Christine Ho Younghusband

Falling Into Reflection

Once again… I have fallen into the “busy” trap and managed not to carve out any “ME time” to blog, walk, or reflect. Well, today is the day. I went out for a walk this morning (and last night). I’ve had moments of reflection. Now, it’s BLOG TIME. It’s been awhile (again) and it feels great to return back to the keyboard to virtually document “what’s up” in my pedagogical journey and share some of my experiences and thoughts. So, expect a few follow up mini-blog entries over the next few days. There is much to report on and I am absolutely excited to share “what’s happening” with you.

I just love those moments when I get overwhelmed with gratitude. It’s like a tsunami. I just had that feeling the other day driving to Gibsons for the SD46 Education Committee, a meeting I chair as trustee of the SD46 Board of Education. First of all, it’s an absolute privilege to sit around a table where people are talking about teaching and learning in SD46. I just love it. Second of all, we’re all engaged and I get to facilitate those conversations. Third, I am heartened by the wonderful edu-initiatives and ideas that are brought forward to the committee. I feel very fortunate.

Back to the drive to Gibsons… it’s an opportunity to check in with myself. Questions to self often sound like… “Would I be doing what I am doing NOW if I was still in the classroom? Would I know what I know NOW if I stayed in the classroom? And, would I know who I know NOW had I stayed in the classroom?” Although the answer is obvious… NO… I find myself in awe of what I get to do and learn. I cannot believe the people I get to meet, work with, and learn from. Best of all, I could not imagine these edu-opportunities had I stayed in the classroom. It’s absolutely amazing.

I know it gets sickening when I blog, tweet, or post stuff on social media that oozing with gratitude… but that’s exactly how I feel. I love the work that I am doing with my research with great hopes of finishing my dissertation by 2016. I love the work that I am doing with my professor/supervisor as his research assistant. I am learning so much. I love that I get to work with St. Mark’s College where I am teaching my first graduate level course, but also facilitating mini-workshops to teachers. I love that I get to be a part of the BCAMT and Math K-9 Curriculum development team. It’s an incredible group of math educators. I love that I am asked to provide workshops to teachers regarding curriculum implementation in various school districts in the province. I love the work that continue my practice in my home as a mathematics educator and educational consultant. I love my professional learning community on Twitter and my #bcedchat co-mod team. And, of course, I love the work that I do as a school trustee, locally and provincially. Blah, blah, blah… No wonder I have little time allotted to walking, blogging, or reflection… yet, I’m doing it RIGHT NOW.

I am delighted by the amount of autonomy I have in my work and I truly feel that I am a part of a BIG SHIFT that is happening “out there” in BC Education. The direction is so aligned to my education philosophy and pedagogical beliefs. It tickles me to know that I have a voice in the process and I am helping others to find their voice too. All that is mentioned above is aligned to my purpose. I would also like to mention a couple of community boards I’m involved with that are focussed on local economic development, the Self-Employed Women’s Network (SEWN) and the Sunshine Coast Community Futures. My role on these boards is governance and education. I could have not have asked for a better opportunity in my community.

Ok. I will stop oozing… if you haven’t already stopped reading, then never mind. I just hope in education that we can take a moment to reflect and acknowledge our path, our direction, and our achievements. We don’t do it enough. Let’s celebrate. I blog in disbelief. I cannot believe that I get to engage in so many professional learning opportunities, formal and informal… facilitate professional learning activities for teachers and school leaders… and research professional learning of teachers and school trustees. This is something that I had always dreamed about and wanted, but never knew how it would unfold. And, I believe it’s unfolding.

There is no question in my mind that my lived experience would have been different had I stayed in the classroom. Could I have had similar opportunities? Possibly. I opted to take an alternative route to create new paths and opportunities… to enhance the student learning experience. I look forward to what’s ahead. This is not to say that my pedagogical journey has been easy, transparent, or smooth. I am also compelled to say that this is not for everyone. What I am willing to suggest is FOLLOW YOUR HEART. Listen to your intuition. And, go for it!!! You never know unless you try, make mistakes, and try again. This is the learning process and I love every minute of it.

SEWN Socializer

10 tables of 10. You do the math. Can you believe that 100 women gathered to the first Self-Employed Women’s Network (SEWN) Socializer 2015 event at the Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club on October 8th? At first, I was not optimistic. We had only a few weeks to gain enough momentum to get at least 50 people to attend the dinner to make the event worthwhile. To my surprise we had 74 for dinner and 26 to the socializer only. We had to say “no” to a few individuals as we reached full-capacity. This is a great problem to have and it is clear that socializer events like this is something that entrepreneurial women on the Sunshine Coast are craving.

SEWN is a grassroots initiative that first started with the Community Resource Centre’s Progress Plan, a 3-year Status of Women’s Project focus on the economic well-being of women on the Sunshine Coast. One area of focus in the project was income. I had joined the Progress Plan team in its last year as a Project Assistant. I was tasked with the income strand and the idea of creating a network for women in business. Isolation was identified as a barrier for women in business. During the Progress Plan, we had implemented two SEWN gatherings, one at the Gibsons Public Market and the other at Persephone’s Brewing. Both events were well attended.

When the project ended in April, Cheryl McNicol and I opted to continue the work of SEWN as an unincorporated association, a not-for-profit organization that is volunteer oriented and member driven. We were so pleased to know that people like Shelley McDade, the CEO of the Sunshine Coast Credit Union, was willing to help and support us with our first steps. We created our inaugural SEWN board of directors, which includes Kim Banks, Liz Down, and Charlene Sanjenko. All of us are self-employed women and invested in connecting and supporting entrepreneurial women on the Sunshine Coast. Each of us bring an expertise to the table.

The work of the SEWN board of directors over the last several months have been working on our governance, constitution, bylaws, and our mission, vision, and goals. For more information on this, go to our website at www.sunshinesewn.com. We took time from our busy schedules to meet on a monthly basis to collaborate, create, and co-construct something that supports, educates, and connects entrepreneurial women on the Sunshine Coast. We are a volunteer board serving SEWN members.

We surveyed those who are SEWN followers. These people were involved in the Progress Plan, particularly with SEWN, and those who are early adopters of SEWN. We listened to the data and contributed our expertise to create something that we are proud of with hopes of supporting entrepreneurial women on the Sunshine Coast. After months of deliberation, we decided to jump in with two feet to create our first SEWN socializer, as a membership drive and announcement of SEWN.

We put a call out for those who indicated in our database who would like to get more involved with SEWN. We easily established an event committee for the SEWN Socializer 2015. Another group of busy entrepreneurial women said YES to SEWN. We gathered at my home to make final plans for the evening. Needless to say, much had changed from August 2015 to October 2015. Intentions had changed, start dates had changed, focus had changed, and plans had changed. The best part, we were willing to be nimble and adaptive, like any entrepreneurial person, to make it happen.

SEWN partnered up with Share-There online ride share service, a NEW social enterprise on the Sunshine Coast, with Michelle and Sean Morton for registrations and ride sharing. We wanted to support them with their beta test. We collaborated with Share-There with planning and registration. They had hopes of announcing their business as well as acquire memberships and ride shares. Albeit, there were some glitches. That is to be expected. It was a beta test (aka. learning opportunity). Thank you SEWN Socializer attendees for participating the the beta test and providing feedback. This helps Share-There to take their next steps in their business.

Through social media and word of mouth, one by one, tickets were sold. The evening was constructed into two parts: the dinner and socializer at $35/person or socializer only at $10/person. We wanted to make the event accessible to all women. We gathered. We displayed our promotional materials. We socialized. Doors opened at 5 pm. Dinner started at 545 pm. Socializer started at 7 pm. We promoted SEWN and SEWN memberships, but also we had an educational component to the evening… WHAT’S YOUR PITCH.  The night was a hit and I am so happy everything worked out in the end. The biggest lesson is the “power of we.” We all made this happen… the SEWN board, event committee, sponsors, partners and contributors, and attendees.

I want to take a moment to thank our amazing SEWN event partners, sponsors, and contributors. Thank you Sunshine Coast Community Futures. We appreciated having Zarah Gale as a presenter but also as our ad hoc tech person. Thank you to Head Start Public Speaking for Kids for also presenting at our event to figure out our why and 30-second pitch. Thank you Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club. We had great service and great food at a great venue. Thank you to Coastal Weddings & Events for the beautiful decorations and table settings. Thank you to Hooray Truffles by Alanna for the yummy vegan chocolates. Thank you to the Sunshine Coast Credit Union for being a event corporate sponsor but also for your generosity with pens, pads, phone pockets with $200 for new SCCU memberships, and $500 door prize. Thank you to PowHERtalks and Christine Younghusband for being SEWN sponsors… and thank you to McLachlan Studios for taking photos during the night and generous door prizes amounting to $1000!!! And… THANK YOU to all those who donated door prizes to the event, who volunteered their time to make the event amazing, SEWN Board of Directors, and coming to the SEWN event. We could not do it without you!!!

Being in a Good Place

Well… I’ve fallen behind the blog… and truly, this is a good problem to have. I must admit, I am in a good place. It takes some time to reflect and think about what’s important. This is not to say that I have it all figured out but I am certainly on the right path. It’s funny when you make a life changing decision that it was meant to be that way. This is not about surrendering or acceptance. It’s about wholeheartedly believing that we are meant to do something and deep down inside we know what it is. Sounds flakey, I know. I would be the last person talking like this. Come on… I just found out that I quite enjoy looking at a bunch of data. Hello? Me? The extroverted, can’t keep my mouth shut kinda girl likes sifting through data and updating information? That would have never made my radar 5 years ago or even 10. Nope. Never thought.

As unpredictable and uncertain my life is right now, I am learning. I have wonderful mentors. I have many cheerleaders and supporters. I am engaged in what I love to do. I am moving forward in my pedagogical journey. I am an edu-explorer and tickled pink by what I am learning. I am humbled by who I get to work with. I love that I am autonomous in my work. It’s a nice feeling when I get excited about the little things. For example, sending out emails for a research study may not provoke many to stand up and cheer. Well, I’m doing the happy dance. I never thought that was possible. Finding my why guides my decision making. I feel purposeful and honoured to serve others as an educator, school trustee, and researcher. This is a good place to be.

This brings me to this photo. Where am I? I am standing in front of Cooks Jewelers, absolutely WET, in Prince Rupert, BC taking selfies in various places downtown. What a beautiful metaphor. I could focus on the RAIN or the closure of a long standing businesses like McLean & Rudderham. Instead, I appreciate where I came from and enjoyed my time venturing out on my own (without an umbrella) to several Prince Rupert landmarks remembering the good times and my childhood. It’s been almost 30 years since I left Prince Rupert. I am quite fond of my hometown and so happy to bump into so many familiar faces during my brief time in Prince Rupert. Had I not been doing the work that I do now, I would not have returned back to Prince Rupert to learn about all the wonderful educational programs Charles Hays Secondary School is offering in partnership with various community agencies. I am grateful.

In the end, consider life… well, in my case, professional life… an adventure. I love where I am but I don’t expect to be here for very long. For the past 5 years, I’ve been on an edu-exploration to discover my likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, and what resonates with me or not. I am an experiential learner. I could have just stayed in my job 5 years ago, but I was so misaligned that I would have been on long term disability or something like that. Deep down inside I knew I was meant to do something else. It was time. I resisted. I did not follow my intuition, got sick, and quit. It has taken me 5 years to rebuild myself, restore my faith in education, and find my why. Today, I am absolutely stoked about education and the difference we can make in the learning experiences of students. This is my purpose. Everything I do is aligned to this. Will I return back to teaching? I am teaching and it’s one step at a time.

IGNITE 35

Wow. There is nothing I like more than a crowded room at the pub filled with educators cheering and supporting one another. Now this is how I like it. It was the whose who in Twitterverse in terms of BC education. Thank you #think35 team for orchestrating the inaugural #IGNITE35 event in Langley, BC. There were so many great speakers sharing a small part of his or her professional practice that he or she is passionate about. It was incredible. We call ourselves “teacher” but there was such diversity in our passions and stories. Best of all, we were all willing to be a bit vulnerable and share our story with a group of edu-strangers, yet it felt like family. I was so proud to stand beside and be with all of these people tonight. #IGNITE35 makes me proud of my story… from mathematics teacher to graduate student and school trustee. We are all making a difference in education. I ended my 5 minute talk with “be bold, be brave.” Thank you everyone. We’re doing just that! #bced #think35 #IGNITE35 #bcedchat

Coming Home

It is tough to describe what I am feeling right now… is it joy… excitement… or utter bliss? Not sure, but I’m feeling good. Tomorrow is a BIG day for me. I am debuting at St. Mark’s College as a course instructor in the Masters program. I will be faced with the challenge of wooing Catholic School educators from around the province to take a SHIFT in their practice with the New BC Curriculum in mind. Can you imagine teaching a class of adult learners who come to the table with various backgrounds, experience, roles, subject areas, grade levels, and expertise? Many are auditing the course, some are taking the course for university credit. Some of the course is delivered online while another part of it is face-to-face. Furthermore, it’s not a course about the New BC Curriculum, but it also entails assessment for learning and communicating student learning in the context of Catholic Schools. What’s super amazing is not the diversity of this group who are strangers to me… it’s the fact that these educators are choosing to be a part of this professional opportunity, they are choosing to build a learning community, and they are choosing to engage in ongoing professional development to enact change within their practice, thus the system.

Is that super cool or what? Why are they doing this? With exception of the handful of individuals who are taking this course as an elective in their Masters Program, the dozens of educators are taking this because they are ready to take on the New BC Curriculum by JUMPING IN with two feet. Crazy. What gets me stoked about this upcoming experience is, I have no idea what to expect. I am learning how to facilitate learning online with Moodle. I am creating my own academic course at the Masters level but I do not want to spook out the ones who are auditing the course. I am going to be teaching a group face-to-face over two days on campus but half of the cohort will be Skyping in. Moreover, I am trying to keep this a BYOD course to minimize photocopying and maximize what it could be like for students in the New BC Curriculum. It is not to say that the new curriculum is about being online, but it is about creating flexibility and personalize learning. Hello? I have to do this for almost 40 educators… personalize their professional learning. I am so honoured to do so.

What a great challenge and I am so grateful to be given this opportunity. My goal is to take them through this course as if they are learners of the new curriculum. In saying that, the new curriculum is what you want to make it to be. Teachers as learners will be challenged by the possible shift in pedagogy and educational thinking. What are the BIG IDEAS? What does it mean to evaluate curricular competencies? Why isn’t the content the driving force of the new curriculum? There will be many questions, I’m sure. What I do know is, I’m not giving them a standard lesson planning sheet or handout. I am not giving them the ideal way to communicate student learning. I am not deciding what is worthwhile to demonstrate student learning. This is the work of the learner. I am not giving answers. And, there is no right or wrong. So, what will it be like to take an academic risk for teachers (and school administrators) as learners… and what are they going to do about it? This is about action. We’ll see how things unfold over time. This is going to be ROCKING and well… I’m glad. #findingmyjam

Provoked Feelings

It doesn’t matter how much time has passed… it doesn’t matter how many good things that happen to you… When you don’t deal with your ‘bad feelings’ and exercise forgiveness… those ‘bad feelings’ will present themselves in the most expected times. It just happened yesterday. Too spooky. I am just in the middle of preparing my IGNITE35 PowerPoint presentation. I have to scroll through many photos and select the “right ones” to make 3 or 4 points in 5 minutes and 20 slides. I became reminiscent of my students and the relationships I had with them, but also reminded of my frustrations and reasons for leaving public education as a teacher and where I am going now. I wish the road is straightforward and clear, but it’s not.

Anyway, completing the script for my IGNITE35 presentation has been on my mind for quite some time. I want to focus on students and student learning. Last night, old feelings were provoked. With conversations with my #bcedchat co-mod colleagues on Google hangout and participating in #bcedchat, I got somewhat agitated, much like I was 5-10 years ago. Last night’s #bcedchat topic was “Encouraging Risk-Taking.” It was so clear to me during the Google Hangout conversation that there are many reasons why teachers/educators in the system hesitate to take risks in schools, thus a topic for discussion on how to encourage risk-taking in schools. I got annoyed. It had nothing to do with the #bcedchat co-mod team or the #bcedchat Twitter convo. I was just provoked and realized that some of my ‘bad feelings’ are unresolved.

On the one hand, these ‘bad feelings’ give me purpose. On the other hand, I can’t move forward if I am holding onto these ‘bad feelings’ or beliefs. I resented the fact that taking risks in education was poo-pooed on or shunned… and it still is. How do we get our students to become thoughtful and strategic risk takers in school and in life if those who are teaching them, leading them, or even governing them cannot do it themselves? The objective is to benefit student learning and student success. How do we do that if we cannot be vulnerable enough to do so? Frustrating. And when you do take a risk… a shaming process takes place to coerce you to concede, comply, or conform. Or, risk-taking becomes such a daunting task, why bother?

We want our teachers (and students) to be creative and autonomous. Taking risks is a part of the learning process. Sometimes it could be easily spinned to keep with the status quo… “this is how we’ve always done it” and “it ain’t broke, why fix it?” UGH. Or sometimes innovation or change is put upon you… why? That does not make me a risk-taker if I am assigned to do something else. What’s the why? I am not suggesting change for the sake of change. More horrible is changing and not knowing why you are changing. That would be completely meaningless. What I am saying is, if we want our students to be extraordinary, engaged, and in love with learning, then everyone in the education system has to emulate that expectation. That’s it.

No one is striving to be mediocre, average, or ordinary. A growth mindset… a culture of learning… and taking risks…. ARE ALL ALIGNED. Let’s be open to possibilities instead of hiding ourselves from failure, judgement, or shame. It’s sometimes disappointing thinking about how it could be and how it is. I encourage everyone who is a stakeholder or involved in education to TAKE A RISK… try something new… and fail, if you must… as long as the risk has the potential of benefitting student learning and promoting student success. You will never know unless try… and it is next to impossible to anticipate all probable outcomes before proceeding. That’s paralysis. Exercise your autonomy. Be collegial. Encourage Risk-Taking.

Teaching Teachers

Dreams do come true. I’ve wanted to do this for quite some time… teaching teachers. It’s when I have these moments, I am humbled with gratitude. Who would have thought? Not me. I had always wanted to do this… even when I was teaching in public schools, but it seemed almost impossible. Well, I must admit… I did teach a few professional development workshops while I was teaching secondary mathematics… and I taught at least a dozen or so workshops after leaving public schools to become an independent educational consultant. But teaching the other day to 3 elementary school staffs… facilitating their professional learning with BC’s New Curriculum… and, being a part of a learning community where teachers are learners… collaborating, questioning, and creating… September 3, 2015 was a good day for me. I was so excited to get prepared for this event. It was kind of out of my expertise. I’m not an elementary teacher by trade. I was trying something new. I facilitated the workshop instead of being the sage on the stage. And, I engaged in some really interesting conversations about teaching, learning, leading, policy, assessment, evaluation, and the list goes on. Unbelievable. What I realized is, those in education are invested in education and the students we serve. We have different pressures, different expectations, and different roles… but we all have a common goal… student success. I was inspired that day and I continue my dream by teaching teachers online with St. Mark’s College on curriculum, assessment, and evaluation. I feel so privileged to be teaching, learning, and leading. I am very grateful for these opportunities and I am having a lot of fun doing it. As each day progresses, I am beginning to realize that anything is possible. It may not work out at the time when you first ask for it… and it may not turn out exactly how you imagined it… but keep striving for your dreams and DREAM BIG. It will happen.

Looking in the Mirror

Um. No thank you. Can you believe that this photo is almost 15 years old? I cannot. It’s totally crazy. Anyway, it’s almost back to school time for K-12 and I’m in the midst of deep reflection, planning, and reconsideration. September 1st was a trigger for me. I have a goal in front of me and it freaks the hell out of me. That’s reassuring, right? Looking at this photo reminds me of the academic terror I experienced during my masters degree. I loved my program. Don’t get me wrong. However, with all of my academic hang-ups and insecurities (and we all have them) and working full-time, I was not sure if I could do it. I almost dropped out. Instead, I stopped volunteering my time with yearbook.

Looking back, I remember that learning is not suppose to be easy. Why? You’re changing. You’re transforming. You’re creating. That takes work!!! Staying in the comfort zone, expect it to be easy. The difference now with my dissertation versus my comprehensive exam and course work is that it’s all on me. No one is there setting deadlines or doing the same thing at the same time. It’s all on me to set deadlines, do the work, and get it done (if it will ever get done). I have invested almost everything into this edu-journey and now it’s either completion time or pull the plug.

Sometimes I need to take a moment like this to remember the good times, the exceptional experiences, and awesome people I have met along the way. Had I not detoured 7 years ago, I would still be teaching secondary math… maybe some science… or possibly something else like Planning 10. Not sure. Would I have changed schools? Unlikely. I am 100% thankful for everything that I have experienced so far… the ups and downs… with every moment as a learning experience (if you want to see it that way). There is no question that I have struggled from time to time, but I’ve also been inspired, motivated, and enlightened as well. I love the work that I do. And, I have to believe that everything will work out in the end. If I don’t, who will?

I know that I’m on the right path. Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way. When it gets challenging, it’s frightening and it’s easy to look back and wonder what if? When really, I should be looking forward, picking myself up, and asking why not? I do miss the good times of the past. I often pine for some of those moments, but I can’t go back in time. I appreciate the present. I am freaked out about the future. I’m not going to lie. Who knows where my path is heading, but I’m optimistic. I am changing. I am transforming. I am learning. Right now, I need to follow through, embrace opportunities, and do my best. Seems to be working so far. Yup, I can do it!!!

Face Your Fear

Wow. It’s already been two weeks since the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts (SCFWA). It has become one of my favourite events on the Sunshine Coast. I discovered SCFWA a few years ago. I never thought it would be an event for me to attend. I’ll admit it… I’m not an avid reader. I haven’t read a zillion fiction books for pleasure. Why would I ever go to SCFWA to watch authors talk about their books I have never read? So rude, I know. Hence, I never went. Out of curiosity, I bought a ticket to see what this SCFWA phenomenon is all about. Well, I’m hooked.

This year I intended to purchase a full-event pass. Last year I bought a one day pass. The year before I bought tickets to a few sessions. It seemed like a natural progression to the SCFWA awesomeness. Well, it was not meant to be. To make a long story short, I was unable to afford the ticket… money wise and time wise. I opted out. Sad, but deliberate with my decision. I needed to trudge through my academic writing. It was almost like I was punishing myself for not meeting my expectations. Looking back, I question this mindset. That weekend I needed some inspiration.

I got off my big EdD butt and away from my computer to purchase a ticket from SCFWA. Event 12 with Michael Christie intrigued me. How does a professional skateboarder become a writer? I love these kinds of stories. I am fascinated by those who are able to transform their lives into something else. Or maybe I’m just envious as I look for some answers for myself as I wander through my career choices and direction. So, I invested the $15 dollars and one-hour of my time. Michael Christie was awesome!!! He made me laugh. He made me cry. His story was so unexpected.

I understand why I love SCFWA. It’s like a UBC seminar or a moment of cognitive escapism to tap into the minds of writers who are also wrestling with their struggles and life’s lessons. I am learning. What I realized from Michael Christie’s SCFWA session is, face your fear. We can avoid it or we can tackle it. We can go big or go one step at a time. Either way, do something that scares you everyday. There are so many emotions, false beliefs, and stories about self embedded in fear that sometimes it almost seems impossible or way of life. For me, it’s Chapter 2.

This is the last thing I have to do before moving onto the next step of my dissertation journey. It’s not suppose to be a final draft. I am in a state of learning as I am doing. This is classic for the experiential, autodidactic learner. Do, reflect, assess, revise, and redo. I know this. My short term goal is to submit my newly revised chapters with my survey instrument. I’m almost done. Chapter 2 is freaking me out. I’ve accomplished so much this summer otherwise… I’ve just submitted a syllabus, a workshop outline, and survey test pilot for another study. With Chapter 2, I’m struggling.

Today, I’m going to do something that scares me… complete Chapter 2 and send.

Return to Passion

Taking a break from my academic writing to engage in my blog writing. I would have never thought that I would enjoy the act of writing… in my mid-40’s. This would not be my preferred activity as a child, adolescent, or young adult. I was always a bit self conscious about my reading and writing ability. I may have mentioned many blog entries ago that I did not pass English 100, I failed the English Competency Test (ECT) at UBC (twice), and took an ESL continuing education course to pass the ECT (when I only speak English). This is only one story of my reading and writing struggles. I am even surprised that I am a teacher writing her dissertation. Thus, I returned to blog to practice the act of writing. I cannot write my dissertation if I believe I cannot write.

So what’s my inspiration for today’s blog entry? My passion. When I left teaching in public schools five years ago, I was totally stoked on Assessment for Learning (AFL) and how it positively influenced student learning. I mean, I taught secondary math and students were more motivated to learn because of AFL, not grades or marks. In fact, the summative assessment should affirm what they’ve learned from AFL. That’s where the magic is. So, when I left teaching, I wanted to make a new career of it as an educational consultant. My dream was coming true and I had facilitated several AFL workshops in public and independent schools. A long story made short and two job actions later, my dream had redirected to math tutoring. Although I provide ongoing formative feedback as a tutor, I believed that AFL was no longer in my future.

Once again… who would have thought? Right now, I am preparing for a course and workshop I am delivering and facilitating in the fall. Guess what it’s about? ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING. What??? Why??? How??? Looking back, it started out with a friend recommending me to present at a math forum at UBC. This led to an invitation back to the forum in the following year one of the keynote speakers. This lead to being asked to work on the Math K-9 Curriculum Development Team. On another pathway, I became a school trustee. With a nudge here and there, I became a member of the BCSTA Education Committee. One conversation led to another, I was recommended to represent the BCSTA on the Standing Committee on Provincial Curriculum. Finally, on a third pathway, I met some pretty amazing people while facilitating AFL workshops to teachers. Once again, another person makes a recommendation and now I’m teaching this course on curriculum, assessment, and evaluation. Guess what all of these outcomes have in common? Yup… AFL.

I thought I was saying goodbye to my passion for AFL. I was tutoring and not practicing AFL as a classroom teacher. As it turns out, I have been using AFL all along… as a tutor, curriculum writer, and school trustee. Now, I am gifted with the opportunity to teach AFL to teachers as a course instructor and workshop facilitator this fall. I have returned to my passion. As I look back, everything that I have experienced led me to this point in my career. I am returning back to teaching. I am teaching AFL as it relates to the new curriculum and communicating student learning. And, I am teaching teachers. Could I have asked for anything more? Best of all, I am the learner. I have never prepared a university level course before. I have never used Moodle as a means of teaching and learning. And, I have never facilitated a professional development workshop with elementary school teachers.

I am at the face of learning and I am totally stoked. I am excited about my dissertation writing and I am so looking forward to other professional learning experiences that lay ahead of me in my work as school trustee, research assistant, and independent educational consultant. I am absolutely thankful to my professional learning network and community. I love connecting with likeminded individuals. The last 5 years has been absolutely incredible. I just adore all those who support and encourage me to take risks in my practice and I am only mentioning a handful of edu-awesomeness I am so fortunate to be a part of. I have much gratitude and look forward to what’s to come. Yes, this is one chapter in my narrative, but I’m delighted to know that AFL continues to be a part of my pedagogical journey. #brilliant