Open wide, Come Inside, It's my school....

                                                                                                                              .

There's a bear in there,

And a chair as well
There are people with games
And stories to tell
Open wide
Come inside
It's Playschool

                                      - The Playschool Song.

The first day I came to school my classroom looked like a bomb has hit it. There was stuff everywhere. Nothing was in any order and I had no idea what I did and didn't have in the classroom. 

I began to question myself a little bit; Had I done the right thing? Made the right choice? Should I have kept teaching supply? 

And then I saw, green backing paper all around my classroom, green chairs and green edging around all the furniture. My classroom was the green classroom. I hadn't told them green was my favourite colour, I hadn't requested it at all. Yet here I stood in a room decorated in my colour and a smile began to creep across my face. I know it sounds so silly to think green could be such a comfort, but for me it was as if God was saying, 'I got this, I have it planned perfectly for you. Just trust me, I am guiding your every step.' 

I want to thank everyone who has and is praying for me, because this really was an answer to your prayers. God is my guide and He is blessing and comforting me! 

It took us four days to clean, organise and set up the classroom. 

So come inside and I'll show you my room! 

This is our discovery display. 

In RS we are the grasshoppers and so we begin by exploring grasshopper and other Minibeasts...

Students can put their hands under the table where leaves, bark, dirt and plastic minibeasts are. 

Students can then feel, touch and explore.

I wanted to make our maths section very colourful and enticing for the students. 

We set up a mock sweet shop where students can count out objects and role-play with money. 

We could also count out more and less and count totals with the paper jar and sweets below. 

That doesn't look right?!?

That's better!!!

Numicon is a FANTASTIC new resource that the students just love to play with. 

The pieces represent numbers from 1 - 10 and are used to encourage students to recognise pattens within numbers. My class are really enjoying them and by week 3 of school students are now able to recognise which number each piece represents just by looking at it. 

***

My English corner provides students with an opportunity to do some writing or drawing and then explain what they have been working on. 

                             

I had some extra money in my budget if I wanted to buy any resources for my classroom. I spent 80% on much needed cushions for my reading area. 

Money well spent, not only has it made the reading area a warm and inviting place. They also came in handy when a student so exhausted from his first full week at school fell asleep during carpet time and spent the remaining hour of the day having a sleep. Bless his socks! 

Having the puppet theatre in the book corner so valuable. Students have been able to use it to retell and reenact stories read. 

Some of you might remember me raving about a 'wonder wall' I saw when supply teaching. 

The idea is that if students are wondering something random or that we don't have time to explore right then we can write it on the wall and find an answer later in the week. 

I loved it so much I have placed one in my room (I'll let you know how it works practically.) 

Lastly, is our 'Thinking Chair', Where students will need to think and explain what happened.  

So, yea. That's my room. 

I honestly have the best class in reception though. My students are so beautiful and wonderful. They are very good at tidying up and sitting beautifully on the carpet. I have a range from one boy who is very clever, already blending words, counting and writing number to 100 and teaching me things about the computer. To students who need much more support. I am very much looking forward to watching them grow and change this year though and to see how far they have come by the end. 

Last week I had to take our class teddy, Frankie, to Westfield shopping centre with me. 

Over the coming weekends the kids have to take him home and write what they have done with him. I took him first to do an example for them.  

I don't think I ever told so many people, "I'm not crazy, I'm a teacher" in the matter of 3 hours before! 

It was nice to finally have an excuse! 

As always, my love and prayers are with you all, 

Joey! 

¡Hola Amigos

Upside, inside out she's livin la vida loca 
She'll push and pull you down, livin la vida loca 
Her lips are devil red and her skin's the color mocha 
She will wear you out livin la vida loca Come On! 
Livin la vida loca, Come on! 
She's livin la vida loca. 

                                                    - La Vida Loca, Ricky Martin

As I sit down on the second plane it hits me. Before now I have been writing lessons for school, but now, as I sit I realise I am in Madrid. I realise in an hours time I will be in Granada, Spain.

Now the plane begins to move, I look out the window to see the airport drift away…only it doesn’t. The plane isn’t moving at all, it me shaking and ready to jump out of my seat. I am so excited to see my Aunty and Uncle again I can’t sit still.

Has it really been eight months since I last saw them, in some ways it felt shorter but in others it felt longer.

Finally, the plane landed, I collected my luggage and as soon as I exit the automatic sliding doors I came face to face with an Ipad trying to take my picture. This time, it is not the paparazzi though. It is my Aunty Jen ready to capture my reaction.

 

I wrap my arms around my Aunty and Uncle. They begin to usher me towards the taxi. Relaxed again, I enjoy being picked up at the airport. The novelty of having someone welcome me is not lost on me. This time, I did not have to find my way around in a foreign city after my flight. I could just enjoy the view and follow.

It takes 20mins to get to Hotel Reino De Granada. It is now 11:30pm. I check-in, settle my things into my room and am taken out for Tappas. The city of Granada is alive. Restaurants are open and busy. It is Thursday night but due to their three-hour siesta at lunch time, the Spanish are enjoying their night. 

The next morning we walk around the city. Uncle Tony is our tour guide. The city is both exactly like I imagined and nothing like I imagined depending on where you are looking. The beauty of small cobble stone streets, beautiful adorned old churches and humble apartments painted in oranges, whites, mild yellow and mild pink. Pure Spanish beauty. What I was unprepared for where the amount of modern clothing shops and boutiques in the city. I love it all and appreciate the contrast of the modern stores and more traditional markets. And being a true shopaholic, enjoy looking and buying from both places.    

Catedral de Granada.

Statue of Queen Isabella giving money to Christopher Columbus for his voyage. 

I loved this 'STOP' walking man. See him in red behind me. 

An amazing spice shop with fresh spices, herbs, teas, dried fruit and nuts...so good!!! 

The cave, where Jamón (a thinly sliced Spanish ham)  hangs from the celing. It is so yum! 

    

That afternoon we head over to the Alhambra (meaning the red rock in Spanish). The Alhambra was originally built by an Turkish Islamic king but later was claimed by Catholic rulers. 

It is beautiful just have a look...

I really enjoyed our few hours there. Its ornate and detailed decorations are stunning. However, as the guide took us around and explained the palace you could truly imagining it in its former glory and were left speechless. 

A traditional Granada cake and coffee. 

When we returned to the hotel after a busy day my Spanish Uncle enjoyed a siesta as my Aunty and I explored the town of Granada.

 We walked around the whole city. 

My Aunty maintains this was her plan and we did not get lost for a little while. 

Delicious pistachio ice-cream at Los Italianos (where Michelle Obama had ice-cream during her visit to Granada) 

The next morning we went for another short walk around the city, enjoying delicious Churros Y (and) Chocolate and some more shopping.

We then headed into the mountains for lunch with my Uncle’s family. It was lovely to meet them, they made me feel very welcomed and we enjoyed a delicious lunch.

However, excited by all the good Spanish food I ate too much (and I'm Italian and German, I have been trained to eat)

4 different Tappas, a main meal and a plate of deserts and ice cream. It was delicious but I could have burst.

After lunch, we all surcame to the Spanish way of lunch and have a siesta. At 9pm, after a good rest, we are refreshed and ready for another exciting night in Granada. That night we were invited into a gypsy cave as they performed flamenco for us. 

It was so amazing. Their feet move very rápido (fast), their hands delicately rotating and there is raw emotion in their voices and faces. I had to remind myself to shut my mouth constantly. It was such a unique experience. I even forgot to take photos after the first two performances I was so completely adsorbed. 

with a hot chocolate for dinner - still so full from lunch - we headed to bed. 

Sunday we headed back up the mountains to Uncle Tony's brother house for lunch.

Their house is stunning complete with lovely people and an adorable tiny dog.

We had delicious Tappas of homegrown pomegranate (the national fruit of Granada as it is red like Granada) and also home grown tomatoes in oil, salt and herbs served with bread and cheese. Delicious.

 Then the main event came out, Paella. Fresh, home made paella in Spain, definitely a memorable first time.

The family claim they own a clothing business but their skills in making alcoholic beverages says other. A tasty Vermouth cocktail welcomed us, delicious red wine complemented the main, homemade Chocolate, Creme, Caramel, Berry and Cherry liqueurs accompanied desert and a variety of Gin and Tonics to finish the afternoon.

A skilled family to say the least, decorators, farmers, chefs, bar staff and retailers.

It was a wonderful last day. 

That evening we looked down at Granada city enjoyed the cool night and ate more delicious Spanish Tappas.

Granada truly was more amazing then I imagined. Such a fantastic time and lifelong memories. I am so thankful that my Aunty and Uncle invited me to join them for the weekend. 

These days  I wake up and go to bed with the same thought: Thank you Father.

 "Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures."

James 1:17-18