I'd like to say the countdown is on, but to be honest, the day has already arrived. Today is the first day at my new job. Although I'm not getting paid until Thursday, I entered my new classroom for the first time just a few moments ago. It still feels occupied... established. I shouldn't be so surprised, considering the man I'm about to replace has been here for years and he hasn't yet cleared out all his materials. Still, I looked around at the posters on the wall and the papers on the desk, trying to mentally sort out what kind of changes I'd make to the geography of the desks, and what I could get to fill the walls around the room. How did I want my classroom to look, to feel, to BE.
My practicum last year consisted of five different sponsor teachers with five different rooms in various locations around the school. It's true that I had my own little hideaway "office" which I shared with a few other teachers. However, when the place you call your own consists of a space on a desk that is about one metre squared, it's hard to settle in and make yourself at home. Even the students weren't mine... they were just on loan from another teacher, another place. Their report cards had another teacher's name on them, their parents called the school asking for the person on the schedule from the start of the year, and many saw me as something less than a "real" teacher.
As with the tides, things predictably change. There is no sage-like sponsor teacher to go to when the students are acting out anymore. There is no relief at the end of your practicum, where you can hand the reins over to the people in charge, the people who know what they're doing. Nope. It's just you. And them.
I guess this post sounds a little bit ominous and makes me sound like I'm terrified. To a certain extent, I am. Worried that the kids won't take me seriously... worried that my reputation (how limited it may be) may procede me as a fun guy but a bit of a push-over. Worried that my kids won't learn anything and they'll perform miserably throughout the semester because I'm not effective enough. Worried that I'm not cut out for this whole teaching thing.
But alas, there's no time for hesitancy. All I can do is show up. Be here. And do my best. Ignore the dreams of insecurity that haunted me at about 2am this morning when I was forced to get out of bed and watch TV for an hour before being settled enough to return to my slumber. Ignore the mental chatter that makes me uncertain. And just be.
And so, mes amis, off I go into the fray. Wish me luck.
T
Monday, January 28, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Tearing up at Tim Hortons at 7:45am
K had to go into work early. I received a call for a 3 day job at one of the high schools in town to finish out the week, but K needed to be at work by about 7:30am... far too early to show up expecting keys and TOC notes. Since there was the loveliest of Timmy Ho's right across the street from K's office, I stopped in for an extra large and a doughnut and some reading.
Over the past few months I've been reading A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews. I first thought about reading it because K did and really enjoyed it. Then I found out it was one of the most recent additions to the local school district's Approved Literature List for secondary schools. In preparation for the the possibility of getting a job, I wanted to read it. I finished up the Kite Runner at the end of November and picked this one up.
Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed. It started off with a tonne of biting wit, was written in an extremely casual, conversational manner, and although it was slow in the beginning, there were enough charming moments throughout the book to keep me coming back.
As I'm sitting in T.H.'s this morning, I'm just finishing up the final two chapters of the book... and I think to myself that I truly know what "having heart" means for a novel. The whole story set up a beautiful and tragically sad (but still triumphant) ending about a girl who just tries to navigate life in small-town, rural, uber-Mennonite Manitoba. And it was great.
I've already admitted that I'm a big sap and I love a good cry from time to time. And although I held myself together in this very busy location, I really thought the ending was suitable, unexpected, and completely appropriate. I know this is close to the ending, but I just wanted to share a few lines from the story...
"... no, I preferred the first story, the one about sacrifice and pain, because it presented opportunities, of being reunited, of being happy again, somewhere in the real world, our family, and because it was about everlasting love and that's what I like to believe in... I've learned from living in this town that stories are what matter, and if we can believe them, I mean really believe them, we have a chance at redemption."
- Miriam Toews, from A Complicated Kindness
If you haven't read it, I give it a hearty thumbs up. Sure, it may be considered a "girl" book, but when was I ever the type to embrace only the macho? For those who don't know me, the answer is, well, never... the James Bond good looks and my machismo persona aside. ;)
T
Over the past few months I've been reading A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews. I first thought about reading it because K did and really enjoyed it. Then I found out it was one of the most recent additions to the local school district's Approved Literature List for secondary schools. In preparation for the the possibility of getting a job, I wanted to read it. I finished up the Kite Runner at the end of November and picked this one up.
Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed. It started off with a tonne of biting wit, was written in an extremely casual, conversational manner, and although it was slow in the beginning, there were enough charming moments throughout the book to keep me coming back.
As I'm sitting in T.H.'s this morning, I'm just finishing up the final two chapters of the book... and I think to myself that I truly know what "having heart" means for a novel. The whole story set up a beautiful and tragically sad (but still triumphant) ending about a girl who just tries to navigate life in small-town, rural, uber-Mennonite Manitoba. And it was great.
I've already admitted that I'm a big sap and I love a good cry from time to time. And although I held myself together in this very busy location, I really thought the ending was suitable, unexpected, and completely appropriate. I know this is close to the ending, but I just wanted to share a few lines from the story...
"... no, I preferred the first story, the one about sacrifice and pain, because it presented opportunities, of being reunited, of being happy again, somewhere in the real world, our family, and because it was about everlasting love and that's what I like to believe in... I've learned from living in this town that stories are what matter, and if we can believe them, I mean really believe them, we have a chance at redemption."
- Miriam Toews, from A Complicated Kindness
If you haven't read it, I give it a hearty thumbs up. Sure, it may be considered a "girl" book, but when was I ever the type to embrace only the macho? For those who don't know me, the answer is, well, never... the James Bond good looks and my machismo persona aside. ;)
T
Monday, January 21, 2008
Dreams that wake
Over the past week or so, I've been afflicted with something I am rarely affected by: dreams.
I do know about psychological research which states that all people dream... it's only those who wake up in the middle of a dream whom ever recall their dreams. Lately, though, I've recalled more than one dream in an evening, which means that I've been waking up in the middle of said dream, which also means I haven't been sleeping soundly for a number of nights. All this filters down to the fact that I'm tired. I've definitely been in bed for a reasonable number of hours each night... I just haven't had the satisfaction of a deep sleep recently, which generally makes me a bit grouchy and touchy and easily distracted.
I was in today at my soon-to-be work location for a teacher I've been in for a couple of times. Her kids generally know me and know what kind of guy I am, but few know when I've been a donkey on the edge (due to my poor slumber experiences as of late). Well, needless to say, a few were acquainted with this version of Mr. M. I just find my patience fleeing out the window as I move through the paces of the day. I guess this is one of my most obvious downfalls as a teacher... my lack of patience that seems to make itself apparent when I don't have a full night's rest.
On a school related (but non-sleep related) note, I'm getting back into listening to interviews on
CBC radio watching poetry slam performances on YouTube. I heard about a guy who is apparently from the Okanagan Valley who'd won a few slam poetry competitions who was a graduate of a local high school. So, being intrigued, I looked it up, and so should you. His name is Shane Koyczan and he's won a number of poetry competitions around North America... CLICK HERE to take a look at one of his earlier performances... really good stuff.
Another one I think you should all watch is by Talib Kweli from the Def Jam Poetry performances also found on YouTube. Go HERE to see him perform one of his poems. For now, adios...
T
I do know about psychological research which states that all people dream... it's only those who wake up in the middle of a dream whom ever recall their dreams. Lately, though, I've recalled more than one dream in an evening, which means that I've been waking up in the middle of said dream, which also means I haven't been sleeping soundly for a number of nights. All this filters down to the fact that I'm tired. I've definitely been in bed for a reasonable number of hours each night... I just haven't had the satisfaction of a deep sleep recently, which generally makes me a bit grouchy and touchy and easily distracted.
I was in today at my soon-to-be work location for a teacher I've been in for a couple of times. Her kids generally know me and know what kind of guy I am, but few know when I've been a donkey on the edge (due to my poor slumber experiences as of late). Well, needless to say, a few were acquainted with this version of Mr. M. I just find my patience fleeing out the window as I move through the paces of the day. I guess this is one of my most obvious downfalls as a teacher... my lack of patience that seems to make itself apparent when I don't have a full night's rest.
On a school related (but non-sleep related) note, I'm getting back into listening to interviews on
CBC radio watching poetry slam performances on YouTube. I heard about a guy who is apparently from the Okanagan Valley who'd won a few slam poetry competitions who was a graduate of a local high school. So, being intrigued, I looked it up, and so should you. His name is Shane Koyczan and he's won a number of poetry competitions around North America... CLICK HERE to take a look at one of his earlier performances... really good stuff.
Another one I think you should all watch is by Talib Kweli from the Def Jam Poetry performances also found on YouTube. Go HERE to see him perform one of his poems. For now, adios...
T
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Do kids lose out with subsitutes in the class?
I received this story from a teacher at the high school I'm going to be working at for the rest of the year. MSNBC ran it this week, and it discusses how having substitute teachers in the classroom can damage teaching progress and can set students back rather than help them progress forward. Although the teacher that sent it pointed out that things are much different north of the border, she thought it was interesting. In an attempt to protet my TOC brethren, I'll respond...
I'll begin by saying that qualifications in Canada to be a subsitute teacher (known here as a teacher-on-call, or TOC) are the same as those of a regular teacher. We are subject to the same background checks, the same interview processes, and the same guidelines and expectations laid out by the provincial college of teachers (and this goes for most, if not every province in the country). We are not underqualified baby-sitters, and we are not unintelligent pylons.
It is true that in some districts and in some situtations, a TOC will have to teach outside of their particular subject area training. Sometimes this is because of a clerical error, and other times it is simply because of a shortage of TOC's on a given day. I, for one, have taught Junior math and science. Still, I have a degree in English lit with a second concentration in history, so I'm certified to teach Social Studies and English. However, I also have coverage areas in Phys-Ed (due to my coaching and athletics background) and in Foods (a few months working in a kitchen and I took a mini-contract in Foods at the end of last year). I am a full member of the college of teachers and a certified member of the local teachers union as well.
The reason I point these things out is that I believe that when I come in to a class, I'm definitely not responsible for setting students back in any way unless, of course, I'm outside of my subject area or a teacher leaves insufficient instructions. To date, I have only taught outside of my subject area a total of 3 times (for no more than one day at a time) and is quite uncommon. When I come in to teach a class for another teacher, I follow the directions as closely as is possible and am as thorough as possible when it comes to teaching various concepts with the kids. The same goes for any other TOC's I know... we are trained teachers who know our stuff... sure, many of us may have limited experience (I only graduated last year), but we are doing the best we can with what's available.
In most districts in Canada now, a person must apply to get on the TOC list before they are allowed to apply for contract jobs within the district. They must have a teacher-education program (which is almost univerally a minimum of 4 years), and related training in their subject area if they are to teach high school. That is definitely the case here in BC... you have to be on the TOC list before you can even apply for any teaching position. It is the TOC's that are used to fill vacancies... this is not a problem, though, since all the TOC's are qualified to take on the jobs they are hired for.
I fully agree with the article when it says that sometimes it's simply a holding pattern when it comes to behavioural challenges and classroom routines, but one of the things a TOC has to develop is their own expectations that can translate almost universally to any class they come into. Also, and maybe this is strange, but there is enough support in our schools that if, in fact I run into a serious behaviour issue, there are people at the school to help solve any conflict.
It seems to me that many of the symptoms and issues related to the U.S. issues relating to ineffective substitute teaching is directed related to adminstration problems/requirements, and a complete lack of funding for the schools. I've heard a lot of talk about this issue in the news it seems like it's a huge philosophical issue as well. How are teachers valued? What kind of standards are expected? At what point is education going to become the top priority of government? Even though many experienced teachers and administrators may disagree, I'd say that Canadian governments in general value education much more than governments south of the border.
This seems like a terrifying fact:
"...states with the fewest standards for substitutes also rely most on subs. Principals in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Washington, D.C., are most likely to identify teacher absenteeism as a big problem, according to Education Department survey data from 2003-04, the most recent available.
Among those places, only Washington requires all substitutes to have some college. And even there, principals sometimes ignore that requirement when faced with teacher absences, according to a district review."
- from MSNBC.com via the AP
Only one state requires subs to have SOME college? Obviously this needs to be addressed. Again, the administration and the lawmakers/governmetns providing funding need to give their head a shake.
It is this sort of article that makes me thankful that I am working in a district/province that does, in fact, provide a somewhat reasonable amount of support for TOC's and teachers in general. Sure, it can always get better (wages, support funding, etc.), but when looking at what goes on elsewhere, it's kinda nice to look at our job and say, "Geeez... it could be SO much worse".
T
I'll begin by saying that qualifications in Canada to be a subsitute teacher (known here as a teacher-on-call, or TOC) are the same as those of a regular teacher. We are subject to the same background checks, the same interview processes, and the same guidelines and expectations laid out by the provincial college of teachers (and this goes for most, if not every province in the country). We are not underqualified baby-sitters, and we are not unintelligent pylons.
It is true that in some districts and in some situtations, a TOC will have to teach outside of their particular subject area training. Sometimes this is because of a clerical error, and other times it is simply because of a shortage of TOC's on a given day. I, for one, have taught Junior math and science. Still, I have a degree in English lit with a second concentration in history, so I'm certified to teach Social Studies and English. However, I also have coverage areas in Phys-Ed (due to my coaching and athletics background) and in Foods (a few months working in a kitchen and I took a mini-contract in Foods at the end of last year). I am a full member of the college of teachers and a certified member of the local teachers union as well.
The reason I point these things out is that I believe that when I come in to a class, I'm definitely not responsible for setting students back in any way unless, of course, I'm outside of my subject area or a teacher leaves insufficient instructions. To date, I have only taught outside of my subject area a total of 3 times (for no more than one day at a time) and is quite uncommon. When I come in to teach a class for another teacher, I follow the directions as closely as is possible and am as thorough as possible when it comes to teaching various concepts with the kids. The same goes for any other TOC's I know... we are trained teachers who know our stuff... sure, many of us may have limited experience (I only graduated last year), but we are doing the best we can with what's available.
In most districts in Canada now, a person must apply to get on the TOC list before they are allowed to apply for contract jobs within the district. They must have a teacher-education program (which is almost univerally a minimum of 4 years), and related training in their subject area if they are to teach high school. That is definitely the case here in BC... you have to be on the TOC list before you can even apply for any teaching position. It is the TOC's that are used to fill vacancies... this is not a problem, though, since all the TOC's are qualified to take on the jobs they are hired for.
I fully agree with the article when it says that sometimes it's simply a holding pattern when it comes to behavioural challenges and classroom routines, but one of the things a TOC has to develop is their own expectations that can translate almost universally to any class they come into. Also, and maybe this is strange, but there is enough support in our schools that if, in fact I run into a serious behaviour issue, there are people at the school to help solve any conflict.
It seems to me that many of the symptoms and issues related to the U.S. issues relating to ineffective substitute teaching is directed related to adminstration problems/requirements, and a complete lack of funding for the schools. I've heard a lot of talk about this issue in the news it seems like it's a huge philosophical issue as well. How are teachers valued? What kind of standards are expected? At what point is education going to become the top priority of government? Even though many experienced teachers and administrators may disagree, I'd say that Canadian governments in general value education much more than governments south of the border.
This seems like a terrifying fact:
"...states with the fewest standards for substitutes also rely most on subs. Principals in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Washington, D.C., are most likely to identify teacher absenteeism as a big problem, according to Education Department survey data from 2003-04, the most recent available.
Among those places, only Washington requires all substitutes to have some college. And even there, principals sometimes ignore that requirement when faced with teacher absences, according to a district review."
- from MSNBC.com via the AP
Only one state requires subs to have SOME college? Obviously this needs to be addressed. Again, the administration and the lawmakers/governmetns providing funding need to give their head a shake.
It is this sort of article that makes me thankful that I am working in a district/province that does, in fact, provide a somewhat reasonable amount of support for TOC's and teachers in general. Sure, it can always get better (wages, support funding, etc.), but when looking at what goes on elsewhere, it's kinda nice to look at our job and say, "Geeez... it could be SO much worse".
T
A completion to the update...
Well. I guess I should begin at the start.
K and I got on the road back home on the 22nd of December. Typically, we're short on time so we end up driving during the early evening. This causes issues. Actually, it only causes issues for one of us: me. K fights night blindness and doesn't see well enough to confidently drive when it gets dark (particularly on the highway where there are no street lights). Thus, I have to take on the driving duties. Now, I don't really mind driving. I actually kinda like it for the most part. But I hate driving in bad conditions. Lucky for me, though, we had some extra time over the holidays, so K was able to drive during the day over the icy/snowy roads through the northern Okanagan toward the Trans-Canada before getting back to the 4-0-3. Growing up in the boondocks north of Calgary turned her into a ninja of a winter driver, so she's much more confident on the snowy/icy roads than I am.
We got back to Alberta in one piece and had a lot of time to spend with our respective families. K's family was riddled with the flu, which they passed on to K and which she ended up passing to my little sister, but I managed to stay alive and fought off my cough/cold without it ever settling in. I popped more echinacea in those two weeks than I have in my life! We had a nice visit, though, with K's family, and then made it down to see my family in Bridge City on Christmas Day just in time to get the last part of Christmas dinner. As always, my family spoiled us with too many gifts and we left with more stuff than we came with. I also got to meet up with the old high school crew... 6 or 7 of us met for brunch the day before we got back on the road to BC, so it was great to see everyone. One is in Med School, another is doing a Masters in Performance Piano, another just left for Australia, still another is finishing up a teaching program, and another buddy is just about to have a baby with his lovely wife (who couldn't make... doctor's appointment). Always so much stuff going on.
On the 28th, we headed back to Calgary for an extended family Christmas get together with some of K's aunts, uncles and cousins. We were thinking of spending the night again, but decided last-minute to simply get back on the the road to the OK Valley so we could spend another day out in Victoria. So we stayed for about 2 hours, then made the drive back home, arriving at the apartment at about 11pm.
By 9:30am the next morning, we were on the road to the Island. K and I got stuck behind an accident on the Coquihalla for nearly 2 hours, but since we had left a whole day earlier than anticipated, we got there about 7:30pm, had some dinner and beer, and turned in... K at her friend's house, and me at my friend's house.
After playing lots of games, drinking lots of brew, and seeing a bunch of people, we were back home on the 1st with K's friend in tow. I did nearly all the driving after the first day (on the 22nd), but the roads weren't too bad, and although it was a bit stressful at times, we made it home in one piece. AND, after visiting with K's friend for 5 days and relaxing, it was back to life and work and such.
And so, here I am... two weeks away from starting my new (very REAL) job, and two weeks into the TOC'ing world. Subbing hasn't been too bad, and although it was quiet last week, I'm working 4/5 this week, and I'll be able to get some planning/cleaning done today to offset the lack of work that's been taking place over the past 2-3 weeks. I did some painting for my uncle last week, but with coaching and a busy subbing week, I haven't had time to do much planning, so today is what that's for... heading up to the school to get some materials and chat with a couple of the English teachers about some stuff, and hopefully snagging some keys so I can get copying and preparing more effectively. I can only do so much here at home.
Now we're all caught up... I'm going to make another unrelated post shortly about substitutes in the U.S. and issues surrounding their effectiveness. For now, I can only say that the standards are much higher north of the border, in most provinces anyway. But more on that later...
T
K and I got on the road back home on the 22nd of December. Typically, we're short on time so we end up driving during the early evening. This causes issues. Actually, it only causes issues for one of us: me. K fights night blindness and doesn't see well enough to confidently drive when it gets dark (particularly on the highway where there are no street lights). Thus, I have to take on the driving duties. Now, I don't really mind driving. I actually kinda like it for the most part. But I hate driving in bad conditions. Lucky for me, though, we had some extra time over the holidays, so K was able to drive during the day over the icy/snowy roads through the northern Okanagan toward the Trans-Canada before getting back to the 4-0-3. Growing up in the boondocks north of Calgary turned her into a ninja of a winter driver, so she's much more confident on the snowy/icy roads than I am.
We got back to Alberta in one piece and had a lot of time to spend with our respective families. K's family was riddled with the flu, which they passed on to K and which she ended up passing to my little sister, but I managed to stay alive and fought off my cough/cold without it ever settling in. I popped more echinacea in those two weeks than I have in my life! We had a nice visit, though, with K's family, and then made it down to see my family in Bridge City on Christmas Day just in time to get the last part of Christmas dinner. As always, my family spoiled us with too many gifts and we left with more stuff than we came with. I also got to meet up with the old high school crew... 6 or 7 of us met for brunch the day before we got back on the road to BC, so it was great to see everyone. One is in Med School, another is doing a Masters in Performance Piano, another just left for Australia, still another is finishing up a teaching program, and another buddy is just about to have a baby with his lovely wife (who couldn't make... doctor's appointment). Always so much stuff going on.
On the 28th, we headed back to Calgary for an extended family Christmas get together with some of K's aunts, uncles and cousins. We were thinking of spending the night again, but decided last-minute to simply get back on the the road to the OK Valley so we could spend another day out in Victoria. So we stayed for about 2 hours, then made the drive back home, arriving at the apartment at about 11pm.
By 9:30am the next morning, we were on the road to the Island. K and I got stuck behind an accident on the Coquihalla for nearly 2 hours, but since we had left a whole day earlier than anticipated, we got there about 7:30pm, had some dinner and beer, and turned in... K at her friend's house, and me at my friend's house.
After playing lots of games, drinking lots of brew, and seeing a bunch of people, we were back home on the 1st with K's friend in tow. I did nearly all the driving after the first day (on the 22nd), but the roads weren't too bad, and although it was a bit stressful at times, we made it home in one piece. AND, after visiting with K's friend for 5 days and relaxing, it was back to life and work and such.
And so, here I am... two weeks away from starting my new (very REAL) job, and two weeks into the TOC'ing world. Subbing hasn't been too bad, and although it was quiet last week, I'm working 4/5 this week, and I'll be able to get some planning/cleaning done today to offset the lack of work that's been taking place over the past 2-3 weeks. I did some painting for my uncle last week, but with coaching and a busy subbing week, I haven't had time to do much planning, so today is what that's for... heading up to the school to get some materials and chat with a couple of the English teachers about some stuff, and hopefully snagging some keys so I can get copying and preparing more effectively. I can only do so much here at home.
Now we're all caught up... I'm going to make another unrelated post shortly about substitutes in the U.S. and issues surrounding their effectiveness. For now, I can only say that the standards are much higher north of the border, in most provinces anyway. But more on that later...
T
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Holiday hiatus...
I'm back now. However, I took a few weeks off due to the craziness that has ensued over the previous weeks. Unfortunately, I won't full return until sometime this next week, but I'll give a bit of information related to the craziness...
I finally got a job! I accepted a contract at a local high school (about 8 blocks from my house) for a full-time position for the next semester. I'm really excited, and since it's all English, I couldn't have received a better schedule (unless they paid me for a prep, which they don't). This means that I'm going to be super-busy for the next six months coaching and playing volleyball and tackling my first full-time teaching position ever. I was also being pursued for another job at another high school I really like, but I'm not one to be picky (not yet, anyway) and took the first offer I received.
I was also gone to the motherland (also known as the windy, bald prairies of southern Alberta) for a week and was out on the coast for a few more days... we've had company for the past 5 days as well, so I haven't accomplished much of anything work-related (i.e. getting ready for the semester), and haven't even had a chance to catch up on my sleep. So, those are priorities, even though we're all going out for a big night of booze and bowling.
Thus, for now I must make an exit... more details to follow soon. Happy New Year to the three people who stop by from time to time :)
T
I finally got a job! I accepted a contract at a local high school (about 8 blocks from my house) for a full-time position for the next semester. I'm really excited, and since it's all English, I couldn't have received a better schedule (unless they paid me for a prep, which they don't). This means that I'm going to be super-busy for the next six months coaching and playing volleyball and tackling my first full-time teaching position ever. I was also being pursued for another job at another high school I really like, but I'm not one to be picky (not yet, anyway) and took the first offer I received.
I was also gone to the motherland (also known as the windy, bald prairies of southern Alberta) for a week and was out on the coast for a few more days... we've had company for the past 5 days as well, so I haven't accomplished much of anything work-related (i.e. getting ready for the semester), and haven't even had a chance to catch up on my sleep. So, those are priorities, even though we're all going out for a big night of booze and bowling.
Thus, for now I must make an exit... more details to follow soon. Happy New Year to the three people who stop by from time to time :)
T
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