Whoops! I got too far behind!!

Wednesday, 1/8/2012

I got to go to school with Kylen today! It was exciting to get a view of another school, as my school is very, very small.
The walk to school was shorter than my walk to school, so that was a nice start to the morning, especially since it was 2 degrees when we headed out.
Getting to school, the staff room was huge compared to mine! Walking through the school felt a little more like a traditional school that I had been accustomed to before coming down under.
Some things that I noticed/got to do/see at Kylen's school:
The classrooms are sealed off; the classrooms are completely closed off from each other and what else is happening in the hallway or other parts of the school. This is good, because I noticed that there are fewer distractions outside of the classroom. Especially for second graders (such as Kylen's students), this is great if you have a lot to do during the day!
Another thing I got to do when I was at Kylen's school was to go visit two different children with special needs in the building. One student had no funding/extra support in the classroom, as his ASD/ADD was undiagnosed. His inability to connect with other students or respond to social cues made it pretty apparent, but because he was not diagnosed, he was not funded and his teacher didn't receive any aide time to help him out during instruction. The other student I got to visit had been diagnosed with ASD already and  was funded at level 5. This is the highest level for students' special needs funding, so he spent most of his day with a one-on-one aide. He responded really well to me intruding on his day, and he was so interesting to watch; finding the correct way to make a connection and allow him to display his skills and knowledge. The aides that were working with him were absolutely wonderful with reading his mood/frustration level, and he was able to complete the work that his typically developing peers were completing; it was so exciting to see a system of full inclusion working well! It gives me hope! :)
I also noticed a lot of phonemic awareness work in all three classrooms where I spent time. I also learned about a fun reading games website called reading eggs. www.readingeggs.com.au, which I probably wouldn't use for my classroom, but would be great for fun computer games at home:).
A few hilarious quotes from some second graders in Kylen's room;

• After he showed and told, he asked for questions. One student said "Which one is the best?" The student accuracy said, "Well, my opinion is suggesting this one."
• "People don't usually get killed by a gun. They get slower and more tired."
• "What do we get if we win?" "My love and adoration." "Cool!"

I also learned about a game you can play with the orangutans at Melbourne Zoo. I will be investigating, and then will report back.

Also, an awesome game called 'Sleeping Lions', akin to 'The Quiet Game'. All the students pretend to be sleeping lions and the teacher tries to spot them moving/make them laugh. Great game for killing twenty minutes in a very quiet classroom:)

Thursday, 2/8/2012

Today, Kylen came to my school! Although we had a pretty crazy day (the top three honchos were out for the day), it was overall pretty positive. 

One of the reasons I have fallen behind on my blog is as follows:

As many of you may know, my father in law was in critical condition all day Thursday and Friday (Aus. time), and passed away Saturday morning, 8:00 am Australian time, 4 pm Saturday PST. I'd like to recognize him a little bit here.

David Britton

Dave was one of the single sweetest men I have ever met in my life. Upon meeting him in 2005 at the Christmas band concert (Sam and I had just started dating), I was absolutely terrified. There was no reason to be. He and Lorraine were the most welcoming and accepting people I have ever met, and for that I am so thankful that I got to spend the time with him that I did. Just looking at facebook (aah, the digital age), you can see the incredible number of people whose lives he touched, and there are so many more beyond that. Dave was one of the people that had the utmost confidence in me flying all the way around the world in order to learn. He had a countdown of how many days until I left, and he was supportive, and confident in me way beyond the confidence I had in myself. Living with Dave and Lorraine after I finished my classes, while I was student teaching in Lake Stevens, I got to spend a lot of time with him. Every morning, when I left for school, he would tell me, "Have a good day!". Every afternoon when I came home, he never failed to ask, "How was school today?".

Dave's sense of humor, was one thing that we have all relied upon over the last few years. I've always been a proponent of "Laugh, so you don't cry", and Dave supported me here, as well. We play a lot of Farkle at the Britton household (as probably everyone knows!), and whenever it was Dave's turn, he always said that he had the edge on us, because he was already shakin' the dice!

More recently, when the doctors changed his diagnosis to MSA, his first proclamation was, "Then I'd like a Maple Bar every day for the rest of my life!" For which I can't fault him, because they are absolutely wonderful. And, in a true David fashion, he was ever sharing the wonderful donuts with whomever was interested.

Dave loved his family absolutely and unconditionally; but he also really loved Hawaii. Over the seven years that I have been a part of this family, I have learned more about Hawaii through Vacation pictures, tales of helicopter rides, and, in September 2011, actually going there! Dave believed that everyone should spend time in Hawaii, because it was where he was absolutely the happiest, and when his family got to be there with him, he didn't stop smiling for the entire week. I'm not sure if it was the sunshine, the rum, the many women in bathing suits, or a combination of those and everyone else enjoying them as well.

So many thoughts and stories run through my mind right now, as I try to figure out how to show or tell exactly how much you meant to me. I say just me, because I can only hope to demonstrate that. How much you mean to everyone would be impossible to put in a silly little blog. Obviously, showing how much you mean to just me wouldn't fit in a silly little blog, but I digress.

Dave;

Not being there with you, with our family and friends, was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I stayed in Australia because everyone told me that if I flew home you would come down and find a way to kick my ass. I don't think you could catch me in your wheelie chair....but everyone else seems to think you could.

I can't imagine how difficult it will be to come home and find you not there, so I'm deciding not to think about it. Hopefully up there you'll whoops peoples' butts at Farkle, just like you do down here, and even the most Saintliest of Saints will play, "Damn it, Dave!".

I'm still going to bring you something from Australia, although I'm not sure what quite yet. The only issue I have is not getting to see the look on your face when I give it to you; because I'm sure it will be dreadfully clever.

Down under, at my school, we do a cheer that's pretty familiar to those up north. I don't know what the last part means, but I felt I needed to bring something Australian into this, because it's the reason I'm not there with everyone today.

"Hip hip, hooray!

Hip hip, hooray!

Hip hip, hoory!

And half a HOO!"

I would send a whole HOO for you, though, Dave. You were the best father-in-law anyone could have, and such an incredible friend. I love you so much!

Love,

Megan (the best daughter-in-law anyone could ever have;)

Friday, 3/8/2012

Friday is a bit of a blur. Kids the world over can sense weakness, so they kind of walked all over me.

Fortunately, Bob and Judy picked me up from school, and I was able to have some time in a comfortable place with comfortable people.

Kylen's friend from school, Mark, took us out into the city on Friday night to 'The Curve Bar'. A place that felt waaay too classy for me, but we had a good time, and it was so sweet of Kylen to invite me out, when I really needed to be preoccupied.

Saturday, 4/8/2012

Saturday I spent on Skype or on the phone. So glad to get to 'be' with everyone at least a little bit.

Saturday night, Kylen and I went to the trivia night fundraiser at her school; our table's theme was Pirates, and I still have a pretty awesome temporary tattoo on my right forearm of the Jolly Roger. Also - I finally got to where my treasure map and Jolly Roger Earrings! It was a very exciting time:)

Sunday, 5/8/2012

Today Bob and Judy will be picking me up at around 10:30 to go out for coffee, and then off to see Andrew (my mom's host brother) and Jo (his wife) and their kids. The oldest has an under tens footy game that I get to see today:)

Tonight is netball again; I hope to wear tall socks to mess with a certain person. Cross your fingers for me and hope I can get a bit better today.

Love to you all, and thanks for bearing with me throughout my longest post yet. Whew! Hopefully I don't get this far behind again...

Love,

Megan

P.S. They don't use dryer sheets down here! Kylen and I have been hunting for three weeks, and no one uses them at all! Also, the soda Root Beer, they call 'Sasperilla'. Weird. I also have more to say about the Australian school system in comparison to the American system, but I need to get ready to go watch footy!