It is hard to believe that I am sitting here, and it is already November! Midterms are fast approaching (due next week), my AQ course is quickly progressing, and life is crazy! This post is going to be all over the map - much like my brain these days! I am doing so many different things right now, so, as the title implies, madness is a great descriptor for my brain and my life these days.
As a new teacher, I never really appreciated the chaos of the profession, particularly if you choose to get involved in various committees or groups within the school/Board. I've always been someone who loves to be busy, so I welcome this chaos with open arms. That being said, if you want to get involved in multiple projects, etc. make sure you have a really good calendar system! I struggle with an electronic calendar (which is quite humorous when you consider my passion for technology) versus a paper calendar. I didn't even bother purchasing a paper calendar this year, thinking I would be able to adapt just fine to the electronic format. Boy oh boy was I wrong. It's amazing how difficult it can be to adapt to a format that isn't yet second nature. I will very likely have to go out and purchase a hard copy calendar/planner to ensure I don't miss deadlines and so that I'm aware of the various meetings, PD, etc. that I have.
In that sense, this semester has been good for me in that I have realized my weakness with regards to organization online. I will continue to try to stay organized with my google calendar, etc. but I think I need to make it more purposeful and scheduled until it becomes more natural.
My Teaching English Language Learners, Part 2 course has been going quite well! It has been very discussion heavy, which has been difficult in terms of ensuring I carve out the time, etc. but I have really enjoyed connecting with different educators around the province and sharing our various experiences. I am always looking for ways to improve my practice, and it always amazes me how many different strategies, practices, ideas, etc. are out there. I'm excited to get back to ESL next semester so that I can try out some of these new (to me) ideas!
On top of my ESL AQ, I am also taking a course offered by Facing History And Ourselves. It is entitled "Stolen Lives: The Indigenous Peoples of Canada and the Indian Residential Schools." I actually came across this course offering on Twitter - much like I came across the "Seven Fallen Feathers" book study in the summer. The tuition fee was waived due to funding, so I felt like this was a one-time opportunity that I didn't want to miss.
After the book study in the summer, I was left feeling unsettled and unsure of how to move forward. I still didn't feel like I had enough knowledge to be able to confidently teach, or even share with others (professionally or personally). I had so many questions, and just felt totally unsettled in a way that is very difficult to describe. I urge all Canadians to read this book, as it really is important for everyone to understand not only what has happened in Canada, but also what is still happening. There are still huge gaps in services (education, health, living conditions, potable water, etc.) that indigenous populations have access to, and the racism that still exists is prematurely ending the lives of many indigenous teens, whether through suicide or homicide.
This course has actually seemed to tie in quite well with my ESL course; both discuss the importance of culture, language and how these contribute to our own identity and how we see ourselves. It has also been quite interesting because it ties into the history that I teach in my Spanish classes, with regards to the indigenous cultures that existed prior to the "settling" or "discovery" of South America, and the cultural genocide that occurred at the hands of the Spaniards.
So while it seemed a bit crazy (even to me) to be a student in two different courses, I have found that they are so well connected, that both have been able to really help me develop as a person, as well as a professional. And as long as I carve out a couple of hours in the evening to do some work, I have been able meet all of my deadlines with time to spare, so I really can't complain. That being said, after the courses end in December, I am going to find myself with much more free time in the evening than I have grown used to - I'm going to welcome a break after all this chaos!
The madness is certainly worth the growth . . .
As a new teacher, I never really appreciated the chaos of the profession, particularly if you choose to get involved in various committees or groups within the school/Board. I've always been someone who loves to be busy, so I welcome this chaos with open arms. That being said, if you want to get involved in multiple projects, etc. make sure you have a really good calendar system! I struggle with an electronic calendar (which is quite humorous when you consider my passion for technology) versus a paper calendar. I didn't even bother purchasing a paper calendar this year, thinking I would be able to adapt just fine to the electronic format. Boy oh boy was I wrong. It's amazing how difficult it can be to adapt to a format that isn't yet second nature. I will very likely have to go out and purchase a hard copy calendar/planner to ensure I don't miss deadlines and so that I'm aware of the various meetings, PD, etc. that I have.
In that sense, this semester has been good for me in that I have realized my weakness with regards to organization online. I will continue to try to stay organized with my google calendar, etc. but I think I need to make it more purposeful and scheduled until it becomes more natural.
My Teaching English Language Learners, Part 2 course has been going quite well! It has been very discussion heavy, which has been difficult in terms of ensuring I carve out the time, etc. but I have really enjoyed connecting with different educators around the province and sharing our various experiences. I am always looking for ways to improve my practice, and it always amazes me how many different strategies, practices, ideas, etc. are out there. I'm excited to get back to ESL next semester so that I can try out some of these new (to me) ideas!
On top of my ESL AQ, I am also taking a course offered by Facing History And Ourselves. It is entitled "Stolen Lives: The Indigenous Peoples of Canada and the Indian Residential Schools." I actually came across this course offering on Twitter - much like I came across the "Seven Fallen Feathers" book study in the summer. The tuition fee was waived due to funding, so I felt like this was a one-time opportunity that I didn't want to miss.
After the book study in the summer, I was left feeling unsettled and unsure of how to move forward. I still didn't feel like I had enough knowledge to be able to confidently teach, or even share with others (professionally or personally). I had so many questions, and just felt totally unsettled in a way that is very difficult to describe. I urge all Canadians to read this book, as it really is important for everyone to understand not only what has happened in Canada, but also what is still happening. There are still huge gaps in services (education, health, living conditions, potable water, etc.) that indigenous populations have access to, and the racism that still exists is prematurely ending the lives of many indigenous teens, whether through suicide or homicide.
This course has actually seemed to tie in quite well with my ESL course; both discuss the importance of culture, language and how these contribute to our own identity and how we see ourselves. It has also been quite interesting because it ties into the history that I teach in my Spanish classes, with regards to the indigenous cultures that existed prior to the "settling" or "discovery" of South America, and the cultural genocide that occurred at the hands of the Spaniards.
So while it seemed a bit crazy (even to me) to be a student in two different courses, I have found that they are so well connected, that both have been able to really help me develop as a person, as well as a professional. And as long as I carve out a couple of hours in the evening to do some work, I have been able meet all of my deadlines with time to spare, so I really can't complain. That being said, after the courses end in December, I am going to find myself with much more free time in the evening than I have grown used to - I'm going to welcome a break after all this chaos!
The madness is certainly worth the growth . . .
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