ABD Student

You would think that I was a PhD student… really, I am an EdD student… I’m beginning to think that I am an ABD student.  What do all these acronyms mean?  Well, here’s the break down…

PhD = Doctorate of Philosophy
EdD = Doctorate of Education
ABD = All But Dissertation

I am currently reading my third book on “The Dissertation Journey” for some solace and peace of mind.   What I am experiencing is apparently “normal” but personally, I’m done with it.  Procrastination begone.

The term “ABD” had been tossed around during my Educ 809 course and a continuance of that course, which is called ABD student meetings.  I never understood ABD meant until reading this book.  The light bulb is on.

Take for example, I am writing this blog.  I “like” doing loads of laundry and washing the dishes.  I tutor lots of students.  I give professional development workshops.  I am a bike-club mom… etc.  Classic ABD behaviour. 

Like Dr. Phil says, “You’ve got to name it, to claim it.”  I want to be Dr. Younghusband, EdD soon.  In essence, I’ve got to get of the denial train and deal with it.  Hmmm… sounds more like Dr. Phil, but it’s true.

New mantra:  JUST DO IT NOW.  Fear begone.  Albeit, starting over and over again on Chapters 1-3 is not what I call “enjoyable” but it is a part of the dissertation process.  Try, try, and try again until it’s done.  Sigh.

Looking Forward

“Looking forward” has been a mantra I have been adhering to lately, thinking to myself… LOOK FORWARD.  As much as I am looking forward, I will periodically look back to see what I have left.  Make note, looking back is not a good strategy when trying to implement change into one’s life.  I feel like I have made “the change” but I’m not acknowledging it. 

Bare with me Bloggies… I am in the midst of writing a “gratitude list” or things that I have accomplished in the past 10 months since leaving public schools to pursue academic work, professional development, and personal growth.  To write a gratitude journal… or blog, in my case… one can easily see what is going well and what direction one is heading in.  My list…

PERSONAL
1.  I am all paid and up-to-date with my credit cards.
2.  I am cooking meals at home for my family.
3.  I am able to drop off and pick up my daughter at school.
4.  I am able to volunteer at my daughter’s school.
5.  I am a part of the WSE bike club and LOVE IT.

PROFESSIONAL
1.  I have presented 8 workshops on to practicing teachers.
2.  I am successful at giving professional development workshops.
3.  I am self-employed.
4.  I provide a math/science tutoring service that is thriving.
5.  I am a member of the BCAMT excutive committee.

ACADEMIC
1.  I presented at the SFU EGSA Speaker Series.
2.  I am a Masters of Education Site Assistant at SFU-Surrey.
3.  I have created a learning community to support my
4.  I am tutoring at Capilano University with the CALL program.
5.  I am working on my dissertation and learning as I as I go.

MISC
1.  I pulled the 2011 Pulling Together Canoe Journey.
2.  I participated in the SFU Instructional Skills Workshop.
3.  I made an elk hide drum.
4.  I celebrated 20 years with my husband/best friend.
5.  I am running for municipal government as school trustee.

Thank you for letting me purge out my list of gratitude.  There is so much more to mention (i.e. I have a wonderul husband who supports me 100% in my pedagogical journey and I am presenting at 3 more conferences this fall) but, I will leave it for now.  I am on a journey.  As much as I miss teaching in the classroom… I am still teaching and learning.  I will admit that I do get ‘spooked’ on the way and I guess that’s when I look back to see what’s behind me.  In the end, it’s looking forward that seems more exciting.

Municipal Election

Something to consider… running in the 2011 Municipal Election as School Trustee representing the District of Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast.

This is a HUGE decision.  To step in this direction, I would have to say ‘goodbye’ to teaching on the Sunshine Coast and say ‘hello’ to public service.  Running for school trustee and representing the constituents of the District of Sechelt would be an honour and seems to resonate with how I feel.  I am passionate about student learning, public education, and living on the Sunshine Coast. With these three factors alone, it seems like a formidable formula to run for public office as school trustee to advocate for public education as a parent, community member, and teacher.

Nominations for the 2011 Municipal election begins on October 4th.  Spread the word… Christine Younghusband is running for school trustee in the District of Sechelt to represent the families and students of School District No.46 (Sunshine Coast).  I love teaching and learning.  With 16 years experience in this school district as a public educator, studying educational leadership at SFU, and being a mom of an SD46 student, I am actively involved in education and care about quality public education.

Dear Bloggies… come November 19, 2011… VOTE FOR YOUNGHUSBAND as SD46 SCHOOL TRUSTEE representing the District of Sechelt.

Good Teaching

Life can be full of regrets.  This is a choice.  We can dwell on them.  We get stuck, never move forwards, unable to see what’s good.  Life will always be a rain cloud.

Yesterday, I gave a workshop to a team of Aboriginal Education teachers about implementing the First Nations perspective in the mathematics curriculum.  I did not make a summary handout or feedback form like I usually do for my Assessment for Learning workshops.  I had a moment of regret when the workshop ended.  I walked out flat, not knowing how the workshop went.  I did not assume the worst but I had no idea if the teachers found the workshop worthwhile.

Mental note, provide feedback forms to ALL workshops I provide.  If I desire feedback on my performance and content, I need to provide a feedback form.  The best part about teaching… learning that is incurred when making mistakes.  No regrets… looking forward… making it better for the next time.

To my surprise, I started receiving emails from my colleagues who attended the workshop.  The first email was a general thank you to everyone… to the presenter… to the PD rep… to the participants.  That was nice to be acknowledged amongst these practitioners.  The second email was a thank you expressing her excitement to connect with math teachers.  That is so AWESOME.  I am excited for her.  The third email was from a good friend.  She said that I was a good teacher.  GASP.  That meant a lot to me.  No sarcasm.  And finally, I received an email this morning commenting on my teaching abilities, willingness to give back, and thanking me for becoming a teacher.  At this point, I have no words to describe how I feel.

At some level I knew the workshop went well.  Although I did receive hugs, smiles, and ‘thank you’s’ after the workshop, the email feedback was exceptional.  The gift is knowing that other people acknowledge my work, my love for teaching, and the quality of my teaching.  I love teaching.  It more than just saying it, it’s about living it.  Thank you for your feedback.

Math Embedded

I had a wonderful afternoon presenting a workshop to the Aboriginal Education Local Specialists Association (LSA) today.  This was a unique opportunity.  This LSA is from the Sunshine Coast school district, my hometown.  I am well acquainted with all of the Aboriginal Education teachers and district administrator.  The group was relatively small, compared to a whole teaching staff of a secondary school, and the attendees are all friends, not just colleagues.  Furthermore, I presented a ‘new’ workshop called, “Math Embedded – A Tribute to Susan Point.”

Once again, I stepped out of my box and presented to close colleagues of mine about my teaching practice as a secondary mathematics teacher implementing a First Nations approach to mathematics education during the 2009/10 Mathematics 8 curriculum implementation.  This workshop was not a workshop about Assessment for Learning (AFL), yet I managed to slip in a few words in there about assessment and evaluation with regards to the project.  I still get inspired by the dialogue that transpires when talking to teachers about assessment.  Thank you for fulfilling my AFL-fix.

What was unique about the Math Embedded workshop was that I felt so welcomed by my colleagues.  I was not nervous or anxious.  I felt a home talking about my practice candidly with hopes of inspiring each them to take the chance of working with a mathematics educator and integrate First Nations culture and perspective with the curriculum.  I was so pleased to observe my colleagues actively and willingly partake in the workshop by making their own Tribute to Susan Point and sharing their creations and thoughts to the group.  What each participant created was both beautiful and reflective of each individual.  Thank you for participating.

What was most special about the workshop was the thank you gift of sage and sweet grass from the Interior… the kind words of acknowledgment… and a song.  At the end of the workshop, the AbEd team played on a big drum while I played on my baby wolf drum ‘Dragonfly.’  We sang the ‘Woman’s Warrior Song’ to honour me.  What an honour.  I was humbled.  Chills went up and down my spine.  There is no better thank you than that.  THANK YOU SD46 ABORIGINAL EDUCATION LSA.  It was an amazing and unforgettable teaching and learning experience.

Rotisserie Christine

The weather has changed and ‘Rotisserie Christine’ begins.  Oh man, was I cold tonight.  With a flick of a switch, the fire place was turned on and I was rotating myself horizontally on the floor ensuring an even heating of my entire body.  I had full intentions of writing but took a nap instead.  Now, I’m up.  Warm and toasty.  Ahhh… back to fall and winter weather.

Drumming Workshop Reunion

What a wonderful day.  After making my family a BIG breakfast and eating together at the table, I went to the Sechelt Art Centre to attend my DRUMMING WORKSHOP REUNION.  Although three Wolf Family members were absent, the rest of us returned with our baby drums.  We sat in a circle sharing stories about the week and introduced our drum to the rest of the family.  The drum said “hello” to everyone as we each play it with pride in the circle.  Ping, ping, ping… my drum resonates with me. 

The reunion was phenomenal.  I appreciate the time, effort, and passion of our teachers who made this happen for us.  Making the drum was a once (or twice) in a lifetime experience, but playing the drum with the Wolf Family and the larger drum family was powerful.  Participants from past workshops arrived to the latter half of the reunion making the circle 8 times larger.  We introduced ourselves, played our drums, and sang.  I felt connected to these people.  Some people I knew, some I was familiar with, and others were strangers.  Nonetheless, we are a part of the drum family.  Best of all, my husband and daughter joined me in this experience.  All my relations.

Dragonfly

The most beautiful thing happened today… my daughter Zoe started playing my ‘baby wolf drum’ outside on the patio.  I was sitting outside too.  We were both enjoying my drum’s voice.  She sounded beautiful.  All of a sudden a dragonfly flew right in front of face.  It surprised me.  The best part is… my drum is named DRAGONFLY.  I named my drum ‘dragonfly’ when I pulled that animal card from the deck during the drum making workshop last week.  I had meant to write down the meaning of the dragonfly card, but in essence it means “transition” or change.  Thank you dragonfly.  You were a good sign.  Our wolf drum reunion is tomorrow.  Looking forward.

Math is Easier

I love when my child says, “Why is life so hard?  Why can’t life be as easy as MATH?”  You don’t hear that everyday.  Personally, it brought me a bit of joy, being a mathematics teacher and tutor.  I’m glad that she believes MATH IS EASY.  With that said, I can see what she is talking about.

My daughter has been recently working out some “issues” at school… how to act appropriately, good behaviour, making friends… much like I am working out some “issues” in my life… the dissertation, employment, good parenting.  As we work together through these “issues” together, she exclaims “Math is easier!”  Many of us may not believe so, but she’s got a good point.

There are so many decisions to be made in life and no one is really sure which is the “right” answer.  So, we spend our time “guessing and checking” to navigate through our lives in search for the “right” answer.  In mathematics, there are formulas, patterns, and predicable outcomes.  Follow the “right” rules, the desired consequence is attained.  In life, there are ‘rules,’ but they are not all universally accepted.  In the end, chaos. 

I can understand my daughter’s frustration.  There are no “right” answers.  The only way you can find out if things are “right” or not is to try it out.  Does it feel good?  Did you get the payoff that you were looking for?  Was it worthwhile?  If you can hit a hat-trick of YES on these three questions, then you are on the “right” track.  Otherwise, it takes a moment of contemplation or re-evaluation as to what went well and what needs improvement (aka. the mantra of Assessment for Learning or AFL).

Ahhhh… I’ve reached full-circle, a moment of Zen.  I love math.  I love AFL.  I love life.  The worlds have all collided to make a wonderful Venn Diagram and I’m in the middle.  A moment of solace.

One Thousand Views

Wow.  This blog has only been up since May 2011 and in 5 months it has reached 1000 views by Bloggies like you.  Bloggies from around the world has read this blog.  According to my stats, this blog has been viewed by Bloggies in Germany, Hong Kong, Russia, France, Latvia, Malaysia, Romania, the United States… and, of course, Canada.  THANK YOU so much for showing an interest in reading the EDU-BLOG.  One of my greatest joys as an educator are the EDU-RANTS with students, parents, or colleagues.  I love the idea that we are all a part of a virtual learning community.  To have the opportunity to share some of my thoughts about education, my learning, and my personal experiences and “someone like you” is willing to take the time to read my blog… it feels good.  Keep on reading Bloggies.