Made it to the hotel at 2.30am this morning and this is what I did!

Already engrossed in the conference and tweeting madly, but I’m looking forward to the sun sea sand and swimming pool!

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Cathedral, Varna, Bulgaria, originally uploaded by Tim Waters.

By now I should be schmoozing wth eTwinning Ambassadors from across Europe at a 5 star hotel in Varna, Bulgaria. Instead, I am sitting in a pub at Budapest Airport. It’s a long story….

I will finally arrive in Varna at 1.35 am – was due at 15.30. However, I am grateful that
a)I met George Glass at Heathrow this morning to save me from a serious panic attack
b) the ladies at the Austrian Airways ticket desk were much more pleasant than their representative at the gate when our original ‘plane was horribly delayed
c) BA had flights today to Varna
d) George had some euros

So, hoping to report from Varna tomorrow.

This video speaks for itself.

Very thought provoking as a parent and an educator. I’m taking it as a challenge at the start of a new academic year.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSVMht1VrMc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1]

Thanks to the lovely Joe Dale who has just blogged it, I have discovered this marvellous site called My Avatar Editor.

My Avatar Editor enables you to design your own avatar for use as your ID on, say, Twitter or for a tool like Voicethread or as your ‘online persona’ on your blog.

As Joe points out, it’s also great when teaching personal descriptions – either pupils are given a range of people to describe – see below – or are given descriptions and asked to make the avatar to match.

You could also use them to inspire pupils to creativity – eg characters for stories; to demonstrate feelings; talk in the style of….

Great fun! Not sure my hair is quite right though….

BTW – I’m the one at the top, not the very scary Granny ;o)

Whilst writing an article on storytelling for a future publication, I found a song I’d downloaded to which I wanted to refer. As often happens, I couldn’t recall whether I’d been sent it by a friend, downloaded it from a fora or found it online.

After a bit of searching – which took me once more to the wonderful West Sussex GFL language resources – I found that it had come from a site called MrsJonesRoom. When I approached the eponymous MrsJones for permission to use the song, she was very accomodating and pointed me towards other Spanish resources on her page.

I’ve had a look at some of the links and particularly like the downloadable mini books and the songs, complete with sound files of the tunes! There are even some Spanish Disney songs – great for EDL? Sadly there are a number of ‘dead’ links which is a shame but it’s well worth a look.

Just back from 11 days in Switzerland. Had a great time with my family exploring and investigating, and have to say that I am missing the mountains and lakes already. Absolutely stunning! My photos don’t really do justice to the beauty of Interlaken and the surrounding area but here are a few of my favourites.

Wondering what’s happening following the Comenius network ceased to be in April?

TeacherNet have interviewed Professor Mike Kelly, Director of the Links into Languages programme.

During the interview he explains

• what Links into Languages is
• how it aims to link up the provision of Professional Development
• the Linked Up scheme
• the aim of Routes into Languages to foster a more ‘joined up’ approach to language teaching and learning
• the funding and organisational structure
• transition from KS2 to KS3
• accreditation including the Linked Up award scheme

You can watch the interview here and read the transcript too.
And also check out the Links into Languages site itself to find out more.

Thanks to the above tweet I’ve found this song that won’t stay out of my head.

A lovely summer feel good song.

Hope you enjoy it too!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyVa5DYl4yE&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999]

The bell went at 3.20pm and another year of teaching was over.
I was enthusiastically hugged by 26 Reception pupils before making my way to the Juniors’ building to be hugged and wet by the profuse tears of Year 6 and cheerfully ‘Adiós-ed’ by the Years 3-5.

What to do in the holidays? Well, I’ve got a to do list as long as my arm, beginning with a monumental tidy up and clean out of our home (boys, you’ve been warned!). It includes lots of laminating and preparing resources as well as preparing some of the presentations I’ve been asked to do before Christmas (very excitingly, there are several!), and completing some consultancy stuff too. And blogging.

And of course, I’ll be spending lots of time with my family (boys, you’ve been warned!!)