Christine Ho Younghusband

Fermenting

FERMENTING… to make turbulent; excite or agitate.  This is the word of the day.

Do you ever go through your day and someone says something by chance, like a key word or phrase, that resonates with you?  Yesterday, I went to the dentist for a check up.  The classic question that always comes up when I go to the dentist or dental hygienist is, “do you floss?”  Unfortunately, my answer is NO.  I would often encourage the dental practitioners to lecture me on why to floss.  And, so they did.  I’d hear the hygienist’s arguments, pros and cons, but nothing seemed to stick until yesterday.  The dentist said his 2-cents and convinced me to change.  All that he said was, “the bacteria are fermenting between your teeth.”  BLAH.  The floss lecture continued with explaining why gums bleed and how it will alleviate itself within 6 days.  That was reassuring.  Honestly, knowing that something is FERMENTING in my mouth turned me right around.  This morning, I flossed my teeth.

So, why even blog about fermenting?  I am not about to share my personal hygiene habits to the world wide web without having some point to share that is meaningful.  Let’s cross our fingers that what I am about to say is worthwhile… meh, I’m not worried.  It is definitely something to consider.  Lately, I feel fortunate to have the time to sit and ponder my life, my studies, and my way of being.  Yes, this may seem like a midlife situation… and, it is… but, I am beginning to believe that not only are we in control of what we see… I am also convinced that our surroundings or experiences are sending us messages to learn from.

Does this sound creepy?  It does to me.  Yet, it seems to tie in so nicely to what I am experiencing right now.  FERMENTING TEETH… yuck… pooey… do something about it.  Get the information that you need and make a choice.  To floss or not to floss?  That was my question.  And, I made a choice.  I wanted something different for myself.  I am motivated to changed and feel excited about it.  I could have opted not to listen (as I did in previous appointments) or mull over it as a possibility (as I did from previous appointments, once again).  By not enacting, nothing changes.  As a result, I would end up reliving the floss-lecture over and over again at the dentist office until I learned from it… to better myself.

Here’s the lesson… you will be presented with the same things in your life repeatedly until you make the “right” choices in yourself to change what you see.  That is a big lesson I am adhering to and attempting to be attuned to my surroundings so that I can make the “right” choices to move forward.  I am fermenting.  Not just in my mouth, but with my dissertation, my career, and my life.  For example, last night I purchased a life jacket for paddling.  This is a HUGE purchase (or investment) and I wanted to make sure I made the “right” choice.  My head was in a spin last night… is this the right size, right colour, or should I just borrow one from a friend (… again).  This morning, I proceeded with the head spin until I opted to go back to the sports store to try on some other life jackets.  I felt some closure.  I made the “right” purchase and absolutely confident I made the “right” choice.  My head stopped spinning.

So, here is my advice.  If you find yourself self-doubting… or if you find yourself hesitating because you can find a million reasons why “you can’t”… GO FOR IT.  You never know, unless you try (how cliche).  Question your false beliefs.  And, if you screw up… no worries… that just means that it was not the “right” choice and there are an infinite number of other choices to make.  When it feels good… not forced… and surprisingly unexpected… BINGO.  The fermenting process has ceased.  By not enacting, nothing will change and your thoughts will continue to persist.  You have a choice.  Check it out.  You might be pleasantly surprised.

Meant to Be

Do you ever wonder if things happen for a reason?  I do.  I am beginning to wonder if I am in control of what’s happening.  Lately, I’m witnessing events that seem more like intended outcomes and not coincidence.  I am learning how to listen to my intuition and understanding what is authentic.  I have a short-term goals… one being convocation in 2012, the other being 30 lbs lighter.  As for long term goals, I am pretty open to anything that is related to education.  I have a vision, but I’m not sure of the details.  It’s pretty much a guess and check process, but “feels good” is the right direction, vice versa.

Let’s take today as a snapshot.  Depending on your frame of mind, it could be perceived as “good news” or “bad news.”  As far as I am concerned, it’s all good news.  Good things come is three.  First, I received an email from my senior supervisor acknowledging my biweekly update email.  This is great news.  Second, I found out I have a cavity. Initially, the dentist did not find anything, but we updated my X-rays and, by chance, he found one.  This was apparently lucky.  Finally, I found out today that I did not get the position I interviewed for a few days ago.  I could have been upset, but I wasn’t.  Instead, I feel excited about what’s to come.  I look forward to working on my dissertation, being a part of my daughter’s school experience, and being open to other educational opportunities.  What I learned is that my resume and cover letter are worthy of an interview AND my interview conveyed what I wanted: I am energetic, enthusiastic, and care deeply for student learning.  The best thing is that I used the interview experience as part of my Assessment for Learning presentation.  I believe that I was meant to interview to gain a deeper understanding of what I am presenting.

I guess this could be considered as REFRAMING… but I’m thinking that it was meant to be.  Regardless of what has happened, I have something to learn.  I am learning.  I can obsess about not having the time to food shop or clean the house today.  Instead, I choose to celebrate the fact I got a hair appointment for tomorrow and have the opportunity to write in my blog to express myself.  Let’s take it a step further, my feet are cold right now as I lie here on the couch… but I think it’s time for a hot bath after I blog.  In the end, it’s all good.

AFL at Pemberton Secondary

What a day… I am so thankful to have friends in Squamish to spend the night before heading off to Pemberton, BC.  My good friend made me a latte and presented me with a slice of banana bread with Nutella before I headed north.  I did not realize that it would take me more than an hour to arrive at Pemberton Secondary… and what a beautiful school.  The surroundings are quite spectacular too.  Nonetheless, I made it to the school on time (surprisingly) and immediately felt at home.  What a friendly bunch considering the teaching staff and administrators are engaging in professional development before school starts.

This Assessment for Learning (AFL) workshop was special to me for several reasons.  First, this will be my third time returning back to the School District No.48 (Sea-to-Sky) talking about assessment.  You’d think that these people would get bored with me.  Apparently, only 2 of 20 had seen me before at the District Professional Development day at Don Ross Secondary.  Whew.  I didn’t want to sound like the same old, same old.  Second, I got the opportunity to apply what I had learned from the Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) at SFU.  I spent a significant amount of time focusing on the learning outcomes, changing my powerpoint, and how I could include active learning into the 3-hour session.  I was also curious how I would do.  This wasn’t practice teaching time anymore.  Third, I had one learning outcome to achieve… to finish my presentation on time.  I’ve done about a half dozen workshops and only one of them finished on-time.  I needed some closure.

The results… the workshop was PHENOMENAL.  I had a great time.  People were engaged.  They asked good questions.  They were honest and genuinely curious.  I got group discussion, small group discussion, and excellent FORMATIVE feedback throughout my presentation.  I had so much fun implementing what I had learned from ISW.  I used a stop watch.  I had clear learning objectives.  I used my own personal experiences as “the hook” at the beginning of the workshop, during group discussion, and as my closing remarks.  If anything, I think I got them thinking about their assessment practices, how it reflects on their course outlines, and opportunities to question current practices that may hinder Assessment for Learning practices.  Bottom line, WAY TOO COOL to see collegial dialogue in action.  LOVED IT.  To top it off, they gave me a parting gift and lunch.

What an amazing experience.  Teachers and administrators pulled me aside to ask specific questions about their practice and how they could include AFL to improve student learning.  It was awesome to be a part of their problem solving process and I truly feel that the Pemberton Secondary teaching staff is on their way to implementing AFL as it was intended.  Very inspirational.  Furthermore, I mixed and mingled with the Pemberton staff during lunch to be unexpectedly flowered with more FORMATIVE FEEDBACK.  I was ENGAGING… KNOWLEDGEABLE… and GROUNDED.  Wow.  Could I ask for anything more?  Oh yes, my contact person offered to read parts of my dissertation work and give me feedback.  It’s all happening at once and it feels good.  A peer reviewer… she’s signed up and ready to go. 

Along with a fantastic drive to and from Pemberton on the Sea-to-Sky highway, visiting with old friends in Squamish (and much enjoyed reconnecting with them on the way back home), and returning back to SD48 (Sea-to-Sky) to talk about Assessment for Learning… I had a wonderful time at Pemberton Secondary.  It is a beautiful area, filled with beautiful people.  I am very fortunate to be a part of your pedagogical journey.  THANK YOU.

FYI.  I will be returning to SD48 (Sea-to-Sky) on November 4th to present at the District Professional Development Day in Whistler, BC.  Looking forward.

Thank Goodness for Friends

Often I get inspired to write about something I just experienced or witnessed that was unique or noteworthy.  Sometimes I go with my intuition.  When I start writing and there is “no flow,” I know immediately that it is not the right topic.  Today, I was busy prepping for the workshop in Pemberton, making travel arrangements, and plans for my family during my absence.

I started to write in the blog several times today, but got stumped.  Quarter after midnight, it dawned on me… I needed to write about my friends.  Please make note, I am extending my definition of “friends” to not only my friends, but also to my family, acquaintances, and people who I will meet along the way.  I meet the right people at the right times and I am grateful.

My friends always pull through for me and it’s AMAZING.  Just today alone… one friend interviewed me for my research project; another friend picked up my yearbook; another friend offered to babysit my kid; another friend picked up supplies for my workshop tomorrow; another friend problem solved my travel arrangements; another friend booked a tutoring time; another friend gave me an opportunity to speak at the university; another friend allowed me to stay in her home overnight; another friend made me a latte; another friend served me dinner; another friend helped arrange the small details for the workshop tomorrow… hello?  Was this a long list of AWESOMENESS?  I am so lucky to have so many awesome friends.

This lengthy list is only acknowledging what happened today… and I can already think of a few more friends who helped me out… like one friend who is helping me organize; another friend who listened to my story; another friend with children who played with my kid; and, another friend who complimented my kid at the store by saying, “She is a nice girl.” 

Honestly, if I continue to brainstorm, I bet I could think of a half a dozen more wonderful things about my friends.  Thank goodness for friends.  I am so fortunate to have so many people in my life who are generous, caring, and willing to lend a helping hand.  I hope that all of you Bloggies (aka. friends) can think of as many friends who make your day a little better just because they are your friends.  Not to get all sappy and cry… but THANK YOU everyone.

Candle Light

The most wonderful compliment I received was from my facilitator from the Instructional Skills Workshop.  She is extremely intuitive, which can be quite frightening for someone like myself who is an ESTJ (extroverted, sensing, thinking, judging) from Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).  Intuition seems spooky to ESTJ’s who gather information from the five senses, but I do like listening to it.  My facilitator is more like a mentor.  I am so lucky to have met her.

My facilitator was reading my like a book.  I revealed only a few things about me during the workshop and she seemed to understand me.  We had wonderful conversations and I feel extremely fortunate to have her as my “fearless leader” during the workshop.  She is an expert in her field.  I have great respect for her and I adored her honesty and sense of humour.  In one conversations, she said to me… “I’m a candle light in the darkness.”  She said her job was to find the light and ensure each one stays lit.  Hello?  She fired me up. 

I felt reassured and validated in so many ways.  By the end of the workshop she shared three key qualities about me… my strengths really… I am so grateful to gain this insight about myself and to have someone I trust to tell me.  She said: (1) I am caring.  I truly care about what I teach and who I teach. (2)  I am knowledgeable.  I have a deep understanding of what I am passionate about.  (3) I have a VISION.  How did she know that?  I do have a vision.

Thank you.  That’s all I have is gratitude for you, MY MENTOR.  You are my hero and I can only aspire to be like you.  You have touch my heart and I promise to advocate for student learning and quality teaching.  I am proud to be a teacher and I love to learn more about my practice to improve my quality of teaching.  Thank you for recognizing my passion.

Personal Reflection

Well… It could have been better.  That is my self-assessment.  Are we our toughest critic?  Yes, I am.  I went to an job interview today and I am truly thankful for being selected as being a viable candidate for the position.  Aside from being grateful for the experience, I could have done a lot better.  After the one-hour interview, I spent the next 5 hours self-critiquing my responses… Ooh, I could have given a better answer… Ugh, I could have given a specific example… Duh, I could have said this word instead of that word… and so on.

The post-interview self-talk is not enjoyable or even logical.  Apparently, it’s normal.  On the positive side… I was myself and I felt comfortable talking to the interview panel about myself and my accomplishments.  My only regret was not being specific with each and every question.  That’s what trying new things out does… making mistakes and learning from them.  The only wish I have is having the opportunity to get constructive feedback from members of the panel as to what went well and what I need to work on… aka. Assessment for Learning.

Not to promote what I endorse… Assessment for Learning ROCKS… but, I truly enjoyed the Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) at SFU for this very reason.  At ISW, feedback was immediate.  What was said by peers and facilitator was constructive, insightful, and informative.  Participants had to self-reflect after each session with the facilitator while the peer group formulated a feedback response.  More times than none, I was somewhat critical of my performance.  The feedback I received would often exceed my expectations.

Anyway, I’m not sure if this applies to my interview or not.  What’s done is done.  I can’t go back in time or have a “redo” interview.  All I can do is ask for some feedback and hope for the best.  Now, it’s off to the next thing… prep of a workshop I’m delivering at Pemberton Secondary this Wednesday regarding Assessment for Learning and creating course outlines.  The best part is that I get to use what I learned from ISW to this workshop. Yay me.

Getting Ready

Have you ever done something that is so new… so exciting… that you just can’t breathe?  Hello.  Here I am.  I am going in for an interview.  The last time I had interviewed was in 1994… well, and a couple of other times while in the school district… but this is an opportunity for employment.  I feel like a kid again… looking for what I want to do when I grow up and I am totally stoked about what this position has to offer me.  I am so grateful to have the opportunity to interview.  That is excellent feedback on my resume/cover letter writing.  Now, I am heading into the next phase… the interview phase.  I did prepare and got great advice from friends.  I am not sure what to expect and how I will perform.  All that I know is that I want to portray myself authentically and know that I am the best person for the job.  We’ll see… I am optimistic and would love to work with this “company.”  Wish me luck.

So Much for the Daily Post

Oh my gosh, I make myself laugh.  “Let’s commit to writing in the blog on a daily basis.”  NOT.  Whoops.  That is totally MY BAD.  My deepest apologies Bloggies… please forgive me.

Well, I am back.  I had just finished a 3-day 24-hour Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) at SFU, which was phenomenal, after returning home from a week-long family vacation in Prince Rupert (where I made lots of progress on my dissertation), and attended a 6-hour local goal-setting workshop yesterday.  Whew, I’m pooped.  I can only do one thing at a time and I have much to do.  I love learning and look forward to what’s to come.  I’m stoked.

You know what?  Anything can happen to anyone, if you dream.  I’ve learned that the possibilities are endless and there are no limitations, unless we define them to be.  That’s what I did.  I used to say “I can’t do that” or “I don’t deserve that.”  Blah, blah, blah… that’s in the past.  All of that is CRAP.  The truth is, I am living the life… the BEST DAY OF MY LIFE. 

I love doing what I am doing and I make a good living doing it.  I am a researcher-practitioner, educational leader, and edu-writer.  I love teaching, learning, and leading.  I have awesome family and friends, and continue to meet great people.  And, I have my health.  I am so lucky.

It’s all about reframing.  ALLOW… that’s a key.  If this sounds strange or weird… that’s the first step.  I’ve got you thinking.  If you get what I’m saying, happy life to you.  Isn’t it great?

Ah-ha Moments

Have you ever had that “ah-ha” moment? Just had one this morning and it felt good.  I’m on my lunch break and I’m really enjoying the ISW (instructional skills workshop) at SFU.    Yesterday’s session was great and this morning was even better.  My ah-ha moment happened this morning during our theme session about “active learning.”  It was taking the tacit to the explicit, making me realize that my approach with Assessment for Learning (AFL) provided me with a framework of active learning in my math classes.  Here’s the catch… my ah-ha moment happened when I realized that’s how the new math curriculum has been designed.  Active learning is embedded in the learning outcomes to produce different entry points for students to understand the math content.  The approach suggested adopts the pedagogy of active learning which in turn reaches more students with varying learning styles.  Active learning engages the students to make connections and find relevance.  The teacher, in turn, must also “allow” the learning to unfold and to help facilitate student learning.  And for me, AFL allowed me to do that successfully… a very nice ah-ha.

Candle Stick or Two Faces

I love this optical illusion.  What do you see?

Today, I attended my first day of three at the SFU-Burnaby campus to attend the INSTRUCTIONAL SKILLS WORKSHOP (ISW) facilitated by the Teaching and Learning Center.  The workshop is designed to provide instructional strategies to graduate students and university instructors.  The purpose of ISW is to improve instruction to improve the quality of student learning.  Am I wrapped around that like bacon?  Yes, I am.

What a great day… First of all, I was avoiding going to the Burnaby campus for months thinking that it would be extremely difficult to get to by transit compared to the Vancouver and Surrey campuses.  What did I learn today?  Going to the Burnaby campus is just as easy to get to as the latter two… Thank you SkyTrain.

Second, I experienced the candle stick or two faces flicker.  It’s an amazing feeling.  I applied to be a part of ISW to improve my instructional skills as a workshop facilitator and other public speaking activities I will engage in as a graduate student.  I got to teach a 10-minute mini-lesson to a small group of adults and in return they gave me feedback.  How many teachers get to do that?  Not many.  I had only read about “teaching in a lab environment.”

Ahhh… the flicker… then I flip right into my dissertation.  The premise, the framework, and the learning objectives of ISW are in-line with my research.  So, I was taking notes of key words and key ideas that related to my research.  I would flicker back-and-forth from being a learner as an instructor and as a graduate student.  What an amazing day…

I’m so grateful to the executors of the Jing Ye Fund, my parents, my husband, my girl, and my colleagues/friends for supporting me in my EdD endeavour.  My deepest gratitude.