Have you ever noticed that you need others in order to make it through adventures and ordeals? Case in point, tubing on Lake Okanagan. Our school board chair, Rick Thiessen and his wife Karen (who is also our school’s transportation coordinator) invited my family to spend an afternoon boating with them. The Thiessen’s have a [...]
As year-end looms near, and our minds begin to wander away from the tasks at hand to the many things to accomplish in so few weeks, and the promise of summer vacation, I find myself a bit reflective.You see, I won’t be returning to regular teaching next year. The tug-of-war between home and classroom is [...]
Our Middle School just wrapped up our production of The Sound of Music. There were many amazing memories from the performances (like the reaction of the Grade 4, 5 and 8 students to the scene where Rolf kisses Liesel’s hand), but most of the really memorable moments occurred long before all the rehearsals happened. This [...]
Ah, report card season. Every last item is finally marked, and entered into the online grade book. Time to carefully consider each letter grade, select a 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 for every outcome, and begin the intense program of writing meaningful comments for each student.What is going through this teacher’s mind? My [...]
Have you ever noticed how many acronyms we use? I mean, my kids are so adept at using all the texting short-hand and it has in many ways, become second nature to use the abbreviated form for so many things. We all know the basics (lol, btw, r, ru.…).I have tried to make up my [...]
Ahh, the Smart Phone. It has really become a part of my life. It’s a love – try-not-to-be-too-dependent relationship. I am not the most coordinated individual. Yes, I am teaching art and drama, but no, I would not put it past me to fall off of a stage. Case in point: last year in drama class, [...]
What do you remember from when you were in grade 6? If you are over 25 years of age, it probably isn’t too much in terms of the lessons and details of that year of your life. The things that we do tend to remember are the events and people that deeply impacted who we [...]
“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry…”I know, I know, “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry…” and yet the teacher in me has each day planned. Notes written down, lesson plans typed out, photocopies made, PowerPoint slides all ready.All I need to do is whisk into [...]
The following text conversation took place a few weeks back between my daughter, Carissa, and me. Carissa is in her second year studying at Providence Christian College in Pasadena, California. I received the first text message just before 9:00 a.m. on a Monday morning.CARISSA: can i buy a dress on your credit card? you can [...]
Bring on the roadtrip! BC, Alberta, California, our family has done it with babies and all. My years of field trips on the bus have more than prepared me for what could possibly happen in the family van, I think…I have attempted all versions of the Roadtrip Mom: from healthy snacks in individual colour-coded containers [...]
