A Tribute to Beatrice

Pulling Together 2011 – Ucluelet to Port Alberni

I have known Beatrice since I had moved to the Sunshine Coast, that is almost 20 years ago.  I first met Beatrice at the Gibsons Curling Club.  She was giggly and a good sport.  I loved her ‘go with the flow’ attitude on the curling ice.  Outside from curling, I would see Beatrice from time to time in Sechelt.  She would be in Shoppers Drug Mart or on Cowrie Street waving hello, cracking a joke with a smile.  We both drifted from the sport of curling.  Life gets busy and priorities change.  We reunited at Pulling Together 2010, the Salish Sea Canoe Journey.  I was not a paddler and she was a water junkie.  I did not know that about her.  That year, Beatrice volunteered to be a part of the ground crew.  Deep down inside, she wanted to paddle.  When called up to fill a spot, she never hesitated.  I loved her enthusiasm and I appreciated her patience even more.

My last memory of Beatrice was at the June 2012 DPAC (district parent advisory council) meeting at Chatelech Secondary.  She was sitting a across from me, wearing her Pulling Together fleece, saying “hey, there’s trouble.”  We chatted and giggled a bit.  I was at the DPAC meeting as a school trustee.  I asked her why she was there.  She said that she was representing the Chatelech PAC.  That was so awesome.  Once again, something else I did not know about her.  Less than a week later, Beatrice lost her life on June 3, 2012 during a search and rescue volunteer training session.  There was an accident and 2 of 4 trainees did not survive.  A mutual friend shared the news with me the next morning.  I was in shock.  Someone who served so many, lost her life doing something she loved.

Above is a photo from the 2011 Pulling Together Canoe Journey.  It is a picture of the Sunshine Coast Canoe Family posing on a beach in Ucluelet, the first day of the Journey.  I think that this photo would bring Beatrice much joy.  In this Journey, she was a full-fledged paddler with the Dolphin Spirit.  Another thing I have learned about her since her passing was that she is a private person.  I was one of 72 of her friends on Facebook.  Truly an honour.  So, I would point her out in the photo, but I figure that would “piss her off” and she would not want me to do that.  Therefore, if you know her, you can find her in the photo.  If you don’t, no worries.  Be reassured, she is present.

Thank you Beatrice for the life-lessons you have taught me… SERVE… BE PRESENT… LIVE YOUR PASSION… PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE… and SMILE.  RIP Beatrice.  You will be missed.  Paddles up!

A New Me

Pulling Together 2010

This is one of my most favorite pictures… me and my daughter walking on the beach together.  She and my family surprised me one day in West Vancouver during the 2010 Pulling Together Journey.  The 2010 Canoe Journey was my Pulling Together experience but it also marked a significant turning point in my pedagogical journey.

It was this Journey when I had first acknowledged publicly that I was a doctoral candidate (and had been for months), it was the first time I paddled in a canoe (and I don’t know how to swim), and it was the first time I felt collective efficacy (a group of people working together towards a common goal).  The experience was transformational.  A few months after the 2010 Journey, I made a life-changing decision to leave teaching in public schools to pursue other educational opportunities and work on my dissertation.  I am still working on my dissertation, but I have encountered many educational opportunities and loving it.

When I look at this picture, I am reminded of a metaphor.  My relationship with my daughter has been in a state of change since she was born.  Once I figured out “the rules,” the rules would change.  No one sent me a memo.  I would have to adapt.  In this photo, my daughter was 7 years old.  She saw her as a little girl.  She would get the motherly death grip when we walked through Metrotown after having dim sum with my parents.  I had to know her every move.  It was my job.  She’s my little girl.  Then one day, she looks at me with disgust, pulled her head back, and says, “Mom, we’re in public.”  The rules changed.  No more walking to and from school.  No more holding hands. No more public displays of affection.  For me, those days are over.  Letting go helps her thrive to become the person she is meant to be.  Holding on frustrates her, angers me, and she becomes someone else.

What’s the metaphor?  I am changing.  I am on a pedagogical journey.  I made decisions in search for something different.  The crazy part, I am holding onto the way things were.  It’s been almost two years since I have left teaching in public schools to become a full-time graduate student and self-employed as an educational consultant.  In the 2011, I topped the polls in the municipal elections to become a school trustee.  A new me.  I am an educational leader.  I am teaching mathematics.  I am engaged in professional development.  In truth, I am living the life.  What am I holding onto?  Another big step in life and letting go.  When I hold onto ‘my story,’ I cannot thrive.  Here’s the truth, regardless of title, position, or employment… I am still a educator, a learner, a leader.  Much like my daughter, the rules are changing but she’s still ZOE.  Let it go.  Things are great.  My business is growing.  I love serving on the SD46 Board of Education.  My dissertation needs work.

Letting go of the past to become the person I was meant to be is the right thing to do.  Good bye STORY, you have expired.  Time to move on to a new story.  I do have a job.  I am teaching and learning.  I am an integral part of the community.  I am making a difference.  That’s all that matters.

Talking Math

I was trying to find a pic of my kid at swimming lessons, instead I posted a pic of me posing with some of my students a few years ago (but zoomed right into my face).  It’s all good.

I wanted to write today about MATH.  Yup.  You heard me, MATH.  I don’t want to solve math problems, but would love to solve problems relating to math.  When I was teaching grades 8-12 math, I was determined to have all students feel like they can do math.  If the learner believes they can do math, they will.  Any self-doubt will result in failure. A positive sense of self-efficacy to do math is key.

Not to say that I am a one-girl show, but I have always wanted to share the love for math with my colleagues, students, and parents.  Internalizing a false-story of “I can’t” is a lie that cannot tolerate.  I knew at some intuitive level that I made a difference in my students’ lives in one way or another when I taught them math.  When I decided to leave teaching at public schools to pursue graduate studies and educational leadership opportunities, I still had full intentions of promoting mathematics in a positive way.

I am involved with the BC Association of Mathematics Teachers, I deliver professional development workshops to teachers, and tutor students and adults math.  Furthermore, my dissertation has intentions of contributing to mathematics education and educational leadership; and my trusteeship ‘talks math’ too.  Just the other day I was talking math with a parent/teacher during my daughter’s swimming lessons.  From this conversation, we started talking about mathematics and pedagogy.  I LOVED IT.  This parent/teacher was inspired by some of the ideas such that this person was willing to incorporate them into his/her teaching practice.  Super cool.  Influence one, influence many.

I love talking math with teachers.  I love talking math with parents.  I love talking math with students.  The greatest reward is knowing that all three cohorts love talking about it too.  Sometimes I wonder about my pedagogical journey… where am I going… what’s my purpose… what’s the next chapter… in the end, I know that I’m going in the right direction.  People feel good about learning about math and I feel great sharing my love for math with them.  Everyone can do math… MATH RULES.

Professionalism at the SD46 Golf Tournament

What does that mean?  Professionalism at the SD46 Golf Tournament.  First of all, I am deeply apologetic to my golf team.  I arrived 2 hours late.  In fact, the event completely escaped my mind.  I was lying on the couch wondering why I had nothing scheduled for tonight.  With a 530pm tee time, I drove to the golf course at 7pm in hopes of connecting up to my golf team on the course.  Much gratitude to those who lent a helping hand during my search.  I loved chatting to various foursomes en route.  The Sunshine Coast Golf Course is so beautiful and it was a great day to golf.  Eventually, I did find my team with 2 holes remaining in the tournament.

After golfing, it was an opportunity to socialize.  Time to grab a beverage and talk to those who  played in the tournament.  I loved watching those who had a tonne of fun and let loose.  I loved talking to those who asked how things are going and if I enjoyed my ‘new job’ as a school trustee.  I loved laughing and reuniting with people in the school district.  What impressed me about my conversations was the level of professionalism.  With the labour dispute, changes in the upcoming school year, and added pressure of year end, everyone who participated in the SD46 Golf Tournament was in good spirits.  I enjoyed talking with people at the event as school trustee and I appreciated the support of my peers with regards to my career path and role on the Board.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Bev and all those who spent the time and effort in organizing and facilitating this district event.  The SD46 Golf Tournament has been a success for 2012 with 19 teams registering.  Lots of great prizes and lots of yummy food.  Next year, I am determined to bring in an SD46 Board of Education foursome to this tournament.  It’s a great way to team build, meet people in the school district, and have fun.  Thank you everyone for a great evening!

DPAC is Working for Kids

SD46 DPAC Meeting – May 29, 2012

For a District Parent Advisory Committee (DPAC) that barely existed for several years in School District No.46 (Sunshine Coast), it has been revived in 2012/13.  Only six months ago, the SD46 DPAC elected an executive committee with a handful of parents attending the meeting.  Tonight, there were more than 30 attendees.  As school trustee, I am pleased with the turnout and the dialogue amongst parents, senior staff, school principals, trustees, and community school coordinators.  Tonight’s topic: Extracurricular Activities for 2012/13.

Living on Purpose

How do you know if you are living on purpose?  Meaning, are you doing what you are meant to be doing with your life?  Are you doing what you doing because you actually intended to?

“Unless you are prepared to give up something valuable you will never be able to truly change at all, because you’ll be forever in the control of things you can’t give up” (Andy Law).

I get this.  I spent 16 years of my adult life teaching high school mathematics.  With good times and bad, I truly enjoyed teaching secondary mathematics.  Leaving the teaching profession was not an easy decision.  In hindsight, I made the right decision.  I am still teaching secondary mathematics with my consulting business and I’m still involved with professional development and the public school system as a graduate student and school trustee.  The best part is, I’m doing all this on my terms.  I would not have realized this without taking a leap of faith in hopes of living on purpose.

I cannot dwell on how things were or how things could be.  What I can celebrate is the now.  I am so grateful for the opportunities I am faced with each day.  On the one hand, it’s scary and uncertain.  On the other hand, I make mistakes and lessons are learned.  As a result, I get better, stronger, and more determined.  I would not have met the people I know today or engage in leadership opportunities without making a significant shift in my life.  As much as making the shift was difficult, I am thankful for everything that has happened to me since.  My advice: take the leap and BELIEVE.

Math Tutoring

Kelly & Grace – Cramming for Principles of Math 12

This is probably one of my most favorite photos.  Does it look natural to you?  Two of my favorite students studying for Math 12 with latte in hand… it’s a vision that puts tears to my eyes.  As you can see, modelling plays a huge role in student learning.  Thanks girls for looking so natural in this photo opportunity.  I hope that both Kelly and Grace do not mind that their picture is posted in this blog for the world to see.  By now, they have finished their undergraduate degrees and have moved on with their academic and/or professional careers as young adults wondering what they want to be when they grow up.  Both of them went into the Faculty of Arts.  Kelly graduated in Honors English at UBC and Grace was a pre-med student.  Math tutoring was one of the most fulfilling parts of my job as a high school mathematics teacher.  It is at this moment when relationships are built, trust is formed, and mutual respect is reciprocated 10-fold.  As much as I enjoyed teaching in the 4 block tumble of the timetable, it was the lunch time tutorials, after school help, and weekend math camps that made my job rewarding.  As an independent educational consultant, my new self-employed position focuses on two avenues I adored as a high school teacher: (1) teacher professional development and (2) math tutoring.  Last year I had delivered more than a dozen workshops to high school teachers about Assessment for Learning.  With that said, the math tutoring portion of my business is flourishing.  I love working with students one-on-one.  It has offered new challenges to my teaching practice as I try to cater the tutoring session to the learning needs of the student and attempt to figure out how to best fit our work with the work of the teacher.  Not an easy task but I love the challenge.  My inspiration for this blog entry is my gratitude to those individuals who have been recommending my services to potential clients.  My clients range from public school students, home school students, and adult learners.  My tutoring business has grown in the last year from a handful of clients to a few dozen per term.  As the school year ends, more phone calls, emails, and Facebook messages are received as I best try to accommodate all of the requests.  Thank you clients and those who are making recommendations for your vote of confidence in my abilities as an effective mathematics educator.  There is no question in mind that teaching mathematics is my passion.  I hope to one day return to a teaching or leadership position that involves mathematics education.  For now, my dissertation and service as school trustee call my name.  Guess what?  My research and school board work still involves mathematics, student learning, and teacher professional development.  It’s all good.

SC Botanical Gardens

“Composting” – SC Botanical Garden Society – West Sechelt

What a wonderful day… today we had our Education Standing Committee at the Sunshine Coast Botanical Gardens in West Sechelt.  The society’s president, Paddy Wanes, generously provided the SD46 Education Committee the Botanical Gardens Pavilion as venue for our May 2012 meeting.  Loved it!  Before our ‘official’ meeting, Paddy took us on a short tour of the 40 acres property.  Absolutely beautiful.  We opted not to walk around the entire grounds and looked at the vegetable gardens and ponds instead.  Paddy’s enthusiasm for the facility, biodiversity, and educating others was awesome.  I learned so much today about the Botanical Gardens during the tour that I failed to take pictures, but I took this one.  This is a compost pile of blackberry bush cuttings.  It has no seeds or roots.  The pile is not a “hot compost” such that heat will be generated.  This compost, one of many, will eventually decompose and works it’s way back into the land.  Amazing.  I learned something new.  Can you tell that my background is in Chemistry and Mathematics.  I was quite awe inspired with Paddy’s take on the life sciences and the capacity of the Botanical Gardens does have and could have with student learning.  Best of all, the Botanical Gardens sustains itself with numerous grants, rental of the pavilion, and countless volunteers.  I am grateful to have the opportunity to tour the Botanical Gardens.  I loved listening about how West Sechelt Elementary students learn about vegetables, how Chatelech Secondary Foods classes harvest the garden, and how the Botanical Gardens Society’s partners with the Sechelt Food Bank.  Service learning.  What more can you ask for?  Coffee, cookies, and an awesome Education Standing Committee meeting.  Thank you committee members for the discussion. And, thank you Paddy for the tour and meeting place.  Our next Education Standing Committee meeting is scheduled for September 26, 2012 at the SD46 School Board Office.  Looking forward.

My Bubble Has Broken

I can’t believe that my bubble has broken.  I liked living in my bubble.  The world was bright.  Life was about integrity, honesty, and trust.  This gave me the courage to take risks and learn something new.  Don’t get me wrong, I still have faith in others.  That is a relief.  I remain hopeful.  That’s also a good thing.  My bubble burst when I realized that I know a bit too much and I have to make sense of it.  I don’t have all of the information, but I know enough to make me feel sick.  My heart is heavy.  Even with all this information, not everything that needs to be said is said.  As a result, my world does not look as bright.  Today is a new beginning.  I’m looking forward to the future… bubble-free.

Formative Assessment

Principles of Math 12 and Assessment for Learning

One of my greatest passions in education, next to teaching mathematics, is Assessment for Learning.  Understanding the difference between formative assessment and summative assessment was transformational to my teaching practice.  I remember one of my colleagues insisting that there was a difference between the two, but I could not wrap my head around it until I spoke to another teacher from another district who professionally provoked me to question my practice.  To both colleagues, many thank you’s.  I spent almost five years revising my teaching practice to incorporate the values of Assessment for Learning and doing my best to provide feedback to my students without grading or judging them.  On the one hand, my math classes seemed like ‘high stakes testing’ because I had very few items I collected for marks.  On the other hand, students felt like they had a second chance and were more motivated to learn because the door was never closed.  Using formative assessment in my math classes was a HUGE awakening for me.  Not every counts for marks, but everything is important. I no longer had pages of marks to compute a final grade for a student, but I had no more than a dozen items and many observations to determine how a student was achieving in my math class. It was liberating and I felt like I was more focused on teaching and learning, not counting and evaluating.  Inspired, I have given many workshops in the past year about Assessment for Learning and how to get started.  I was reminded last week at the Pacific Institute for the Mathematics Sciences (PIMS) 2012 Conference on Changing the Culture that Formative Assessment continues to be a HOT TOPIC for mathematics educators in K-12 and higher education.  The continuum of “everything counts” and “formative feedback” still exists.  As much as I enjoyed the entire conference, the panel discussion on Formative Assessment was dynamic, inspirational, and tense.  WOW.  This session made it very clear to me that the assessment and evaluation of student learning is strongly held on the personal beliefs of the educator.  A big aha… All that I know is, thank goodness for professional development sessions such as the PIMS 2012 Conference.  It is a great opportunity to discuss with other practitioners about our practice, what’s important, and what’s not so important.  Much enjoyed all of the speakers and what I have learned as a mathematics educator, graduate student, and educational consultant.  All is possible and “all students crave feedback.”