At this junction in my life, I feel like I'm constantly fighting to stay ahead of the curve in any of my present ventures. I'm a new teacher, and it takes a tonne of time to stay on top of the kids and the material and make sense of what I'm trying to teach them. I'm also a new coach, so I'm trying to soak up as much information as possible in order to pass that on to my future players down the road. And since I'm still fairly young and new at the whole marriage thing (even though, realistically, by year two I feel like a seasoned vet), I'm still learning what it takes to have a solid relationhip. Every day is a new challenge on how to learn as much as possible and utilize what I learn in my day to day life.
Learning from a mentor coach has been extremely eye-opening thus far. I've learned about my faults and inabilities quite quickly working with A, who has almost as much coaching experience as I do life experience (which is intimidating on a number of levels). I keep thinking of the old adage, "The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know" (or something to that effect). Now, I'm not sure who said this, but there are few things in this world that are more true. Every day I work with him, I learn that I have a endlessly more to learn. I've also come to know my bad habits as a leader and a coach, and how my persona plays into the level of respect students/players have for me. So far, I've approached my classes and teams with a desire for them to know things about me and become friendly with me so they feel as though they're in a safe environment. However, A has really challenged this mentality and approaches the leadership position from a very different angle... one of disciplined aloofness... friendly, but distant always as a method of separation between the roles of teacher and student/player. Even though I'm not sure I'd be able to adopt the same approach, he's definitely developed an ability to handle kids in just this way.
I guess it's just being the new guy in town... everything I'm doing seems new, so it's a big challenge. I can only hope that I take in as much as possible and constantly improve. Some days I realize my work ethic prevents this, but I can still work towards improving. Always to improve...
T
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Piles
When weeks like this arrive, I start thinking of Jenga. Piles of blocks, vicariously perched on one another. Just things piled on top of other things, with very little room in between.
I guess I should qualify this statement. I don't feel like my Jenga-world is going to suddenly topple to the ground. But this week has just been a bit hectic, and stressful, and there hasn't been any time to really step back. Being back in the classroom full-time is still a hard adjustment... so many more people have so many requests of me and my time and expectations of me and my abilities, and it seems to stretch a person thin.
Yesterday was just the epitome of such a day. I had to go in for my "New Teacher Orientation" yesterday morning, which is about, well, 3 weeks late. Still, one of my VP's wanted to get it done and make sure they went through the proper motions with me, so I met him yesterday morning before school. I figured it would take about 10 minutes. However, after waiting in his office for 10 minutes, we spent the next 45 going over the orientation checklist of every possible scenario I may run into throughout the school year. I'm a pretty resourceful guy, so I'd actually sorted all that out already, but we went through the motions anyway. Thus, it left me about 5 minutes to get my room ready for the animals.
I then ended up with only about 10 minutes of my lunch because of a student who was having some serious issues keeping up with the material in the classes, missing my meeting for a social justice group I thought I'd have time to help out with. After school, I cleaned up my stuff, did a bit of prep work, then had to book it home in time to get picked up for my rec-league volleyball which started at 6pm last night, which was followed by another game at a different school with a different team (helping out a friend who was short-handed), and finally had to take off to the University to coach from 8-10, getting home just after 10. K had to run out to the office to get something done that she forgot (at 9:30pm!), so I arrived home to an empty house, and upon her return, she had to fill me in on her stressful day.
By 11pm, I was about ready to pass out, so off to bed I went. It was just one of those days. Although today's a new day and a new start, I have to get home shortly after school to cook dinner and start cleaning the house, as K's mom is coming for out for a funeral and is staying at our place. Oh, did I mention that I have a Pro-D day tomorrow, and I'm leaving for the Fraser Valley at 4pm (immediately after the Pro-D) to coach at a tournament until Sunday night? Like I said... Jenga. Piles and piles. The holes? They must be the fatigue.
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.
T
I guess I should qualify this statement. I don't feel like my Jenga-world is going to suddenly topple to the ground. But this week has just been a bit hectic, and stressful, and there hasn't been any time to really step back. Being back in the classroom full-time is still a hard adjustment... so many more people have so many requests of me and my time and expectations of me and my abilities, and it seems to stretch a person thin.
Yesterday was just the epitome of such a day. I had to go in for my "New Teacher Orientation" yesterday morning, which is about, well, 3 weeks late. Still, one of my VP's wanted to get it done and make sure they went through the proper motions with me, so I met him yesterday morning before school. I figured it would take about 10 minutes. However, after waiting in his office for 10 minutes, we spent the next 45 going over the orientation checklist of every possible scenario I may run into throughout the school year. I'm a pretty resourceful guy, so I'd actually sorted all that out already, but we went through the motions anyway. Thus, it left me about 5 minutes to get my room ready for the animals.
I then ended up with only about 10 minutes of my lunch because of a student who was having some serious issues keeping up with the material in the classes, missing my meeting for a social justice group I thought I'd have time to help out with. After school, I cleaned up my stuff, did a bit of prep work, then had to book it home in time to get picked up for my rec-league volleyball which started at 6pm last night, which was followed by another game at a different school with a different team (helping out a friend who was short-handed), and finally had to take off to the University to coach from 8-10, getting home just after 10. K had to run out to the office to get something done that she forgot (at 9:30pm!), so I arrived home to an empty house, and upon her return, she had to fill me in on her stressful day.
By 11pm, I was about ready to pass out, so off to bed I went. It was just one of those days. Although today's a new day and a new start, I have to get home shortly after school to cook dinner and start cleaning the house, as K's mom is coming for out for a funeral and is staying at our place. Oh, did I mention that I have a Pro-D day tomorrow, and I'm leaving for the Fraser Valley at 4pm (immediately after the Pro-D) to coach at a tournament until Sunday night? Like I said... Jenga. Piles and piles. The holes? They must be the fatigue.
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.
T
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
New songs in my IPod...
Over the past few months, I've been adding a variety of new music to my IPod. It's quite varied, and because of this, the music I put on definitely depends on the mood I'm in.
Last night, on recommendation of a friend, I acquired some blues music from a musician named Harry Manx. Now, he's been around for decades, but from what I can tell, his music is seeing a bit of a renaissance. He played a show recently here in the Valley, and friends in attendance said it was wonderful. Typically, I never turn down live music so I'm disappointed that I didn't attend, and this was even more so the case when I actually listened to his music.
It's fantastic. He blends soulful southern blues with the sounds of India (by way of his acoustic slide guitar manipulations), and his voice is strong and pure. I absolutely love it, and you should too. You need to go here to see a performance on YouTube... you won't be disappointed.
I've also added music ranging from Everlast and Jay-Z, to John Coltrane and Ella Fitzgerald, to Lily Allen and Jack Johnson. I think I even have a song or two by the Dixie Chicks. I've definitely stepped away from the louder, more intense tunes of my youth as my main listening interests, even though my youth is, in reality, still here and I still have a quite glorious collection of 90's rock and alternative tunes on there. But, overall my tastes have mellowed, and I definitely enjoy more of the jazz and blues music that I always liked but never pursued. I think part of my soul lives in Louisiana... not only because of my love for the music, but my taste for spicy food and catfish too.
T
Last night, on recommendation of a friend, I acquired some blues music from a musician named Harry Manx. Now, he's been around for decades, but from what I can tell, his music is seeing a bit of a renaissance. He played a show recently here in the Valley, and friends in attendance said it was wonderful. Typically, I never turn down live music so I'm disappointed that I didn't attend, and this was even more so the case when I actually listened to his music.
It's fantastic. He blends soulful southern blues with the sounds of India (by way of his acoustic slide guitar manipulations), and his voice is strong and pure. I absolutely love it, and you should too. You need to go here to see a performance on YouTube... you won't be disappointed.
I've also added music ranging from Everlast and Jay-Z, to John Coltrane and Ella Fitzgerald, to Lily Allen and Jack Johnson. I think I even have a song or two by the Dixie Chicks. I've definitely stepped away from the louder, more intense tunes of my youth as my main listening interests, even though my youth is, in reality, still here and I still have a quite glorious collection of 90's rock and alternative tunes on there. But, overall my tastes have mellowed, and I definitely enjoy more of the jazz and blues music that I always liked but never pursued. I think part of my soul lives in Louisiana... not only because of my love for the music, but my taste for spicy food and catfish too.
T
Monday, February 11, 2008
I'm not generally one for awards shows, but...
The Grammy Awards last night were absolutely spectacular. I don't think I've been entertained by such good quality live music on TV, well, ever. Kanye's performance of "Stronger" with the tribute to his mother was extremely touching, Alicia Keys is not only one of the most beautiful people on the planet but also one of the most talented (both with her "duet" with Frank Sinatra and her performance of "No One" with John Mayer), and seeing Aretha Franklin bring it home was great. Not to mention Feist put on a great performance, as did Foo Fighters. I'm a huge Amy Winehouse fan, so I was really excited to see her win, and the fact that Herbie Hancock won Album of the year just redeems my faith in the modern music industry... at least a little... maybe it's not all shot to hell.
If you haven't seen the performances, track them down online somewhere... it's well worth the show.
T
If you haven't seen the performances, track them down online somewhere... it's well worth the show.
T
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Sunday morning routines at their finest
The sun shines outside the patio windows, and Jack Johnson's new album is playing softly in the background. K and I just finished a breakfast of chocolate-chip pancakes with blackberry yogurty and raspberries on top, with a few cups of coffee and juice on the side. It's supposed to reach about +7 degrees today, so we might have to take in a walk through M.C. Park, only a few kilometres from home. Of course, reality will be calling later in the day as I set out to do some marking and tackling the prep work for the rest of the week. Although I'm somewhat ahead of the game, I need to keep on top of everything... I've always been a bit of a procrastinator (okay... that was a HUGE understatement), but so far things are going alright, so I just have to keep on keeping on.
This Sunday morning routine has become pretty common over the past month. I woke up a bit early one morning to cook K some pancakes, and since then it's become just a bit, well, expected. Not that I mind... I like starting off the day with a quiet and casual breakfast, enjoying time that we never seem to have during the week. K's been working overtime for nearly two weeks now because of RRSP/Mutual fund season (she works at a financial office), and since I've started my new job, I need to put in some pretty major hours in order to keep on top of skipping kids and missed assignments and sorting out where, exactly, the ESL room and the department resources are. That, and the day to day planning as well... gotta keep up on that, as well. K had to go into work yesterday, so I went with her and spent the day typing up questions and quizzes and assignments for my Macbeth unit that I started this week. The more I read the play, the more I really enjoy it, and I get really excited about it's contents. In a way, I feel like I'm cheating the play by not teaching every important tidbit, even though I know that if students can walk away just a little more comfortable with Elizabethan English and respecting the highly figurative nature of Shakespeare's language, then I've accomplished my goal. That, and making them think that maybe Shakespeare isn't so impossible at the end of the day after all.
My first week has been pretty successful, all things considered. I've already started calling parents about absent students, and have tried to do my best to set a tone for my high expectations regarding both behaviour and effort. At least one of the classes seems to be truly on board (which is also my biggest), and another seems to be following in that direction as well. The third is, well, going to be challenging for sure... a few of the girls in the class are already challenging the way I run the ship, and I've had to make an extra point of not putting up with any crap if they're going to skip and complain and be pylons while they're supposed to be working. I've been told a million times that the first few weeks are all about setting the tone, and I've tried to do that as well as I can. Then again, we're still inthe honeymoon period... talk to me again when it's May and beautiful outside and kids are more concerned with partying than poetry. Not that anything like that would ever happen... 17 year old boys love poetry...
Right??
Since he's singing along with his guitar in the background of my life, here is a good line from Jack Johnson's new album...
"... don't daydream again
Just help me to believe and then
Show me that there's more than just the meantime"
- Jack Johnson, "Monsoon", from the album "Sleep Through The Static".
T
This Sunday morning routine has become pretty common over the past month. I woke up a bit early one morning to cook K some pancakes, and since then it's become just a bit, well, expected. Not that I mind... I like starting off the day with a quiet and casual breakfast, enjoying time that we never seem to have during the week. K's been working overtime for nearly two weeks now because of RRSP/Mutual fund season (she works at a financial office), and since I've started my new job, I need to put in some pretty major hours in order to keep on top of skipping kids and missed assignments and sorting out where, exactly, the ESL room and the department resources are. That, and the day to day planning as well... gotta keep up on that, as well. K had to go into work yesterday, so I went with her and spent the day typing up questions and quizzes and assignments for my Macbeth unit that I started this week. The more I read the play, the more I really enjoy it, and I get really excited about it's contents. In a way, I feel like I'm cheating the play by not teaching every important tidbit, even though I know that if students can walk away just a little more comfortable with Elizabethan English and respecting the highly figurative nature of Shakespeare's language, then I've accomplished my goal. That, and making them think that maybe Shakespeare isn't so impossible at the end of the day after all.
My first week has been pretty successful, all things considered. I've already started calling parents about absent students, and have tried to do my best to set a tone for my high expectations regarding both behaviour and effort. At least one of the classes seems to be truly on board (which is also my biggest), and another seems to be following in that direction as well. The third is, well, going to be challenging for sure... a few of the girls in the class are already challenging the way I run the ship, and I've had to make an extra point of not putting up with any crap if they're going to skip and complain and be pylons while they're supposed to be working. I've been told a million times that the first few weeks are all about setting the tone, and I've tried to do that as well as I can. Then again, we're still inthe honeymoon period... talk to me again when it's May and beautiful outside and kids are more concerned with partying than poetry. Not that anything like that would ever happen... 17 year old boys love poetry...
Right??
Since he's singing along with his guitar in the background of my life, here is a good line from Jack Johnson's new album...
"... don't daydream again
Just help me to believe and then
Show me that there's more than just the meantime"
- Jack Johnson, "Monsoon", from the album "Sleep Through The Static".
T
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Finding home in a new environment
It hasn't quite been a week since day one of the new job, but I'm still here.
So far, the experience has been great (don't worry... I'm rapping my knuckles on the wood of my desk as I type with one hand). The kids have responded really well, and they've settled into my routines without any issues. I've started organizing my materials as well as I can, while trying to learn at least two or three new names every day... this is always an uphill battle, but it's coming slowly but surely.
In the days leading up to my first official day, I spent a great deal of time going through materials of the teacher I was more or less replacing. He'd been in the district for decades, and had compiled a massive amount of materials over the years. Class copies of previous provincial exams from the early 90's, grammar worksheets that were still on Bible-paper-thin carbon paper with purple writing (I remember these from elementary school!), and texts that dated back to the 70's. Everything had to be either recycled or adopted by me. As it turned out, a few of the texts made the grade (notice the pun??? Get it? I'm a teacher??? ;) ), but a ridiculous amount of paper was recycled that didn't even get perused. There was just too much stuff, and to start fresh, I needed to embrace the "out with the old" mentality. I'd guess that there were hundreds of pounds of old photocopies that met their maker throughout the week. Sad... but we all have an end of the line.
The room is starting to feel like home. The geography of the class has changed to suit me a bit better, the old posters are off the walls, and the cupboards are starting to get filled with my own books and binders and materials. My desk feels like mine... or, at least most of it does. And I get to come back to the same kids consistently for the next few months. Although that will almost definitely get tiresome, there's a good feeling that goes along with knowing your environment and where you'll be going every day.
The teachers at this school have been super-supportive, as has administration. Everyone seems like their willing to lend an ear or a hand with whatever I need, and it's made the transition form TOC to Mr. M a really easy one to make. I know that I have a lot of work ahead of me, but it's work I'm looking forward. For the first time in this new career path, I have a place to call my own. In the general scheme of life, isn't that what we're all looking for?
"Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration."
~Charles Dickens
-T
So far, the experience has been great (don't worry... I'm rapping my knuckles on the wood of my desk as I type with one hand). The kids have responded really well, and they've settled into my routines without any issues. I've started organizing my materials as well as I can, while trying to learn at least two or three new names every day... this is always an uphill battle, but it's coming slowly but surely.
In the days leading up to my first official day, I spent a great deal of time going through materials of the teacher I was more or less replacing. He'd been in the district for decades, and had compiled a massive amount of materials over the years. Class copies of previous provincial exams from the early 90's, grammar worksheets that were still on Bible-paper-thin carbon paper with purple writing (I remember these from elementary school!), and texts that dated back to the 70's. Everything had to be either recycled or adopted by me. As it turned out, a few of the texts made the grade (notice the pun??? Get it? I'm a teacher??? ;) ), but a ridiculous amount of paper was recycled that didn't even get perused. There was just too much stuff, and to start fresh, I needed to embrace the "out with the old" mentality. I'd guess that there were hundreds of pounds of old photocopies that met their maker throughout the week. Sad... but we all have an end of the line.
The room is starting to feel like home. The geography of the class has changed to suit me a bit better, the old posters are off the walls, and the cupboards are starting to get filled with my own books and binders and materials. My desk feels like mine... or, at least most of it does. And I get to come back to the same kids consistently for the next few months. Although that will almost definitely get tiresome, there's a good feeling that goes along with knowing your environment and where you'll be going every day.
The teachers at this school have been super-supportive, as has administration. Everyone seems like their willing to lend an ear or a hand with whatever I need, and it's made the transition form TOC to Mr. M a really easy one to make. I know that I have a lot of work ahead of me, but it's work I'm looking forward. For the first time in this new career path, I have a place to call my own. In the general scheme of life, isn't that what we're all looking for?
"Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration."
~Charles Dickens
-T
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