JustPickOneUK

 Well it's that time again. Another academic year over. The last day of the school year. A time for reflection, for relief, for yourself. This year has been a hard one for me. My role changed from being the lunch lady to becoming a TA. That changed my life dramatically and I have felt so many differing emotions that I have no idea how I actually feel about the last day. My last day with the children in an educational capacity. I will cease to be "Mrs Oliver" and become "my son's Mum" again.  I've been working in Reception and in Year 3. Both challenging year groups with very different levels of ability and need requirements. But at the end of it all they are all just kids learning to do something new. Learning what the teachers want to tell them, to read, write, make music, cut and stick. Learn about our planet, about themselves, socialisation skills and that p.e. is their favourite lesson.  Whether they are 4, 8 or 11 years old all of the kids need a tr...

 When I started Just Pick One UK it was a thing for me to do to share thoughts, insight and feelings about a variety of subjects and sometimes just not much at all. Something for me to do....for me.  But it has grown a bit since then and now it is a blog and YouTube Channel and I am hoping to expand further once my job has finished and I can focus more of my time to it. I hope to grow the channel, have Facebook and Instagram accounts for it which should in turn help it to grow more and then hopefully I'll be able to have adventures and be monetised.  But this is just the beginning. All YouTube channels begin with the first video and mine was .....ok at best I think. I recorded the unboxing of my new camera on my phone which was actually positioned the wrong way round when it didn't need to be. I was trying to film before the light faded and I realised that I had done a bit to camera using my front camera so I could make sure I was in the frame, but then forgot to switch t...

I set up Just Pick One to try and do something different, to express myself and be free if the usual daily constraints. Following on from this, I decided I needed some time alone. I have never lived alone in my life and I wanted a taste of it. So I bought myself a smaller tent to take with me and set up a solo camp.  I took myself to The New Forest. Camping in the new forest is easy as there are lots of campsites and places to visit. I decided to use campinginthenewforest.co.uk again as I was happy with their sites before. I chose Roundhill Campsite for this trip. Partially because it was last minute and they had availability and it felt like a get away.  I bought a CfLity tent from Amazon. Nope I've never heard of that brand either. It is a 3 man tent (and as with all tents if you want room decide how many people will use it and then add 2 and you will be comfortable), and it goes up like an upside-down umbrella. And the best part, it only took 20 minutes, from unpacking it f...

 Every expert under the sun will recommend reading to your child at bedtime. The stories they can listen to are calming, it is a bonding experience and you can share knowledge. They will be exposed to language that doesn't usually come up in daily conversation and how often do you speak in rhyming couplets during the day?  Reading to your child does not have to cost the earth. There are so many places you can get books from. Most local supermarkets have a charity book stall, charity shops, book shops and online. But you can always use your local library for free.  Teaching English as a language to read is infuriating and confusing as there are so many oddities within it. Break becomes Breakfast. Why did the EA change with each word? Thought, Though, Through, Cough. 4 letters, 4 different sounds! Never mind the difference with north / south divide. Bath or Bath? I'll leave that up to you.  Once your child has the ability, begins school or you teach at home, then pleas...