#Nurture 13/14

The start of a new year....bit late, but still!

I actually wanted to get this started just after Christmas, but planning, teaching, marking, coursework and life have all gotten in the way!  A few months late, but still, happy with making a start!

I have been reading a few professional blogs over the last few months and have decided this is something I want to do this year!  I have decided to start with a #nurture post to give me some perspective...here goes:

13 achievements from 2013

1. Crochet

I have taught myself the 'art of crochet' and made my very own Christmas decorations for the tree!  I used a flower template and decided they were snowflakes!  I have also made some granny squares - which I am proud of!  Feel like a total nerd doing crochet BUT it really relaxes me!

2. Hill Walking

I did more hill walking than I thought in 2013 and am very proud of myself.... my main achievements in no particular order:

• Pen-y-ghent - 694m
• Whernside - 736m
• Ingelborough - 723m
• Old Man of Coniston - 813m

3. CBT

I have learnt and used CBT (cognitive behavioural techniques) to help cope with anxiety - I use these in both my professional and personal life and it works!  Roll on 2014!!

4. Kept on top of marking

This is a real achievement throughout the 2013 Autumn term at school!  If you leave one set of books longer than you should, you end up feeling swamped!  I have kept on top of all marking in 2013 which has meant a very relaxing Christmas break for me this time!

5. Built better relationships with my students

This is something of importance to me and has really helped with behaviour management in and out of the classroom!  The main achievement under this bracket for me has been with my form, who are now Year 10!  On a collapsed timetable day, I had them for the whole day (I was not looking forward to it!) and they sponsored me to 'give up shouting/raising my voice' at them for the day in order to raise money for our International Build A Classroom campaign.  I had to really think about how I had to get them under control and listen to me which really made me think about these strategies.  We all had a great day and things went smoothly.  I believe not shouting at them is a key way to move forward........

6. Budgeted better!

When it comes to the English pound, I am a keen advocate of 'you can't take it with you' which has always had me living to my means and stretching my budgets!  Planning with the best of intentions at the start of the month has closely been followed with a spending spree! In 2013, I dramatically improved on this...even managed to save a few quid!

7. Celebrated my Yr13 success

My Yr13 students worked really hard on their final module exams and I was very pleased for them on results day!  I promised to get them a drink if I saw them out that evening and I kept to this promise.  With a future pharmacist, doctor, forensic scientist and a law student, but to name a few (one got into Cambridge too!!), I am still very proud of them all. 

8. Reading

2013 was the year I started reading for pleasure again!  I read lots of books, fiction and non-fiction, and I will continue with this.  Having a Kindle Fire has rapidly increased the ease of reading anywhere!  Thank you Amazon!

9. Dad and daughter time

As most daughters, I am a daddy's girl!  In April 2013, I surprised my dad with a trip to Ypres in Belgium, to meet his granddad. Tom Wrigley died during The Great War (WWI) on 10th July 1917, aged 28.  My dad has always wanted to go and visit his grave and look around the trenches 'In Flanders Fields'.....I made this dream come true!  We had an excellent 5 days together - more war trips to come I think! 

Tom Wrigley - RIP

10. Celebrated Christmas with Simon :-)
I usually spend time with my family on Christmas day, but this year it was just me and my Simon!  We got up and went to a walk and jump around on the sand dunes in Formby, before coming back and cooking out version of xmas dinner!  Watched a film and has some quality time together!  Best Christmas Ever!

11. Indulged in 'Gem' time
This has been very important in the progress of me getting better!  I make sure that I have at least 30-45 mins every day where I do just what I want to do!  This has ranged from reading, watching an episode of Breaking Bad (or other TV shows!), playing Lego Harry Potter on the Wii and Simpsons Tapped Out!  It's my time, and I need it!  This MUST continue!

12. Spent lots of time with good friends!
I have made more effort with seeing my friends in 2013; in recent years I have passed up on good social activities for various reasons; mainly because I live away from my childhood home in West Yorkshire!  This year, I have made the time and effort to be there for friends in need and also to keep in touch more for the social laughs!  Love them all and always will!

13. Launched Science Club at my school
I have launched science club at my school and enrolled 6th former's to come and help out! There are 2 clubs, lower and upper school.  Lower school focus on fun experiments and look into the science behind them; upper school are working towards their Bronze CREST awards #teamgeek #scienceisfun

14 things I want to achieve in 2014

1. Stop stressing with lower sets....more effective planning
2. Write & keep up with a blog
3. Read 14 books - using goodreads.com to track my progress & share ideas
4. Create a motivation board - gotta love Pinterest
5. Lose weight....or more accurately, lose FAT! 
6. Climb Ben Nevis....hopefully in August
7. Go for promotion
8. Save for a house...with my Simon of course :-) 
9. Get more from #twitter - follow me @misswriggers Twitter
10. Research my family tree
11. Learn more about History - World War stuff and general history.  My knowledge is rubbish!
12. Improve time management skills - really need to give myself more free time!
13. Be more adventurous with food
14. Set small, achievable goals to ensure I achieve them!

So, that's it for now....watch this space :-)