Tuesday, February 13, 2007
The Day of Love
Zoe (niece) was born February 14th 2004, so she turned 3 years old this year! We had a birthday party for her at the farm on the 11th. We of course did our annual self portrat photo shoot, played with the tiger mask, blew out candles, and devoured some cake. She now says "rooooaaaar" when she puts on her tiger mask, but then quickly tears it off and says, "just me" (just incase we did not know that or were too scared!).
I love Teaching!
My grade 5/6 split is the best class....although I tend to say that about every class. Anyhow here are a few pictures from the class on February 9th. We had their Valentines day party that afternoon, so the kids were nuts....the whole day was one big gong show!
-We played valentine games.....travelling a ball in between your heads, switch the candy using a toothpick, ect
-We played valentine games.....travelling a ball in between your heads, switch the candy using a toothpick, ect
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
All The New In My Life
There is a lot of new going on these days!
1. New roomate
2. New role in the school...now I am on the other side of the desk (so to speak)
3. New people....stay tuned for those pictures....they are in the making
4. New timetable all together
5. New recipes for gluten free cooking
I have to admit I am not really one for change.....but I have come to really appreciate change.....it can be a really good thing......a breath of fresh air.......it spices up life!
Here is a picture of the class I am teaching in right now. They are part of a grade 5/6 split in Silverspring. I absolutely love the class I have....by this age they really try to connect with you as a person.....I wouldnt trade them for the world.
Last Thursday a Universty student decided to write a satire piece for the school newspaper. It absolutely stabbed the teaching profession in all ways possible, but it was out of that article that I started to do a lot of my own reflecting. Aside from creating a safe place for kids to grow, teaching curriculum, and loving kids.....what is it that I do? It all came together when I received a forward from a fellow colleague of mine. So, I decided to put it on this blog as a visual aid to my kids I teach now and into the future.....ok so I am a touch bit corny, but its my blog!!!
WHAT TEACHERS MAKE
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing
life.
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with
education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from
someone who decided his best option in life was to become a
teacher?" He reminded the other dinner guests what they say
about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."
To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a
teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness
replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a
second, then began...)
"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they
could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of
Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time
when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I
Pod, Game Cube or movie rental... You want to know what I
make?" (She paused again and looked at each and every person
at the table.)
I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their
actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math.
I make my students from other countries learn everything
they need to know in English while preserving their unique
cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts
they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they
can succeed in life. (Bonnie paused one last time and then
continued.)
"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, I can
hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are
ignorant...
You want to know what I make? I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do
you make?"
1. New roomate
2. New role in the school...now I am on the other side of the desk (so to speak)
3. New people....stay tuned for those pictures....they are in the making
4. New timetable all together
5. New recipes for gluten free cooking
I have to admit I am not really one for change.....but I have come to really appreciate change.....it can be a really good thing......a breath of fresh air.......it spices up life!
Here is a picture of the class I am teaching in right now. They are part of a grade 5/6 split in Silverspring. I absolutely love the class I have....by this age they really try to connect with you as a person.....I wouldnt trade them for the world.
Last Thursday a Universty student decided to write a satire piece for the school newspaper. It absolutely stabbed the teaching profession in all ways possible, but it was out of that article that I started to do a lot of my own reflecting. Aside from creating a safe place for kids to grow, teaching curriculum, and loving kids.....what is it that I do? It all came together when I received a forward from a fellow colleague of mine. So, I decided to put it on this blog as a visual aid to my kids I teach now and into the future.....ok so I am a touch bit corny, but its my blog!!!
WHAT TEACHERS MAKE
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing
life.
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with
education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from
someone who decided his best option in life was to become a
teacher?" He reminded the other dinner guests what they say
about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."
To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a
teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness
replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a
second, then began...)
"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they
could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of
Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time
when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I
Pod, Game Cube or movie rental... You want to know what I
make?" (She paused again and looked at each and every person
at the table.)
I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their
actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math.
I make my students from other countries learn everything
they need to know in English while preserving their unique
cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts
they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they
can succeed in life. (Bonnie paused one last time and then
continued.)
"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, I can
hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are
ignorant...
You want to know what I make? I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do
you make?"
Blizzard of 2007
WOW!
So we had a crazy blizzard, which made headlines everywhere! I decided to brave the storm and drive to school in the morning. At that point it was snowing pretty good, but I was not all that worried. By 11:30 all colleges on campus were shutting down, because of the storm. Anyhow....I barely got out of the parking lot...and when I finally did I was completely lost and had no idea where I was. A campus security officer told me that my normal 3 routes home were all closed and that there was only 1 left open. So, we drove 20km all the way down Wiggins, to 8th, and then down McKercher. It took us 1 hour and 20 minutes to get from the University to home, when it normally is a 12 minute car ride! Thankfully we were not in any accidents and got to stay home for a few days and get some of our prep work done! Here are some crazy pictures that I took from my balcony that night.
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