Happy Birthday to Dad. :-) We were able to go out this afternoon to celebrate (right after school) before Dad had to go to SES. We chose to go to a local Irish restaurant/pub (Hoolihans) for a very early dinner (4:15pm) - we haven't been there before, but they will give you a free dinner (main meal) if it's your birthday, so we figured it was a good time to try a new restaurant. We started with Garlic and Mozzarella bread. Then, I had the Donegal's Irish Stew (Tender Braised Lamb with Onions, Carrots, Celery & Potatoes served over Mash with Soda Bread) and Dad had the Dublin Coddle (Thick Beef ‘n’ Sage Sausages served on Mash with Onion Gravy & Vegetables). The mozza bread was really delicious and both dinners tasted fabulous! The prices were pretty good, too, compared with other restaurants we have been to, but the food is way better than what we have tasted at other places (although we haven't been to too many others). We will definitely recommend this place to others.
Dad has gone off to SES now and I have been being very lazy tonight, just watching tv and answering emails and writing this blog. It's been a full-on day today at school and so I have enjoyed totally relaxing and doing nothing this evening. Yesterday, I was so positive with regards to my angry little student, Ryley - today was a challenging day. He was being very obstinate today - twice Chantelle asked me to come and deal with him. Just when I thought things were looking up, he said he was going to run away from school. I finally went to get the principal to talk with him as I was all out of ideas. The principal was able to get him to come back to class and make better choices. I talked with the principal to see what he did and said and he did and said the same things which I had done and said and yet he had a better result - I think it might have had to do witth the principal being male. Ryley had a great second session, but then stuffed up again during the third session. We'll have to see what tomorrow brings, but I am not too crazy about expending so much energy on one student - I do have 20 other students to worry about - he might have to miss more recesses before he figures things out.
I was really pleased to be able to go to the Curriculum Development meeting today. We talked mostly about the NAPLAN test (grade three test), the results, the questions which the students did not do well on, and how to take the results and work with them to help the students become more successful at the test. I think teaching to the test is not good teaching, but I wouldn't say anything in front of the V.P. :-) We also talked about other things we could do in the classroom to help the students be more successful in areas which they are struggling - the grade threes particularly don't do well in spelling and so the school has decided that the spelling program in the school is going to be downgraded - as in, the grade three program will now be done in grade two, the grade two one will now be done in grade one, etc. I can't see the sense of expecting so much from these kids, but that's the way that the education system seems to be going in this country.
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