "Also don't worry I'm not hating on the school system or anything like that I just found it interesting considering when I think about my life in primary school or schools in my case, ..."

Yeah I get that Nyssa and I like your eagerness and your passion as a teacher and its great you want to help students with knowledge and I hope you do well in it :) :)


Back in school I was always the guy that stayed quiet and out of the way while everyone messed around and joked a bit I had no interest to make friends though I was on good terms with a few I rarely hang out and it didn't help I let things get out of hand with my insecurities a number of times so I was itching to leave.

I didn't mind the teachers there at all but I did get annoyed with people in my class who rather joke around than get things done which really annoyed me and I avoided the people that I didn't get on with while making myself look like a clown unintentionally and because of that I regretted a lot of things I did in school but at the end I was glad to have left since it was changing in a bad way felt more like a business rather than a place of learning and while I enjoyed my studies there I desperately needed a new start and I think I got it from uni and here since I rarely socialise on other platforms (trying to get Instagram game on when I get back to photography) so I was thankful for finding people there that were serious about there studies and hang out with and as an introvert it is scary since I don't talk to many people back in school because it feels awkward and by the time I was in sixth form I was ready to leave so I just hope once I leave Uni that doesn't happen here. Ok that's my sob story done hahaha what did I say about not hating the system

Also Zaara that will be on hold for a bit since I have other plans such as job hunting, photography and doing some script writing since I spent a semester learning how to do it I feel inspired to push my ideas forward which I hope to do in the holidays now that I finished the semester. Also I will never forgive myself if I did that hahahaahah

[Yanique, Thread Master]

Ahdam wrote: "So I had a bit of a random thought that came into my head and it is book related so I don't know where to put it and the is class readings. This will be a bit difficult but have you guys ever had t..."

That's interesting. I don't remember us reading novels aloud like that. I think each kid would get at least a few paragraphs or a chapter. Most of my reading in-class memories come from reading plays which was always fun.

[Zaara]

@Ahdam...life before sock puppets...always and FOREVAH! I was jezzzt teasing...I can be a doof sometimes.
All the best for the job hunt.
I understand abt the scariness. I totally understand about the awkwardness. In time, you'll learn to wear armour over it and battle with the best.
And chill, you! Everyone knows you're incapable of hate.
You don't need to apo.

[Zaara]

@Nyssa...you express yourself well and succinctly...the latter is more than I'm able to manage ;-)
Have long have you been teaching?
I think Seàn teaches too....

[Nyssa]

Ahdam wrote: "Nyssa wrote: "Ahdam wrote: "Also don't worry I'm not hating on the school system or anything like that I just found it interesting considering when I think about my life in primary school or school..."

First of all... Thank you so much for your kind words!

Secondly, I hear you, and I understand. Getting through school isn't easy for most kids. It's a wonder that some of us make it through sometimes. The important thing is that you did it, and you moved forward.

I'm so glad you found a home here (and at Uni).
I love the friends I've made here, and I miss them when RL gets in the way.

You have and will continue to find your niche in the world. May your creativity continue to bring you joy (and success).

[Ahdam]

Zaara wrote: "@Ahdam...life before sock puppets...always and FOREVAH! I was jezzzt teasing...I can be a doof sometimes.
All the best for the job hunt.
I understand abt the scariness. I totally understand about t..."

Your right about being incapable of hating people through out my time in school I never really hated people with a passion I just found them to be annoying pricks and even then I don't hold a grudge for too long

what's an Apo?? is that an Australian English lit thing I'm missing

Interesting Yanique I guess it has to be different schools and education I guess haha

[Zaara]

😂 ahdam...
Apo = APOLOGY sorry...

[Ahdam]

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH that makes sense also cheers Nyssa and its funny cause my sister found my GR account and was surprised I have a social life which is kind of nice for someone to say haha

[Zaara]

@Yanique....AND the playacting too, yes?
Fun....
*waves arnd a fake sword*

[Zaara]

Ahdam wrote: "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH that makes sense also cheers Nyssa and its funny cause my sister found my GR account and was surprised I have a social life which is kind of nice for someone to say haha"

Your sister sounds WONDERFUL. Really...she sounds amazing! What's her name Ahdam?

[Nyssa]

Zaara wrote: "@Nyssa...you express yourself well and succinctly...the latter is more than I'm able to manage ;-)
Have long have you been teaching?
I think Seàn teaches too...."

Thank you Zaara! :)

January will be my sixth year as a substitute teacher. I was a media center volunteer for two years before that, at the school my children attended.

My goal now is to become a Middle Grades Maths teacher because that was the class I struggled with most while growing up and I want to teach students how to overcome their fear of and advance in mathematics.

[Ahdam]

Well I have 4 sisters and no brother which means I'm surrounded by girls haha

but the sis that found my GR account is a year younger than me and her name Heera she doesn't have a GR account or anything but yeah I'm gonna be a bit careful unless she check it again and sees my post here so that's all I'll say here haha

[Zaara]

Heera = Diamond, no?
And the other 3 must have similarly bejewelled names....

@Nyssa...a noble vocation. And I say this, of course, as someone who is completely hopeless at anything numerical...its not even funny how clueless I am...

[Nyssa]

Zaara wrote: "Heera = Diamond, no?
And the other 3 must have similarly bejewelled names....

@Nyssa...a noble vocation. And I say this, of course, as someone who is completely hopeless at anything numerical...it..."

LOL, You lost me on Veronica and Diana. There are so many novels, series, and authors I want to read...

[Zaara]

Yeah I went back and edited my comment...and deleted the fun part :-( boo....bcuz I didn't want to be obscure....
See....Nyssa...awhiles ago on Noel's tracker....Veronica and Diana were joking about how they'd compete to be clueless and therefore qualify as Kaladin bait...he is apparently some very hot guy in a series called Stormlight Archives. Which I haven't yet read.
I was just riffing on that...sorry!

[Nyssa]

Zaara wrote: "Yeah I went back and edited my comment...and deleted the fun part :-( boo....bcuz I didn't want to be obscure....
See....Nyssa...awhiles ago on Noel's tracker....Veronica and Diana were joking abou..."

Ah! Okay. No worries! No reason to apologise. LOL

[Zaara]

I'm not really sorry for my obscurity...😜 it just happens to me all the time.
I'm on;y sorry for the people who have to be at the receiving end...😂
I was telling someone the other day that I should jezzt get I'm Sorry tatted on my forehead...
*tween music alert*
See, I'd have preferred to go with Oops I did it agn...but La Britney took that one...
Gnite Nyssa...or g'day...fun chatting...
Keep 'em kids totting the mathmats...

[Yanique, Thread Master]

Nyssa wrote: "Zaara wrote: "@Nyssa...you express yourself well and succinctly...the latter is more than I'm able to manage ;-)
Have long have you been teaching?
I think Seàn teaches too...."

Thank you Zaara! ..."

People like you are so important!
That is a wonderful vocation to have. Too many people sell themselves short because of this crippling fear of math that they develop at such an early age.

[Nyssa]

Nice chatting with you, Zaara. :)

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I remember reading aloud from textbooks sometimes in class... like you said, retention isn't great in situations like that where students have varying reading levels and vocabulary levels...

My better reading memories in school were teachers that chose to read books to us students 1 chapter a week or whenever there was spare time... I had Ella Enchanted read that way in a 7th grade Social Studies or History class... and a book about kids and a weird house in 8th grade Math class (I've been trying to figure out what book this was for years... I think house was in the title)

[Nyssa]

Yanique wrote: "People like you are so important!
That is a wonderful vocation to have. Too many people sell themselves short because of this crippling fear of math that they develop at such an early age. "

Thank you Yanique. How sweet of you.
There are a lot of great teachers out there. I hope to do them proud. :)
It's astonishing what we put ourselves through sometimes. There are many times I wish I could talk to my younger self to let her know it'll be okay. Just keep making an effort.

[Nyssa]

Iain wrote: ".. and a book about kids and a weird house in 8th grade Math class (I've been trying to figure out what book this was for years... I think house was in the title) "

Please let me know if you find out. I love reading to my students, and if I can find math related books for 5th to 9th grade that would be awesome!!

There is a group What's The Name of That Book??? dedicated to helping people find books they've forgotten. So if you're up for it, and if you remember any of the details, someone there might be able to help you out.

[Yanique, Thread Master]

Nyssa wrote: "Yanique wrote: "People like you are so important!
That is a wonderful vocation to have. Too many people sell themselves short because of this crippling fear of math that they develop at such an ea..."

I've lectured both Chemistry and Microbiology on the undergraduate level while I was in grad school, and it's just heart breaking when I see intelligent kids with low self-esteem because they have shaky foundations and are terrified by math and science. By that point nit's really hard for me to do anything to change their minds.

So whenever someone I meet has a passion for teaching those foundational subjects it makes me really happy.

[Yanique, Thread Master]

Iain wrote: "I remember reading aloud from textbooks sometimes in class... like you said, retention isn't great in situations like that where students have varying reading levels and vocabulary levels...

My be..."

Wait..... there are books (like book-books not text books) for math class???!!! ..... well you learn something new every day.

[Nyssa]

Yanique wrote: "it's just heart breaking when I see intelligent kids with low self-esteem because they have shaky foundations and are terrified by math and science."

So true. The same goes for reading. I considered being a reading teacher before choosing math. But I would come home so drained and depressed. Its so easy to take a love of reading for granted that when you see young people struggle, especially those in their early teens, its heart-wrenching.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Yanique wrote: "Iain wrote: "I remember reading aloud from textbooks sometimes in class... like you said, retention isn't great in situations like that where students have varying reading levels and vocabulary lev..."

Not really... the book wasn't math focused... just a fun teacher reading to class...

If you want math related kids books with a bit of story there's always Sideways Arithmatic:

... they were companion books to the main series:

[Nyssa]

Yanique wrote: "Wait..... there are books (like book-books not textbooks) for math class???!!! ..... well you learn something new every day. "

The ones I've seen are usually for younger children - Elementary school. I'm hoping to find some for Middle School as well.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

An example of the math in the sideways arithmatic books from the blurb... Why does elf + elf = fool?

ELF + ELF = FOOL

F has to equal 1 since any time two 3-digit numbers add up to a 4-digit number, the first digit is 1... if F =1, L =2... then O = 4... if FOOL = 1442, then E = 7...

ELF + ELF = FOOL because 721 + 721 = 1442...

[Nyssa]

Iain wrote: "An example of the math in the sideways arithmatic books from the blurb... Why does elf + elf = fool?

ELF + ELF = FOOL

F has to equal 1 since any time two 3-digit numbers add up to a 4-digit number..."

Heh! Nice!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

So I went to Sanderson's blog... I knew State of Sanderson 2017 had to be coming soon (later today apparently)... and found an official announcement about Skyward: https://brandonsanderson.com/official...

Apparently, it is replacing Apocalypse Guard on the schedule... Apocalypse Guard needs some extra re-writes...

There is video included of Sanderson reading the prologue at book signings...

I found the news that Sanderson is too successful for bookstore signings, anymore, interesting/funny... sounds like he plans to start doing them in theatres so people can sit while they wait to meet him... practically becoming his own traveling convention...

[Ahdam]

Iain wrote: "So I went to Sanderson's blog... I knew State of Sanderson 2017 had to be coming soon (later today apparently)... and found an official announcement about Skyward: https://brandonsanderson.com/offi..."

Yeah he told me about his new book and I can attest to his signings being packed I didn't expect his books to be this popular I kind of wished I set off early when I went there hahaha

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Anyone who’s had a 5 year old who needed glasses please give me advice on how to make sure my kid wears them/ doesn’t completely destroy them inadvertently because apparently my boy needs them.

I think I got my first pair at the age of 6 and was horrendous at taking care of them

[Ahdam]

Pretty much everyone in my family wear glasses (its our curse) and my 8 year old sister has that problem I think she wears it to school and other days she decides not to I think just insist he wears them and make it a habit like I instantly go for my glasses when I wake up

Not sure about not destroying them out of curiosity how did he break them I usually lost mine and sometime I usually break them when I sleep with my glasses on (which is a nono)

Yeah I would say make sure he just wears them all the time or even insist and the more he wears them the more he will get used to it and it becomes a part of him (that's right I can be philosophical)

To be fair my eyesight is shocking as I wear thick prescription and when I was young I lost a few glasses and I broke the last 1 by accidently stepping on them causing the lens to come out and it was last week when I smashed my face into a vending machine my glasses taking most of the impact pretty scary stuff actually haha.

Hope that helps kinda I've worn glasses all my life that I never thought much of my troubles when I started to wear glasses

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

He hasn’t gotten them yet, he’s going back to get his eyes dilated to pinpoint his prescription in a week or so. I’m just trying to get some good tips lol.. I was thinking just hammering the point home that he doesn’t get to pick and choose when to wear them like you said will be the best, and making sure he puts them in a safe spot when he’s swimming/sleeping etc I think.

I had glasses from 6-25 years old then got laser surgery which changed my life. I was bad as a kid with mine, wrecked a few pairs and they got stepped on etc. I remember how mad my parents were

[Liam]

My parents actually just explained to me that if I didn't wear my glasses consistently, my vision would keep getting worse and worse, and for whatever reason that was enough to get me to wear them and take care of them haha. I've worn glasses since I was.... eight? I now go back and forth between glasses and contacts. I actually have a new pair of glasses coming in the mail today haha ^_^.

[Liam]

Its weird because I had some major behavior problems as a kid, but wearing my glasses was never a problem haha.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

I’m thinking my little dude will look quite dapper in them, and me being me am planning on sewing him a new outfit to debut his new look because I’m crazy like that.

[Ahdam]

So today I think I might have encountered one of my favourite YouTube ra at the station

I was on my way home until I see this guy walking to the train door and I had to double check because he looked so like him. I didn't talk to him out of embarrassment if he wasn't him but he look exactly like the guy and I spent some time suspiciously looking his way to make sure and I honestly wasn't sure because what would he be doing in Bradford haha

Anyway if he is who I think he is then that's cool if not oh well 😂😂😂😂😂

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Just watch his channel and wait till he does a video on shifty eyed train users ;) then you’ll know for sure

[Ahdam]

Good point 😂😂