Well, I haven't posted in a little over two weeks...but I have a good reason!
Part One Of The Excuse: My computer was dead, so my time was more limited (though Mom and Caitlin were very willing to let me borrow their computers whenever I needed to do so).
Part Two of The Excuse: I was busy! Camping (in a tent), taking online courses, and leading a group of 3&4 year olds for 8 days causes exhaustion (and the setting up for 4 days prior to that doesn't help).
Now, however, I have my computer back and am in the process of trying to replace all that was lost. I am finished my courses, and only have 18 course outlines to create. I'll post more often!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Frustrations Abound...
So here I am, already breaking a resolution. I don't know if I'll be able to find enough positives to discuss in order to sandwich each negative today! So, this will be a Dagwood sandwich.
Positive: I got to spend some time at the beach today! Warm weather, a bit of a breeze...it was lovely.
Negatives:
Oh man! This is just not my evening!
First, I'm taking two online courses this summer. Woo-freaking-hoo. Neither course is one that I particularly want to take, but I am because I have to do so! Now, the one course requires a book of which I cannot get a copy (and was informed of the need for said book two days before the course start date). The other course was to have ended today (with assignment submission permitted for another week), and the last three assignments haven't even been posted!
Second: Curriculum overviews for next year. OK, I see the need. Yes, I even see value. However, the BC curriculum guidelines are NOT designed for classrooms with three grades. It's tough enough to get through every required learning outcome for one grade in a single grade classroom. To get through the curriculum for three grades at once? Very difficult. There are no considerations for multi-grade classrooms, no suggestions for which things to skip/combine/over-lap/etc, and a whole lot of nothing for ideas to combine the curricula. Therefore, I have to start pretty much entirely working from scratch. That's fine, but it also means that I have to be able to justify the reason for not using more than about 20% of the recommended resources for the grades...and this year is a government audit year.
Perfect.
I'll get over the aggravation. I'll make it work. It will be a fabulous year. But right now? In July? I could just throw it all out the window.
Third: I am missing the funeral for a friend's father, because it would have required nearly 14 hours of travel each way. That sucks.
Fourth: That computer of mine is on it's way to Vancouver for repairs. Just perfect.
Positive: I have plenty of computers to borrow and use in order to express my frustrations.
Positive: I got to spend some time at the beach today! Warm weather, a bit of a breeze...it was lovely.
Negatives:
Oh man! This is just not my evening!
First, I'm taking two online courses this summer. Woo-freaking-hoo. Neither course is one that I particularly want to take, but I am because I have to do so! Now, the one course requires a book of which I cannot get a copy (and was informed of the need for said book two days before the course start date). The other course was to have ended today (with assignment submission permitted for another week), and the last three assignments haven't even been posted!
Second: Curriculum overviews for next year. OK, I see the need. Yes, I even see value. However, the BC curriculum guidelines are NOT designed for classrooms with three grades. It's tough enough to get through every required learning outcome for one grade in a single grade classroom. To get through the curriculum for three grades at once? Very difficult. There are no considerations for multi-grade classrooms, no suggestions for which things to skip/combine/over-lap/etc, and a whole lot of nothing for ideas to combine the curricula. Therefore, I have to start pretty much entirely working from scratch. That's fine, but it also means that I have to be able to justify the reason for not using more than about 20% of the recommended resources for the grades...and this year is a government audit year.
Perfect.
I'll get over the aggravation. I'll make it work. It will be a fabulous year. But right now? In July? I could just throw it all out the window.
Third: I am missing the funeral for a friend's father, because it would have required nearly 14 hours of travel each way. That sucks.
Fourth: That computer of mine is on it's way to Vancouver for repairs. Just perfect.
Positive: I have plenty of computers to borrow and use in order to express my frustrations.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
What to say?
Positive: I finally got my Staples Teacher Card stuff sorted out! Yay for discounts and rewards!
Negative: My computer is being shipped to Vancouver for repairs, and will not return to me for at least 2 weeks.
Positive: I have other computers at my disposal, and all of my most important documents backed up!
Sdaly, I must also report that the new EXPO retractable dry-erase markers are not available at the Kelowna Staples location. This is most unfortunate, as I was very excited to try them!
Negative: My computer is being shipped to Vancouver for repairs, and will not return to me for at least 2 weeks.
Positive: I have other computers at my disposal, and all of my most important documents backed up!
Sdaly, I must also report that the new EXPO retractable dry-erase markers are not available at the Kelowna Staples location. This is most unfortunate, as I was very excited to try them!
Friday, July 10, 2009
A New Resolution
...It is entirely shameful that I have been so out of touch with this blog. Sure, I spend what seems like hours every evening either with email or Facebook, but so rarely update this!
I have a goal! My goal is to post something (almost anything!) on this blog at least once a week. That shouldn't be too difficult! I may post far more frequently, sometimes...
I have a second goal. This involves having at least two positive things to say for every negative item on the blogging agenda (the sandwich effect). Can I do it? Yes. Will I? That remains to be seen!
So, positive number one. I can't seem to stop searching for classroom deals! I found a class set of pillows for only $3.49 each! I saved $12 on each one! The kids will love being able to sit on something comfy for stories or videos, and I might be able to get rid of some chairs from the room.
Negative. I have to take two classes this summer. One is "in progress" and the other starts next week. I really haven't felt yet like either class will be of any use or has anything to say of interest to me. That's frustrating! I'd love to take classes in something exciting or useful! Having hours each day devoted to things which are simply annoying is like working on report cards during the summer. EVIL!
Positive number two. The sun is shining! Warm weather! Tim Hortons exists! Starbucks is here! I've been to Chapters twice! Traffic lights! Summer in the city!
I love Port Hardy, but there is nothing quite like being able to meander through a bookstore with a mocha in one hand and a pile of new reading material in the other!
I have a goal! My goal is to post something (almost anything!) on this blog at least once a week. That shouldn't be too difficult! I may post far more frequently, sometimes...
I have a second goal. This involves having at least two positive things to say for every negative item on the blogging agenda (the sandwich effect). Can I do it? Yes. Will I? That remains to be seen!
So, positive number one. I can't seem to stop searching for classroom deals! I found a class set of pillows for only $3.49 each! I saved $12 on each one! The kids will love being able to sit on something comfy for stories or videos, and I might be able to get rid of some chairs from the room.
Negative. I have to take two classes this summer. One is "in progress" and the other starts next week. I really haven't felt yet like either class will be of any use or has anything to say of interest to me. That's frustrating! I'd love to take classes in something exciting or useful! Having hours each day devoted to things which are simply annoying is like working on report cards during the summer. EVIL!
Positive number two. The sun is shining! Warm weather! Tim Hortons exists! Starbucks is here! I've been to Chapters twice! Traffic lights! Summer in the city!
I love Port Hardy, but there is nothing quite like being able to meander through a bookstore with a mocha in one hand and a pile of new reading material in the other!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Student Awards
In the spirit of the end of the year (yay!), and the writing of report cards (boooo!), I have some proposed awards to be given out this year. This is my way of writing the snarky comments I could never get away with!
Shannon’s Proposed Class Awards
1.Fastest Runner (outdoors)
2.Fastest Runner (indoors)
3.Most Laps Run Around the School (for fun)
4.Most Laps Run Around the School (by force)
5.The Houdini Award (physical escape)
6.The Houdini Award (verbal avoidance)
7.Fewest Tattles in One Day
8.Most Tattles in One Day
9.Best Attendance Record
10.Frequent Absence Award
11.Fewest Band-Aids in One Year
12.Most Band-Aids in One Year
13.The Patience of Job Award
14.The Temper of Jezebel Award
15.Most “Problem Sheets” Sent Home
16.Most Office Visits
17.Most Hallway Chats
18.Quietest Worker
19.Loudest Screamer
20.Quickest Worker
21.Neatest Worker
22.Most Accurate Worker
23.Cleaner-Upper
24.Mess Maker
25.Rock Throwing (best aim)
26.Rock Throwing (worst aim)
27.Best “Neeah!” Face
28.Top Speller
29.Most Imaginative (positive)
30.Most Imaginative (negative)
31.Virtue of Sharing (verbal, positive)
32.Virtue of Sharing (verbal, negative)
33.Virtue of Sharing (material, positive)
34.Virtue of Sharing (material, negative)
35.Best Leader (positive)
36.Best Leader (negative)
37.Best Follower (positive)
38.Best Follower (negative)
39.Best Impersonation of the Teacher (teacher in room)
40.Best Impersonation of the Teacher (teacher out of the room)
Shannon’s Proposed Class Awards
1.Fastest Runner (outdoors)
2.Fastest Runner (indoors)
3.Most Laps Run Around the School (for fun)
4.Most Laps Run Around the School (by force)
5.The Houdini Award (physical escape)
6.The Houdini Award (verbal avoidance)
7.Fewest Tattles in One Day
8.Most Tattles in One Day
9.Best Attendance Record
10.Frequent Absence Award
11.Fewest Band-Aids in One Year
12.Most Band-Aids in One Year
13.The Patience of Job Award
14.The Temper of Jezebel Award
15.Most “Problem Sheets” Sent Home
16.Most Office Visits
17.Most Hallway Chats
18.Quietest Worker
19.Loudest Screamer
20.Quickest Worker
21.Neatest Worker
22.Most Accurate Worker
23.Cleaner-Upper
24.Mess Maker
25.Rock Throwing (best aim)
26.Rock Throwing (worst aim)
27.Best “Neeah!” Face
28.Top Speller
29.Most Imaginative (positive)
30.Most Imaginative (negative)
31.Virtue of Sharing (verbal, positive)
32.Virtue of Sharing (verbal, negative)
33.Virtue of Sharing (material, positive)
34.Virtue of Sharing (material, negative)
35.Best Leader (positive)
36.Best Leader (negative)
37.Best Follower (positive)
38.Best Follower (negative)
39.Best Impersonation of the Teacher (teacher in room)
40.Best Impersonation of the Teacher (teacher out of the room)
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Continuation of "You know..."
You know you're a primary school teacher if...
...you actually use the line "I'll pull this van over!" while on a field trip.
...you manage not to laugh/scream/cry/pull your hair out when a troublesome little girl says "those boys are giving me a headache!".
...you actually use the line "I'll pull this van over!" while on a field trip.
...you manage not to laugh/scream/cry/pull your hair out when a troublesome little girl says "those boys are giving me a headache!".
Saturday, February 7, 2009
You Know You're A Primary School Teacher If...
Good grief! Has it really been this long since I posted to this blog? What have I been doing with my time? Oh, that's right...I've been doing such things as will be found in the following sections of this post! I've been having such fun creating new status updates for my Facebook page, using the sentence starter "You know you're a primary school teacher if...", that I decided to actually compile a list! Enjoy. :)
You Know You're a Primary School Teacher If...
1)...you are convinced that there are never enough scissors, glue sticks, or sharp pencils.
2)...the words "I'll count to three..." form a significant portion of your daily vocabulary.
3)...you have become an expert at walking down hallways backwards in order to referee your students.
4)...you spend your evenings sorting safety pins and beads into tiny ziploc baggies.
5)...you will be spending many hours of the weekend preparing activities for the 100th day of school.
6)...you buy skeins of yarn with the idea that they "might be useful for something".
7)...you are drawn to yarn which is called "crayon".
8)...you spend more of your own money on school supplies than on clothes/shoes...
9)...you fret over the fact that the traveling penguin stuffy belonging to your class does not have a scarf, and knit one out of the previously mentioned crayon yarn.
10)...the word "stuffy" is actually a part of your vocabulary.
11)...you have purchased, or plan to purchase, two-way baby monitors for the occasional times when you actually have to leave your classroom.
.....more to come as situations arise!
You Know You're a Primary School Teacher If...
1)...you are convinced that there are never enough scissors, glue sticks, or sharp pencils.
2)...the words "I'll count to three..." form a significant portion of your daily vocabulary.
3)...you have become an expert at walking down hallways backwards in order to referee your students.
4)...you spend your evenings sorting safety pins and beads into tiny ziploc baggies.
5)...you will be spending many hours of the weekend preparing activities for the 100th day of school.
6)...you buy skeins of yarn with the idea that they "might be useful for something".
7)...you are drawn to yarn which is called "crayon".
8)...you spend more of your own money on school supplies than on clothes/shoes...
9)...you fret over the fact that the traveling penguin stuffy belonging to your class does not have a scarf, and knit one out of the previously mentioned crayon yarn.
10)...the word "stuffy" is actually a part of your vocabulary.
11)...you have purchased, or plan to purchase, two-way baby monitors for the occasional times when you actually have to leave your classroom.
.....more to come as situations arise!
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