About Me + Sunshine = Homework
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| Prince Rupert Senior Secondary School, Grad ’88 |
My friends Angela and Kat from my PLN (professional learning network) have kindly invited/nominated me to be a part of this 11-11-11 “chain letter.” Thank you!!! Angela defined it as an opportunity to write About Me. Kat defined it as an opportunity to spread some sunshine. From what I understand about this “homework” assignment, as seen on Twitter, it’s a opportunity to get to know people in your PLN a little bit better. Angela and I met F2F at SD48 at an Assessment for Learning (AFL) workshop I was facilitating. As much as “I love MATH”… so Angela claims in her blog, I believe that we are AFL kindred spirits. On the other hand, I have never met Kat F2F. We met on #bcedchat on Twitter, giving each other virtual “high fives.” And yes Kat, it is 2014… we must meet soon… Maybe @edcamp35 or @EdCamp_Delta???
The homework assignment is this: (1) Write 11 random facts about yourself, (2) answer 11 questions posed by your nominator, and (3) invite 11 other people from your PLN and ask them to repeat steps (1) and (2) and answer 11 of my questions. For this homework assignment, I have decided to answer both sets of questions from Angela and Kat. Welcome to the 11-11-11 PLN chain letter… or the greatness of social media and the connected educator… growing exponentially. LOVE IT. Before I begin, I would like to include Angela’s and Kat’s blog submissions so that you can get to know them a bit better as well… OK. Here it goes…
Angela Stott, Vice-Principal at SD6, @ajgadd:
http://stott.edublogs.org/about/
Kat Mulski, Teacher at SD35, @Teachinginthe21:
http://teachinginthe21.weebly.com/1/post/2014/01/blogging-for-sunshine.html
11 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME:
- Born and raised in Prince Rupert, BC… yup, it’s true… not Prince George.
- Believe it or not, I lived on Prince Rupert Blvd… it’s a small town.
- Graduated from Prince Rupert Senior Secondary School… surprised??
- Wore a tuxedo for my high school graduation… I’m cool like that.
- My first name is Alice… let’s not talk about that.
- Alcan High School Curling Provincial Champion… winner!!!
- Still believe that I’m in my early 30’s… do the math, started curling when I was 2.
- Look Chinese, but do not speak or understand Chinese… not even dim sum.
- Have a twin brother… who looks nothing like me, really.
- Flatfooted and almost 5’2″ tall… yup, stellar athelete (aka. curling star).
- Don’t know how to swim… but I can throw a mean out-turn takeout.
11 QUESTIONS POSED BY ANGELA:
1. Describe your transition from secondary school to post secondary school.
ANSWER: Sketchy, at best. Prince Rupert is a small town. UBC is a HUGE campus. A tough transition.
2. Where is one place you’ve been that you would tell others in “forgettable”?
ANSWER: Hong Kong. Been there once for a family reunion. Loved it. Would go again.
3. Who was your favorite teacher growing up and why was that teacher so great?
ANSWER: Mr. Leonard, Grade 12 Chemistry Teacher. He was kind, a matter of fact, and loved Chemistry.
4. Favorite Canadian band?
ANSWER: Does Michael Buble count? If not, then I like Loverboy (oh snap, the 80’s).
5. What kinds of books do you read just for the heck of it?
ANSWER: Maybe RTI (Response to Intervention) books… just received 3 FREE books in the mail.
6. If there was just one thing that you wish you could be a little better at, what would it be?
ANSWER: Reading.
7. What do you wish you knew when you were 16 that you know for sure now?
ANSWER: Be true to yourself.
8. How do you think you have the greatest influence in your work?
ANSWER: My passion for quality public education, student learning, and student success… Let’s keep talking.
9. Describe what retirement will look like for you.
ANSWER: Sadly, I would still be working… traveling… but teaching, learning, and leading. #awesome
10. You have a meeting with an important person to talk about important thing. Who is that person and what are you going to talk about.
ANSWER: Me and me.
11. What eating establishment do I need to go to if money, distance, and time were of no concern.
ANSWER: Love Vij’s in Vancouver. Mmmmm…. Super YUMMY. Best meal of my life!!!
11 QUESTIONS POSED BY KAT:
1. Name your top 3 most influential writers, individuals, educators. How have they affected you as an educator?
ANSWER: Alfie Kohn, Alasdair McIntyre, and Geoff Madoc Jones. Out-of-the box people, pushing the boundaries.
2. What or who influences you to continue to be an educator?
ANSWER: Students, “making a difference,” and my PLN.
3. Star Wars or Star Trek- and why?
ANSWER: Star Trek… sorry Kat… Love Jean-Luc Picard.
4. What educational goal are you aiming for completion this year?
ANSWER: A dissertation proposal, data collection, and data analysis.
5. How do you spend a day electronic-less? Or do you? 🙂
ANSWER: What??? Hmm… Good one… ugh… no electronics, eh? Sleep.
6. You bump into your hero(es)- who are they and what do they say to you?
ANSWER: Sandra Schmirler and Geoff-Madoc Jones… “Hi!”
7. Would you ever sign a petition to ban duo-tangs from elementary schools? If yes, why and if no, why not?
ANSWER: Secondary math teacher… never used duo-tangs??? My kid used to… No opinion.
8. Pen or Pencil?
ANSWER: Pen, definitely. Seems CRAZY for a math teacher. Pencils are too “grippy.”
9. What is your favourite way to spend a summer?
ANSWER: Doing nothing and lying on my driveway with a beverage soaking up the sun.
10. If your phone died right now, how do you react?
ANSWER: Panic.
11. Anticipating educational trends and changes on the horizon, what do you anticipate 2014 to include?
ANSWER: e-Portfolios as a means of ongoing student assessment K-12.
MY 11 NOMINEES:
Will be inviting SD46 peeps with hopes of provoking an #SD46pln… hopefully they blog as well.
- Patrick Bocking, @Patrick_Bocking
- Leah Judd, @leah_judd
- Jeff Marshall, @JeffMarshall2
- Paul Bishop, @paulmlbishop
- Bob Cotter, @gibsonsgolfer
- Carolyn Spence, @CarolynMSpence
- Kate Kerr, @katekerr46
- Cheryl McCrone, @cheryl_mccrone
- Susan Telfer, @susanktelfer
- Richard Biel, @BarnacleBiel
- Darren Klepsch, @darren_klepsch
MY 11 QUESTIONS:
FYI #SD46pln Nominees… participation is voluntary… if anything, it’s 11 to answer, not 22… Meh, it’s for fun.
- Have you ever curled before and what position did/would you play?
- What is your favorite memory about school?
- What would you like to achieve in 2014?
- If you were a can of soup, what kind of soup would you be?
- Name one new edu-initiative you would like to try and why.
- Who is your favorite Peanuts character and why?
- How do you best connect with your PLN?
- If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would that be?
- What is your best accomplishment or favorite memory of 2013?
- As an educator, what is your claim to fame?
- What do you love about teaching/leading/learning in SD46?
Whoa. You are soooooo right Kat. This is a SUPER long blog, but so worthwhile. And yes Angela, I can put myself MORE out there. Lots of reflection. Lots to consider. I hope that you’ve learned a little more about me. I would encourage my #SD46pln Nominees to embark on this 11-11-11 homework challenge and share. It’s an excellent way to get to know your PLN a bit better. Thank you Angela and Kat, once again, for the invite/nomination. #LIKE