Behind the Blog

Pulling Together 2011 hanging out with my buddy Signy

Where did the month of April go?  As mentioned in an earlier blog, 2013 has been totally awesome.  I had educational leadership opportunities that extended beyond my imagination.  Hawaii International Conference on Education, UBC Aboriginal K-12 Math Symposium, Kamloops Teachers’ Professional Development, BCSTA AGM, and K-10 Math Curriculum Development Team… and this is only the beginning.  With only one more day left working with the Ministry of Education on the Math Curriculum, I cannot believe all of the wonderful things I got to engage in to nourish my pedagogical soul.  Who would have known without stepping out of my box.  The down side is, I am now BEHIND THE BLOG.  It’s been two weeks since my last entry and deepest apologies to my Bloggies.  It’s about sharing a common story or being inspired.  Today, I was inspired.  I am motivated to write… in my blog… and in research.  Today’s aha is… THE WHAT.  Honestly, I get it.  BTW: More blogs to come.

Follow the Leader

Life lessons comes to me in the strangest ways.  I’ve just returned from my trip to Kamloops.  It’s about a 5-hour drive with ferry.  I am not the greatest driver, especially on road trips.  This was a solo trip.  I was scheduled to present and I did not give driving a second thought until I got onto the Coquihalla Highway.  At first, it was beautiful and sunny in Hope.  I stopped at the Dairy Queen for a small dipped cone to celebrate my first accomplishment of driving from Vancouver to Hope.  I proceeded onto Highway 5 and over the ridge… BOOM… hail, rain, snow, fog… you name it… it happened.  “Limited visibility” is an understatement.  I could not see what was in front of me, except for the red brake lights of a flatbed 18-wheeler truck.  I followed him like he was my best friend.  When he changed lanes, I changed lanes.  When he slowed down, I slowed down.  When he passed trucks, I passed trucks.  It was follow the leader.  Certainly, I followed him by choice, but it was clear to me that he had the expertise, the confidence, and the patience to have me follow him from Hope to Merritt.  Many vehicles passed us en route (not sure how), but I faithfully follow him because I had much to learn.  In a way, he was showing me the ropes.  We parted ways in Merritt.  From Merritt to Kamloops, the drive was still pretty sketchy but I managed to make it to my destination safe and sound.  Kamloops was also beautiful and sunny.  On reflection, I could have followed any vehicle.  Truthfully, if the vehicle was going to fast or too slow, I would have fell behind or passed by.  I think he knew he was helping me and I’m grateful.  Good leadership is hard to come by.  When I find it, I will follow.  From what I learned, I too will lead.  Thank you Mr. Truck Driver.

Thank you SD73 (Kamloops/Thompson) Secondary Mathematics Teachers and Elementary First Nations Education Support Workers for inviting me to be a part of your professional development day.  I had a wonderful time with you all to share some of my thoughts on assessment, math education, and making math fun. 

SD46 Early Years Fair

What an awesome event.  Thank you to Kirsten Deasey, SD46 staff, vendors, and volunteers for making the 2013 Early Years Fair a huge success.  I love attending educational events, such as this one, as school trustee.  This is the first time the Early Years Fair was held at the Sechelt Learning Centre.  Hundreds of parents, children, SD46 staff, and community members were at the event.  The theme was “Fun at the Farm.”  The stars of the fair were the ponies at the pony rides and the little pig at the petting zoo.  Supporting stars were the those representing Wonderwheels, Spark, the SD46 Early Learning Hub, Aboriginal Early Learning, Kindergarten, and community programs such as the Iris Griffiths Center.  The kids were engaged, each child was given a book as a gift, and the community was present.  I was quite enjoying myself as an observer, but I can only imagine what the experience would like for the child.  My favorite part of the day was talking to the teachers of SD46.  Each of them dressed up as a farmer, each had expressed how much they loved their job and how lucky they feel to work at SD46. Does this bring tears to my eyes?  Not really.  It sends shivers down my spine.  I love it.  It feels great because they feel great.  This excites me.  Even more, I’m excited for the kids entering SD46. Well done everyone!!!  Thank you.  It was a spectacular event.

Serendipity

Serendipity: (noun) an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.

Some days I go into a cognitive funk.  I would catch myself in this mental rut and my brain just goes in circles.  It’s those moments of regret, second guessing, and “what if” hypothesizing that gets me into this crazy head space.  I feel lucky when I have moments that smack me on the head and gives me a shake.  The wheel stops spinning and all of a sudden I realize that every decision I’ve made, every experience I’ve had, and every person I’ve met was meant to happen.  Serendipity.  I reflect upon some of the awesome opportunities I got to do this and last year in education and the wonderful people I’ve met.  All of it would not have happened if I had not changed my story… changed my path.  It’s easy to look back to realize that it all was meant to happen. Everything seems so clear.  Looking forward is not so clear.  Whatever is about to happen was meant to happen.  Bring it on!

Making Decisions

The parrot or the peacock?

Here is my kid again… crafting with pipe cleaners… a super Easter gift from her Nana.  My kid loves to craft and create.  Often she will make more than one craft and ask me… “Which one do you like better, Mom?”  Neither?  Both?  They both seem equally good to me.  Not a satisfactory answer because she will ask me again insisting that I have to pick one.  Do I lie?  Do I guess?  What’s the criteria?  I wished it was more obvious to me as to which one is “better.”  Meh.  Truthfully, they are the same.  It is not to say that I don’t like making decisions… I do.  But when it comes to something where you are choosing between two good things, the decision is difficult to make.  Why not both?  Here’s why… sometimes you can’t have both.  Sometimes both choices will conflict with each other in some way and you might end up with neither.  Do you make a pro’s and con’s list?  How about creating a rubric?  Why not go with your instincts?  I like the latter choice, but sometimes listening to my instincts can be difficult if my ego contradicts what my heart desires.  Does this require trust in the universe?  Advice from others?  Or a sign from God?  Right now I am making decisions without a strategic plan.  I have a vision.  I have values.  I need goals.  Everything seems good to me.  Unfortunately, I have to make a choice.  “Mmm… I like the parrot, honey.”

Standing Committee

What an awesome day!!! It was the second meeting of the Standing Committee on Provincial Curriculum. I am honoured to represent the BCSTA (school trustee).  We met in Victoria today.  It was my first time on a float plane. It was my first time at the Ministry of Education. And, it was my first time to meet Maureen Dockendorf, an education guru. It was great to reconnect with committee members and Ministry staff.  It was also great to have representatives from various stakeholder groups.  A full committee lends itself to rich conversation and insight. Best of all, today’s theme was Assessment. Three passionate educators presented about “Assessment for Learning” and the meeting concludes with a student presenter who spoke about her 21st Century Learning experience with a program called SHIFT.  She says there are barriers, but it’s possible.  It takes time, leadership, and respect.  Agreed.  I can see how school trustees will play an instrumental role with the new curriculum in terms of policy, strategic planning, and advocacy.  The ideas are bold.  Implementation is a culture shift. And, curriculum intentions are worthwhile.  I am excited about what’s to come as a school trustee, educator, and mom. Thank you Standing Committee organizers, guests, and members. It was an excellent meeting.

A Teacher’s Gift

When you are a teacher, it is sometimes difficult to realize the kind of impact you have made on someone’s life.  For 15 years, I spent much of my time focused on getting through the curriculum, marking a tonne of papers, and building relationships.  I was a high school math teacher.  No one likes to learn math unless you found it fun.  Well, I found math fun.  We played review games, went on field trips, and used dialogue to make sense of the content. If anything, I wanted kids to LIKE math.  On my pedagogical journey, I am beginning to understand what kind of teacher I was.  My first year away from teaching, I cried… a lot.  I missed the kids.  My second year away from teaching, I could start hearing compliments and receive them.  Now in my third year away from teaching, former students request my connection on LinkedIN.  You know what?  That is super cool.  Forget the chocolates, lattes, and coffee mugs… a friend request, a follow, or LinkedIN connection is the best teacher’s gift.  Thank you.

Easter Monday Taxes

Easter Monday and I’m doing my taxes.  Yup.  It’s a beautiful sunny day and my kid is hanging out with a buddy and my husband is mountain biking.  Personally, I’m overwhelmed with a tonne of paper.  It used to be straight forward when I was employed with public schools but now that I’m self-employed it’s much more work.  Thank goodness, I will use an accounting company to sort out the details but I don’t like collecting EVERYTHING.  On the one hand, it’s good data to collect.  On the other hand, it’s a lot of data.  Nonetheless, I have spent most of the day sorting out bills, receipts, and invoices.  Blogging gives me a bit of a mental break…  Although I did a similar process last year, it seems a bit more complex.  I can see why I was procrastinating this task.  Sigh.  Happy (Easter Monday) Taxes.

Like Mindedness

Just the other day, I received an email from one of my good friends, former colleague, and blog follower.  Today, I happened to see her in person.  She was walking her dog and I was walking off an ice cream. Nonetheless, our paths crossed again.  As you know, good things happen in 3’s.  We both started teaching high school math together in the 90’s. We both loved our jobs, our practices resonated, and we aspired to do more.  More than 10 years later, our career paths deviated.  She became a school principal and I pursued doctoral work, self-employment, and local politics as school trustee.  We both continue to do our best in the educational leadership roles we possess, trying to make a difference in public education and student learning. As it turns out, our career paths will reunite on a provincial curriculum committee.  I am excited to work with her again on this committee as we move forward with our common purpose and passion. Happy Easter.

Happy Pre-Easter

My kids never ceases to amaze me.  Yesterday, on Good Friday, we went to the dollar store to buy Easter hunting supplies.  She was quite secretive about the entire experience.  With her allowance, she bought $10 worth of Easter goodies.  She bought chocolate, plastic eggs, and pencil sharpners.  En route home, she sorted candies and filled the plastic Easter eggs in preparation for an Easter Egg Hunt.  The strange part is… the Easter Egg Hunt was for her parents… for ME… and her dad, of course.  She seemed pretty anxious last night with the constant questioning of, “Do you want your Easter Egg Hunt tomorrow?”  Without a definitive reply, we woke up this morning to our first annual Parental Easter Egg Hunt.  She armed each of us with an Easter basket and off we went.  Her dad found the first egg, the second egg, the third egg… and my kid intervened.  She stood close to me and started to help me, her non-observant mom.  She would give me hints, ask leading questions, and restricted areas of the house just for me to egg hunt.  All I could do was laugh and giggle throughout the Parental Easter Egg hunt because in this basket of goodies (as seen here), I found only one egg on my own.  Thank you sweetness for making the appropriate adaptations for your mom on this Easter Egg Hunt.  My basket is full and I feel like a winner!!!  Happy Pre-Easter. 🙂