Friday, Spray Park and NO Fear...

Last Friday afternoon a colleague and I walked with the grade 7 and 8 classes to the Spray Park down town...okay, down town Delburne may be a misnomer...anyway, we strolled in the sun to the park, let the kids play in the water and goof around on the playground equipment. Great fun for all.

While the 'off-campus excursion' certainly was a blast, my reflections are centred around the question of just what did we, both students and teachers alike, learn from this adventure? On the surface the kids learned we, the teachers, will remember that they are still kids, and that they will be given opportunities to be kids during the course of the school year. After all, sometimes fun is just plain fun.

Myself, I  learned, or rather relearned, that these students are different outside the classroom, and I should never forget that. The conversations that took place during the slow, lazy, stroll to and from the park let me into the world of these kids. They shared with me what they found exciting about the day and the trip, as well as telling me of their lives, sharing openly and honestly about what matters to them, chatting away comfortably without fear of being judged, or graded. No fear...

Amazing what we learn when we are not scared to share...

Thanks Mrs. B for the great idea, thanks kids for the joy,

Stephen

New start, same old problem...

This has been a fantastic start to the year, with all players bringing their A game during the first week of school. So much energy, humour, and productivity, really a wonderful way to begin the year.

The staff have embraced the new website, as evidenced by the number of posts and blog entries uploaded each day. We are waiting for access to the analytics to give us an understanding of how the students, parents and community are using the site, but so far the feedback has been great. This really is a huge change for our school.

What has stayed the same for this guy is the inability to blog as much as I want to.

How do those people I follow on twitter post so many entries each day?

How can one set aside a time each day/week to write given the, well, unstructured nature of not only this occupation but this household as well?

We are always asked as teachers to fill out our TPGP year plans each fall, and one of mine WILL be to reflect and write about these thoughts each Sunday night. However, even as I pen this post, I am aware of the potential pitfalls of such a plan. And, well,  it is Monday night, enough said...

What tricks, hints, or sage advise do you have to pass along? All comments gratefully received!

Thanks,

Stephen

This post composed while listening endlessly (cause my kids have played this song on repeat)  to Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks

The Powder of Social Media

The following screen capture illustrates how the forces of good can be used to educate the masses on the social network...

I must admit to feeling odd about whiting out the faces/names, as this was posted for all to see, but, seems this time safer than sorry is better, as these are former students of mine...

Why I hate Squirrels!

I really need to update this blog, as the journey with my 12's has been extremely, ohh look...







Darn you Youtube...

Biting the bullet...

By bogdog Dan

Some rights reserved

Did it...yup, bit the bullet, plunged in, soared off, let go, jumped into the fire...

Finally decided that after many years of thinking, examining, discussing everything I have read, heard, or witnessed, that it was time to put up or shut up.

I started the semester without a course outline.

There, said it...

Wow, put that way, those words, I started the semester without a course outline, sound rather innocuous; really no big deal, just stared my ELA 30-1 grade twelve class with nothing concrete, ya, we make it up as we go along, no outline to hand in, sorry boss...why, yes, I'd love to look for another job...all fears of professional repercussions aside, I strongly believe that this road I am on is one I am meant to follow, and that the time has indeed come to stop talking and just do it.

This "being prepared to not be prepared"(see Scott Kemp) has been a fantastic experience for me so far! Each day for the last two weeks, I have responded to the needs of the students, and together we have identified what the focus of the next class should be.

I will endeavor to continue to record this experience, in the hopes that reflections in July will confirm that this notion, while crazy, was beneficial to all stakeholders.

Stephen