SD73 First Nations Education Support Workers, April 2013
Taught secondary mathematics for 15 years in BC public schools. Loved it. With the ups and downs, I loved teaching high school students math. It was fun and engaging. Loved building relationships and building confidence. As an educational consultant, I reap the rewards of teaching again from math tutoring and providing math & assessment workshops to educators. In this photo, I was facilitating a workshop to support workers from Kamloops, BC on how to make math fun. In my workshops, the teacher becomes the learner. They were so engaged that we ran out of time and didn’t know it. Now that’s fun!!! Another type of reward comes from a thank you. Last week, I attended a presentation on “Transforming Curriculum” with CISVA in Port Coquitlam. After the session, one teacher introduced himself to me. He said that he attended my AFL workshop for math teachers 2 years ago and it transformed his practice. His kids loved math. Does it get any better than that?
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, June 03rd, 2013 | Comments Off on Love Teaching
Here is my name tag from the BCSTA AGM 2013. As you can see, I had other notables in the BCSTA organization that extended beyond my name and school district. First, I am an elected member of the BCSTA Education Committee representing the South Coast Branch. Second, I presented a concurrent session to the AGM delegates titled Twitter for Trustees. Finally, I put my name forward as Director for the BCSTA Board of Directors 2013/2014 election. If you have not noticed, I love the work I do as school trustee. The experience has been diverse, engaging, and dynamic. I met a lot of wonderful people from the BCSTA and I am grateful of all of the opportunities I have been afforded. On the other hand, the name tag exemplifies my personal struggle. In my imagination, I want to do everything and anything in the field of education. There are no limitations or boundaries. In the end, I want to teach, learn, and lead. Finding my place in education is currently in progress. I don’t have a definitive goal in mind because I don’t believe the job or position currently exists. However, I am confident it will one day. I am grateful to be a school trustee, educator, consultant, graduate student, tutor, curriculum writer, and educational leader. I love being a change agent. My short term goal is to finish my dissertation. What’s my long term goal? Patience… I’ll know soon.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, June 02nd, 2013 | Comments Off on Finding My Place
I cannot believe it has been 10 years since my kid entered my life. My life completely turned around when she was born. From a full-time teacher, careerist, and 24/7 educator… to a full-time mom, nurturer, and 24/7 provider. I had no idea what I was getting into, but I have no regrets. Certainly there has been many up-days and some down-days. Overall it’s been an awesome ride so far. Aside from the fact that there is no manual or guidebook to tell me when “the rules” change, what I love most about my kid is her innate ability to humble me. I thought I was a pretty strong willed, clearly opinionated, and an independent thinking individual. I pale in comparison to my kid. She too is a strong willed, clearly opinionated, and an independent thinking individual. She is honest, thought provoking, and willing to question authority. She is a critical thinker, self-determined, and stubborn. But she is also kind, good-intentioned, and community-oriented. The more I describe her, I am thinking “apple-tree.” I don’t think I can blame this one on my husband. I am proud of my kid. She forces me to reflect and be a better person. I appreciate how she is willing to question my decisions and character. It takes a lot of courage considering she could be told to go to her room or time-out. Teaching and learning between us is continuous and reciprocated. I look forward to the next 10 years. Love.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, June 02nd, 2013 | Comments Off on Best 10 Years
Look at the time!!! Hurry up!!! Let’s go!!! When are you going to be finished? Yup. This summarizes my dissertation process so far. It’s a race and many from my SFU EdD cohort are done. Out of 12, five of us are left to complete. Statistically, that is awesome considering that only 40% of students finish their PhD or EdD degree. Many remain ABD (All But Dissertation). I look back a year ago… two years ago… three years ago… and think… YIKES… I’m on a journey. It’s tough to explain the choices that I’ve made, but I was not ready to write my proposal back then. I was an edu-pretender, living a lie, because my thinking was a mess. Sometimes you have to let things happen… let go… and JUMP. Three years ago, I knew my dissertation would be about mathematics education, out-of-field teaching, and teacher professional development. Guess what? It still is. My interest has not changed, my perspective has. Trust and Patience. Take it ONE SECTION AT A TIME, my dissertation will be complete.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, May 22nd, 2013 | Comments Off on Trust and Patience
My dissertation proposal has been submitted to my supervisors for review and feedback. 48 pages + an online survey instrument. What a relief. It’s been 3.5 years since my comprehensive exam and 2.5 years since leaving public schools. I’m not dwelling about the past, but reminiscing on what I’ve accomplished. This is the time. I could not have planned it better myself. Looking ahead, it seems mysterious and uncertain. Looking back, it seems perfectly aligned and meant to happen. I met the right people at the right time. I’ve engaged in many edu-experiences that stretch beyond my imagination. I am truly fortunate to have the love and support from my friends, family, and colleagues. I would not be an educational leader or researcher had I not left the teaching profession, but it’s my experience that provoke and inspire my academic writing. My proposal is cohesive, authentic, and something I believe in. The first step of many… I am ready to run.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, May 22nd, 2013 | Comments Off on What a Relief
Moving forward can be a mysterious journey. Knowing me, I am a little impatient. I would like to know where I’m going sometimes. Who doesn’t? Status quo SUCKS (unless it is already super awesome) and I am grateful for the opportunities to learn. I love being an edu-catalyst. YUP. I want to trademark that term. I derive great joy from making a difference in public education. It may come from tutoring, facilitating professional development workshops, developing curriculum, helping teachers, governance, or committee work. I am making a difference and I am ready for the next challenge. Admittedly, I have engaged in some pretty phenomenal edu-experiences that has nourished my need for educational growth and contribution. So what’s next? Decision made. DISSERTATION COMPLETION. This is the time. One year. Read, write, research… and defend. Everything that has happened was meant to happen. Thank you friends and family for encouraging and supporting me. I could not do it without you.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, May 16th, 2013 | Comments Off on This is the Time
Today, I am left feeling blah. First of all, don’t have a bowl of spaghetti for lunch. I spent most of my day digesting carbs… not a good thing. Aside from that, I have questions to answer… personal questions. “Are you going to return back to teaching?” … “Are you going to run for school trustee again in 2014?” … “Are you finished your doctorate yet?”... blah, blah, blah… and still no answers (or at least ones that I’m willing to admit to). By not answering these questions, everything is on hold. As a result, I feel indecisive, uncommitted, and unfulfilled. I have much at stake with much to do… and it does not feel good. As much as I want to make a difference in education, I am holding myself back. This angers me. My procrastination agonizes me. In the end, BEING BOLD becomes a lie. For a person who doesn’t like to lie, I’m lying to myself. This sucks… I’m done. It’s making decision time.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, May 15th, 2013 | Comments Off on Being Bold
As a teacher, I was pretty reluctant to accept formative feedback from others about my teaching practice and muted myself from giving feedback to others. Certainly, I was open to sharing my pedagogical ideas and my colleagues could take it or leave it. Otherwise, in my experience, FORMATIVE FEEDBACK amongst public school teachers was taboo. I’m not sure why that is. As a teacher, I’m a huge advocate for formative assessment for students. Formative assessment is ongoing feedback to and from the student and teacher. It’s also known as Assessment for Learning or AFL. I give professional development workshops to secondary mathematics teachers on how to implement formative assessment strategies in their classroom to improve student achievement. What about teachers? I understand that teachers have a code of ethics, but providing formative feedback to peers face-to-face is OK. It’s not about judging, criticizing, or belittling. Formative feedback is a GIFT. Now that I’m out of the public school system, I can’t do what I do without getting formative feedback from others. I understand that feedback can be difficult to hear sometimes, but reframe what you hear. When someone pays you a compliment, makes a comment, or gives you an idea to work with, remind yourself that the person only wants you to be a BETTER YOU. Best gift ever!!!
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, May 14th, 2013 | Comments Off on Formative Feedback
K-10 Math Curriculum Development Team – April 2013
I am driven. My dream is to Make Math Fun For All. Set the bar high. Admittedly, I never thought it would be possible for me to teach math, let alone be a part of the curriculum development team. As a high school student, I liked math but felt it could have been better. In university, I struggled with math because I could not make sense of what I was doing. As a teacher, I broke away from tradition and thrived on Assessment for Learning. Assessment drives instruction. Stepping out of the box was challenging but student success in math was worth it. My teaching practice transformed. Change is absolutely possible. If I was still in the classroom, I would continue to change. The K-10 Math Curriculum Team gave me another opportunity to make a difference with student learning in mathematics. I love the ideas of personalized learning, formative assessment, and the Educated Citizen. It was an intense 10 days of curriculum development… and professional development. Moving forward.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, May 13th, 2013 | Comments Off on Stepping Out of the Box
Opening Night of AGM – Cheerleaders!!! – April 25, 2013
What an awesome way to celebrate student learning at the 109th BCSTA AGM. From cheerleaders to choir singers, the students’ and their teachers’ were exceptional. The pre-conference session with Margaret Hope on “Powerful Public Speaking” was enjoyed by many who attended and the keynote speaker Dave Meslin was outstanding. His story as a “community catalyst” resonated with the audience. The next day was the conference portion of the AGM. I presented Twitter for Trustees as one of several concurrent sessions. It was super fun. On day 3, it was the AGM and election for the 2013/14 Board of Directors. I put my best foot forward for Director with a modest campaign. The election took 5 ballots and I made it to the final ballot with a 199 to 133 outcome for the other candidate… not a bad showing for a new trustee… and we managed to get through the recommendations in a timely manner. The AGM ends, for me, with a BCSTA Education Committee meeting the next day. Thank you BCSTA for an excellent AGM.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, May 09th, 2013 | Comments Off on BCSTA AGM 2013
