I hope you are all having a good week. It's Wednesday, which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!
1. What's something you wanted to do this summer that you never got around to doing?
There was talk of us going to the beach and I think that is the only thing we never got around to doing. Both Becky and Ellie went but we never found the time to go as a family because on the days we could have gone it was just too hot to sit on a bus for an hour and a half but it's OK, there's always next summer. We still had a good summer even without a trip to the beach.
2. Were you the student who sat in the front row or hid in the back of the class? If you could go back and take one high school class again just for fun, which would it be?
When I was at school, my teachers all had seating plans and we were all told where to sit. We were given a seat and that would be ours for the year and usually it was not with our friends. Hmmf. The seating plans would put the quieter kids with the louder ones to try and even things out and the clever kids would be put with the not so clever kids so they could help each other. At the time, I hated the seating plans but looking back now I know they were for the best and everyone probably learned better sitting where the teachers put us. If I had to choose, I would have been sitting in the middle of the class.
If I could go back and take a class I think I'd choose English Literature. When I was at school it wasn't an option, only the top sets, the clever kids got to take English Lit. Of course, I did read books in the English lessons but didn't have a lesson which focused just on them. Both of my girls had English Literature classes at school and I really enjoyed helping them when they were revising for their exams. I'd read through parts of the books with them and talk about the characters. I found myself getting really interested in the books which surprised me a little!
3. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher (this can be applied to anyone who teaches, not just classroom teachers)?
I think a good teacher needs to be patient, understanding, caring and approachable. When I was at school I remember the teachers who were all of those things. They were the ones who wanted me to succeed and made it easy to do so. With those great teachers, I would try my hardest and it showed because my exam results were better with the supportive teachers. The teachers who were not so great, in my opinion were the ones who would make you feel small and stupid for not understanding something or asking questions. I never did well in those lessons.
4. September 2nd is National Grits Day. Have you ever eaten grits? Are you a fan? If so how do you like yours? Would people describe you as 'having grit'?
I have never eaten grits. I of course, know what they are but they are not really a thing here in England. I've never come across them on a menu when I have eaten out or had them at home. I would like to try them though. They seem such a normal thing for people in the US.
I think people would probably describe me as someone who has a bit of grit. I am one of those people who doesn't give up easily, especially when something is important to me. I will moan and complain along the way but I don’t tend to let setbacks stop me.
5. What's something you're never too old or too young to enjoy?
Silliness! You’re never too old or too young to enjoy being a bit of being silly. Life is way too serious most of the time, so having a laugh and acting daft is needed sometimes. I live for those moments where I just forget my worries and dance round the kitchen while teas cooking, singing at the top of my lungs even though I can't hold a tune, laughing at something really stupid or getting way too excited about stuff other people think is childish, like stupid TikTok videos which I have seen. I think being silly is one of those things that keeps you young. You don’t need a reason for it and you don’t need to worry about whether you look daft. In fact, looking daft is half the fun!
6. Insert your own random thought here.
It's still pretty warm here now but nothing compared to the last couple of months and we have had a fair bit of rain that has been very welcome, the storms not so much. I am not a fan of the thunder or the power cuts that we've been having. We've had a couple over the last few days in the early hours of the morning. One morning there were house alarms going off which woke me up and another it must have gone straight off and on because the digital clock in the bedroom had been reset but I heard nothing. We had another storm Sunday night with thunder and lightning and as I am writing this on Monday morning we have blue skies and sunshine. Make your mind up weather.
