Aurora Sinistra (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
alt_sinistra) wrote2009-03-31 04:50 pm
alt_sinistra) wrote2009-03-31 04:50 pm
Another week gone.
First, a note for students: It's possible we'll have a guest observing our classes some day this week. I know you'd all behave well, but a little notice sometimes makes it easier to concentrate (and those of you preparing for OWLS or NEWTS can't afford to waste a day of class, hmm?)
After the hustle and bustle of last week's excitements, it took a while to settle down to work again. And of course, there's the regular grading of papers and star charts to get through - especially for the older students who need a lot of feedback as we get closer to exams so they know where to focus.
I did get time for my weekly chat with Poppy. She admits she's gotten quite interested in my specialty from our conversations, and I've offered to loan her my personal telescope. (As some of you might remember, it was a gift from my parents when I got this position, so I'd have something to work with when I was on holiday or home visiting.) I obviously don't use it much during term time, since we have much more elaborate telescopes to work with here, and Poppy is so careful of her equipment I have no fears of loaning it.
I had quite a good time this morning selecting some introductory books and simple star charts to take down to her for use as a guide, too. It's easy to get into the habit of using our textbook (which is fine, and well-suited to what students need to learn), but there are also good introductory texts out there, and I don't always remember to review them as often as I should.
Found quite a good description of the myths behind the Orion constellation in one, and a really interesting discussion of the Pleiades in another. Both are visible to the naked eye, of course, but there are details that you can only really see with a good telescope, even my portable one.
After the hustle and bustle of last week's excitements, it took a while to settle down to work again. And of course, there's the regular grading of papers and star charts to get through - especially for the older students who need a lot of feedback as we get closer to exams so they know where to focus.
I did get time for my weekly chat with Poppy. She admits she's gotten quite interested in my specialty from our conversations, and I've offered to loan her my personal telescope. (As some of you might remember, it was a gift from my parents when I got this position, so I'd have something to work with when I was on holiday or home visiting.) I obviously don't use it much during term time, since we have much more elaborate telescopes to work with here, and Poppy is so careful of her equipment I have no fears of loaning it.
I had quite a good time this morning selecting some introductory books and simple star charts to take down to her for use as a guide, too. It's easy to get into the habit of using our textbook (which is fine, and well-suited to what students need to learn), but there are also good introductory texts out there, and I don't always remember to review them as often as I should.
Found quite a good description of the myths behind the Orion constellation in one, and a really interesting discussion of the Pleiades in another. Both are visible to the naked eye, of course, but there are details that you can only really see with a good telescope, even my portable one.
no subject
And overall, we do seem to expect a higher level of theoretical understanding in all classes: certainly by my student days. We briefly discussed the housekeeping charms, of course, but I actually got practice with them helping out at home in the summer under careful supervision, as just one example.
I've also seen a difference just since my student days - these days, all our students come in with much more exposure to magic (even if they have only just gotten their own wand) that they have much more idea of what is possible and useful. We can move more quickly into deeper understanding and discussion than used to be the case.
As to your questions - they are always welcome, of course.