It's apparent that I'm no longer on holidays...

Well, if I look at the last date of my last blog, it's apparent that I am no longer on summer holidays.
School has started of relatively well this year. There's something quite wonderful about returning to the same school and to a set-up classroom instead of the stress of trying to lobby for a job and then start fresh. I teach Senior Modified English, I team-teach Psych 20 with a fabulous colleague, I split some Student Support Services time between a very large Foods 10 class and a very large Visual Arts 10 class and I teach Senior French. I actually really enjoy the flexibility and diversity of my schedule.
I've also started up with extra curr. This year (fingers crossed), I will try not to overwhelm myself. So far, it's just a RISK board game playing club, my environmental club and co-coaching Improv. It's busy but, it's manageable.
For the past two weekends, Trevor and I have been at Dallas Valley Ranch Camp. Last week, we were at the 25th reunion. That was a pretty neat time. We saw a lot of people that we grew up working and camping with. It was pretty awesome.
This weekend, we headed back out to DVRC for a Small Group Leaders Retreat. Trevor and I have been leading a small group since the beginning of 2007. It was really good to get together with other leaders and pray for one another, learn from each other and just goof around together. There was a lot of food for thought this weekend. I know that I've taken away a lot to think about.
Our days are full. Between our small group, my night class and staying on top of school work, we find that our time is just flying away on us. The past few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind.
Hopefully, next weekend will find us at home, relaxing.

Open Letter to Summer of 2008

Dear Summer of 2008,
I know that today is just the first day we have parted company yet, I miss you already. I miss getting up slowly and eating a leisurely breakfast. I miss reading in the backyard while watching Fergus chase his squirrel. I miss my Mom's random drop ins and her pool.
I will never forget my trip to Germany with Trevor or the rainy Radiohead concert.
I will always cherish the BC trip and the wedding week of Shiya and Marshall.

How come you went by so fast? Where did all those lazy days go?

Ah, sweet summer. Farewell.

P.S. - To all of you non-teachers out there, sorry... I remembered today how much it sucked to get up to an alarm.

Yipppeee!

Today was the last class day of the school year. I played many rounds of Mafia, facilitated a sharing circle, reviewed and reviewed and reviewed, hosted 2 very intense games of Final Jeopardy and witnessed the annual grade 12 lap around the school. I ended the day with the happy dance.
Tonight, I handed in a major project, wrote an exam and did a major presentation. I walked out the doors of the university with a smile on my face.
Now, my greatest stress will be finding cool tunes for my IPod, prepping for Europe (maintaining calm because I am soooo excited), battling the canker worm invasion and hauling Fergus out of trees.
Bring on summer because I am ready! :)
P.S. - If you know any cool summer tunes to add to my summer bliss, let me know.

Adventures of Student Jill con't

Biked to the university. Found my class just in time. Only, it wasn't my class... or my section of the class.

Found my right class and walked in late.

Desks were filled with young, young students.
I'm only 28.

When did 28 feel so old?

Just 3 other practicing teachers.
The rest are preparing for their internships.

Please, please - no group work.

Fascinating information. Stimulating discussion.
Had to find a way onto some WebCT portal for discussion.
Goodness, I have to add a post after every class.
What do I write about?
Making things up again therefore,
I must be back in university!

Student Jill

Today, I start the first of 10 classes that will qualify me to teach Special Ed. It's called an Inclusion Certificate. It will knock me up a pay bracket. More importantly, it will help me understand my highly entertaining modified students. Instead of always asking "why" when they say and do things, I'll be able to say "ah ha... that explains it". If all goes according to plan, I should be finishing this certificate in two years.

I'm really nervous about the whole back to school thing. I know, I teach; I should be good at the school thing. I was... kind of. I just remember a blur of notes and binders and crazy, make-work projects that had maybe some relevance to my career (maybe not).

15 night classes this spring. Wish me luck...