The first day of classes went swimmingly. My crazy group of grade 10s has turned out to be a bunch of lovely ladies and a very sweet gentleman. All fears alleviated. They're a little shy but, I can work with shy.
I have 3 groups of grades 9s that I rotate through. Day one was fabulous. Day two, I was called the "b" word. I'm not altogether sure why either. I just met the kid. It took him 3 minutes until he and his little friend were down in the office. I see them again today. Please pray for me...
I've never really encountered this kind of situation before.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
Drama teacher with stage fright...
I'm at school on my prep. I'd be working but the photocopier is broken... blech! Therefore, I'll be talking lots in my first day classes and not giving them much. Yikes.
First day of classes always freak me out. If kids think it's a little nerve-wracking, they have no idea the stage fright that I go through. This is rather ironic because, this Quarter, I am a full-time Drama teacher. It's just weird, because I don't know the kids yet and they don't know me and first-impressions are so crucial.
The other weird thing about today (besides no photocopier) is that in my Drama 10 class, I only have 4 students registered so far. In a normal school, that would be completely irregular. Here, this is "normal". Strangely enough, my Drama 10 class will be full. My V-P will stick kids in at random. I will have no idea who to expect, when, or what to do. Yeah, an hour and 50 minutes of confusion, me being super-nervous and kids not really sure why they are taking Drama. Ah yes, all those little eyes looking at me to know what I'm doing and I'll be wingin' it. Not on purpose but due to the circumstances. Yikes, my tummy's churning at the thought!
Sorry if I sound a little grim...
Trevor and I had a marvellous weekend filled with a combination of bumming around and painting. We're almost done the painting... just one more coat on the hall walls.
First day of classes always freak me out. If kids think it's a little nerve-wracking, they have no idea the stage fright that I go through. This is rather ironic because, this Quarter, I am a full-time Drama teacher. It's just weird, because I don't know the kids yet and they don't know me and first-impressions are so crucial.
The other weird thing about today (besides no photocopier) is that in my Drama 10 class, I only have 4 students registered so far. In a normal school, that would be completely irregular. Here, this is "normal". Strangely enough, my Drama 10 class will be full. My V-P will stick kids in at random. I will have no idea who to expect, when, or what to do. Yeah, an hour and 50 minutes of confusion, me being super-nervous and kids not really sure why they are taking Drama. Ah yes, all those little eyes looking at me to know what I'm doing and I'll be wingin' it. Not on purpose but due to the circumstances. Yikes, my tummy's churning at the thought!
Sorry if I sound a little grim...
Trevor and I had a marvellous weekend filled with a combination of bumming around and painting. We're almost done the painting... just one more coat on the hall walls.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Changes...
Tomorrow is my last day with my Quarter 2 classes. When I started with these kids, I wanted to strangle them. We've been through a lot together. Now, when I really like them and we've got a great routine set up, we're done. The new bunch is moving in. Yikes! What crazies will Monday bring and how long will it take until I've established simple Drama routines with them?
Tonight, Trevor and I are starting our new Care Group. Our other group grew to be too big and now, Trevor and I are starting a branch off group. I'm really going to miss the people from our other group. However, I really excited about a new beginning. I have this vision of a group where people can come, feel safe to learn and grow, will challenge each other and above all, care for each other. I hope I can communicate that tonight.
Yesterday, I put the first coat of paint on our walls. The computer room is AWESOME. The spare room is a little dramatic. I loved looking at it in the morning light. I hope it grows on Trevor the way it has been growing on me. Our house is getting closer to the way we want it.
Tonight, Trevor and I are starting our new Care Group. Our other group grew to be too big and now, Trevor and I are starting a branch off group. I'm really going to miss the people from our other group. However, I really excited about a new beginning. I have this vision of a group where people can come, feel safe to learn and grow, will challenge each other and above all, care for each other. I hope I can communicate that tonight.
Yesterday, I put the first coat of paint on our walls. The computer room is AWESOME. The spare room is a little dramatic. I loved looking at it in the morning light. I hope it grows on Trevor the way it has been growing on me. Our house is getting closer to the way we want it.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Happy B-Day Shiya!
Happy B-day to beautiful Shiya who is now 28. Hope your day is FABULOUS!This week end, Trevor and I went to a Promise Keepers "Building Marriages of Integrity" weekend. It was really good. Here were some highlights:
-Remembering to pray for each other.
-Praying together and getting into the Word together.
-Allowing the other person to look after us and pray for us.
All in all, it was really good.
We went with Tyler and Charisse. :) It was good seeing them again.
We're also in the throes of reno disaster. Lee (our fabulous contracter) has mudded, tapped and sanded our drywall (a necessary evil to definitely hire someone else for). He also redid some ceilings. Trevor and I primed yesterday and we'll be priming again tonight.
Soon, I'll be able to start painting colour.
Bradbury Beige for the hall
Baffin Island for the Computer Room
Dijon for the Spare Room
Benjamin Moore, I love you!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Open Letter to Bright Legs
Dear Mr. Short Shorts,
I am just writing to thank you for motivating me yesterday at the gym.
It was cold outside and I had to use a lot of positive self-talk to get myself to the Fieldhouse after school. I was feeling lousy when I started a slow jog around the track. Then, I saw you. The glare of your bright legs beaming up ahead for all to see.
As a fellow runner, I too appreciate the aerodynamic fit of shorter shorts. However, I am a woman. In our society, I can get away with short shorts. It helps that I shave my legs. You Sir, are obviously not a woman. Therefore, you do not shave your legs. I noticed that from about 100 metres away.
No matter what I tried thinking about, my eyes would always wander back to your absurdly white legs. They were distracting (and not in a good way). I felt compelled to pass you. I sped up. I ran faster then I normally do. Finally, after 9 laps of the glare, I was successful. I managed to keep my speed up and I finished my 4 km in record time.
Thank-you!
I am just writing to thank you for motivating me yesterday at the gym.
It was cold outside and I had to use a lot of positive self-talk to get myself to the Fieldhouse after school. I was feeling lousy when I started a slow jog around the track. Then, I saw you. The glare of your bright legs beaming up ahead for all to see.
As a fellow runner, I too appreciate the aerodynamic fit of shorter shorts. However, I am a woman. In our society, I can get away with short shorts. It helps that I shave my legs. You Sir, are obviously not a woman. Therefore, you do not shave your legs. I noticed that from about 100 metres away.
No matter what I tried thinking about, my eyes would always wander back to your absurdly white legs. They were distracting (and not in a good way). I felt compelled to pass you. I sped up. I ran faster then I normally do. Finally, after 9 laps of the glare, I was successful. I managed to keep my speed up and I finished my 4 km in record time.
Thank-you!
Monday, January 15, 2007
Baby it's cold outside...
All I want to do is snuggle up in a big quilt, sit on my couch, read and sip tea. It's freezin' out.
So, I'm working part time for the next week and a half. It's a bit weird but, I know I'll be full time again and the beginning of the next Quarter. I'll be a full-time Drama teacher.
I think it's a little funny that I've ended up teaching Drama after all my years doing History, French and Psychology. Ah well, nothing funnier then these little hood kids doing the Hokey Pokey with me.
Top 10 Strange things I've seen at school:
10 - Baby parade every lunch hour
9 - "Good Samaritan" mime
8 - grade 10 essays (any sophomore essay is funny)
7 - cell phone being answered from a girl's bra
6 - grape flavoured condom on stage (fell out of someone's pocket) - the kids blew it up and played volley-ball with it
5 - ramdom kids wandering into my class 2 weeks before the end of term (on my list but have never shown up until that day)
4 - lesbian anime comics (AHHHH!)
3 - Drama 10 begging to do the HOKEY POKEY today!
2 - Hall passes - I make my kids carry around this HUGE wooden bird house when they leave my class... (other people have a plastic pig, a life preserver, a large dream catcher, a toilet seat, a bendy flower, etc.)
1- a gang enforcer acting like a penguin
Ah, life here is always an adventure in teaching. :)
So, I'm working part time for the next week and a half. It's a bit weird but, I know I'll be full time again and the beginning of the next Quarter. I'll be a full-time Drama teacher.
I think it's a little funny that I've ended up teaching Drama after all my years doing History, French and Psychology. Ah well, nothing funnier then these little hood kids doing the Hokey Pokey with me.
Top 10 Strange things I've seen at school:
10 - Baby parade every lunch hour
9 - "Good Samaritan" mime
8 - grade 10 essays (any sophomore essay is funny)
7 - cell phone being answered from a girl's bra
6 - grape flavoured condom on stage (fell out of someone's pocket) - the kids blew it up and played volley-ball with it
5 - ramdom kids wandering into my class 2 weeks before the end of term (on my list but have never shown up until that day)
4 - lesbian anime comics (AHHHH!)
3 - Drama 10 begging to do the HOKEY POKEY today!
2 - Hall passes - I make my kids carry around this HUGE wooden bird house when they leave my class... (other people have a plastic pig, a life preserver, a large dream catcher, a toilet seat, a bendy flower, etc.)
1- a gang enforcer acting like a penguin
Ah, life here is always an adventure in teaching. :)
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Maclean's article
According to the Jan. 8th edition of Maclean's magazine, I work in the worst neighbourhood in Canada. I cried last night when I read the article. I'm sad. According to this article, my students, per capita, live in a community that is similar to a 3rd world country.
Some of the things I see in thier lives are shocking. I hear about violence, drugs, gangs, pregnancy and poverty all the time. I teach so many teen moms. I'm sure that some of my students have come to my class high (really, I'm not the best judge).
However, I also see some real lights. I've seen students fight hard to get to school. Some of them walk over an hour just to get to class. Right now, in Drama 10, I am watching beautiful mime. Their story lines are rich, humourous and my students have such talent.
I hope that this article might finally get my school some extra funding. Maybe we'll finally have access to text books, equiptment, extra teachers and EAs (as of right now, there is no teacher-assistant at this school) like other schools.
I want so very badly for these kids to thrive and grow and learn.
Some of the things I see in thier lives are shocking. I hear about violence, drugs, gangs, pregnancy and poverty all the time. I teach so many teen moms. I'm sure that some of my students have come to my class high (really, I'm not the best judge).
However, I also see some real lights. I've seen students fight hard to get to school. Some of them walk over an hour just to get to class. Right now, in Drama 10, I am watching beautiful mime. Their story lines are rich, humourous and my students have such talent.
I hope that this article might finally get my school some extra funding. Maybe we'll finally have access to text books, equiptment, extra teachers and EAs (as of right now, there is no teacher-assistant at this school) like other schools.
I want so very badly for these kids to thrive and grow and learn.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Happy New Year
Grant and Jared.... going out for a walk
Tim and Karri play cards
Dutch Blitz marathonWe had a blast at our New Year's Eve Party. We had ~22 people and a baby. We played games until midnight, opened our fortune cookies and played on.
I'm sick. I guess it's better to be sick on my holidays then to be sick while teaching. Silly cold. Ah well, some couch time just reading will be good.
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