Christine Ho Younghusband

Overarching Question

I get totally consumed by EDUCATION.  I’m beginning to think that it might be affecting my marriage… hmm… might be another blog entry.  Nonetheless, I am obsessed about teaching and learning… in particular, assessment, evaluation, and student engagement.  Unfortunately, I think that my love for education is approaching a tipping point.  I am convinced that how we assess and evaluate students dictate how we teach and how they learn.  I do not claim to be a “perfect” teacher by any means but during my career I realized that marking homework for completion, deducting marks due to lateness, and quizzing students everyday did NOT promote student learning.  We are so influenced by how we were taught as students that we believe that this is how it should be as teachers.  WRONG.  Back to the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”  How will you ever know that something really sucks?  Honestly, something has to go seriously wrong in education for a HUGE systemic change to occur.  I am optimistic.  There are people “out there” trying to make a difference with the new BC curriculum, PLN’s, or changing practice, for example.  But what about the UNreflective practitioner?  Lately I’ve been consumed by this overarching question, “What are we doing to support, promote, or encourage student learning?”  Think about it.  If it makes students feel discouraged, disheartened, or demoralized… DITCH IT.  #notworthit #assessmentforlearning #studentsfirst

One Thing At A Time

It’s already 7pm and I’m still on the go with “things to do.”  I could convince myself that I’m a multitasker, but I’d be lying.  When I think about all the things I need to accomplish, my brain freezes and nothing gets done.  Laundry, house cleaning, food shopping, making dinner, Twitter Chat preparation, PowerPoint revisions, reading, re-imagining my research methodology, and rewriting Chapter 3… house hold obligations and “work to do” seem relentless yet equally worthy.  What to do first?  It doesn’t matter.  Do something.  One thing at a time and my “things to do” list will shorten.  The laundry is done.  House cleaning is done.  Food shopping is done.  Dinner is done.  Twitter Chat prep is done.  PowerPoint is done.  Back to my dissertation.  Might as well blog first before jumping into my research methodology (again).  The dissertation is much the same.  Looking at the entire project is overwhelming and daunting.  One thing at a time, it will get done. 

Not Suppose To Be Easy

Granville Island 10K Turkey Trot 2013

I can say that I’ve successfully completed the 10K Turkey Trot Run this Thanksgiving.  I started training a few months ago with full intentions of running the full 10K…  I  ran 5K and walked 5K.  Was this a failure?  Hell no.  It’s not suppose to be easy.  Even though I had good intentions before the race, plans changed.  For the first 5K, I was OK with people passing me because I was running at my own pace.  I said to myself, “Everybody is different and you’re OK.  Keep going.”  After the 5K mark, I had to make a choice…. listen to my body or listen to my head.  Mid-race, I hit a wall.  The ego is a powerful beast… it said, “Keep running.  What will people think of you?”  The truth is, who cares.  It’s about being in the moment and being authentic to myself.  I opted to walk… briskly, of course.  It’s a Turkey run, walk, or stroll… and I accomplished all three modalities.  In 1.5 hours, I crossed the finished line.  I have a metal to prove it.  WINNER.  In the end, I think we are our toughest critic.  Meh… lighten up… it’s the journey that matters.  I had a great time.

The Tingles

The last time I mentioned “the tingles” was in a blog post in 2011 titled The Happiness Project.  The tingles is my intuition that “senses” something is good, awesome, or wonderful is happening.  At times, I wished I was more intuitive (like some people I know), but the tingles will have to suffice.  When I get the tingles it’s kind of random.  Usually I experience the tingles when I’m listening to someone’s story.  For example, a good friend of mine was telling me in private that she was applying for a new job.  Got the tingles and I knew that she would get the job.  And, she did.  Just recently a former student of mine was telling me about his academic studies and becoming a welder.  Got the tingles and I knew he was happy and living his life authentically.  Best of all, I thought of “my goal” the other day and got the tingles.  This is a good sign.  The tingles spook me out at times, but they do affirm that something good is going to happen. #cool

Thanksgiving 2013

I love my kid.  She seems to manage to teach me something new everyday.  Today’s lesson: Don’t take life so seriously.  Be thankful.  So here is my TOP 10 LIST of TURKEY GRATITUDE:

10.  Thank you sunshine. May you be sunny Monday during the Turkey Trot Run on Granville Island. #weatherdependentrunner
9.  Thank you Sunshine Coast residents. Love living on the Sunshine Coast with you. So many great people. #aplacetobe
8.  Thank you Younghusband Consulting Math Tutees. Teaching and learning mathematics is so much fun. #makingadifference
7.  Thank you SFU MEd Surrey Cohort in Ed Leadership.  Loved working with you all. #passionate #driven #leaders #convocation
6.  Thank you BCAMT Executive Committee.  So wonderful to work with people passionate about math education. #likeminded
5.  Thank you SFU EdD program. Challenged by the dissertation process. Humbling. Learning lots. #couragetosucceed
4.  Thank you BC Ministry of Education and Younghusband Consulting Workshop Participants. #openmindedness
3.  Thank you SD46 Board of Education. A learning experience. Great opportunities. Serving students. #purposeful
2.  Thank you edu-colleagues… teachers, students, parents, trustees, administrators, professors… #allinittogether
1.  Thank you friends and family.  You have infinite patience and love. #muchgratitude #unconditional #ongoingsupport

Yup. It’s the people in my life (and the sun) that I am grateful for on Thanksgiving 2013.  Everyone has something to teach me and I have something to learn.  Seems kinda sappy, but so what.  What are you thankful for? #hashtags #lol

PB (post-blog): OK. I am also thankful for the #bcedchat team, #bcedchat, #COLchat, #cdnedchat, Gibsons Ladies Night Curling Club, the BCSTA, my dog Sally, and double tall non-fat lattes.  You see… once you start… you can’t stop.

Yoga Yes

Standing Tree – Photo by Lululemon

Yay me.  I’ve finally returned back to yoga and it feels great.  I love my yoga teacher and I love how yoga makes me feel.  Admittedly, more than 10 years ago yoga scared me.  I went to yoga but was uncertain.  Last year, I returned back to yoga with an open mind and an open heart.  With no expectations, I arrived at the right time, at the right place.  Now, yoga inspires me.  I’m so glad to be back at it.  I love being in the present.  I love challenging myself with different poses.  I love the idea of doing something for myself.  Today’s accomplishment: I was able to maintain a standing tree balance pose without tipping, on each foot, and breathe at the same time.  Yup.  This is a reason for celebration.  Another reason, I was able to tune everyone else out.  No judgement.  I was able to let it be.  Yes!  On the one hand, doing yoga seems self-indulgent.  On the other hand, I’m worth it.  Being able to take care of myself enables me to take care of others. #feelsgood #blissfulyogasechelt 

Love My Friends

SFU EdD Sunshine Coast Sub-Cohort

“Happy birthday day to me, happy birthday day to me, happy birthday to my twin brother… cousin… good friend… and friend’s son… happy birthday to us!”

Admittedly, it’s been a quiet day.  Not to say that I was expecting fireworks or a big band to play, but I’m surprised by how much quiet time I’ve had today on my birthday.  Nothing dramatic.  Nothing extreme.  Nothing notable.  This is a good sign.  It’s about time I have a moment to myself to stand still and BE.  It’s a nice feeling.  I’m doing things today that I’m inspired to do.  I’m thinking about and working on my dissertation in an authentic way.  I’m appreciating all of my Facebook birthday wishes.  As quiet as it’s been today, I know that I’m surrounded by good friends, my family, and lots of love.  I am celebrating my birthday.  I am appreciating all that I have and I look forward to what will be.  It’s a peaceful day and I’m happy.  Thank you to all those who follow or read my blog.  It’s definitely been a pedagogical journey so far.  Many of ups and downs… aka. life’s learning opportunities.  I like how things are unfolding.  I am optimistic and I am grateful for all of the wonderful people in my life.  Thank you for your patience, honesty, and kindness.  Eg. Look at us in Hawaii… my study buddies and good friends… It is truly an honour.

Surrendering

Tofu Pad Thai from Absolutely Thai in Gibsons, BC

Yup. It took this plate of Pad Thai to shed some light on my dissertation writing.  I was loyal to “O’Thai” in Sechelt.  I loved their Pad Thai.  It was my comfort food.  Lots of noodles, small specs of tofu and egg, spicy, red-in-colour, and sprinkled with peanuts.  Nothing seemed to compare.  I didn’t want to change.  A couple of years ago, the restaurant closed down.  Now the place is a burger joint.  Wait long enough and change happens to you.  I could resist or be open to change.  Truthfully, it’s about surrendering to what is.  There are no restaurants in Sechelt that serve Pad Thai.  Last summer, I had a huge craving for Pad Thai and waited to go to Vancouver to have some.  It was not the same.  Disappointed.  What to do?  Surrender.  Last night, I went “Absolutely Thai” in Gibsons.  The Pad Thai looked and tasted nothing like “O’Thai’s” but it was equally delicious.  Surprisingly satisfied.  As for my dissertation, it’s nothing like what I originally intended, but believe it will be equally as good.  Moving forward.

Iris Griffith Centre

SD46 Education Committee Meeting

What an awesome experience… LOVE being the Chair of the SD46 Education Committee.  First, we talk about EDUCATION.  Hello? That is my passion.  Second, we have a committed group attending the meeting and strive to have representation from all stakeholder groups.  I look forward to student trustees being a part of our committee.  Third, we have great discussions.  We always have our students, our community, and our school district’s best interests in mind.  Finally, we do great things like THIS… meeting at Iris Griffith Centre, a place where our kids learn, but it also exemplifies community partnerships, outdoor-environmental education, and culturally responsive learning opportunities.  This truly inspires me.  Thank you Lee-Ann and Michael from Iris Griffith for the tour and meeting place.  And, thank you SD46 Education Committee for having me as Chair.  These meetings are open to the public.  I look forward to seeing new faces at this discussion table.  Proud to be part of SD46.

Fills Me Up

“Bring It On” Chat Prod 2005 – Professional Learning

Wow.  I had to pull this photo out from my edu-archives.  “Chat Prod 2005” was an edu-initiative taken with my edu-buddies, Cam and Dave, at the secondary school I used to teach at.  We formed the school professional development (PD) committee with the school principal at the time and I was the school’s PD teacher representative.  I will confess… I am a PD junkie.  I loved this event.  It was totally unique.  Look at the sea of RED.  Who wouldn’t love that?  The metaphor of “prodding” our colleagues to share and collaborate (aka. Pro-D) was really about creating community and collegiality.  Nowadays, I get my PD fix from Twitter chats like #bcedchat and EdCamps like #edcamp2031 with new edu-buddies whom I adore just as well.  The only way I can get better about what I do is to dialogue face-to-face, online, or some other way I have not discovered yet with others to reflect, assess, and learn.  Learning is way too fun… Professional learning is even more rewarding.  How do you get your edu-fix?