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Today was a fun day of Shopping! It was a great day :)My very sweat teacher Seana, took myself and Rachael out today to several different shops. After 6 hours of shopping we came home with all of these bags! But don't think I spent loads of money (don't worry Ben) Seana knew where all the bargin and reasonable priced shops were. She also very generously bought me and Rachel dinner and a couple bottles of wine. We defiantly got spoiled today! It was a fantastic day!
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Yesterday was a very rainy day and in fact my journey to school rained (I should say poured) the whole way there. We got completely drenched! I felt that it was very appropriate to start singing 'I'm singing in the rain' the whole way to school. Rachael was not in Cheery spirits as I was and refused to sing along with me. I find it hard to find other people to be silly with me :)
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I even have my 'chip and diet coke time' in N. Ireland. This picture is just for Charlie :) I wish he was here with me to enjoy this special time.
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my P1 students. they are 4 and 5 years old. aren't they all just lovely looking!
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I would like to add a couple bits about how N. Ireland schools are different then the schools back home.
First, Christianity is very much apart of their culture and curriculum. When we had an assembly yesterday, all of the songs they sang were christian hymns and Sunday-school songs. I recorded some of them but I'm having difficulties uploading videos. They study religion as part of their subjects and do work right out of the bible. Every time before snack and lunch they say a prayer. Students are taught about morals, values and character building through reading Bible stories. How sad that the United States has completely stripped all religion out of schools.
You can not hold or retain a child back in school
Students change for PE in their rooms...strip down to their undies and change... boys and girls in the same room.
Teacher's don't keep track or give out grades in Primary schools.
There is one very large standardized test that students take when they are in the fifth grade called 11+. This test determines if they will go onto grammar school or secondary school. Only the top 25% will go onto grammar school. Grammar school is considered the academic route, where as secondary school can lead you to college it will not be as of a prestigious university. Students can also learn trades in Secondary school.
Currently, N. Ireland wants to do away with this 11+ test, however they have not figured out what they would put in its place or how to decide which kids would go to grammar school and which kids would go to secondary.
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Yesterday was a very rainy day and in fact my journey to school rained (I should say poured) the whole way there. We got completely drenched! I felt that it was very appropriate to start singing 'I'm singing in the rain' the whole way to school. Rachael was not in Cheery spirits as I was and refused to sing along with me. I find it hard to find other people to be silly with me :).JPG)
I even have my 'chip and diet coke time' in N. Ireland. This picture is just for Charlie :) I wish he was here with me to enjoy this special time..JPG)
my P1 students. they are 4 and 5 years old. aren't they all just lovely looking!.JPG)
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I would like to add a couple bits about how N. Ireland schools are different then the schools back home.First, Christianity is very much apart of their culture and curriculum. When we had an assembly yesterday, all of the songs they sang were christian hymns and Sunday-school songs. I recorded some of them but I'm having difficulties uploading videos. They study religion as part of their subjects and do work right out of the bible. Every time before snack and lunch they say a prayer. Students are taught about morals, values and character building through reading Bible stories. How sad that the United States has completely stripped all religion out of schools.
You can not hold or retain a child back in school
Students change for PE in their rooms...strip down to their undies and change... boys and girls in the same room.
Teacher's don't keep track or give out grades in Primary schools.
There is one very large standardized test that students take when they are in the fifth grade called 11+. This test determines if they will go onto grammar school or secondary school. Only the top 25% will go onto grammar school. Grammar school is considered the academic route, where as secondary school can lead you to college it will not be as of a prestigious university. Students can also learn trades in Secondary school.
Currently, N. Ireland wants to do away with this 11+ test, however they have not figured out what they would put in its place or how to decide which kids would go to grammar school and which kids would go to secondary.
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4 comments:
Im glad you had fun shopping! I cant wait to see what you bought. That is great that the schools can pray and have religion in their rooms. I wonder if they behave better. I miss you Heather. I had Benny over for dinner last night and will tomorrow too...so dont worry about him:) Love you
I wish our schools would allow prayer and religion in them like the one your in. Do you remember Lachlan's 5th grade teacher wouldn't hang his paper up because he wrote about God? Well... she later did after a visit from his mama & daddy:) Thanks for sharing all the info. - very interesting. I love the picture of you under the umbrella. I just took one of Trissy like that yesterday. You two look like twins. xoxo
In the USA, we all think we should be "politically correct", so we teach "good character" lessons using a commercial curriculum. I am thankful that I teach down in a strong Christian area, where I can still have a Christmas Tree in my classroom. I confess I sometimes tell my students to be "church quiet!" Yes, I too am curious about their behavior and what type of classroom management they use.
Love you baby girl. I am so proud of you!
xoxox
Hey Heather,
Charlie loved the chip pic! And it looks like you had a great time shopping. Do you like wine?
I think it is very interesting that the schools blend chuch and school. I guess it works for N. Ireland. But, I think we have made the right decision to seperate church from school. I have worked in a very diverse school where it wouldn't be appropriate to blend the two.
Well, on a lighter note...I can't wait to read your next blog and see your charity walk pics! I Love You!
Molly
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