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?

My Study Buddy

Some people have an inflatable doll… I have Flat Carey.  The dissertation writing process is a lonely journey.  I need some company.  There is lots of introspection, lots of reading, and lots of THINKING.  I’m in the midst of revising Chapter 1 for the 456th time with a new outlook, new ideas, and new perspective.  As I try to integrate some of these new ideas and writing style with what I had before, it does not seem to fit.  Hence, REVISION.  Whoa.  Where was my head space before?  Where what my head space before that?  Repeat the question to self 453 times.  And voila, the iteration process emerges.  It’s so crazy and such a self-esteem killer.  I think the process goes beyond humbling, but maybe my ego needs some recalibrating to ensure that I’m still learning.  It’s amazing to look at old revisions and notice how much I’m transforming, cognitively and pedagogically.  I feel so fortunate to have Flat Carey by my side cheering me on.  Round Carey and other EdD classmates are also within email’s reach for moral and academic support.  I am truly grateful.  What I find strange is my break from dissertation writing is blogging.  Ahhh… it’s a grounding experience.  Thank you for reading Bloggies, but my break is over.  Back to more reading, writing, and revising. #EdDcandidate #writingisfun

#bcedchat = AWESOME

Principles of Math 12 – Math Olymipiks 2009

Back to work… Sundays will be busy for me… I’m revising my 3 chapters AGAIN… math tutoring… and moderating #bcedchat with 3 other amazing people.  Almost three years ago, looking up photos like this one would make me cry.  I miss working with kids in this capacity.  In many ways, classroom teaching is very challenging but hugely rewarding.  Now, I scroll through them and smile.  First of all, they survived Math 12.  Second, I continue to work with kids one-on-one with math tutoring.  Third, I feel that my dissertation will benefit kids in mathematics education.  And finally, edu-initiatives like #bcedchat on Twitter make me hopeful for kids.  I’m learning so much about working collaboratively with colleagues virtually and learning more about education and ‘what could be’ online via Twitter.  Tonight’s topic was “augmented reality.”  Never heard of such a thing, but teachers are using it in their classrooms with their kids and it sounds awesome.  I can only imagine what it would be like to go with an idea like “augmented reality” and run with it.  The professional learning, student engagement, and alternative ways to demonstrate understanding excites me.  A small part of me still pines for the ‘good feelings’ I got from teaching secondary mathematics, however a huge part of me is humbled, honoured, and stoked about what I am learning today.  Thank you #bcedchat #younghusandconsulting #sfu #EdDcandidate #SD46.  It’s been an amazing journey so far.

Back on the Train

SD46 Board of Education – Trustee Tour 2013

Yup.  The SD46 Board of Education is back on the train with our first regular meeting of the year.  I think that I enjoyed tonight’s meeting more than I should have.  It reminds me of a conversation I had during the summer with a former colleague and friend.  I bumped into her at a local event and I love asking people about their pedagogical journey.  She is a seasoned teacher who worked in public schools for many years, then at the university for a period of time, and recently returned back to teaching.  Soon after, I found out that she left the classroom again in pursuit of another awesome educational opportunity.  Twang.  My curiosity it peaked, so I asked, “What motivated you to leave the classroom?”  She said, “I felt lonely.”  Teacher isolation.  I get it.  Classroom walls create silos.  Although you work with so many people as a teacher, there are few opportunities to work with colleagues.  So, why do I like being on the SD46 Board of Education?  Despite our differences and diverse point of views, expertise, and experiences… I appreciate our teamwork, dialogue, and togetherness… to problem solve, inquire, and provoke… to support our students and their learning.  Now that’s cool!!!

Titchy

I love meeting the right people, at the right place, at the right time. Yesterday, I bumped into one of my former colleagues and friend.  We chatted about professional learning, learning styles, and the writing process.  I adore talking about teacher professional development, systems, and optimizing learning opportunities.  In our conversation, what resonated with me was the notion of “titchiness.”  I shared with my friend my learning experiences with respect to my dissertation and writing process.  I’m provoked by new ideas and forced to learn more about myself and my learning.  My professional learning preference is to collaborate and dialogue with others.  My friend prefers the opposite, which was kindly referred to as being a bit TICHY… a “quality” that writers and editors have.  In essence, they want to do it on their own.  They get into a ZONE with their ideas and thoughts.  Titchy could mean edgy.  I want some of that.  I wanna be titchy too.