Interesting day... I had the opportunity to discuss legalized euthanasia, the budding Canadian landscape, Elizabethan theatre, and the hygiene habits of Englishmen in the 16th century. I'd say it was a pretty successful day, all in all.
Even though there were minor frustrations, I found that I left the class today with a little pep in my step and a need to tell someone about my day. It wasn't overly problematic with behaviour issues or attitude and my English kids seemed to enjoy the fact that I gave them an opportunity to insult me with a predeveloped list of Shakespearean terms that ranged from "toadstool" to "whore-monger". Even though my History classes aren't overly-exciting, I'm still managing to feel my way through the material, all the while dreaming of next term when I can actually incorporate some of the activities and new knowledge and methods of organizing myself that I haven't been able to include yet.
Before entering teaching, I anticipated that I would really dislike teaching poetry and Shakespeare. However, I've been pleasantly surprised... I'm entering the last few weeks of Part 1 of my practicum knowing that I really enjoy teaching these forms of language-art. I get right into writing my own haikus and telling people about how Shakespeare probably only bathed once a year (in May, of course). I also enjoy hearing students complain about poetry and Shakespeare, only to hear them change their tune by the end of class.
And I have a breakfast "meeting" with two of my sponsor teachers tomorrow... in other words, I'm hanging out with the boys for a hour or two in the morning. I still have a tonne of work to do in the next 2 days, but maybe things aren't too bad... hell, the weather's even warming up.
- T
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Envy
The alarm rang at 5:55am this morning, as per usual. K reached over and hit the snooze button so I could get 9 more minutes of much needed slumber bliss (also part of the normal ritual). Finally, when the radio starting screaming at us again, I crawled out of my toasty bed and made the bitterly cold dash for the bathroom so I could turn on the steamy shower and enjoy a few more minutes of warmth while I tried to rub the sleep from my eyes. I've been known to have a standing nap while in the shower on a cold day, but this was not one of those days. After I spent as long as possible enjoying the hot water, I needed to keep going with the ritual. After tossing on some comfy home-clothes (also known as sweats), I headed to the living room for breakfast (again, the usual: cereal with some fruit and a glass of juice) and some random tidbits of Dawson's Creek, sports highlights, random excerpts from the CBC morning news, and a brief perusal of the Weather Channel. Not too nice out there, that's for sure.
It was then into the kitchen to make some coffee for K and I and prepare a lunch for me... also predictable: soup, granola bar, fruit bar, an apple and some crackers. As always, I looked at my watch and the panic began to set in. 7:00am and still teeth to brush, bag to pack, clothes to put on, keys to find, coffee to prepare, wife to kiss, a double check and out the door. It never ceases to amaze me how I can follow this routine time and time again. The same ritual takes place every day, and I'm usually rushing out the door because if I don't leave at a specific time, my bus leaves without me. Rarely am I early, but often I'm late. I guess it just wouldn't be ME if I wasn't rushing around like a bonehead... that's the way I roll.
So after filling all ritual requirements for the morning, I headed out the door and down the apartment stairs when WHAM! A bag of bricks to the solar plexus! The cold met me with a cocky grin... it was -24... without any consideration of the wind chill which was, luckily, minimal. I made the 10 minute walk to the bus with my awesome UFA toque, mitts, long johns, etc., waited for another 5-6 minutes for the right bus, and finally warmed up and drank my coffee as the sun rose over the valley. I like those scenes where everything is bathed in a warm orange glow of the sunrise... it makes the icy roads and frozen breath seem just a little more bearable.
When I got to the school I received an email telling me that Vancouver Island is getting more snow and Victoria is pretty much shutting down. The punks out west (also known as the Island's Student Teachers) get another snow day, and my blogging buddy told the world all about it. Another friend from Alberta asked me last night if we got any snow days here... I told her that unlike Victoria, the Okanagan actually had ploughs. Envy is seeping from my pores. I'm kinda wishing that I was still on the Island... I could definitely use a mid-week holiday.
I know... poor me :)
- T
It was then into the kitchen to make some coffee for K and I and prepare a lunch for me... also predictable: soup, granola bar, fruit bar, an apple and some crackers. As always, I looked at my watch and the panic began to set in. 7:00am and still teeth to brush, bag to pack, clothes to put on, keys to find, coffee to prepare, wife to kiss, a double check and out the door. It never ceases to amaze me how I can follow this routine time and time again. The same ritual takes place every day, and I'm usually rushing out the door because if I don't leave at a specific time, my bus leaves without me. Rarely am I early, but often I'm late. I guess it just wouldn't be ME if I wasn't rushing around like a bonehead... that's the way I roll.
So after filling all ritual requirements for the morning, I headed out the door and down the apartment stairs when WHAM! A bag of bricks to the solar plexus! The cold met me with a cocky grin... it was -24... without any consideration of the wind chill which was, luckily, minimal. I made the 10 minute walk to the bus with my awesome UFA toque, mitts, long johns, etc., waited for another 5-6 minutes for the right bus, and finally warmed up and drank my coffee as the sun rose over the valley. I like those scenes where everything is bathed in a warm orange glow of the sunrise... it makes the icy roads and frozen breath seem just a little more bearable.
When I got to the school I received an email telling me that Vancouver Island is getting more snow and Victoria is pretty much shutting down. The punks out west (also known as the Island's Student Teachers) get another snow day, and my blogging buddy told the world all about it. Another friend from Alberta asked me last night if we got any snow days here... I told her that unlike Victoria, the Okanagan actually had ploughs. Envy is seeping from my pores. I'm kinda wishing that I was still on the Island... I could definitely use a mid-week holiday.
I know... poor me :)
- T
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Bienvenue a l'hiver
I think that's the French translation. Maybe if Erin stops by she can verify my linguistic (in)abilities.
It's pretty much been snowing non-stop for 24 hours. I think there were short stints of clarity, but this is the most snow I've seen in about 4 years. I'm definitely a prairie boy at heart, but after living on the coast for 3 years and moving out to the Okanagan, this is the first real chunk of winter I've seen since I was back living at home in the 4-0-3.
It was actually quite beautiful yesterday. Movie-scene snowflakes were falling everywhere, gather in neat little piles on window ledges and tree branches. Dogs donned cute little sweaters and people were brushing off their cars as if it was an enjoyable novelty. I'm sure they were thinking, "It's not too cold out... maybe this whole winter thing isn't too bad after all!" Well, they probably thought this until they got back into their houses, turned on the weather channel and noticed that Tuesday is supposed to see a high of -14 degrees. MINUS 14!!! I moved away from Alberta for a few reasons, one of them being that there was actually WINTER! I sure don't think my walk to the bus tomorrow morning is going to be too enjoyable. At all.
Maybe if K gets a job that pays $100k per year, we can actually afford to go out to the coast and fly back regularly to Alberta to visit. Who am I kidding... neither of us are going to be able to do such a thing anytime soon. Unless our numbers come through on the lotto. I guess that means I should buy a ticket more than once a year.
My first-term summative report is happening this coming Friday for my practicum, so wish me luck. It's only causing a moderate amount of stress, since I'm more worried about figuring out some interesting activities to teach Canadian Confederation on Tuesday and Thursday and get through the rest of my unit lessons before December 22nd. Oh joy, oh bliss... C'est la vie.
- T
It's pretty much been snowing non-stop for 24 hours. I think there were short stints of clarity, but this is the most snow I've seen in about 4 years. I'm definitely a prairie boy at heart, but after living on the coast for 3 years and moving out to the Okanagan, this is the first real chunk of winter I've seen since I was back living at home in the 4-0-3.
It was actually quite beautiful yesterday. Movie-scene snowflakes were falling everywhere, gather in neat little piles on window ledges and tree branches. Dogs donned cute little sweaters and people were brushing off their cars as if it was an enjoyable novelty. I'm sure they were thinking, "It's not too cold out... maybe this whole winter thing isn't too bad after all!" Well, they probably thought this until they got back into their houses, turned on the weather channel and noticed that Tuesday is supposed to see a high of -14 degrees. MINUS 14!!! I moved away from Alberta for a few reasons, one of them being that there was actually WINTER! I sure don't think my walk to the bus tomorrow morning is going to be too enjoyable. At all.
Maybe if K gets a job that pays $100k per year, we can actually afford to go out to the coast and fly back regularly to Alberta to visit. Who am I kidding... neither of us are going to be able to do such a thing anytime soon. Unless our numbers come through on the lotto. I guess that means I should buy a ticket more than once a year.
My first-term summative report is happening this coming Friday for my practicum, so wish me luck. It's only causing a moderate amount of stress, since I'm more worried about figuring out some interesting activities to teach Canadian Confederation on Tuesday and Thursday and get through the rest of my unit lessons before December 22nd. Oh joy, oh bliss... C'est la vie.
- T
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Poems for Thursday
Some people think that I'm a big nerd. Okay, I am. But I like to think that the fact that I write occasional poems is respectable, and proves my masculine security. So here are two haikus that I wrote this summer during my English "Methods" class:
The dew dripped slowly
Over the stone steps for years.
The stone yields, broken.
Bird perched on a wire;
The energy of the world
Passes underfoot.
- T
The dew dripped slowly
Over the stone steps for years.
The stone yields, broken.
Bird perched on a wire;
The energy of the world
Passes underfoot.
- T
Monday, November 20, 2006
Things you may not know...
I was once obsessed with the internet. Some might be suspicious as to whether this is still the case, and I think an argument could probably be made. But I can live (reluctantly) without it. However, about 8 years ago it really became a huge part of my daily life and definitely developed a part of me.
I used to listen to a lot of hard rock and alternative music while I was in high school. Although I still appreciate some music in those genres today, I have Corinne Bailey Rae, Billie Holiday, and Dave Matthews Band in my IPod these days. Much more mellow. But I listened to a lot of Creed when they were popular. I also listened to some Pearl Jam, Tea Party, Matt Good, and other various rock bands. But after listening to Creed daily, I started looking for band information and concert dates which may have provided me with an opportunity to see them live. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. However, I did come across something else: an online BBS (Bulliten Board System).
Now, I should say that, for those of you who don't know (probably no one, since only about 8 people read this blog, my immediate family members being 5 of them), I grew up going to church most Sundays and attended Catholic school my entire life. I still go back to my old high school when I'm home in Alberta to visit some of my old teachers. My mom even works at my old elementary school (and has been for numerous years). Jokingly, I used to call myself a "cultural Catholic". A cultural Catholic is like a secular Jewish person, but with a rosary at the centre of the tradition rather than the Torah or a Yamulka.
In my teens, I started really getting into intense song lyrics and books about religion, both western and eastern. I went through a fairly long phase of constantly questioning my religious beliefs and engaging with other people on the topic. My mom tells me that I kicked up a pretty big fuss when "confirmation" came around (Junior High sometime, I think about 13-14 years old), and continued to challenge such things for numerous years thereafter. I stopped going to church around the age of 16 or 17, and although I occasionally attend now and have no real problem attending church, it's not something I pursue very often.
So, back to being an internet geek. I went to Creed's official website and stumbled across this bulliten board. It was mainly a place where people could talk about Creed's music, concerts they attended, lyrics they liked, etc. It also had a religion forum, since Creed's lyrics were highly allegorical and made many intense religious and/or Biblical allusions. I enjoyed the songs and music since it wasn't strictly religious, but definitely represented a perspective that was highly involved in engaging with religious questions or ideas. So I read. And kept reading. And then I signed up. And I posted once. Then again. Until I was posting nearly every day in a personal battle with every person on the board who had never questioned their personal religious beliefs or were so narrow-minded that I took it upon myself to enlighten them to the highly personal and highly relative nature of religious beliefs, particularly the vast differences between the various sects of Christianity and the suspicious foundation on which some of those beliefs were founded.. I was really interested in Reformation history, the history of the Catholic church, and the reasons for why modern Christianity existed in the form it did. So I kept posting. And arguing. And engaging.
This took up a lot of time. I neglected homework, was disrespectful to my parents, ignored my friends to a certain degree, and became somewhat obsessed. The funny thing is, I don't regret it for a second. Well, maybe the disrespecting parents part (and I know that it still happens from time to time), but otherwise, it was a very important formative experience for me.
I started reading a little bit about Deism and Taoism and Buddhism, and little bits about Islam and a touch of philosophy. I started reading C.S. Lewis and engaged with some of his arguments in Mere Christianity. In reality, I spent years wrestling with these beliefs and ideas and my guilt about what I was supposed to believe and what I believed in reality.
It's funny, but I still think of certain passages from the Bible that I still find extremely relevant. I'm not a believer in any sort of Biblical literalism (or anything near it), but I can't help but believe that there are some great things to be found in there. I still love the story of Jacob who wrestled with a messenger from God all night until he would be blessed... it is from this story that the name "Israel" was given to God's people, which literally means "He who wrestles with angels". I've always loved the name Jacob. Likewise, Proverbs 25:2 recalls this story: "It is the will of God to conceal an issue, but it is the glory of Kings to search out a matter". These phrases still have meaning in my life. But then again, I could probably give you a few similar passages from the mouth of Buddha or the Bhagavad Gita that reinforce such things. Another funny thing: I seem to always end up as the great "Defender of the Faith"... not literally, but it seems like every time I come across someone who doesn't understand Catholicism or Christianity or the history of Western religion, I feel as though I need to pipe up. I guess that's my Catholic training coming through, which I don't mind.
I know I've posted it before, but I'll leave it again; it's a quote from C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity:
"For the longest way round is the shortest way home"
It may take a long while to get someplace, but that just means that it was the right destination all along (indulging in my more romantic sentiments... I still watch Dead Poets' Society from time to time).
- T
I used to listen to a lot of hard rock and alternative music while I was in high school. Although I still appreciate some music in those genres today, I have Corinne Bailey Rae, Billie Holiday, and Dave Matthews Band in my IPod these days. Much more mellow. But I listened to a lot of Creed when they were popular. I also listened to some Pearl Jam, Tea Party, Matt Good, and other various rock bands. But after listening to Creed daily, I started looking for band information and concert dates which may have provided me with an opportunity to see them live. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. However, I did come across something else: an online BBS (Bulliten Board System).
Now, I should say that, for those of you who don't know (probably no one, since only about 8 people read this blog, my immediate family members being 5 of them), I grew up going to church most Sundays and attended Catholic school my entire life. I still go back to my old high school when I'm home in Alberta to visit some of my old teachers. My mom even works at my old elementary school (and has been for numerous years). Jokingly, I used to call myself a "cultural Catholic". A cultural Catholic is like a secular Jewish person, but with a rosary at the centre of the tradition rather than the Torah or a Yamulka.
In my teens, I started really getting into intense song lyrics and books about religion, both western and eastern. I went through a fairly long phase of constantly questioning my religious beliefs and engaging with other people on the topic. My mom tells me that I kicked up a pretty big fuss when "confirmation" came around (Junior High sometime, I think about 13-14 years old), and continued to challenge such things for numerous years thereafter. I stopped going to church around the age of 16 or 17, and although I occasionally attend now and have no real problem attending church, it's not something I pursue very often.
So, back to being an internet geek. I went to Creed's official website and stumbled across this bulliten board. It was mainly a place where people could talk about Creed's music, concerts they attended, lyrics they liked, etc. It also had a religion forum, since Creed's lyrics were highly allegorical and made many intense religious and/or Biblical allusions. I enjoyed the songs and music since it wasn't strictly religious, but definitely represented a perspective that was highly involved in engaging with religious questions or ideas. So I read. And kept reading. And then I signed up. And I posted once. Then again. Until I was posting nearly every day in a personal battle with every person on the board who had never questioned their personal religious beliefs or were so narrow-minded that I took it upon myself to enlighten them to the highly personal and highly relative nature of religious beliefs, particularly the vast differences between the various sects of Christianity and the suspicious foundation on which some of those beliefs were founded.
This took up a lot of time. I neglected homework, was disrespectful to my parents, ignored my friends to a certain degree, and became somewhat obsessed. The funny thing is, I don't regret it for a second. Well, maybe the disrespecting parents part (and I know that it still happens from time to time), but otherwise, it was a very important formative experience for me.
I started reading a little bit about Deism and Taoism and Buddhism, and little bits about Islam and a touch of philosophy. I started reading C.S. Lewis and engaged with some of his arguments in Mere Christianity. In reality, I spent years wrestling with these beliefs and ideas and my guilt about what I was supposed to believe and what I believed in reality.
It's funny, but I still think of certain passages from the Bible that I still find extremely relevant. I'm not a believer in any sort of Biblical literalism (or anything near it), but I can't help but believe that there are some great things to be found in there. I still love the story of Jacob who wrestled with a messenger from God all night until he would be blessed... it is from this story that the name "Israel" was given to God's people, which literally means "He who wrestles with angels". I've always loved the name Jacob. Likewise, Proverbs 25:2 recalls this story: "It is the will of God to conceal an issue, but it is the glory of Kings to search out a matter". These phrases still have meaning in my life. But then again, I could probably give you a few similar passages from the mouth of Buddha or the Bhagavad Gita that reinforce such things. Another funny thing: I seem to always end up as the great "Defender of the Faith"... not literally, but it seems like every time I come across someone who doesn't understand Catholicism or Christianity or the history of Western religion, I feel as though I need to pipe up. I guess that's my Catholic training coming through, which I don't mind.
I know I've posted it before, but I'll leave it again; it's a quote from C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity:
"For the longest way round is the shortest way home"
It may take a long while to get someplace, but that just means that it was the right destination all along (indulging in my more romantic sentiments... I still watch Dead Poets' Society from time to time).
- T
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Uhh... wow.
Wow.
I can't believe he just said/did that!
I think a little bit of puke just came up.
These were my reactions last night as I watched Sacha Baron Cohen spend about 95 minutes offending at least one sect of modern society at any given point. Yes, I went to see Borat last night with some of the interns and a teacher colleague of Mr. M's last night. Although I was constantly laughing/cringing/nauseous, I thought about the fact that I can never admit to my students that I went to see that flick! I really did think it was funny, but in a "I feel violated and uncomfortable" sort of funny that I almost feel guilty for enjoying.
K.M. made a good point about it after we returned to my place and had a drink to talk about our teaching experiences and the movie and other such interesting things. He noticed that Borat goes out of the way to make racist/sexist commentary throughout, which is obvious and blatant when taken from Borat's point of view. However, it's juxtaposed with allegedly "normal" Americans who reinforce those same values but do not see the irony or offensive nature of those values. He does a great job, too, of playing on the ignorance of American cultural ignorance, and a fellow blogger did a good job of pointing this out.
A funny side story... I was talking with my in-laws a couple years ago and made a bit of a slip in the conversation... for some reason, I was talking about what church in Calgary my grandparents went to, and it came out as "They attend a Pentecostal church in the Varsity area". After leaving, I was talking to Kerrie and it suddenly came into my mind... I looked at K and asked, "Did I say my grandparents went to a Pentecostal church?" "Umm... yeah, you did," she responded. Immediately I felt like an imbecile. "They aren't Pentecostal! They're Presbyterian! I have no idea why I said that! Now your parents think that my grandparents go to a church where people drop on the floow and speak in tongues!" I made a point of correcting my error the next time we visited them so there was no confusion. If you have seen Borat, you'll know exactly why this was such a severe error. K and I still laugh every time we think of Pentecostals. Not that there's anything wrong with being Pentecostal. I just don't believe in the whole modern Tower of Babel thing. However, I do want to see the new Brad Pitt movie, mainly due to the allusion to that very story.
Okay, no more ranting... time for work. Until again...
- T
I can't believe he just said/did that!
I think a little bit of puke just came up.
These were my reactions last night as I watched Sacha Baron Cohen spend about 95 minutes offending at least one sect of modern society at any given point. Yes, I went to see Borat last night with some of the interns and a teacher colleague of Mr. M's last night. Although I was constantly laughing/cringing/nauseous, I thought about the fact that I can never admit to my students that I went to see that flick! I really did think it was funny, but in a "I feel violated and uncomfortable" sort of funny that I almost feel guilty for enjoying.
K.M. made a good point about it after we returned to my place and had a drink to talk about our teaching experiences and the movie and other such interesting things. He noticed that Borat goes out of the way to make racist/sexist commentary throughout, which is obvious and blatant when taken from Borat's point of view. However, it's juxtaposed with allegedly "normal" Americans who reinforce those same values but do not see the irony or offensive nature of those values. He does a great job, too, of playing on the ignorance of American cultural ignorance, and a fellow blogger did a good job of pointing this out.
A funny side story... I was talking with my in-laws a couple years ago and made a bit of a slip in the conversation... for some reason, I was talking about what church in Calgary my grandparents went to, and it came out as "They attend a Pentecostal church in the Varsity area". After leaving, I was talking to Kerrie and it suddenly came into my mind... I looked at K and asked, "Did I say my grandparents went to a Pentecostal church?" "Umm... yeah, you did," she responded. Immediately I felt like an imbecile. "They aren't Pentecostal! They're Presbyterian! I have no idea why I said that! Now your parents think that my grandparents go to a church where people drop on the floow and speak in tongues!" I made a point of correcting my error the next time we visited them so there was no confusion. If you have seen Borat, you'll know exactly why this was such a severe error. K and I still laugh every time we think of Pentecostals. Not that there's anything wrong with being Pentecostal. I just don't believe in the whole modern Tower of Babel thing. However, I do want to see the new Brad Pitt movie, mainly due to the allusion to that very story.
Okay, no more ranting... time for work. Until again...
- T
Friday, November 17, 2006
Homework and the rising death toll
Maybe it's not as serious as that, but it seems like the general trend in education-related academia that homework is both useless and arguably detrimental to kids. Maclean's Magazine ran a back-to-school double issue in September that featured the title "Homework is Killing Kids". Just this month, another article (an interview) came out that discussed the negative nature of homework and how pointless it is. I'm concerned in a few ways... is the negative impact that damaging? And is the supposition the author/interviewee makes a valid one?
The argument to which the interviewee is responding assumes that homework is assigned because it has some sort of intrinsic value related to work ethic, determination, responsibility, etc. In other words, teachers assign homework because it makes a better student. Now, this may be my modern education speaking or the fact that I'm pretty "green" in the field of teaching, but I definitely have not made this assumption. I don't assign homework because it is good for kids or is has some inherent value. I assign it because I feel as though we need to get through material! The amount of information needed to cover the curriculum feels enormous, and at the end of class, students may or may not be done the work assigned. In a perfect class, there would be no need for homework, as the students would have been diligent and enthusiastic about their eduational experience. If this were some sort of non-anomolous case, then of course I would get rid of mandatory homework. However, I feel as though the reality is much different than this idealised myth. At the end of the day, many kids will goof-off, be unproductive, and simply not finish their work in a reasonable amount of time. Assessment strategies take a variety of forms, but they still test for required knowledge and skill development. Some students also need more time to finish things, and since we're strapped for time during the day, the evening (or early morning) is the only time left.
Sure, there is definitely a measure of accountability involved in doing homework, but it has more to do with the need to complete tasks and move through material than having some innate character-building quality. Students need to be responsible for their education, and if they spend time goofing around in class and being unproductive, they'll still be expected to get the work done. If my class works well and we cover the needed material in class, I don't assign homework. Realistically, this doesn't happen nearly as often as I'd like, but that has more to do with the fact that I'm still pretty new at this whole teaching thing and my lessons are not as effective as they could be. And I'm not sure they should be... I've only been in front of my class for just over a month, and although that sounds like a lot of time, it's a snap of the fingers in reality. The learning curve for this career is extremely steep, and if you don't keep up, you'll get left behind.
So my response to this reviling of homework is mixed. Do I agree that homework has no intrinsic character-building qualities? Sure I do. However, I do not make that assumption to begin with. Homework provides a means for completing what needs to be completed, and if students are willing to put the effort in for the six hours they are actually at the school, then I'll be fully satisfied to let them enjoy their evening. Family and friends are important. Shouldn't that be the way all jobs work?
- T
The argument to which the interviewee is responding assumes that homework is assigned because it has some sort of intrinsic value related to work ethic, determination, responsibility, etc. In other words, teachers assign homework because it makes a better student. Now, this may be my modern education speaking or the fact that I'm pretty "green" in the field of teaching, but I definitely have not made this assumption. I don't assign homework because it is good for kids or is has some inherent value. I assign it because I feel as though we need to get through material! The amount of information needed to cover the curriculum feels enormous, and at the end of class, students may or may not be done the work assigned. In a perfect class, there would be no need for homework, as the students would have been diligent and enthusiastic about their eduational experience. If this were some sort of non-anomolous case, then of course I would get rid of mandatory homework. However, I feel as though the reality is much different than this idealised myth. At the end of the day, many kids will goof-off, be unproductive, and simply not finish their work in a reasonable amount of time. Assessment strategies take a variety of forms, but they still test for required knowledge and skill development. Some students also need more time to finish things, and since we're strapped for time during the day, the evening (or early morning) is the only time left.
Sure, there is definitely a measure of accountability involved in doing homework, but it has more to do with the need to complete tasks and move through material than having some innate character-building quality. Students need to be responsible for their education, and if they spend time goofing around in class and being unproductive, they'll still be expected to get the work done. If my class works well and we cover the needed material in class, I don't assign homework. Realistically, this doesn't happen nearly as often as I'd like, but that has more to do with the fact that I'm still pretty new at this whole teaching thing and my lessons are not as effective as they could be. And I'm not sure they should be... I've only been in front of my class for just over a month, and although that sounds like a lot of time, it's a snap of the fingers in reality. The learning curve for this career is extremely steep, and if you don't keep up, you'll get left behind.
So my response to this reviling of homework is mixed. Do I agree that homework has no intrinsic character-building qualities? Sure I do. However, I do not make that assumption to begin with. Homework provides a means for completing what needs to be completed, and if students are willing to put the effort in for the six hours they are actually at the school, then I'll be fully satisfied to let them enjoy their evening. Family and friends are important. Shouldn't that be the way all jobs work?
- T
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
One of my curiosities... poppies and legacies
The long weekend that ended yesterday did very little to catch me up on the massive amount of work I SHOULD have done over the past few weeks. I'm kinda-sorta caught up, but knowing my limited abilities in the organizational department, I really should have done more. I did some marking, had my lesson plans relatively established, and had a couple good classes today. They could always go better, but they were generally sucessful.
Speaking of the weekend, I do have to say that I encountered some disappointment. Now, I'm sure that many people recall the Remembrance Day Ceremonies in school, and the obligatory video that most Canadian schools showed. When I was in elementary school, we watched one that featured real WWI and WWII war footage and events that were set to the music of our all-Canadian icon, Bryan Adams. I attended while supervising a class for our Social Studies department head, and was dismayed to find out that, yes, in 2006, a solid 18 years after entering elementary school, students were still watching the same video that I did!
My biggest issue was related to the tone of the music to which this war footage was set. Adams was rocking out, the song was relatively upbeat, and you might even get inspired if you heard it on the radio. As we get older, there are fewer and fewer veterans around, and more and more kids are growing up without any knowledge of the wars... their grandparents or great-grandparents aren't alive or weren't alive to experience the wars, and we're becoming more detached from the events all the time. In that Remembrance Day video, Bryan Adams rocks out while soliders are being shot dead. DEAD. And a big guitar solo blares through the speakers. Those were real men dying, and although the students were generally silent as they watched the videos, I don't think that they understood that those men dying in the video footage may have been their age... 15, 16, 17 years old. I don't think they even understand that 8mm film was used to shoot a good deal of the footage, or what impact the lack of technology had at the time. Those men were dead. Stone dead... from a nearby explosion or a high-calibre rifle.... it wasn't simply a recreation or comic imitation.
The Globe and Mail ran an article last week discussing the issue of whether Canada would hold a state funeral for the last living Canadian soldier of the Great War. There are 3 left alive. One is 105, and two others are 106. Best-case scenario, these three vets entered the war in 1918 and were AT MOST 17 or 18 years old. If they enlisted early on in the war (although the chances may be slim), they would have entered the war at 13 or 14 years of age. Just kids. These men don't have a great deal of time left, and once they're gone, that's it. As for the WWII vets, these men and women are in (at least) their 70's (born between the late 20's and early 30's) and will be following the same trends. My curiosity is this: what are we to do to make these events more meaningful to our kids? I have my grandparents who lived through and (on my dad's side) escaped Europe after surviving the war to come to Canada. But as this older generation passes on, who will be left to carry that torch?
Ask yourself that question the next time you see a poppy.
- T
Speaking of the weekend, I do have to say that I encountered some disappointment. Now, I'm sure that many people recall the Remembrance Day Ceremonies in school, and the obligatory video that most Canadian schools showed. When I was in elementary school, we watched one that featured real WWI and WWII war footage and events that were set to the music of our all-Canadian icon, Bryan Adams. I attended while supervising a class for our Social Studies department head, and was dismayed to find out that, yes, in 2006, a solid 18 years after entering elementary school, students were still watching the same video that I did!
My biggest issue was related to the tone of the music to which this war footage was set. Adams was rocking out, the song was relatively upbeat, and you might even get inspired if you heard it on the radio. As we get older, there are fewer and fewer veterans around, and more and more kids are growing up without any knowledge of the wars... their grandparents or great-grandparents aren't alive or weren't alive to experience the wars, and we're becoming more detached from the events all the time. In that Remembrance Day video, Bryan Adams rocks out while soliders are being shot dead. DEAD. And a big guitar solo blares through the speakers. Those were real men dying, and although the students were generally silent as they watched the videos, I don't think that they understood that those men dying in the video footage may have been their age... 15, 16, 17 years old. I don't think they even understand that 8mm film was used to shoot a good deal of the footage, or what impact the lack of technology had at the time. Those men were dead. Stone dead... from a nearby explosion or a high-calibre rifle.... it wasn't simply a recreation or comic imitation.
The Globe and Mail ran an article last week discussing the issue of whether Canada would hold a state funeral for the last living Canadian soldier of the Great War. There are 3 left alive. One is 105, and two others are 106. Best-case scenario, these three vets entered the war in 1918 and were AT MOST 17 or 18 years old. If they enlisted early on in the war (although the chances may be slim), they would have entered the war at 13 or 14 years of age. Just kids. These men don't have a great deal of time left, and once they're gone, that's it. As for the WWII vets, these men and women are in (at least) their 70's (born between the late 20's and early 30's) and will be following the same trends. My curiosity is this: what are we to do to make these events more meaningful to our kids? I have my grandparents who lived through and (on my dad's side) escaped Europe after surviving the war to come to Canada. But as this older generation passes on, who will be left to carry that torch?
Ask yourself that question the next time you see a poppy.
- T
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Jon Stewart is my hero...
He's possibly the funniest guy around. Thanks, J., for providing access to this wonderful clip that made me smile from ear to ear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I827LRbkgTg
Not much to add other thanthe fact that my interim report with my university advisor went well, and after having a nice dinner with K, I've regained some calm. Have a good night, all...
- T
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I827LRbkgTg
Not much to add other thanthe fact that my interim report with my university advisor went well, and after having a nice dinner with K, I've regained some calm. Have a good night, all...
- T
The burden of expectations and restless nights
I didn't sleep well last night. I tossed. Turned. I'm sure there was a flop as well. I checked the clock at 3:47am and realized that I was going to be tired today. Luckily it's a non-teaching day. But that's the only reason I'm lucky. It's the morning of my university interim report. The meeting and moment of judgement come in exactly 3 hours and 17 minutes... oh, wait, 16 minutes. And I also just got finished with my sponsor teacher, who wants to see far more work for my unit plan than I expected... and she wants to see it today. The day of my judgment. In all facets of my academic life, there's stress, anxiety, and antacids.
When I'm in front of my classes, I don't really feel any anxiety. I'm comfortable, I enjoy being around the students, and although there are some stressful moments, I feel at ease in that situation. It's the satellite things in my day that cause me stress. Some are completely unrelated to teaching too... sometimes it's money, sometimes it's the huge burden of expectations from family/colleagues, other times it's just the day-to-day organizational struggles I face as an absent-minded buffoon. Example: I tried putting the milk in the cupboard beside our bowls and plates.
One of my friends/fellow interns asked me today if I ever seriously reconsider this whole teaching thing. My immediate reaction was, "Absolutely". I thought about this response for a minute and realized that it wasn't literally the teaching part that caused this concern... it was everything else. Teaching is an insane amount of work, especially as a new teacher. It requires a massive range of skills and you have a huge learning curve when you're starting out. Also, the threat of upset parents, angry students, disappointed sponsors, disappointed colleagues, hyper-anxious ME, is enough to drive a person nutso. I know I've said this before but it can be overwhelming.
Okay, enough tears for today. I've got some work ahead of me, so the pity party will have to wait. Until again...
- T
When I'm in front of my classes, I don't really feel any anxiety. I'm comfortable, I enjoy being around the students, and although there are some stressful moments, I feel at ease in that situation. It's the satellite things in my day that cause me stress. Some are completely unrelated to teaching too... sometimes it's money, sometimes it's the huge burden of expectations from family/colleagues, other times it's just the day-to-day organizational struggles I face as an absent-minded buffoon. Example: I tried putting the milk in the cupboard beside our bowls and plates.
One of my friends/fellow interns asked me today if I ever seriously reconsider this whole teaching thing. My immediate reaction was, "Absolutely". I thought about this response for a minute and realized that it wasn't literally the teaching part that caused this concern... it was everything else. Teaching is an insane amount of work, especially as a new teacher. It requires a massive range of skills and you have a huge learning curve when you're starting out. Also, the threat of upset parents, angry students, disappointed sponsors, disappointed colleagues, hyper-anxious ME, is enough to drive a person nutso. I know I've said this before but it can be overwhelming.
Okay, enough tears for today. I've got some work ahead of me, so the pity party will have to wait. Until again...
- T
Monday, November 06, 2006
More memories...
K and I went to stay at the Kilmorey Lodge a few years ago as an excuse to get out of the city and spend some of the Christmas holidays together, alone. There isn't much to do there in the winter, except enjoy the peace and quiet of Waterton in the off-season. There were some deer searching for food... the odd bird would chirp in the distance... but for the most part, the onlt thing to hear was silence.
We went for a walk one night, and just as we started walking, it started to snow lightly. Hollywood snow. Fictional snow. Snow that only falls on TV or in books or in dreams.
Fresh snow always reminds me of how the world forgets... and it's people who remember. Whether through stories, books, moments engraved into our mind, we remember, but the world just moves on.
As we were walking silently, I looked behind us to see our footprints filling up and disappearing in the snow. It made me think of a tropical beach, where the tide washes away any evidence of people as they stroll along the water at sunset. As we walked, our footprints disappeared more and more. I knelt down and placed my hand in the snow. The crystals melted away, leaving the perfect imprint of my hand there. I stood up, and we kept walking. I looked back once more to see the flakes fill up the void beside the street, slowly and methodically painting over the imprint I left.
I guess I just wanted to leave something behind, even if I knew the inevitability of it disappearing once I'd gone.
- T
We went for a walk one night, and just as we started walking, it started to snow lightly. Hollywood snow. Fictional snow. Snow that only falls on TV or in books or in dreams.
Fresh snow always reminds me of how the world forgets... and it's people who remember. Whether through stories, books, moments engraved into our mind, we remember, but the world just moves on.
As we were walking silently, I looked behind us to see our footprints filling up and disappearing in the snow. It made me think of a tropical beach, where the tide washes away any evidence of people as they stroll along the water at sunset. As we walked, our footprints disappeared more and more. I knelt down and placed my hand in the snow. The crystals melted away, leaving the perfect imprint of my hand there. I stood up, and we kept walking. I looked back once more to see the flakes fill up the void beside the street, slowly and methodically painting over the imprint I left.
I guess I just wanted to leave something behind, even if I knew the inevitability of it disappearing once I'd gone.
- T
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Saddam sentenced
Most of us have watched television shows about the wild west, where verdicts for particularly brutal crimes are taken seriously and the guilty are punished by death. Hangings, stonings, firing squad. You name it. But that was in the old days. Right? Actually, even though we may think those days are in the past, they still exist. Maybe not in a Toronto suburb, or a corner of North Vancouver, but they exist within the reaches of our network news and media. And in Iraq.
From time to time, I idealise the world and have the idea in my head that we're civilized organisms who understand that an eye for an eye makes the world blind. But I grew up in the Canadian prairie suburbia. I had a bike, and a small school to attend, caring parents, food on my plate, clothes on my back, and people around me who were looking out for my well-being. I would take my bike to the dirt hills without the slightest fear that something was going to happen to me. I was more worried about showing up at school with bad hair than anything else. I broke a few bones in my life, but only one of them was from any sort of angry aggression, and it was on the playground in sixth grade. Sure, I've said I've hated people, but there has been so little done to me that the hatred is predominantly superficial. In reality, I have little to hate. I find some things to be frustrated about from time to time, but very little to hate. And nothing (or no one) at all to wish death on.
Yet the media and our idealised western world makes us hate these people that do wrong. And for good reason, I'd say. So, then... Why does the whole verdict make me feel uneasy? Why am I uneasy that Saddam Hussein is being sentenced to death? We've been conditioned by years of seeing Saddam as an enemy, a war criminal, a despot. We see his picture and have ill feelings towards him. We see him and see an enemy of western ideals and against democracy. But still, I look at the guilty verdict and the upcoming punishment of hanging, and I find myself feeling uncertain... why? I'm still not sure.
I've known for a long time that politics in never black and white, and perspective is highly influential in our personal responses to such events. Our media plays a huge role (if not the only role) in the dispersement of information now, particularly since we can receive news about a pin dropping in Australia before it has even rolled to a stop. And we have faith in this media. Or most of it anyway. I read the news and believe what it says. When there is an obvious perspective being favoured (i.e. in the Editorial section), I take it with a grain of salt. Or if it's coming from Fox News. Or Ann Coulter. But even in regular news stories, points of view are being ignored, discarded, and pushed aside. I think my biggest problem is that I don't think we'll ever know the whole story of things happening internationally, or even locally for that matter. So how do we pursue truth and when do we just satisfy ourselves with the fact that we will never know anything. I know the old adage, "The more I learn, the more I realise I don't know". And it's definitely true to an extent. But can we ever simply satisfy ourselves with just not knowing? I guess this is when conviction takes over and accounts for some of the religious fanaticism that is around the world... we can't be totally sure, but we'll never be sure, so why not hold onto this one grain of sand with all that we're worth? Surely it can't be that wrong?
Maybe this post isn't very well organized, and maybe I'm starting off on one thing and just bringing out anything related. My original site disclaimer said to watch for such incessant rambling. So leave me a comment and let me know if you understood any of this.. I'll probably come back in a couple of days and see that it's nonsensical. Oh well, it's one of my trademarks. ;)
- T
From time to time, I idealise the world and have the idea in my head that we're civilized organisms who understand that an eye for an eye makes the world blind. But I grew up in the Canadian prairie suburbia. I had a bike, and a small school to attend, caring parents, food on my plate, clothes on my back, and people around me who were looking out for my well-being. I would take my bike to the dirt hills without the slightest fear that something was going to happen to me. I was more worried about showing up at school with bad hair than anything else. I broke a few bones in my life, but only one of them was from any sort of angry aggression, and it was on the playground in sixth grade. Sure, I've said I've hated people, but there has been so little done to me that the hatred is predominantly superficial. In reality, I have little to hate. I find some things to be frustrated about from time to time, but very little to hate. And nothing (or no one) at all to wish death on.
Yet the media and our idealised western world makes us hate these people that do wrong. And for good reason, I'd say. So, then... Why does the whole verdict make me feel uneasy? Why am I uneasy that Saddam Hussein is being sentenced to death? We've been conditioned by years of seeing Saddam as an enemy, a war criminal, a despot. We see his picture and have ill feelings towards him. We see him and see an enemy of western ideals and against democracy. But still, I look at the guilty verdict and the upcoming punishment of hanging, and I find myself feeling uncertain... why? I'm still not sure.
I've known for a long time that politics in never black and white, and perspective is highly influential in our personal responses to such events. Our media plays a huge role (if not the only role) in the dispersement of information now, particularly since we can receive news about a pin dropping in Australia before it has even rolled to a stop. And we have faith in this media. Or most of it anyway. I read the news and believe what it says. When there is an obvious perspective being favoured (i.e. in the Editorial section), I take it with a grain of salt. Or if it's coming from Fox News. Or Ann Coulter. But even in regular news stories, points of view are being ignored, discarded, and pushed aside. I think my biggest problem is that I don't think we'll ever know the whole story of things happening internationally, or even locally for that matter. So how do we pursue truth and when do we just satisfy ourselves with the fact that we will never know anything. I know the old adage, "The more I learn, the more I realise I don't know". And it's definitely true to an extent. But can we ever simply satisfy ourselves with just not knowing? I guess this is when conviction takes over and accounts for some of the religious fanaticism that is around the world... we can't be totally sure, but we'll never be sure, so why not hold onto this one grain of sand with all that we're worth? Surely it can't be that wrong?
Maybe this post isn't very well organized, and maybe I'm starting off on one thing and just bringing out anything related. My original site disclaimer said to watch for such incessant rambling. So leave me a comment and let me know if you understood any of this.. I'll probably come back in a couple of days and see that it's nonsensical. Oh well, it's one of my trademarks. ;)
- T
Thursday, November 02, 2006
And the season comes to an end...
Our volleyball team finished the final game of their season last night. During the day, I expected this to be our last game, since I sort of expected to lose. Not a great way to look at things, but I'm a realist at heart. They could've beat this team, but considering they don't play their best ball, well, any of the time, I shouldn't be surprised that they didn't come out flying in their final game either. All week I was looking forward to this game, since I knew it would be the last. I wouldn't have to worry about practices or games or tournaments or tracking down players when they miss a match or forget their gear for a game. I was just excited that I might be able to spend some time with K.
The referee's whistle blew the end of the final point, the players returned to their end lines, and we brought the guys in for a round of cheers for the other team. We shook hands with players, coaches, referees, and left the court. I made a brief final speech about being proud of them and was thanked by the players that attended the game, as well as the parents who came in support. I put my jacket on, rode the bus home, and watched some TV.
But I walked away with a little sadness. Not all of the guys made the final game due to Take Your Kid To Work Day commitments, and one of our players refused to show up out of spite (since I kicked him out of practice the previous day). And we lost a game I know we could've one. And I knew that we were done, and I wouldn't be able to coach this team anymore. And I was a little bit melancholy, being it was the end of my first coaching endeavour. I've really enjoyed coaching, playing around teaching the guys some skills, and just getting to know a group of boys who will be men in a few more years. Sure, I'll see them at school and we'll probably have a little season-ending wind-up, but it's done. It seems like a tidy little package on paper... a very clean beginning which is all wrapped up at a distinct end with a bow on the top.
Why doesn't it feel that tidy and distinct?
- T
The referee's whistle blew the end of the final point, the players returned to their end lines, and we brought the guys in for a round of cheers for the other team. We shook hands with players, coaches, referees, and left the court. I made a brief final speech about being proud of them and was thanked by the players that attended the game, as well as the parents who came in support. I put my jacket on, rode the bus home, and watched some TV.
But I walked away with a little sadness. Not all of the guys made the final game due to Take Your Kid To Work Day commitments, and one of our players refused to show up out of spite (since I kicked him out of practice the previous day). And we lost a game I know we could've one. And I knew that we were done, and I wouldn't be able to coach this team anymore. And I was a little bit melancholy, being it was the end of my first coaching endeavour. I've really enjoyed coaching, playing around teaching the guys some skills, and just getting to know a group of boys who will be men in a few more years. Sure, I'll see them at school and we'll probably have a little season-ending wind-up, but it's done. It seems like a tidy little package on paper... a very clean beginning which is all wrapped up at a distinct end with a bow on the top.
Why doesn't it feel that tidy and distinct?
- T
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