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
After I Found My Jam in Kamloops, presenting to school trustees at the BCSTA AGM was my peanut butter. I had the great fortune of facilitating a concurrent workshop titled, Twitter for Trustees. What an awesome opportunity to share what I know about Twitter with my colleagues. The audience ranged from no technology to 15K followers. It was an interesting audience to navigate with, but I am truly grateful for @silaswhite (SD46) and @ChrisGorman (SD23) for stepping up and helping me out with the interactive parts of my workshop. Loved it!!! My two favorite Twitter guys… and a deep thank you to @bettybaxter9 @LoriAnnPratt @DaveMewhort and @Patrick_Bocking from SD46. The unconditional support from my Board of Education is always appreciated. They were an integral part of my presentation and they were happy to play along. Nothing beats a shameless plug. And thank you to @GoodallRob @glendaollero from the BCSTA + Twitter mentions. A must do again… LIKE.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, May 08th, 2013 | Comments Off on Twitter for Trustees
When I was in the practice, teaching in public schools, I would go to many craft fairs to admire all of the wonderful things people created and committed their time to. My interest in craft fairs extended beyond the candles, jewelry, and homemade fudge. I had a hidden agenda… what is their jam? OK… I know that jam is also sold at these craft fairs, but I wondered more about the artists’ motivation, love, and commitment. Why do they do what they do? As a result, I would ask them their story. A good story always equated to one purchase. Then I would wonder, what is my drive? I guess I was looking for my jam. Why do I do what I do? It was only until I was driving home from Kamloops a couple of weeks ago when I realized I found my jam. I love teaching and learning. For those who know me, this seems pretty obvious. Unfortunately, it was not obvious to me. I got bogged down by other things that distracted me from the obvious. In Kamloops, I facilitated a workshop with secondary math teachers in the morning and elementary First Nations support workers in the afternoon. Loved both sessions. I got hyped about math, they got hyped about math, and I got hyped on their hype. The experience was exponential. This is a nice place of knowing. I derive great joy from teaching and learning, and now leadership. Thank you Kamloops!!!
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, May 05th, 2013 | 1 Comment »
I have learned so much by being a part of the Math K-10 Curriculum Development Team. It was a unique opportunity to work with other math educators in BC from public and independent schools. I got contribute to the direction of math education in light of the BCEd Plan and new Provincial Curriculum. Finally, I was able to authentically share my views of math education and how it could be for kids. Guess what? So did everyone else around the table… It was an opportunity to influence, compare, and compromise. The mantra: LISTEN and LET GO. If you held onto your ideas too tightly, you were not able to listen. The lesson is to LISTEN… to others and yourself. Once you can listen, sometimes letting go is the best thing to do. By letting go, you are able to get to “the next level.” This happened over and over again at the curriculum development table. This lesson also resonates in my life. Listen and let go. I cannot realize my potential by holding onto what is or what was.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, May 05th, 2013 | 1 Comment »
I often wonder why things happen the way they do. When I look back, it seems to be perfectly aligned like it was meant to happen. For instance, I just returned from Victoria working with the K-10 Math Curriculum Development Team, a once in a lifetime experience. The reason I got to work with the team is because Elaine Colgate from the Ministry saw me present at the UBC Aboriginal Math Symposium earlier this year. The reason I presented the symposium is because Cynthia Nicol from UBC Math Education heard me speak a couple of years ago. The reason why she heard me speak is because Kerry Mahlman from SD46 invited me to the first symposium. The reason why I was invited is because Kerry and I worked on an Aboriginal Math project a few years ago. The reason why we work on that project is because our school district extended the instructional time for Math 8/9 students and I wanted bridge the achievement gap. Who would have thought? It all lined up. I am truly grateful.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, May 05th, 2013 | Comments Off on Perfectly Aligned
