Blog Challenge

Well… this will be a nice distraction from all that is happening in BC Public Education.  As much as I am passionate about BC Public Education, I am equally passionate about teaching and learning.  I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this 6-week “blog challenge.”  My blogs are not particularly long, so I have committed to blogging twice a week and respond to blogs in the challenge twice a week as well.  Admittedly, I have not been blogging for quite some time. There is much going through my mind and I am feeling cognitively paralyzed.  Normally, I would blog when I am feeling inspired.  Lately, I have not been inspired, but returning to my blog reminded me why I blog.  At first, I started blogging to reduce my fears about writing and sharing my ideas with the universe.  Not to sound too dramatic, but that’s how it feels.  As I moved forward with my blogging experience, I am finding my voice. This is a journey in itself particularly when I want to convey ideas that are meaningful and authentic.  Blogging has been an extraordinary opportunity for me to reflect on my practice, my values, and my pedagogical beliefs.  I wholeheartedly believe that reflection is an integral part of the learning process.  This is not to over analyze or to superficially report out what is observed or experienced.  It’s about understanding the lessons learned and moving forward.  “When you know better, you do better” (Maya Angelou).

Outstanding

The Spoken Word – Poetry Slam – Finale of SCFWA 2014

Wow.  How can one be more inspired? This was a super awesome excellent event.  I have made half a dozen Tweets and half a dozen Facebook posts expressing my adoration for the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts (SCFWA).  Why not a blog too?  Unbelievable.  I just walk away from this event HAPPY.  How many times can you say that?  I do not know what the magic is, but I want more of it.  Thank you Jane Davidson and the SCFWA Team for hosting and orchestrating this event.  I literally stumbled into SCFWA last year out of sheer curiosity.  I lived on the Sunshine Coast for 20 years and never realized the awesomeness of this local annual event until I purchased one ticket one a whim.  One ticket led to another.  I was sold.  I think I bought a hat-trick of tickets last year and convinced I would be returning this year.  Yup.  I delved in and purchased a day-pass for Sunday… that is, six sessions.  In truth, by the time I returned back to the SCFWA office in the spring, all of the full-event tickets, the Friday day-pass tickets, and Saturday day-pass were SOLD OUT.  This was karma.  I went to every session on Sunday and loved every minute of it.  I loved the authors, singers, and storytellers.  I loved how they tell their story about their stories.  I loved connecting with visitors and community members face-to-face as we shared our admiration for the writers at the festival.  I loved how the writers… well, of the ones I’ve seen… “put themselves out there” to share their craft.  Furthermore, the event ended with a poetry slam and sing-along, which was amazing.  SCFWA is better than professional development.  It’s more like personal or spiritual development.  This is saying a lot considering I am a mathematics educator who is not an avid reader.  Anyway, I bought a least one book or DVD from each writer I saw that day.  It’s like me and “Circle Craft,” a HUGE craft fair in Vancouver.  I am not buying the craft because of the craft itself.  I am buying it because of the artists’ passion, or “jam.”  Thank you SCFWA.  Next year I might consider a full-event pass…

The Painted Boat

Look at the beautiful view from our patio at our gorgeous condo/room at the Painted Boat. #MadieraPark

Highlight of our Painted Boat experience is TV-free Scrabble family time. #diduseiPadforSrabbleDictionary

Spoiled ourselves with a delicious dinner at The Restaurant at the Painted Boat. #greatservice #sturgeon #mussels

Took advantage of some of the outdoor adventures offered at the Painted Boat. #kayaking #trailwalking

Thank you PAINTED BOAT for the staycation and memorable family experience. #fromtheYOUNGHUSBANDs

Younghusband Consulting

A step into the right direction… updated my YHC WEBSITE… again. This time I was challenged to merge my websites and blog into one. Mmm… it’s not quite possible yet, but I managed to meet part of the challenge by interconnecting two websites and blog together into one website and deleted the third. The “big idea” of this challenge is to simplify my work, promote one identity, and maximize my work time. Seems to make sense, but I struggled with this idea when in my imagination I believed I was promoting three different personas… educational consultant, school trustee, and doctoral student. Hello? They are one… it’s ME. With some careful thought, I could see how my websites could interconnect and I am happy with what I have produced so far. I am still learning and I wholeheartedly enjoyed the challenge. Four years ago, I felt like I was reinventing myself when I left my teaching practice in public schools and now I feel like I am reinventing myself once again to prepare for my next step. #fun

Dream BIG

My little family and I just returned from Disneyland and our 3-day experience.  Aside from wanting a foot massage after each day, I’ve learned three things: (1) I’m a nerd; (2) Be strategic; and (3) Anything is possible.  My 11-year old daughter was consumed by going on the rides, checking out the Disneyland SWAG, and eating yummy treats from various vendors.  I was enamoured by how people were managed/organized on the Disneyland site, the number of people Disneyland employs, and the engineering/artistry to stimulate the imagination.  ABSOLUTELY UNREAL.  Thank goodness for my husband’s patience and strategic will to engage in Fast Pass.  We visited both parks, California Adventure and Disneyland, and enjoyed rides like the Indiana Jones Adventure, Splash Mountain, and Radiator Spring Racers.  SUPER FUN.  Finally, I was captured by the fireworks.  I felt like a kid again and dreams do come true. Look at Disneyland, Pixar, and Apple.  DREAM BIG.  #believe

DDA Mixer July 2014

DDA Mixer at Ty’s Fine Bistro, Sechelt, BC

I cannot believe the learning opportunities I encounter by being a part of DDA (Define, Design, Align) with Leah Goard.  At first I joined the DDA business circle at the beginning of the new year to learn more about my business.  As it turns out, I am learning more about myself and how it aligns with my business, my political work, and my dissertation.  Yes, I am showing up on the dance floor, dancing, and proud of it.  I am learning how to let go of my agreements, create space with time blocking, and dig deep to uncover my “why.” It’s amazing how much can be accomplished with a closed group Facebook page, group and individual phone calls, and informative webinars.  The best part is meeting people in the DDA community with face-to-face mixers.  Not only is there great food, great people, and great prizes… there are great conversations, great ideas shared, and great inspiration.  Thank you to all those I spoke to that night and thank you Leah Goard for being you. #gratitude #compassion #movingforward #reflection

Unsolicited Joy

Japadog – Vancouver, BC

Yes… The Japadog does bring me great joy particularly when I am enjoying one with my family. My Japadog is the one on the far right with the strips of nori. It tasted like a mix between a California roll and a hot dog.  DELICIOUS.  What else brings me unsolicited joy are random emails, Facebook posts, or face-to-face interactions with parents of children whom I taught as a public school educator and independent consultant. Yesterday, I received an unexpected celebrating the educational journey and success this person’s child.  Yes, this “child” is at least 20 years old, but it’s nice to know that my work as a math educator transformed someone’s life in a positive way.  This child’s story was about failure, disengagement, and despair in high school math.  Yet, this child was totally able. Now, this child is in a place of confidence, competence, and joy in higher education.  It amazes me how teaching can change the trajectory of someone’s life and I continue to reap the benefits. Thank you for the email, feedback, and photos.  I am grateful.

140 Characters Not Enough

140 characters are not enough to respond to your concerns and assumptions.  It would have been easy to ignore your Twitter mentions and move forward, but I felt compelled to reply because I believe that I am one of your “Trustee friends” you are trying to convince to speak out.  First of all, trustees, school boards, and BCSTA are speaking out.  For example, here’s a blog post I wrote last month, Where Do I Stand.  Second, I do not agree with your suggestion of taking a “harsh stand against the Ministry.” Boards of Education are the employer.  Many letters have been written by many Boards requesting for “good faith” bargaining, mediation, and a negotiated settlement.  SD46 has written 2 letters.  BCSTA has made public statements and will again some time soon.  I agree that school board letters may not be frequently shared on social media for quick public access, but they do exist.  A “harsh stand” may not be effective or desirable if we want the government and the BCTF to listen.  Boards of Education and BCSTA want both parties to be at the table, make tough decisions, and mediate to establish a negotiated settlement by September 2nd.  The power I possess as an SD46 school trustee and BCSTA director is the power to INFLUENCE my boards.  This work is in progress and being done. Boards of Education and BCSTA have the power to influence government and the BCTF to get back to the table and bargain. However, they do not have the power to force both parties to bargain and ‘make the tough decisions’ needed to get mediation and a collective agreement.  They do not have the power to change the provincial mandate of not raising taxes in order to subsidize increased teacher wages and address class size & composition.  They do not have the power to predict the outcome of the supreme court appeal before September 2nd.  How does the saying go?  You can bring a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.  In this scenario, there are two horses.  Yes, other stakeholder groups such as parents, trustees, and Boards of Education can motivate both government and teachers to bargain through the summer until an agreement is reached.  Both parties have stated that they were willing to mediate and bargain during the summer, but no dates have been currently scheduled to do so.  In the end, it’s up to the two bargaining teams to bargain.  #IMHO

The Reflective Practitioner

Tonight’s #bcedchat, “The Reflective Practitioner” was inspired by the book The Reflective Practitioner – How Professionals Think in Action by Donald A. Schon.  I enjoyed co-moderating with @MsVictoriaOlson and reconnecting with the @bcedchat team, @brynmw and @jeremyinscho, on Google Hangout.  Being a part of these Twitter chats bring me joy… educationally and spiritually… so much joy that I’m inspired to write and reflect in my blog.  It’s half way through 2014… so what have I accomplished, what have I learned, and what’s next.  Hmm… this is a tough one.  On the one hand, I have accomplished a lot.  I got a job locally with the CRC Progress Plan, I was elected to the BCSTA Board of Directors, and I am returning a back to the Sunshine Coast Community Futures Board.  I feel deeply involved with my community, I exceeded my expectations, and I am learning.  These are all good things.  On the other hand, I fell short from getting a ‘life changing’ job, I am not building a momentum with my writing, and my health & fitness have been greatly neglected.  I can do everything, just not all at once.  This is not failure, but a segway into my next steps.  I am excited to take those steps and see how things will unfold.  What continues to go well in my pedagogical journey is my trusteeship, my business, and #bcedchat.  I have much gratitude.  So, what have I learned?  Do what you love and get better at it.

The Making

The making is in the breaking… Yup. I prevented myself from being broken.  It’s taken a year to mend myself back “together”… And wonder if I had made the right choice. In life, there are very few opportunities to be broken. Many of us spend much our time preventing ourselves from being broken. At the breaking point, one has two options. The first option is to be broken.  The breaking process could get ugly. The outcome is unknown and fear is provoked. The second option is to do whatever it takes to prevent the breaking from happening and proceed as usual. The outcome is known, comfortable, and familiar. Have you ever experienced this before? Which option would you choose? Which outcome do you fear most? As difficult as it may seem, the act of breaking is a gift. It takes great courage to allow and accept uncertainty. One must look beyond the trees and see the possibilities. Fear hold us back. Now, I must break myself open. This “breaking” will not be an easy task… but what I do know for sure is, “the making” will be worthwhile.