Being Sorted into Slytherin.

Quite literally the worst day of the Easter holidays was the day that the stupid Pottermore website sorted me into Slytherin.

Now, I have been told that the sorting is done randomly, which has placated me somewhat (but not enough really). However I'm quite miffed that the Sorting Hat has put me in the worst house you can be placed in. I would much rather have been put in Hufflepuff. No one would have taken me seriously, but at least I wouldn't be surrounded by ridiculous fan girls who are in love with the fictional badboy Draco Malfoy.

If you're into that sort of thing (which I massively am), please feel free to add me as a Pottermore friend: GalleonPixie22820
The name was randomly generated and was the least lame one going. Honestly.

Apart from that, it's pretty cool so far. I'm not very good at unlocking the unlockable content. Far too impatient for that.

Wanted: Bernard's watch...

So, I'm sure like many of my fellow "PGCE-ers" I will be spending my holidays something like this:

• Sorting out my PS/CS/school files
• Applying for a thousand jobs I'm not going to get
• Writing PS2
• Writing even more lesson plans
• Not having a lie in
• Working

Yes, we do get an extra week off, which is lovely. But my concern is that there's not going to be enough time to get everything done that we need to! Anyone got a Bernard's watch they can lend me for such an occasion...?

Squeaking like a little girl - The Woman in Black

Last night, Steve and I went to see The Woman in Black in the cinema.

Now, after pooping our pants at the stage version and being told how scary it was by other people, we thought (well, I thought) it would be a good idea to go and see the film version.

After being thoroughly annoyed that it barely followed the same basic plot idea as the book and play, I was still rather scared. I think the kids were added to give it that creep-factor and the scenes with the idiot villagers and their superstition, but it was neither in the book or the play so I didn't like it.

Steve squeaked when his reflection in the window turned into a screaming woman. That lightened the mood a little bit. As did a group of teenage girls who were just screaming/laughing/"OH MY GOD"ing all the way through it.

Radcliffe did a good job of "not being Potter", in my opinion, and I liked the man from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy who played his mate. And the dog (not the stupid twin chihuahuas who were added in for hilarity - I did laugh out loud at them). Apart from that, the local lawyer looked a bit... well. Weird. With big eyebrows and tiny eyes. Very strange.

This is why I'm not a film critic. I don't like many adaptations and I can't really remember the characters. I refer to them as "that guy" and "the woman with the hair".

Interviews, booklets and famous friends

Long time no blog. I am bad at this business.

Not much and lots has happened since we last spoke (so to speak...)

I took part in Me & My Girl at the Taliesin, our annual board-treading. Pictures are on Facebook. I was definitely taking it seriously at all times, even with a tiger on my head...

I had an interview - which I once again did not get. But then again, none of the candidates did. It was bizarre. I won't go into it but it was an experience I think I needed to have.

I made some booklets for school, for AS and A Level English Language revision. I'm impressed that the machine can do staples too. Tres impressive, computery robot, tres impressive indeedy.

Also, friends of mine have been filmed for TV and appeared on the radio. I am surrounded by fame at the moment, all the while I am up to my elbows in lesson plans as I'm sure many of you are.

This late night pathetic blog entry is merely to pimp out Roshi's appearance (can it be called that?) on the radio, listen here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b01d8nx4 roughly 1 hr 18 in to the programme, but the other bits make interesting listening too! She talks about her successful book "Homesick", which I proudly own and am attempting to work into my lessons at school... somehow... someday...!

So yeah. How's your life going?

A link to Tom Bennett

http://behaviourguru.blogspot.com/?z

Fellow almost-educators! Remember Tom Bennett what did that speech at uni about tackling behaviour? His blog can be found here :) in case anyone was wondering.

Literacy - can I really hate Meyer for getting kids reading?

So this week I am back on school placement, yay! It's much more local to me this time (and familiar as half the teaching staff also taught me when I was in school... I think this makes them feel old somewhat) so that's a bonus. Looking around the English classrooms I saw book reviews written by the students, pinned to the walls on display for all to see. Which, I must admit, was very lovely and aesthetically pleasing.

One thing that I wasn't so keen on was the volume of reviews of the novel "Twilight" that were proudly on show. While we all know Meyer is an unimaginitive writer at best, I must admit I am still unsure how I feel about her as an author and what she is doing for independent reading in teenagers.

Yes - her writing is poor and I'm sure a talented 13-year-old listening to a Paramore album could churn out something a little more eloquent. And her imagined vampire theory is awkward and, frankly, bizarre. There is not anything remotely manly or scary about a guy who sparkles - sorry Steph. However, the mass following the first four films have generated has sparked a new generation to do something novel - picking up a book (ho ho, see what I did there?). So how can I, as a champion of literacy (in training), point a finger and dismiss this very lonely woman for writing a very annoying book that teenagers want to read?

I'm probably not the first person to think of this and I'm sure I won't be the last, but I am still unsure how I feel towards Meyer. I know some teachers hold contempt for Rowling, Wilson, and other "teen" writers, but should they really be hating these people for making children - specifically teenagers - want to read? I think these writers deserve a little more credit for getting a very awkward and very stubborn generation kicking it old school and having a good old fashioned reading session.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer - the woman with too many "e"s in her name...

New Skirt-Suit and Shoes

So on Friday I had my very first interview for a teaching job. I didn't get it, but then I didn't expect to. Not as hideously scary as I had anticipated, and decked out in my new suit (I know, I bought a suit.. it's grey with a high-waisted skirt, and is sure to make appearances at an interview near YOU soon!) and shoes I felt confident as I taught a glazed-over class half a lesson on ballads and answered some questions I may not have been 100% able to answer, but it was all-in-all a good day and all-round experience. Onwards and upwards :)

In other news, I'm now on HTC Desire #3. Carphone Warehouse, what a bloody shocking phone company. I have many bones to pick with them.

One week left in university before we're kicked out and back into a school. I'm off to school in Swansea, grateful that I won't be driving 40 minutes there and back every day. I think we're all itching to be back in a classroom, I know lots are feeling frustrated about the comedown of being back in uni. Oh well. One more week, and off we go kids!

Did Shakespeare have Post-It notes?

Well. Today I had some very exciting news. I cannot possibly say more just yet, but I will keep y'all informed via the magic of the interwebs.

Had a lovely session on teaching Shakespeare today, using some things I'd never have thought about. I particularly enjoyed a post-it note task where different colours represented different things: green was what do I want to do next, pink was what do I want to say next, and orange was what do I think. After reading a conversation between Capulet and Juliet, where she refuses to marry Paris and - to be honest - Capulet isn't massively happy about what his daughter's telling him, we had to write Juliet's thoughts, feelings and what she wanted to or should say next. After swapping with another table, we had to jumble them up and make some kind of soliloquy with them, regardless of whether they were an action/quote/thought. It was very good and hands-on, something I definitely liked doing and want to try.

That is my teachery thought for the day.

"Edumacation. Learn me a book."

Carys Versus The Carphone Warehouse

So. I have lately been having an ongoing battle with The Carphone Warehouse. At first, my phone was randomly switching itself off so I took it to be repaired. They sent it off, blah blah blah, and I had a phone-call stating the phone was ready to be collected.
Except, when I turned up, there was no phone in store ready to be collected.
My phone had been delivered to the wrong store and was, therefore, lost. Forever.
So instead, the buggers sent me a refurbished version of the phone I already had, much to my utter dismay, especially after all the shite I went through with the refurbished BlackBerry Curves.
I had the refurbished one on Friday. No software issues, and no scratches. BUT there's a buzzing in the earpiece, so I've convinced them to send me another one while I keep the HTC, and I'll exchange them when the phone arrives.
This phone saga seems to be the story of my life. Utterly unfascinating as I am aware, but it's what's going on for now.
The plot thickens. I shall keep you updated, Lord knows you are desperate to know the outcome of my most tragical tale.

A New Year, A New Blog

And henceforth, these shall be the random ramblings of Carys. Not quite an adult, not quite a teacher, but definitely always busy. Always tired too.

The random bits of fluff and stuff you'll find here will be just short accounts of "stuff what happens to me" this year.

For those of you who don't know: My name is Carys and I'm a musical theatre addict/student teacher/tea drinker/serial sleeper.

I wonder how long I can keep this up...