Holdfast, or don't hold at all!

Blog of Kip McGrath Education Centres - Holdfast Bay

How many more sleeps?

August 04
by Annie 4. August 2011 19:28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The past week has felt like a scene from the movie Julie & Julia as I suddenly found myself connected to like-minded people around the world responding to my blog. Blogging is quickly becoming addictive, partly because I get to see my words appear for the world to see, but more so because they appear to be striking a cord with so many people. Yay, I am not the only one that thinks educating children is an amazingly important job!...

No, unlike the lead in the Julia & Julia film, I wasn't up until the early hours typing my blog, however I did get to the afternoon and nearly forget that I had to go and teach! Oops! This momentary lapse gave me an idea for this blog.

Now, I don't plan to cook 365 recipes in a year (although cooking is another passion of mine!), but it did make me think that sharing our favourite recipes across the Kip network might be a nice idea. We are all busy people, with kids and jobs and social lives, so new recipe ideas might be useful when imagination is lacking. Personally, I only have time at the weekends to 'play' with my cooking, so during the week the slow cooker gets a workout! Some interesting alternatives would be great. Does that sound like a good idea? Answers on a (blog) postcard please.

Now, before I share the next installment of the Kipper Kronicles (yes, I know I've spelt that wrong - it is intentional!), I thought that I would share a bit of my non-Kip week.

I recently joined a choir called the Tutti Ensemble. Tutti is a 70-strong singing group, most of whom have some sort of disability. Every Wednesday I head straight from my office to join this wonderful bunch of people and pour all of my joy and frustrations in to song. Lovely people, fantastic music and also the most humbling experience of my week. Yes, I could open my centre for 2 more sessions on a Wednesday and bank more money, but this little escape for my soul is worth far more to me. I would recommend group singing to anyone for its ability to take you out of yourself. In September we will be singing The Magic Flute in concert and I am so excited!

So, back to the Kipper Kronicles. This week, in spite of the torrential rain here in Adelaide, or perhaps because of it, they came in two by two. Here are just a few of the highlights:

  • Because of the rain most of the students had been cooped up inside all day, so I received little balls of high energy bursting through the door! Child G was doing a great job of creating her own book to read at home, but couldn't resist performing gymnastic feats to celebrate completing each task. First the splits, then, whilst drawing her final picture in her book, she asked "Can I do a bridge?". Of course I replied, presuming she meant draw a bridge as she was drawing a hill at the time. The next thing I knew there was a six year old arching upside down from the floor demonstrating 'the bridge'!
  • Child G asking if her toy can have a reward sticker for being such a good toy and not disturbing her work.
  • Child B not wanting to go home when mum arrived.
  • Child B made me chuckle after I asked him to copy my writing before doing his drawing. 'No' he said, 'you write it, I'm just the illustrator.'
  • Child G and Child B are my first teenagers, who will probably not share with their mates that they're coming to my centre, but seem to relax when they are with me and get on with the task of learning.
  • And finally, the one that sums up why I set this business up in the first place. I have read many testimonials, and indeed they formed part of my decision making process. Now, I have my first one. Child B asked his Mum during the week "how many more sleeps til Kip?" because he couldn't wait to get back, and on his way last night he said to his Mum, "Mum, I never realised learning could be so much fun!". Aaaah, that's why I do what I do.

In case you hadn't worked it out bu the way, Child G is the generic term for all my girl students and Child B is the generic term for all of my boys so that I can protect the identies of my little stars.

And to finish on another high note, I will make reference to another film, Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner. Remember that one? "If you build it, they will come"? Well, this week I took a chance on hiring a senior maths teacher based on my first high school maths student. And guess what? By the end of the week I had received enough additional students for a full session! I had not expected to recruit additional teachers for at least 6 months, so I am very relieved to find that there is a need out there.

That's it for me for now. More from the Kipper Kronicles soon. Keep learning and stay happy!

 

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Comments (2) -

8/8/2011 10:05:04 AM #

Rachel

Great blog Annie and I love the idea of sharing recipes! I think we forget that recipes are good for our Maths skills as well!I loved last night on MasterChef when Kate had to adapt her ingredient measurements because she lost a quarter of her carrot in the muslin! If that was me, I would have needed a Kip Tutor on hand to help me work it out!

Rachel Australia

9/13/2011 9:13:41 AM #

Annie

Glad to share the treat and thanks for the comment!

Annie Australia

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