Christine Ho Younghusband

T’was the Night Before Christmas

I’m remote blogging (in bed) in the middle of the night waiting for Santa to come by to drop off my daughter’s present, eat some cookies, and drink some milk.

To Know Is To Try

It’s so funny when I think about things to talk about in my edu-blog.  I find that it’s often advice that I should take.  I should listen to myself.  Is this ironic?  Strangely, it’s not.  I wear two hats… teacher and learner.  A lot of what I have to say as a teacher, is what I need to say to myself as a learner.

What’s my lesson for today?  You never know unless you try.  Today, my daughter and I were finishing up some last minute shopping at a local supermarket.  What frustrates my daughter immensely is me yip-yapping to people I see in the store… in the mall… at the school… in the parking lot… at the gas station… at the restaurant.  As it seems, the list goes on.  Anyway, I bumped into a couple also doing last minute shopping with their daughter.  The mom congratulated me on my election win and proceeded to ask me if I regret leaving my teaching position.  My response is how would I know what I was capable of if I didn’t try.  I have no regrets.  She called me brave.

Honestly, how would you know unless you tried?  This life lesson relates to trying new food, solving algebraic equations, or academic course work.  I would give this advice to my daughter, my math students, and it seems that it should be something I should consider myself as a doctoral student.  This advice is easy to give to others, but difficult advice to listen for myself.  The truth is, I can never realize the potential of my dissertation unless I take the leap and write.  To know is to try… why not?

Chatelech Grads

Remote blogging from the Sechelt Aquatic Centre, sitting on the sidelines watching my kid and her buddy play in the pool.  Why not blog?  Anyway, today has been an awesome day.  My daughter has someone to play with, I got caught up on updating my websites, and I have reunited with many Chatelech Grads, former students of mine.  It’s good to see familiar faces again in the Sechelt community, it’s good to know how well everyone is doing, and it’s good to be aware that each of them had fond memories of math.  This is one of the few ways to know that I had a positive influence on their lives as a math teacher.  Feels good.  What even feels better is when they congratulate me on being a school trustee.  That means a lot to me.  Thank you Chatelech Grads.  I hope to see more of you during the holiday break.  Welcome back to the Sunshine Coast and happy holidays.

Chapter 1 Revised

As frustrating as it is for those who are following my dissertation journey… my deepest apologies.  Here is my December 2011 update… I have completed Chapter One… again.  This seems absolutely ridiculous, but I have learned a couple of things:  (1) the body of the dissertation relies heavily on the quality and clarity of Chapter 1; (2) the dissertation process is 100% attuned to my happiness.  What do I mean by this?  I am not saying that I have to be “happy” to write and research.  What I am saying is, I need a clear mind and spirit to write my dissertation with some objectivity, distantiation, and disembeddedness.

There is no question in my mind that my research topic is important to me.  My greatest concerns are advocating for student learning, teacher professional development, and quality mathematics education.  My writing has evolved over time.  How do I know?  Here’s my feedback so far… Version 1: “Get out of the problem.” Version 2: “It’s not political.” Version 3: “It’s not about you.”  Version 4: “Make it academic.”  And, here I am at Version 5 that I have edited and avoided numerous times this winter session.  What did I have to do?  Tighten my writing, revise my research question, focus on teacher learning not teacher efficacy, “make it academic,” and figuring out the ‘Significance of the Study.’  This has been a daunting process, but I am understanding that this kind of precision matters.

Is this what we refer to as 21st Century Learning?  I am using technology.  My learning is personally relevant.  I am working at my own pace.  With that said, working independently and self-directing my learning has been challenging and sometimes non-existent.  Yet, I am grateful to have the opportunity to challenge myself in my doctoral studies to prove to myself that it is possible.  However, I can certainly see how completion rates can be compromised with this approach.  A balance between formative feedback, personal accountability, and autonomous learning would be ideal.

In the spring session, I will be on the SFU Burnaby campus for the Teaching & Learning Centre certificate program on learning how to teach in universities.  This will be a once a week affair.  To take it a bit further, I talked briefly to one of my supervisors last week who offered to get me a desk at the Surrey campus to study regularly on campus.  I love this idea.  Being on campus, connecting with others, resonates with my learning style.  I am an extroverted thinker.  Running around in a hamster wheel of my own mind can result in unnecessary spinning (aka. little productivity).  I look forward to making the shift, writing & researching, and committing to get my research done.

Keep it narrow.  Keep it doable.  Keep it academic.  Chapter 2, here I come… the Literature Review.

Uninspired.

Some might call it avoidance… others may call it procrastination… I call it “uninspired.”  I’ve been wanting to write my ‘daily’ blog for the last 2 days, but felt uninspired to do so.  It’s almost like teacher hibernation.  I may have accustomed myself to the holiday season cued by school closure and spending an entire day with my daughter.  My house is tidy and household chores are done.  With the holiday season, my clientele are also on holidays.  To be honest, I’m enjoying the easy paced days and the holiday spirit.  As mentioned in my last blog, my daughter and I have been skimming our house with things we don’t use or need anymore.  Yesterday, we donated 3 garbage bags full of clothes, bags, and shoes.  Today, we donated a car load of toys, books, and more clothes.  It’s a wonderful feeling to declutter the home and give things we loved to other people who can love them too.  Furthermore, the Salvation Army benefits monetarily from our donation.  It’s a win-win-win.  I love that I am reconnecting to my home, my family, and my stuff.  I am not defined by my stuff, but it’s a nice to know how fortunate I am.  Recently, I have returned back to my dissertation proposal, Chapter 1.  This is version 5c and it’s has taken me almost 5 months to recover from feedback.  Writing for the thin-wedge is challenging.  I do enjoy the challenge.  What surprises me is the different directions I have taken so far with just one topic.  I need to write it up soon… my topic may be a mute point in the next few years.  Being uninspired is not a good place to be when creating academic work.  What I do like is… it’s consuming my mind.  Now, that’s a good place to be.  Yay.  Feeling inspired again.

Unplugged

What an amazing day… I spent the day unplugged.  I was not connected to my computer or the television for most of the day.  What did I do?  I got caught up on my housework… YES… and started to purge stuff.  This was challenging.  My daughter did a magnificent job on her closet downstairs.  She reduced her jacket/shoes closet in half.  She inspired me to do the same.  I was not as successful, but I did sort through my jackets and shoes to keep what I wanted.  You know… I am abundant.  I have more than enough stuff.  I’m grateful.  Aside from cleaning the first floor and catching up on my laundry, I headed upstairs to do the same thing.  My daughter luckily escaped the purging process and went over to a friend’s house for a play date.  As for myself, I was paralyzed by the purging process.  What to keep?  What to purge?  Will I lose the weight I gained to fit into my clothes again?  That is the question.  Lose 30 pounds or keep 30 pounds… that will determine what I will purge or keep.  I guess this is part of redefining myself, as mentioned in yesterday’s blog.  Typical resolutions: lose weight… purge stuff… and redefine self.  Happy New Year’s to ME.

Now, I am replugged in.  I’m blogging and watching television.  I’m in a complete trance… glued to KCTS watching Les Miserables Anniversary.  I love Les Miserables.  Shhh… must go.  Plugged in.

Redefining Oneself

Well, I know that it is only December 17th… but I am thinking about my new year’s resolutions.  School is out and things in life are seemingly slowing down.  I feel that it would be appropriate to spend a bit of time to redefine myself.  I spent the last year or so transitioning into my ‘new life’ or new way of being.  I spent 16 years of my life as “Ms. Ho” or “Ms. Younghusband,” the math/science teacher at Chatelech Secondary.  Now, I am addressed as “Trustee Younghusband.”  I am a newly elected school trustee, graduate student/doctoral candidate, MEd site assistant at SFU, tutor at Capilano University, and educational consultant/sole proprietor of Younghusband Consulting.  This list does not include my involvements with the BC Association of Mathematics Teachers executive committee, West Sechelt bike club, or Education Graduate Students’ Association at SFU.  I could have stayed with the status quo for the next 18 years to establish a full-pension and teach a thousand more students to love mathematics.  As you can see, if I had stuck with the status quo I would not have been able to realize my potential or capabilities as an educational leader.

Admittedly, the past year had been extremely scary, yet equally exciting.  For the first 6 months, my self-doubt almost got the best of me.  I questioned myself often as to why I left the status quo.  Stepping out of the box with hopes of something good will happen in the end is not an easy task.  Thank goodness for friends and family for keeping me on track and pushing me forwards.  Deep down inside, I knew I would return back to the school district but in a different role.  I did not anticipate within 12-months that I would be elected as a school trustee.  I am honoured and grateful to those in the community who recognized my love and devotion to the Sunshine Coast school district.  The 2011 municipal election win represents the end of this chapter of transformation.

So, what’s next?  First, I have to “let things happen.”  What I mean by this is, when I start something, follow-through and give it time to grow.  I will often pre-judge how things are going and quickly abort the mission.  For example, the use of PayPal during the municipal election, my first blog, and my first 4-5 revisions of my dissertation proposal.  On the other hand, I’ve allowed my business to flourish, my YH Edu-Blog to exist, and my involvement at SFU to broaden.  The results exceeded my expectations.  Now, I have steady business, I have blog-readers from around the world, and I am capitalizing on many opportunities as a graduate student at SFU.  I would like to continue exploring these options in addition to seeing how my new role as school trustee will evolve over the next three years.  Second, I am recommitting myself to my dissertation writing and research.  This academic journey needs my full attention and I am looking for closure on this chapter too.

My biggest challenge is making choices to make it all work.  Balance is my mantra for 2012.  In order to have things in life balance, redefining oneself may be required.  Although it is the greatest compliment when former students ask me when I will be returning back to teaching, I have stepped into a different direction in my pedagogical journey…  I am a graduate student.  I am an educational consultant.  I am a school trustee.  This list does not include the other half of me… I am a mom.  I am a wife.  I am me.  I look forward to the new year.  It will be challenging to say the least, but I feel that I am heading in the right direction professionally, academically, and personally.  To 2012…

Elphi’s Talent Show 2011

My last event on my school trustee Christmas concert tour was at Elphinstone Secondary.  Instead of having each class perform, like at elementary school, or have the music program perform, Elphinstone ends the last week of school before winter break with a talent show.  Chatelech Secondary also does a similar event.  I had attended many talent shows as a teacher at Chatelech, this was an excellent opportunity to attend Elphi’s Talent Show 2011 as school trustee.

Arriving to the school on-time, I realized that the talent show had already started.  Greeted by the front desk clerk, then by vice-principal, it seemed to be no problem slipping in a bit late.  I appreciated the warm welcome from the vice-principal and I was even more enlightened by the performances by the students of Elphinstone.  The concert band played and they sounded fantastic.  Then, it was a solo singer, solo dancer, and then musical performance… along with a puppet show.  One act after the other of students ranging from grades 8-12 were fabulous to say the least.  I reconnected with many teachers at the school and truly enjoyed the talent show.  It was a full-house.  Unlike the elementary school, the audience was mainly composed of Elphi students.  They were so supportive and kind as a school community for each performer.  It was awe inspiring.

Thank you Elphinstone Secondary staff and students for the 2011 Talent Show.  It was a great segway into the winter holiday.  Happy holidays everyone.  You all deserve one.

4 Areas in 4 Days

Well, it’s the Christmas Concert Circuit on the Sunshine Coast.  The last week of school before the Christmas holidays allows for various celebrations to occur at schools before the break.  I have attended 4 areas in 4 days as school trustee.  What do I mean by that?  On the Sunshine Coast, the school district is divided up into 4 areas:  Area 1 (Halfmoon Bay/Madeira Park/Pender Harbour), Area 2 (Roberts Creek/SIGD/Elphinstone), District of Sechelt, and the Town of Gibsons.  I have managed to see one school performance from each area:  West Sechelt Elementary (Sechelt), Roberts Creek Elementary (Area 2), Pender Harbour Secondary (Area 1), and Cedar Grove Elementary (Gibsons).  I had enjoyed meeting the principal of each school and I was thoroughly entertained at each event.  I found that each performance reflected the school’s story and the personality of the surrounding community.  All 4 events were well attended.  The common thread amongst all 4 concerts was the music component.  The music teacher of each school was instrumental to the success of the concert celebration.  School District No.46 (Sunshine Coast) have exceptional music teachers and should be recognized.  Thank you Ms. Mitchell (WSE), Mr. Erikson (RCE), Ms. MacInnes (PHSS), and Ms. Matkin (CGE) for doing an outstanding job with your music programs and our students.  Well done!

First Board Meeting

“Trustee Younghusband” has a very nice ring to it.  I am so proud to be representing the District of Sechelt and School District No.46 (Sunshine Coast) as one of the seven school trustees on the 2011-2014 Board of Education.  I was not sure what to expect last night at my first Board meeting, but I felt at home.  I am familiar with Roberts Rules, working on committees, and school leadership as a SD46 employee assuming teacher leadership roles of staff representative, professional development representative, and math department head.  What I am learning about is the content Boards of Education engages in that relate to governance and student learning.  What is new to me is conducting a public meeting where audience members can scrutinize and pose questions.  With that said, I would highly encourage community members, union representatives, and administration to attend these meetings to stay informed and be a part of the Board of Education process.  Thank you to all those who attended the December 13, 2011 SD46 School Board meeting.  It was nice to see presentations celebrating education on the Sunshine Coast in addition to listening to those who were present.  Thank you to all those on the Sunshine Coast who supported me in the 2011 municipal election and I hope to represent students, families, and community members well.  Next Board meeting is Tuesday, January 10, 2012, 7pm in Gibsons at the SD46 School Board Office.