Joanna MW
@jbalaena.bsky.social
Independent specialist in SpLD (M.Ed, AMBDA); previously English teacher & Glos LA Lead English
Teacher. Dyslexia and dyscalculia specialist teacher. Wife, vicar’s wife, mama of 4, SEN parent carer. Neurodivergent. greatexpectationseducation.uk
Teacher. Dyslexia and dyscalculia specialist teacher. Wife, vicar’s wife, mama of 4, SEN parent carer. Neurodivergent. greatexpectationseducation.uk
Day 2: From Greek ‘αἰών’ to Latin ‘universum’, this word once meant ‘the ages’ and now names all creation itself. The journey of ‘universe’ in Hebrews 11:3. greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
December 2, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Day 2: From Greek ‘αἰών’ to Latin ‘universum’, this word once meant ‘the ages’ and now names all creation itself. The journey of ‘universe’ in Hebrews 11:3. greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭 — 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵
‘𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯.’ (𝘏𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝟣𝟣:𝟣)
From Latin fides and Greek pistis, ‘faith’ began as trust.
#AdventWordCalendar
‘𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯.’ (𝘏𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝟣𝟣:𝟣)
From Latin fides and Greek pistis, ‘faith’ began as trust.
#AdventWordCalendar
December 1, 2025 at 7:06 PM
𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭 — 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵
‘𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯.’ (𝘏𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝟣𝟣:𝟣)
From Latin fides and Greek pistis, ‘faith’ began as trust.
#AdventWordCalendar
‘𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯.’ (𝘏𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝟣𝟣:𝟣)
From Latin fides and Greek pistis, ‘faith’ began as trust.
#AdventWordCalendar
Reposted by Joanna MW
Life with children who have additional needs is… loitering by a railway bridge on the way to the GP for a train photo. That’s after emails, meltdowns, diplomacy, and three hours of teaching before lunch. Still ahead: a school meeting, an OT visit, and a play-therapy intro.
November 19, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Life with children who have additional needs is… loitering by a railway bridge on the way to the GP for a train photo. That’s after emails, meltdowns, diplomacy, and three hours of teaching before lunch. Still ahead: a school meeting, an OT visit, and a play-therapy intro.
Reposted by Joanna MW
From Greek ‘pepon’ to English ‘pumpkin’, a word ripened by the sun and carried across oceans. Read the full story: bit.ly/GEEwords
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/pumpkin
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/pumpkin
November 19, 2025 at 7:31 PM
From Greek ‘pepon’ to English ‘pumpkin’, a word ripened by the sun and carried across oceans. Read the full story: bit.ly/GEEwords
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/pumpkin
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/pumpkin
Reposted by Joanna MW
Cranberry’ comes from Low German Kraanbere - ‘crane-berry’. The same bird stalks through Europe in words like tranebær, Kranbeere, and canneberge.
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
November 21, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Cranberry’ comes from Low German Kraanbere - ‘crane-berry’. The same bird stalks through Europe in words like tranebær, Kranbeere, and canneberge.
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
Reposted by Joanna MW
Spotted in a Flemish supermarket: Beenhouwerij. It means butcher’s shop — but literally ‘bone-hacker’s place’. English ‘butcher’ comes from French for ‘goat-slayer’. 🐐🔪 #etymology #Flemish #butcher
November 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Spotted in a Flemish supermarket: Beenhouwerij. It means butcher’s shop — but literally ‘bone-hacker’s place’. English ‘butcher’ comes from French for ‘goat-slayer’. 🐐🔪 #etymology #Flemish #butcher
Reposted by Joanna MW
‘Broth’ is one of English’s oldest cooking words. From PIE bhreue- ‘to brew’ to bouillon cubes, its story still bubbles today. More on my blog at: bit.ly/GEEwords
November 24, 2025 at 7:35 PM
‘Broth’ is one of English’s oldest cooking words. From PIE bhreue- ‘to brew’ to bouillon cubes, its story still bubbles today. More on my blog at: bit.ly/GEEwords
Reposted by Joanna MW
‘You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.’
– C.S. Lewis
Not sure about the tea — but the longer the book, the better.
#CSLewis #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #LongReads #GreatExpectationsEducation #LiteraryQuotes
– C.S. Lewis
Not sure about the tea — but the longer the book, the better.
#CSLewis #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #LongReads #GreatExpectationsEducation #LiteraryQuotes
November 25, 2025 at 4:29 PM
‘You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.’
– C.S. Lewis
Not sure about the tea — but the longer the book, the better.
#CSLewis #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #LongReads #GreatExpectationsEducation #LiteraryQuotes
– C.S. Lewis
Not sure about the tea — but the longer the book, the better.
#CSLewis #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #LongReads #GreatExpectationsEducation #LiteraryQuotes
Reposted by Joanna MW
In a Flemish supermarket I spotted the sign groenten. Dutch for vegetables, but close to English green. Both come from an ancient root ‘to grow’. Read more: bit.ly/GEEwords
November 28, 2025 at 7:36 PM
In a Flemish supermarket I spotted the sign groenten. Dutch for vegetables, but close to English green. Both come from an ancient root ‘to grow’. Read more: bit.ly/GEEwords
Reposted by Joanna MW
A Belgian supermarket sign says ‘Huisdieren’ — ‘house animals’. Dutch ‘dieren’ shares its root with English ‘deer’ and German ‘Tier’. Same word, different paths. More at bit.ly/GEEwords
November 26, 2025 at 7:01 PM
A Belgian supermarket sign says ‘Huisdieren’ — ‘house animals’. Dutch ‘dieren’ shares its root with English ‘deer’ and German ‘Tier’. Same word, different paths. More at bit.ly/GEEwords
In a Flemish supermarket I spotted the sign groenten. Dutch for vegetables, but close to English green. Both come from an ancient root ‘to grow’. Read more: bit.ly/GEEwords
November 28, 2025 at 7:36 PM
In a Flemish supermarket I spotted the sign groenten. Dutch for vegetables, but close to English green. Both come from an ancient root ‘to grow’. Read more: bit.ly/GEEwords
A Belgian supermarket sign says ‘Huisdieren’ — ‘house animals’. Dutch ‘dieren’ shares its root with English ‘deer’ and German ‘Tier’. Same word, different paths. More at bit.ly/GEEwords
November 26, 2025 at 7:01 PM
A Belgian supermarket sign says ‘Huisdieren’ — ‘house animals’. Dutch ‘dieren’ shares its root with English ‘deer’ and German ‘Tier’. Same word, different paths. More at bit.ly/GEEwords
‘You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.’
– C.S. Lewis
Not sure about the tea — but the longer the book, the better.
#CSLewis #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #LongReads #GreatExpectationsEducation #LiteraryQuotes
– C.S. Lewis
Not sure about the tea — but the longer the book, the better.
#CSLewis #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #LongReads #GreatExpectationsEducation #LiteraryQuotes
November 25, 2025 at 4:29 PM
‘You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.’
– C.S. Lewis
Not sure about the tea — but the longer the book, the better.
#CSLewis #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #LongReads #GreatExpectationsEducation #LiteraryQuotes
– C.S. Lewis
Not sure about the tea — but the longer the book, the better.
#CSLewis #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #LongReads #GreatExpectationsEducation #LiteraryQuotes
‘Broth’ is one of English’s oldest cooking words. From PIE bhreue- ‘to brew’ to bouillon cubes, its story still bubbles today. More on my blog at: bit.ly/GEEwords
November 24, 2025 at 7:35 PM
‘Broth’ is one of English’s oldest cooking words. From PIE bhreue- ‘to brew’ to bouillon cubes, its story still bubbles today. More on my blog at: bit.ly/GEEwords
Spotted in a Flemish supermarket: Beenhouwerij. It means butcher’s shop — but literally ‘bone-hacker’s place’. English ‘butcher’ comes from French for ‘goat-slayer’. 🐐🔪 #etymology #Flemish #butcher
November 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Spotted in a Flemish supermarket: Beenhouwerij. It means butcher’s shop — but literally ‘bone-hacker’s place’. English ‘butcher’ comes from French for ‘goat-slayer’. 🐐🔪 #etymology #Flemish #butcher
Cranberry’ comes from Low German Kraanbere - ‘crane-berry’. The same bird stalks through Europe in words like tranebær, Kranbeere, and canneberge.
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
November 21, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Cranberry’ comes from Low German Kraanbere - ‘crane-berry’. The same bird stalks through Europe in words like tranebær, Kranbeere, and canneberge.
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
From Greek ‘pepon’ to English ‘pumpkin’, a word ripened by the sun and carried across oceans. Read the full story: bit.ly/GEEwords
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/pumpkin
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/pumpkin
November 19, 2025 at 7:31 PM
From Greek ‘pepon’ to English ‘pumpkin’, a word ripened by the sun and carried across oceans. Read the full story: bit.ly/GEEwords
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/pumpkin
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/pumpkin
Life with children who have additional needs is… loitering by a railway bridge on the way to the GP for a train photo. That’s after emails, meltdowns, diplomacy, and three hours of teaching before lunch. Still ahead: a school meeting, an OT visit, and a play-therapy intro.
November 19, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Life with children who have additional needs is… loitering by a railway bridge on the way to the GP for a train photo. That’s after emails, meltdowns, diplomacy, and three hours of teaching before lunch. Still ahead: a school meeting, an OT visit, and a play-therapy intro.
‘I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading… I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.’
– Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Snapped on a Brittany headland — but she’s right: the best homes have books.
#JaneAusten #PrideAndPrejudice #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #GreatExpectation
– Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Snapped on a Brittany headland — but she’s right: the best homes have books.
#JaneAusten #PrideAndPrejudice #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #GreatExpectation
November 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
‘I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading… I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.’
– Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Snapped on a Brittany headland — but she’s right: the best homes have books.
#JaneAusten #PrideAndPrejudice #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #GreatExpectation
– Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Snapped on a Brittany headland — but she’s right: the best homes have books.
#JaneAusten #PrideAndPrejudice #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #GreatExpectation
By November the weather calls for jacket potatoes. The word has travelled as far as the crop itself — from Taíno ‘batata’ and Quechua ‘papa’ to Spanish ‘patata’. Across Europe, people called it an ‘earth apple’ or compared it to a truffle.
November 14, 2025 at 7:35 PM
By November the weather calls for jacket potatoes. The word has travelled as far as the crop itself — from Taíno ‘batata’ and Quechua ‘papa’ to Spanish ‘patata’. Across Europe, people called it an ‘earth apple’ or compared it to a truffle.
‘Parsnip’ began as the Latin ‘pastinaca’—a word for both parsnip and carrot, and for the fork used to dig them up. Across Europe, the name still traces those Roman roots.
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
November 12, 2025 at 7:30 PM
‘Parsnip’ began as the Latin ‘pastinaca’—a word for both parsnip and carrot, and for the fork used to dig them up. Across Europe, the name still traces those Roman roots.
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
‘Poppy’ keeps its Latin root ‘papaver’ through centuries of language change. From Old English ‘popiġ’ to today’s word of remembrance. greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
November 11, 2025 at 7:35 PM
‘Poppy’ keeps its Latin root ‘papaver’ through centuries of language change. From Old English ‘popiġ’ to today’s word of remembrance. greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-word...
“Every man who knows how to read… multiplies the ways in which he exists.”
– Aldous Huxley
Spotted on the north coast of Germany: a flash of pink, a beetle, and a reminder that books don’t just inform — they expand.
#AldousHuxley #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #GreatExpectationsEducation #LiteraryQuotes
– Aldous Huxley
Spotted on the north coast of Germany: a flash of pink, a beetle, and a reminder that books don’t just inform — they expand.
#AldousHuxley #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #GreatExpectationsEducation #LiteraryQuotes
November 11, 2025 at 4:29 PM
“Every man who knows how to read… multiplies the ways in which he exists.”
– Aldous Huxley
Spotted on the north coast of Germany: a flash of pink, a beetle, and a reminder that books don’t just inform — they expand.
#AldousHuxley #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #GreatExpectationsEducation #LiteraryQuotes
– Aldous Huxley
Spotted on the north coast of Germany: a flash of pink, a beetle, and a reminder that books don’t just inform — they expand.
#AldousHuxley #BookQuote #ReadersOfX #GreatExpectationsEducation #LiteraryQuotes
Pear began as Latin pirum and may go back to an ancient root meaning ‘to crush’. A soft fruit with a long linguistic history. greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/pear
November 7, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Pear began as Latin pirum and may go back to an ancient root meaning ‘to crush’. A soft fruit with a long linguistic history. greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/pear
‘Bonfire’ once meant a fire of bones. Folk speech re-heard it through French ‘bon’ — a ‘good fire’. From ritual smoke to village blaze. Read the full story: greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/bonfire
November 5, 2025 at 7:35 PM
‘Bonfire’ once meant a fire of bones. Folk speech re-heard it through French ‘bon’ — a ‘good fire’. From ritual smoke to village blaze. Read the full story: greatexpectationseducation.uk/musings-words-words-words/bonfire