Thanks, Amy Johnson

Thanks, Amy Johnson.
Thanks for being a role model to so many and one who came from my own city.
Thanks for going ahead with your career after getting up and leaving because a man was rubbish to you.
Thanks for showing us all that a woman can be a fantastic engineer and a brave pilot.
Thanks for wearing trousers and fixing engines and making bumpy landings and being badass.
Thanks for inspiring a festival that brought massive moths to the city of Hull.
Thanks for those moths being the motivation for me to spend time with the most amazing woman I know.
Thanks for showing me you can mess it up from time to time and still be remembered for the right reasons.
You were lost but it means that your memory lives on in all of us.
Thanks, Amy Johnson.

What I learned about... attending an open audition

A few weeks ago the following video was broadcast on the BBC's local news and social media for Hull and the area, seeking a brand new presenter for the City of Culture year 2017 - no experience needed.

 I instantly decided this was something I wanted to do. Remember those decisions I made in June? One was the start of a relationship, which unfortunately ended this week. One was to do with work - I got the job but it doesn't start for another month. There have been a lot of times over the last few weeks when I started to regret those decisions. But when I sat down and thought about it (and believe me I did), I realised that the risks had paid off. I could have missed out on those months with someone I really like. I could have gone back to my old job when it was offered to me and not gone through with the new one... The thing is, I took the risk. This was about putting myself out there and giving that calculated risk a chance to pay off.

I avoided making any other plans for Saturday 8th October so that I was free to attend the audition. The downside of this was that all my friends were scattered all over the place so I ended up going alone. A few days beforehand, I did a bit of research to find out who was on the panel and the kind of thing they'd be looking for. I wrote down all the things I wanted to say and thought about how I would get my personality across. My mum helped with suggestions of what to wear and lent me a City of Culture badge to pin on my jacket. Getting all the things I wanted to say into one minute proved more difficult. I had several practices recording myself which I've uploaded to YouTube. This also reminded me to remember some basic presenting skills like smiling, looking into the camera and leaving my hair alone. On Saturday morning I arrived at Hull Truck Theatre to find a large queue already there and it continued to grow as we were filmed for local media. That's my backside in the HDM's photo:

We were given a number but soon told to come back later as things seemed to be going pretty slowly. I finally got to audition at about 6pm.

It was by then pretty quiet in the theatre but inside the studio things were pretty X Factor, with a judging panel, spotlight, cameras and judge buzzers. I said hello, said my things, kept to a minute and that was it! I'm so glad I did it, as I felt really proud of myself afterwards and everyone I spoke to said the same. There were all kinds of different people there, and I spoke to some people I see around Hull all the time and that's what it's all about. The day was rounded off by taking part in a social media trailer for Middle Child (hanging around in an empty nightclub was suitably creepy) and playing a terrible game of charades at a house party.

What did I learn? I'm ok on my own, I have good friends and people are most often good.

Here's what I learned about making decisions [1 July 2016]

In the week after the nation made a huge and ridiculous decision, I found that I had a couple of my own to make.

The biggest was about work. Having just accepted a new job (yay me!), I was offered a position at the place where I used to work previously. It was a case of the head versus the heart. I only spoke to a small number of people about it but the advice was: sum up the pros and cons, you will be letting someone down so try not to make it personal, and think about the long term. I think I did all these things. it was tough, but I went with the head for a number of reasons, and for possible future career opportunities. On Friday I was offered a compromise, which would have allowed me to go back to the previous school for the couple of months before the new job starts. Went into the weekend pretty happy but by Monday that deal was off the table. Time for another adventure in the unexpected I suppose! What I learned is that although the whole thing was pretty stressful (on top of a fraught week at work), I kept communicating, I didn't stick my head in the sand and I made a decision rather than letting it happen to me.

The other decision was entirely a personal one and literally only one person knows about it. I've never really been someone who goes out to get a thing simply because. Perhaps as a result of doing this with the new job, and almost definitely as a result of previously mentioned stressful week, I went out and did it. I put myself out there in a way I've rarely done before... and it paid off. And I hope this is a GOOD THING and I'm really excited (ooh, mystery!)

This is what I learned... from the EU referendum

I thought I hadn't posted for a week or so... turns out not since May, oops!
Much of my energies have gone into school work and political involvement. Planning lessons has actually been creative and fun so I didn't mind doing that. The rage got somewhat channelled into some campaigning and discussing.

In the meantime, I had an interview and got a new job, but it doesn't start for ages yet!

My bamboo toothbrush arrived and it was so weird at first but I'm used to it now and I'm not going back to plastic (it's a pack of 5 so I'm good for while).

Overall, the referendum was a horrible and divisive experience. Going to a vigil after the the Orlando shootings restored some of my faith in people in general, the people of Hull and I was proud of the local LGBT+ community for showing up and coming together in a peaceful act. Then the MP, Jo Cox, was shot. The official campaigning was shut down for a few days. I hoped people might wake up and realise that so many petty and unrelated things had been said and the country was just not a pleasant place to be. It reached a fever pitch on polling day. Then it was all over. I had a lovely day teaching, singing with my colleagues, scrimming with my team; went to bed exhausted... and then yesterday I woke up in a different world. Made it through the day at school. Went to the pub to drown our sorrows. I couldn't sleep so I read a lot and antagonised leave voters a bit on social media.

It seems the leave vote was partly working class and partly the wealthiest people of the nation. Overwhelmingly they are white - some may be first or second generation immigrants but not anyone that I know. People have tried to defend themselves saying they aren't racist and they did it for the good of the UK. They didn't, and there probably won't be a UK for much longer. I think these people acted out of self-interest and we are now seeing the consequence. Several of my friends have children who are mixed race or of mixed heritage and they are genuinely afraid for their kids. I am worried what it means for the NHS, for human rights, for my pension and my house.

As always, I will fight. We're organising and I'm going to every meeting and demonstration I can afford to go to....

What I learned this week [29/05/16]

Sunday post because it rounds the week off better and I did a random pedagogy post.

1. My name is Ju and it has been 2 weeks since I used a paper towel in my house. I really didn't think I would be able to do this one, but it was an "easy win" for reducing waste. When I finished the roll of kitchen roll, I didn't get a new one from the pack upstairs. I used cloths and tea towels - the idea being that these go in a wash you're going to do of laundry anyway. Although, from reading American blogs, they don't seem to have tea towels, what? I think they have them in bars and restaurants and stuff, but by a different name. I did use some kitchen roll at work when we had a buffet and something got spilled. I've tried not to use the paper towels you dry your hands on whenever possible - easier in summer - but this is difficult and also it's meant to be more hygienic to dry your hands on these than any other method. This weekend I gave the Tassimo machine some time off and drank filter coffee instead.

2. We had loads of fun in roller derby this week doing chest blocking. I got some tips from more experienced skaters and then the chance to try them out when our Sunday session was coached by Stew, one of our refs. We had to think a little bit more like the men's derby game to really use this, but I think chest blocking is a great tool in the box and I will be trying to use it more.

3. At school, we had more training on collaborative learning and I re-arranged the desks again. They are all now labelled up and seating plans using data are well on their way. I labelled them with the colours of the rainbow because all work and no play and all that!

Maria Montessori

It was Montessori who coined the term of "mastery" in the curriculum. Good to know.
From this 30 second briefing on the TES. Pedagogy inspiration.

What I learned this week [20/05/16]

Some updates on what I've learned lately:

1. The not-even-nearly-zero-waste is going well. Better than expected. OK, so apart from the Eurovision party that created a LOT of waste and a blue bin that sounded like a pub full of empties, it was a good week. I've been everywhere with my trusty canvas bag and my bags for life. I've managed to make my lunch every day, and there was barely a packet sandwich in amongst it. Even the day when I did have to persuade my colleague into getting me a school lunch before I fainted, it was a slice of pizza on a cardboard sleeve - practically no waste! I also made some absolutely yummy food, and it continues to be mostly plant based (with the addition of various types of cheese and yoghurt; I'll never be a vegan!)
Desk breakfast:

Post training snack:

Salad "bowls" including a failure to spiralise butternut squash and my first attempt at cooking quinoa that didn't come out of a ready made pack:
 

2.  I tried out some different types of collaborative learning that the school is rolling out. This is the sort of thing that's fantastic in theory but pretty hard work on a Tuesday afternoon with a load of bickering 13 year olds! Anyway, it's made me plan lessons in a way that works well for me and puts the onus on the pupils to do the work. It goes well with the TEEP style planning that I was trained in a few years ago. We've been encouraged to lay out the classrooms accordingly and it's been a pleasant change to have a classroom big enough to actually move the desks around and try some different configurations. I've done lots of investigation type tasks in all 3 subjects and will be trying some more creative tasks this week. The school has a policy of each lesson having a "big question" learning objective and then differentiated tasks and outcomes to achieve this which has really focused my thinking. Favourites have been "Should we have wind power in the UK?", "What is the importance of symbols in a Hindu wedding?" and "Could you have fun in the Middle Ages?" (which I'm sure all History teachers will recognise as an old favourite and led to an odd google autofill). Today I tried out "Were animals heroes or victims in WW1?" which needs some work but is well resourced.

More derby stuff another time. You can see updates on the selfie project in the sidebar, and I hope to contribute further to Girl Gang soon. Top yoghurt continues to be Onken organic strawberry.

What I learned this week 06/04/16 and 13/05/16

So I didn't get to publish my post last Friday. Went to bed with a migraine when I got in from work and between a derby game, being busy at work and other life stuff, I had no free time to sit down and write until it was Friday again. So here's what I learned this er, fortnight...

1. My zero waste challenge was a little scuppered when I washed out some stuff to take home and recycle and the cleaners threw it in the bin. I was really good at taking things to work in re-usable containers and eating loads of fruit. I slightly changed how I shop so that I can cook more from scratch and my boss called me "a bit of a hippy" so I think I'm on track. Downside was we had an inspection at work and I had a mid-week McDonald's. Next week is national vegetarian week so no more of that!
I also found out about a load more products that contain palm oil and got angry about it; so more checking the ingredients when shopping...

2. The #SeeMySelfie campaign got well under way. Other than my concerns about spamming my Insta followers with a whole lot of pictures of my face, I've found I quite enjoy it. I also enjoy any challenge that gets me to take a photo every day, it's like creating a little diary. I made the decision to put my account on public and nothing terrible happened. It's been an all round positive experience and I hope to get involved in more Girl Gang stuff soon.

3. I got angry about a load of things in education that probably don't need repeating right now. But it made me realise it really is the teachers who make a school. This was my 6th OFSTED inspection and I not only do I now know that it's the things you do every day that makes a difference, but I do all those things well. I'm much more reflective and well organised and the cleaners (after throwing away my recycling) described me as tidy - did you hear that, mum?

4. In derby training, we drilled hip/ body checking at speed. I hated it, I didn't think I could do it but I did. Then I actually did it in a game! However, I don't feel like I played my best game. There are still lots of things I do in training that I don't put into action and it's my goal to do more of these. This week we had chartering, so very intense skills and drills throughout. It was brilliant to have everyone on track. I was really proud of our newer skaters, who I coached from the start, holding their own with the Angels. It was a good marker of progress for everyone. My speed and acceleration has massively increased over the last few months, although apparently not enough to be able to do 10 laps in 90 seconds, so that's going on the list of goals!

What I learned this week [29/04/16]

1. It was Earth Day on Friday and it almost passed me by. But then, quite late at night, I noticed a Guardian article about zero waste bloggers and it kept me clicking and linking for a good hour. The main blogger featured was Katherine Kellogg, a young woman living on her own and although she's in the States, there were things about her story that made me think I could take some of the waste reducing options. I also liked that the articles I read dealt with the idea that it can be interpreted as hypocrisy to do some of these things and then to carry on, for example, driving your car or consuming electricity. As most of can't go completely "off grid" or produce zero waste; it's good to have an awareness of lifestyle changes we can make.
Some things I have changed over the last few years are: using a mooncup and so fewer disposable sanitary products, using a re-usable coffee cup more, buying clothes more carefully and buying second-hand, not buying ready meals, buying loose vegetables where possible, or getting them from mum's allotment and avoiding fruit and veg that is pre-prepared or comes in loads of packaging. I don't eat meat for at least 5 days out of the week.
I struggle with: driving everywhere (I have to drive to work, but there are lots of times when I drive to somewhere I could have walked to), Tassimo coffee pods, takeaways, the lure of Primark, my love of a pre-packaged sandwich...
Things I'd like to try: get rid of make-up wipes, bamboo toothbrush and cutlery set, use cloths instead of paper towels and cleaning wipes.

2. I over-reflected on the non-existence of Humberside, mainly due to returning (for a variety of reasons) to my old primary and secondary school and the first school I worked at. Basically I was born in a place that doesn't exist... which sounds more exciting than it is. Side note: a thing I enjoy in local schools and libraries is looking for books and equipment that are old enough to be stamped with the Humberside County Council logo. Really old ones, of course, pre-date this.

3. After feeling frustrated with my derby plateau last week, this week went a lot better. On Saturday we skated outside for the first time this year, handing out flyers for Hull Fashion Week (I know right, next stop Paris!), Sunday we got really sweaty doing recoveries and paired pushing, on Monday I coached the new intake and on Tuesday we finally got to scrim! It's been a while as we don't have the usual number of refs but I was really looking forward to it and determined to make the best of every moment. I think I mostly did; in the second period we played against the A team and it was good practice trying to hold them back and co-ordinate our defence. On Thursday we went back to basics with 4 walls and braced walls. It felt slow, but suddenly I realised that I was bracing a wall and shouting instructions at the same time. I literally couldn't do this last month. I did it again a couple more times and so the goal now is to be able to do this during an actual jam. During all this time I worked on stopping and resetting as quickly as possible. This is part of a longer term goal that I am not sure how to measure at this point. Today I ache all over!

4. Started at my new school, don't want to say too much about it yet. What I learned is that a new commute just brings a different type of stress. It's different to my rural commute and quite enjoyable to go on dual carriageway roads for most of the way. However, people still take daft risks, and twice this week it was snowing or sleeting, and people were pulling onto the motorway/ A-road with no lights on! Today was really stressful, with an accident on the estate near school, snow, high winds on the bridge closing a lane, an accident somewhere on the way back into Hull and then total gridlock due to a really awful accident near by house. So the long weekend is most welcome, and I shall be dog sitting!

This week I learned... [22/04/16]

I had a very positive week and the sun shone for a large part of it. Here's what I learned but also quite a lot of what happened too...

1. This year I wanted to do some more challenging things in roller derby. One of my "out loud" goals* was to play co-ed, something I'd never done and then kind of gave myself the fear of. It was really fun, especially because it was part of a fantastic, glittery tournament, the Louisey Rider Cup.

Men tend to play roller derby with bigger hits and seem to take more risks. A men's game often looks more physical or aggressive, but I think it's because the game tends towards body checks rather than the hip checks you get more of in the women's game. In the tournament, you could see a lot of the guys going easy, but a blocker's bum can put you on the floor if it's used correctly, whoever it belongs to! There was some very impressive footwork on display; which has really motivated me to work harder on my own. MattLovin, who plays for Team England, gave me some tips for holding the inside line. With several blockers on my team I did a lot of paired blocking - this was fun and really effective for getting round offence. So yeah, it turns out co-ed is not that scary, who knew? (Me, probably).

2. I had to change some of my self-talk.
Part 1: "I will never win an award in a game."
Managed to win the audience vote MVP for my team. Don't ask.
After I'd finished dying of embarrassment and once my team had the tournament final to concentrate on, I was quite pleased.

But some point during the day I thought "oh, now I can't say I never play co-ed because I have. I can't say I'll never win an award because I have." All the sports psychology must have rubbed off because now my brain is telling me I CAN DO THINGS. We had a goal-setting session today and it did make me aim higher than I would have previously.
Part 2: "I can do this. "
I held my own in a really advanced team of skaters. I didn't once say I couldn't do it, I didn't once come off track and dread going back on again, I didn't once doubt we could win a game. We. Won. Every. Game. Now, I can't say I contributed much to that, I was a mediocre blocker at most, but I think I played really well and the feeling of being on a winning team is brilliant (only my second time for that one). On the one hand, it's made me very confident and determined; on the other hand I had a terrible bout comedown afterwards.

3. Headteachers are still more bothered about whether you polished your shoes and covered your tattoos than how good your teaching is.
Possibly NOT entirely true but I went to do some training and a (recently retired) headteacher talked about what heads are looking for in terms of recruitment. The aim was to get long-term placements in supply teaching. We got some good advice on what to put in a personal statement and preparing for interview. I'm taking with a pinch of salt that part about "one pair of earrings is enough". The most important take-away was when he said
"You are good most of the time... you will have bad days, but you are good. You do make a difference to pupils by being there for them and being yourself."
I think this is true. I may also have a long-term placement. It will mean teaching in an academy school, another first for me.

Otherwise, I've been watching a lot of Victoria Wood sketches, Series 2 of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Rear Window (it's on Netflix, worth a 3rd watch). Best yogurt I had was Onken apple and cinnamon. One of our coaches, Abi, took us through a goal setting session, on which more later (my head is a bit muddled and meddled from it right now. Then I tried something new, failed miserably and had to be talked into putting my skates back on - so the self-talk needs some work!)

* There are goals that you should share with others, and some that are best kept to yourself.

This week I learned... [15/04/16]

1. When the Guardian tried to create "the web we want", the establishment showed how many people apparently still live in the hazy past of "oh I'm not being racist/ sexist/ misogynistic...."
Then I saw this on twitter and replied and such irony:

This also made me realise how much of an effort I put into really thinking through different people's experience of life and how it may make others feel when nasty troll comments are made, or worse.

2. Joanna Lumley actually doesn't eat, much like her famous character Patsy Stone. "Patsy hasn't eaten since 1974". This came about after binge watching Ab Fab led me to google Joanna's age. Anyway, I very much doubt she's a role model to young girls, despite the Ab Fab film due out soon.
"Well, there was that crisp...."

3. Someone posted this

  

on facebook and although good arguments were made for ghosts being naked (or, you know, not actually existing), it really made me fix onto the idea of being stuck in that exact point in your life, and in that exact outfit. So my twitter name this week is Ghost Cardigan. It's possible this reduces one's gravitas when getting into political spats on the twitter.

4. It was a challenging week to be in the Green Party. Starting with the moment when my local party missed the deadlines to register the candidates in the local election and ending on Question Time when the BBC managed to find the only Green Brexiter and put her on the panel. Plus then she didn't know the policy on inheritance tax. It grates a little when you feel you know the manifesto inside out and then key members seem not to when on tv... I guess it shows how much time, effort and probably money the big parties throw at spin.

5. I did a lot better at being vegetarian this week and even ate some falafel. The knock on effect of trying to cook properly and eat lots of fresh things was that I also ate a lot less dairy and had several mostly-plant-based days. It wasn't intentional, I'd probably not be able to do it for long as I'd have terrible cravings. As it is, I slightly binged on cheese and chocolate on Tuesday, got a migraine and couldn't skate!

That's it for this week. Hopefully next week I will be back at work, plus I'm skating in a tournament tomorrow so more may have happened...! If not, I will just be posting about all the different yohgurts I've tried over the week and I don't think anyone needs to read that.

New challenge

Ok so I'm going to start writing again.
I've decided to note down things I learn each week: in the news, teaching CPD, assorted feminist stuff, body positivity and roller derby things. The aim is still to post once a week, but I'm going to schedule posts so that it actually happens!

More instagram and maybe even the odd vlog if I get really carried away...!