It started out just like any ordinary, normal day.
I get to school not totally awake but with my cup in hand, it`s a question of minutes....
As I mention in the heading, teaching is never boring and that's the main reason I enjoy it so much.
Today was not boring.
Unforgetable is a better adjective.
I have my ex-student in Sec.5 who charmingly asks me to judge the fashion show auditions ( 75 candidates ) and of course, I can' t say no when it's asked so darn nicely.
Just before:periods 2 and 3 we do our t-shirts and take a group picture downstairs.
So far so good.
I judge the fashion show with 2 of my co-workers and before I go , I accept to do tomorrow's judging for the boys' this time. And off I go to a Sec.2 meeting which I am obviously late to.
I had warned everyone of my tardiness so they weren't too surprised to see me show up.
I have 2 more periods to go so I grab a soup to go ( very practical ) and head back to my classroom.
Period 1 afternoon.
So far so good.
Period 2 afternoon at this point I' m running out of both fuel and breath but there are but minutes left, I should make it in one piece.
That's when it happened.
My Sec.2 kids were working on their Christmas skit : 'Twas The Night Before Christmas and there were just 15 minutes left in the period.
I had 2 students working very well and for a reason which would be too long to explain, they end upin my classroom closet and lock themselves in.
At first I think they are pulling my leg.
They tell me it's Edgar Allen Poe's fault because as some of you know, his spirit lives and he often likes to open the closet door with a creaking sound just to say hello.
So two minutes before the bell rings I feverishly but unsuccessfully try to pry the door open while the rest of the group surrounds me for motivation.
Some of my strong students attempt, in vain.
What do you do when everything else fails ?
You get Line.
She tries.
The girls are doing fine, not panicking at all but I certainly starting to.
Line giggles which helpslower my adrenaline-adrenaLINE- get it ?
A few minutes later, a whole group of curious come in the classroom.
Teachers.
Who do we finally fetch and eventually gets the door open ?
Joseph the maintenance man.
Bless you Joseph.
While Joe was working on the door, I remembered I had the camera in my office.
Got a lot of it on it.
At least the best part: Joseph and Georges CAron unhinging the door, pulling the door open and the girls finally getting out in one piece , blushing but smiling.
Nice going girls, you were as cool as cucumbers.
GIRL POWER !
I am so going to milk this one with these girls-they`ll have to beg me to stop teasing them about this !!!
On this I say buy lottery tickets, with your luck you may not have to go to university after all.
Tata
Annie
PS : From now on NOBODY goes in my closet-unless I put you there!!
What am I listening to lately?
New band I discovered :http://www.myspace.com/smallsins
Great when driving .
Tata,
Annie
mardi 11 décembre 2007
lundi 10 décembre 2007
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK !
Hi Guys.
I'll be brief tonight.
Two things I want to talk about.
Make that three.
Ok so I might not be that brief after all.
1- Tomorrow December 11th is D Day.
Philipe is coming and we will finally get the chance to write on our t-shirts.
I'm bringing the camera and taking a group picture.
Should be pretty good.
2- Before we head off on holiday, I want to remind you that you can borrow any English books in the bookshelf in the back to bring home .
You'll miss English so much while you' re home you' ll want to read English stuff for sure.
Do not hesitate.
3- I also want to congratulate you on your behaviour in class.
When we get this close to the holidays, students usually slack off a bit and become a little bit rowdy.
So far so good with you guys.
I hope I do not jinx it by talking about it.
Just keep up the great work and everything will be just fine.
As you saw today, this week and next are pretty full so we can`t quit now.
We also got lots of fun stuff on the program so keep it up guys.
Wow I can be brief .
Tata,
Annie
I'll be brief tonight.
Two things I want to talk about.
Make that three.
Ok so I might not be that brief after all.
1- Tomorrow December 11th is D Day.
Philipe is coming and we will finally get the chance to write on our t-shirts.
I'm bringing the camera and taking a group picture.
Should be pretty good.
2- Before we head off on holiday, I want to remind you that you can borrow any English books in the bookshelf in the back to bring home .
You'll miss English so much while you' re home you' ll want to read English stuff for sure.
Do not hesitate.
3- I also want to congratulate you on your behaviour in class.
When we get this close to the holidays, students usually slack off a bit and become a little bit rowdy.
So far so good with you guys.
I hope I do not jinx it by talking about it.
Just keep up the great work and everything will be just fine.
As you saw today, this week and next are pretty full so we can`t quit now.
We also got lots of fun stuff on the program so keep it up guys.
Wow I can be brief .
Tata,
Annie
vendredi 7 décembre 2007
YOU CRY, I CRY, WE CRY
Imagine a certain ped.day: Friday afternoon to be exact and I`m off because of overtime I did at school.
Pierre is in Québec city with Paul Lachance and Frank Brisson ( my favorite dudes at school ) visiting museums for school.
So I`m all alone with the kids.
As I mentionned earlier, they had great report cards and Félix-Antoine was sucking up to his mom for no reason- everything`s fine.
Ok he talks too much in class.
Félix talks too much period.
Try driving to Ottawa with him - wishing you could drop him off on the highway.
He talks A LOT !
I told his teacher to do what she had to do and that she has our full cooperation.
Anyway, back to my afternoon off.
We eat lunch and then it starts snowing.
A Christmas snow.
Alright kids-get dressed, we`re going out.
And we did.
We walked to the dépanneur to rent a movie and for a walk.
On the way I meet my twins I taught last year : Olivier and Carl.
What a treat.
God I miss them.
We talked for about 15 minutes while my kids were making snow angels in the snow banks.
When we finally get home, we watch Chalotte`s Web : Le Monde de Charlotte.
I read the book when I was in elementary school and saw the animated version when I was my son`s age.
I was at my grandma`s house. I will always remember it.
So we cuddle and watch it.
It is very sad at the end and my son cried.
As he is crying I see myself at his age at my grandma`s house and remember how much I had cried back then.
So I cry with him.
And Rosie`s crying because we are crying.
Filou is a very sensitive boy. He has no shame crying at his age and I wish he`d stay like that forever but I do know there will come a time when crying because of a movie will be unacceptable so in the meantime, I`m enjoying it ( really ).
Rosie and I will have the rest of our lives to cry over sad movies.
It`s a girl thing.
How did it go in Rosie`s class ?
Wonderful!
I even got a group hug.
These 6 year olds lifted me off of my feet, literally. Twice.
Thank you Mrs.Louise for inviting me.
Invite me again.
My little ballerina had her last class tonight before X-mas vacation and we ( the parents ) were invited.
Wow.
She has progressed a lot since last year.
She enjoys it. She is focussed and she is good.
Mommy`s proud.
Tuesday December 11 is coming around.
What`s so special ?
Philippe Taillon is coming back to help us with your t-shirts.
You guys did a great job selecting a social issue and your slogans.
Example : Drinking and driving : Drink-Drive-Die.
Simple,clear message, very effective.
Congratulations everyone.
I can`t wait to see you wear the actual t-shirts!
Next time, we`ll write funny messages on them.
After March break.
I gotta go,
I have to deck the halls early tomorrow morning.
TaTa
Annie
Pierre is in Québec city with Paul Lachance and Frank Brisson ( my favorite dudes at school ) visiting museums for school.
So I`m all alone with the kids.
As I mentionned earlier, they had great report cards and Félix-Antoine was sucking up to his mom for no reason- everything`s fine.
Ok he talks too much in class.
Félix talks too much period.
Try driving to Ottawa with him - wishing you could drop him off on the highway.
He talks A LOT !
I told his teacher to do what she had to do and that she has our full cooperation.
Anyway, back to my afternoon off.
We eat lunch and then it starts snowing.
A Christmas snow.
Alright kids-get dressed, we`re going out.
And we did.
We walked to the dépanneur to rent a movie and for a walk.
On the way I meet my twins I taught last year : Olivier and Carl.
What a treat.
God I miss them.
We talked for about 15 minutes while my kids were making snow angels in the snow banks.
When we finally get home, we watch Chalotte`s Web : Le Monde de Charlotte.
I read the book when I was in elementary school and saw the animated version when I was my son`s age.
I was at my grandma`s house. I will always remember it.
So we cuddle and watch it.
It is very sad at the end and my son cried.
As he is crying I see myself at his age at my grandma`s house and remember how much I had cried back then.
So I cry with him.
And Rosie`s crying because we are crying.
Filou is a very sensitive boy. He has no shame crying at his age and I wish he`d stay like that forever but I do know there will come a time when crying because of a movie will be unacceptable so in the meantime, I`m enjoying it ( really ).
Rosie and I will have the rest of our lives to cry over sad movies.
It`s a girl thing.
How did it go in Rosie`s class ?
Wonderful!
I even got a group hug.
These 6 year olds lifted me off of my feet, literally. Twice.
Thank you Mrs.Louise for inviting me.
Invite me again.
My little ballerina had her last class tonight before X-mas vacation and we ( the parents ) were invited.
Wow.
She has progressed a lot since last year.
She enjoys it. She is focussed and she is good.
Mommy`s proud.
Tuesday December 11 is coming around.
What`s so special ?
Philippe Taillon is coming back to help us with your t-shirts.
You guys did a great job selecting a social issue and your slogans.
Example : Drinking and driving : Drink-Drive-Die.
Simple,clear message, very effective.
Congratulations everyone.
I can`t wait to see you wear the actual t-shirts!
Next time, we`ll write funny messages on them.
After March break.
I gotta go,
I have to deck the halls early tomorrow morning.
TaTa
Annie
mercredi 5 décembre 2007
WITNESS
I know I last wrote not too long ago but I need to write this.
My sister Caroline met a wonderful guy last year: He laughs at ALL my jokes too therefore I love him.
They are so happy together.
I have just hung up with Caro and we spoke for about an hour and 75 per cent ( darn I can`t find the percentage sign on my keyboard )-% there -found it.
Anyway, She loves this guy.
I also like him because he makes her happy.
She has all the signs of someone in love :
1-A skip in her step
2- A constant smile : like she has a coat hanger stuck in her mouth.
3- She talks about him so much EVEN I want to marry him : I`m saying this in a positive way.
4- THE GLOW.
Although I am so totally 100% happy, thrilled for her, I kinda ( I feel guilty about it but what the heck ) felt jealous. There said it!
But then I started thinking and thought to myself : " Hey you beautiful but stupid girl-look who you`ve been married to for the last 15 years ( YES I married VERY YOUNG ) ."
Today it really hit me why I really love this man.
The little things.
I`ve been secretly keeping tabs of a list of things I love about this man.
It`s been going on for two weeks now.
Do you want the whole list or the top 10 ?
Here goes : Do you have an hour and a bag because brace yourselves- it WILL get really cheesy.
1- He`s an artist.Opposites attract.
2- He`s a great cook.Opposites attract!
3- He makes the best wings in the world.
4-He has integrity.
5-He also laughs at all my jokes even when they are not funny. He`s my best audience.
6- He`s a grreat listener-trust me even when I think he`s not listening, he`s listening.
7- He makes beautiful kids.Great DNA.
8-He`s SIMPLE-not complicated-easy-going.
9-He`s always calm even when I panic- I do that a lot.
10- He brings me my morning coffee at 7:30 in the upstairs bathroom while I work on my face and that EVERY morning for the last 15 years.
11- He tucks me in at night when I ask him.
12-He supports me in my projects no matter what they are.
13- He`s honest-no bluffing, no lies.
14- He`s tall : I love tall men.
15- He opens doors for me .
16- He has a great soul.
17- He makes me laugh.
18- He`s a great nurse when I`m sick.
19-He`s a drummer .
20- He makes a mean cup of coffee.
21- He doesn`t boss me and he never lets me boss him around.
22-I`m a rollercoaster.He can handle the ride !
I have known Pierre since high school ( sec.2 ) and when I think I know everything about him, he surprises me.
This morning, while I was teaching, he came to see me to tell me with a smile from ear to ear : " I just received your Chritmas gift and you`re just gonna go nuts !! "
all this while my 6 foot 3 man is jumping up and down.
And he adds : " I would really look forward to Christmas if I were you ."
And he takes off leaving me in the corridor with my mouth open.
Do you see what I mean ?
I honestly wish my daughter gets a man like her dad.
Poor future son-in-law, you have big shoes to fill.
My friend Guy at work once told me : You and Pierre are really happy huh ?
And I answered : He makes feel like a princess even 25 years later.
The best thing about this is that I look, observe my 8 year old son Félix and I see his dad in him- he`ll be just like him.
He makes me feel like a princess too.
So there, now you know why I don`t feel jealous of Caroline anymore but instead I see the love they share and I can`t keep from smiling because I feel Caroline is getting her share of love and happiness .
She deserves it.
To Nick I say : welcome to the Fröhlich clan.
You are officially a member of ( since last weekend ) The Bisons Des Prairies or AKA The Fröhlich brothers-in law secret club.
Seriously, you`re a super duper great guy.
You and Pierre are very similar.
Enjoy the ride with Caro, she`s a rollercoaster too!
I can confirm that your life will never be boring.
Take good care of her.
Treat her right or I will have to kill you- not me but very good Italian friends of mine.
Just kidding.
What do I think Pierre got me for Christmas : I haven`t found it yet but :
1- A new Red Sox t-shirt( I ruined my new favorite one while handling chemical products- I was house cleaning.
or
2- A Red Sox hand-made purse. EBAY
or
3- A Red Sox jersey.
or
4- A Red Sox tote bag.
or
5- A pink Red Sox school bag.
or
6- A t-shirt with : I`d Rather Be At Fenway on it.
Do you want to know how blonde I can be at times ?
I got a puppy last Christmas after months of hinting or should I say begging.
When Pierre walked in the door on December 24th with our new chocolate Labrador puppy with a Christmas ribbon around her neck I said : " Who`s dog are we babysitting during the holidays ?"
I was sure she was someone else`s.
Her name is Bailey`s ( one of favorite alcoholic beverages) but to this day my kids think it`s chocolate fudge because we use use Bailey`s in our family recipe.
So when strangers say aaaah Bailey`s like the drink, my kids are always quick to correct them and answer: No like mom`s chocolate fudge !!
Call childcare services now.
On that I`m off.
I`m visiting Rosie`s grade 1 class tomorrow morning : show and tell.
That should be very interesting.
And I`m bringing surprises-are they gonna love me or what ?
I`ll tell you all about it later.
And tomorrow night is parent-teacher night for both my kids.
My kids have great report cards but Félix-Antoine has been suprisingly obedient and doing some serious sucking-up with his mom.
So my question is : What will his teacher have to tell me aside that he`s very cute and intelligent ?
I am afraid.
I`ll keep you posted.
TaTA
Annie
My sister Caroline met a wonderful guy last year: He laughs at ALL my jokes too therefore I love him.
They are so happy together.
I have just hung up with Caro and we spoke for about an hour and 75 per cent ( darn I can`t find the percentage sign on my keyboard )-% there -found it.
Anyway, She loves this guy.
I also like him because he makes her happy.
She has all the signs of someone in love :
1-A skip in her step
2- A constant smile : like she has a coat hanger stuck in her mouth.
3- She talks about him so much EVEN I want to marry him : I`m saying this in a positive way.
4- THE GLOW.
Although I am so totally 100% happy, thrilled for her, I kinda ( I feel guilty about it but what the heck ) felt jealous. There said it!
But then I started thinking and thought to myself : " Hey you beautiful but stupid girl-look who you`ve been married to for the last 15 years ( YES I married VERY YOUNG ) ."
Today it really hit me why I really love this man.
The little things.
I`ve been secretly keeping tabs of a list of things I love about this man.
It`s been going on for two weeks now.
Do you want the whole list or the top 10 ?
Here goes : Do you have an hour and a bag because brace yourselves- it WILL get really cheesy.
1- He`s an artist.Opposites attract.
2- He`s a great cook.Opposites attract!
3- He makes the best wings in the world.
4-He has integrity.
5-He also laughs at all my jokes even when they are not funny. He`s my best audience.
6- He`s a grreat listener-trust me even when I think he`s not listening, he`s listening.
7- He makes beautiful kids.Great DNA.
8-He`s SIMPLE-not complicated-easy-going.
9-He`s always calm even when I panic- I do that a lot.
10- He brings me my morning coffee at 7:30 in the upstairs bathroom while I work on my face and that EVERY morning for the last 15 years.
11- He tucks me in at night when I ask him.
12-He supports me in my projects no matter what they are.
13- He`s honest-no bluffing, no lies.
14- He`s tall : I love tall men.
15- He opens doors for me .
16- He has a great soul.
17- He makes me laugh.
18- He`s a great nurse when I`m sick.
19-He`s a drummer .
20- He makes a mean cup of coffee.
21- He doesn`t boss me and he never lets me boss him around.
22-I`m a rollercoaster.He can handle the ride !
I have known Pierre since high school ( sec.2 ) and when I think I know everything about him, he surprises me.
This morning, while I was teaching, he came to see me to tell me with a smile from ear to ear : " I just received your Chritmas gift and you`re just gonna go nuts !! "
all this while my 6 foot 3 man is jumping up and down.
And he adds : " I would really look forward to Christmas if I were you ."
And he takes off leaving me in the corridor with my mouth open.
Do you see what I mean ?
I honestly wish my daughter gets a man like her dad.
Poor future son-in-law, you have big shoes to fill.
My friend Guy at work once told me : You and Pierre are really happy huh ?
And I answered : He makes feel like a princess even 25 years later.
The best thing about this is that I look, observe my 8 year old son Félix and I see his dad in him- he`ll be just like him.
He makes me feel like a princess too.
So there, now you know why I don`t feel jealous of Caroline anymore but instead I see the love they share and I can`t keep from smiling because I feel Caroline is getting her share of love and happiness .
She deserves it.
To Nick I say : welcome to the Fröhlich clan.
You are officially a member of ( since last weekend ) The Bisons Des Prairies or AKA The Fröhlich brothers-in law secret club.
Seriously, you`re a super duper great guy.
You and Pierre are very similar.
Enjoy the ride with Caro, she`s a rollercoaster too!
I can confirm that your life will never be boring.
Take good care of her.
Treat her right or I will have to kill you- not me but very good Italian friends of mine.
Just kidding.
What do I think Pierre got me for Christmas : I haven`t found it yet but :
1- A new Red Sox t-shirt( I ruined my new favorite one while handling chemical products- I was house cleaning.
or
2- A Red Sox hand-made purse. EBAY
or
3- A Red Sox jersey.
or
4- A Red Sox tote bag.
or
5- A pink Red Sox school bag.
or
6- A t-shirt with : I`d Rather Be At Fenway on it.
Do you want to know how blonde I can be at times ?
I got a puppy last Christmas after months of hinting or should I say begging.
When Pierre walked in the door on December 24th with our new chocolate Labrador puppy with a Christmas ribbon around her neck I said : " Who`s dog are we babysitting during the holidays ?"
I was sure she was someone else`s.
Her name is Bailey`s ( one of favorite alcoholic beverages) but to this day my kids think it`s chocolate fudge because we use use Bailey`s in our family recipe.
So when strangers say aaaah Bailey`s like the drink, my kids are always quick to correct them and answer: No like mom`s chocolate fudge !!
Call childcare services now.
On that I`m off.
I`m visiting Rosie`s grade 1 class tomorrow morning : show and tell.
That should be very interesting.
And I`m bringing surprises-are they gonna love me or what ?
I`ll tell you all about it later.
And tomorrow night is parent-teacher night for both my kids.
My kids have great report cards but Félix-Antoine has been suprisingly obedient and doing some serious sucking-up with his mom.
So my question is : What will his teacher have to tell me aside that he`s very cute and intelligent ?
I am afraid.
I`ll keep you posted.
TaTA
Annie
lundi 3 décembre 2007
ROLLERCOASTER- BEAUTIFULLY UNDONE
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mercredi 21 novembre 2007
A PREMIERE !!
Oh what a day it has been.
It all started so nice and slowly.
And then I had a meeting with Karyna.
It was a great day, don`t get me wrong, but a crazy one.
I almost gave myself a feuille de route.
Slow morning because I busted my hand yesterday running around at school.
How did happen ?
WARNING : Getting off topic for a few minutes
I was running out of a meeting and running back to another when I ran into Jean-René Provencher`s desk corner -literally.
Banged into it left hand first.
It`s amazing how big and fast a hand gets all swollen up !
While I was holding back the tears, I run back downstairs to get Line Hébert ( first aid ) to fetch some ice and so she could confirm I would be fine and wouldn`t need to go to the hospital.
I still had 2 periods to give therefore no time to sit and wait in a hospital waiting room to read old magazines.
Couldn`t find Line.
What do I do when I`m in trouble and close to tears ? Run to my sister Caroline.
Found her and at this point I`m crying because it really hurts like &**&?%$&?$/ !!
If Caroline got a dollar everytime I went to see for help after a stupid freak accident , she wouldn`t need to work...Piere either.
Anyways, she gets me ice in her office while I`m sweating lilke a pig.
She asks me how I did that and then tries not to laugh. Bless her.
When Pierre finds out, he asks me how I did that and asks : Did you fall again runnning around the corridors ?
No, not this time , I swear!
He didn`t laugh. Bless him.
It was better today, still swollen but couldn`t write with it today.
But tomorrow is another day.
Back to the topic of my day : it was going nice and slow ( honestly I wasn`t awake when I came in the school door this morning.
Then I had a meeting with Karyna in my ofice.
As you may have read at the very beginning of my blog, I moved to my new office because Paul Lachance promised me cake and coffee all year round.
Respecting his engagement, he offered Karyna and I pannetome and capuccino.
I had both while Karyna had cake ( a big piece ).
Paul served me about 4 small but strong cappuccinos while Karyna and I were passionately discussing a project for Intensive.
An hour later, saturated with both coffee and cake, we both head to the Intensive English classes ( Sec.1 to 5) to inform the students about an Intensive English logo contest
.
OH MY GOD ! Hyperactive is an understatement !
Imagine more two tennis balls bouncing off walls.
We didn`t know if the students were really listening hard or if they were afraid .
I think we scared the little kids in Sec. 1!
We are normally like this OUTSIDE the classroom Karyna and I but never INSIDE the classroom : we`re more reasonable, usually-normally.
Bottom line: we blame this behaviour on Paul -my favorite coffee pusher.
Seriously, I love working with Karyna, she`s very creative, efficient, a doer not just a talker and we get along great even when we disagree. Vive la difference.
So as the title stipulates way on top of the page, the logo contest is a premiere for the Intensive English program.
A $50.00 dollar gift certificate at Les Rivières will be given to the winner.
The logo must include :
1- English Concentration : the new name for the Intensive English program.
2- ESJN ( our school name )
3- Deadline : December 17th .
4- Winners will be given the prize December 20th before you leave for the holidays.
5- Write YOUR name at the BACK of the logo so we don`t see it while judging.
6- Give your logo to YOUR English Intensive teacher.
7- The judges are : Dany Dallaire, Karyna Cormier and myself.
Break a leg darlings !
Tata for now,
Annie
It all started so nice and slowly.
And then I had a meeting with Karyna.
It was a great day, don`t get me wrong, but a crazy one.
I almost gave myself a feuille de route.
Slow morning because I busted my hand yesterday running around at school.
How did happen ?
WARNING : Getting off topic for a few minutes
I was running out of a meeting and running back to another when I ran into Jean-René Provencher`s desk corner -literally.
Banged into it left hand first.
It`s amazing how big and fast a hand gets all swollen up !
While I was holding back the tears, I run back downstairs to get Line Hébert ( first aid ) to fetch some ice and so she could confirm I would be fine and wouldn`t need to go to the hospital.
I still had 2 periods to give therefore no time to sit and wait in a hospital waiting room to read old magazines.
Couldn`t find Line.
What do I do when I`m in trouble and close to tears ? Run to my sister Caroline.
Found her and at this point I`m crying because it really hurts like &**&?%$&?$/ !!
If Caroline got a dollar everytime I went to see for help after a stupid freak accident , she wouldn`t need to work...Piere either.
Anyways, she gets me ice in her office while I`m sweating lilke a pig.
She asks me how I did that and then tries not to laugh. Bless her.
When Pierre finds out, he asks me how I did that and asks : Did you fall again runnning around the corridors ?
No, not this time , I swear!
He didn`t laugh. Bless him.
It was better today, still swollen but couldn`t write with it today.
But tomorrow is another day.
Back to the topic of my day : it was going nice and slow ( honestly I wasn`t awake when I came in the school door this morning.
Then I had a meeting with Karyna in my ofice.
As you may have read at the very beginning of my blog, I moved to my new office because Paul Lachance promised me cake and coffee all year round.
Respecting his engagement, he offered Karyna and I pannetome and capuccino.
I had both while Karyna had cake ( a big piece ).
Paul served me about 4 small but strong cappuccinos while Karyna and I were passionately discussing a project for Intensive.
An hour later, saturated with both coffee and cake, we both head to the Intensive English classes ( Sec.1 to 5) to inform the students about an Intensive English logo contest
.
OH MY GOD ! Hyperactive is an understatement !
Imagine more two tennis balls bouncing off walls.
We didn`t know if the students were really listening hard or if they were afraid .
I think we scared the little kids in Sec. 1!
We are normally like this OUTSIDE the classroom Karyna and I but never INSIDE the classroom : we`re more reasonable, usually-normally.
Bottom line: we blame this behaviour on Paul -my favorite coffee pusher.
Seriously, I love working with Karyna, she`s very creative, efficient, a doer not just a talker and we get along great even when we disagree. Vive la difference.
So as the title stipulates way on top of the page, the logo contest is a premiere for the Intensive English program.
A $50.00 dollar gift certificate at Les Rivières will be given to the winner.
The logo must include :
1- English Concentration : the new name for the Intensive English program.
2- ESJN ( our school name )
3- Deadline : December 17th .
4- Winners will be given the prize December 20th before you leave for the holidays.
5- Write YOUR name at the BACK of the logo so we don`t see it while judging.
6- Give your logo to YOUR English Intensive teacher.
7- The judges are : Dany Dallaire, Karyna Cormier and myself.
Break a leg darlings !
Tata for now,
Annie
dimanche 18 novembre 2007
MOTIVATION FROM MY MOMs
Hi everyone,
Well people are reading this blog and obviously NOT reading recently since I haven`t written since October 8th.
A lot of you were not shy to tell me I was neglecting my blog and some of you even called me at home to tell me to get writing .
Thank you ! What a compliment. What a motivation to write.
Here `s what I`ll be talking about :
1- My excuse for not writing.
2- A project I`m working on that I KNOW you will love.
3- Literature stuff you`ll see in class.( sec.2 and sec.4)
Here goes : brace yourself, it`s a long one. Do you have 15 minutes ?
What IS my excuse anyway ?
A few reasons but I will explain the major one in a few lines .
Now normally when my students are absent from school, mom or dad have to sign the student`s agenda (page 8) to motivate their absence.
It`s a bit ironic how my absence is due to the fact that my mother or mothers are the reaons why I was absent .
I have two adopted moms : Let`s call them Mary and Susan for the sake of this blog.
Mary is a mom I met 8 years ago in a professional or school context. Circumstances made us grow closer and Mary became a mother figure, a mentor, a friend, a model , a confidant :
a close friend or associate to whom secrets are confided or with whom private matters and problems are discussed ( dictionary definition ).
She `s also so much more than that. She is my little voice inside my head - my internal mom. She`s the one telling me to slow down, take care of myself, validates what I do and think.
She`s also one of the few I LISTEN TO when it comes to advice !
In September I find out she has breast cancer.
I mentally went nuts. I do not believe it, I don`t want to believe it and I do not even want to think about it !
Then it hit me. It really affected me and was very sad for a long time.
Now, normally in a situation like this I would run to her but I couldn`t. She was the one needing help this time. But how do I help someone with something you know nothing about : breast cancer ?
Well you do what you can .
You encourage them, you pray for them ( I do that a lot lately for her ) .
I also have a second mom : I `ve known Susan for 15 years.
She was the school nurse at school for many years. She now works in a CLSC.
She was also unavailable lately because she was fulfilling her longtime dream : being a nurse in the northern part of Québec ( Natashquan ).
We called and e-mailed each other but nothing is better than actually talking to someone in person. So my 2 moms were unavailable and I was abit saddened by the whole thing.
Susan is back now ! We are actually having coffee together tonight. I can`t wait to hear her stories from her experience way up north.
Do my 2 moms know each other you ask ? Yes they do .
So now you know why I was absent : mentally absent from my blog : the plate was full .
I try as much as possible to be positive in my blog because if you want negative stuff just turn on the news .... and I couldn`t be positive in my blog lately. I needed to step back for a while.
BUT I AM BACK AND WITH A VENGEANCE !!
I have been told I am nuts or crazy ( in a positive way here people !) since I can remember. I accept it. Life is good in Annie`s world and you are welcome in it if you are nice, but I can actually confirm it : Life IS good when you`re a bit bananas.
Here`s the thing : I was working on a personal project when I suddenly thought about my students ( my students have a way of finding their way in my personal life sometimes ) and how they would enjoy the fruits of my personal investigation !!
As I was working on my project I was thinking : What are you thinking, you`re nuts? !
But I continued working on my project anyway thinking I won`t take NO for an answer and will go all the way with this.
And I did and It`s working! I can`t say what it is yet because there are still some details to settle but the bottom line is I got a YES from certain people and I just went nuts.
I don`t know why Pierre didn`t have a heart attack when I got the positive reply.
Here`s how it went down people :
I send an e-mail to some very friendly people on a certain Sunday thinking : I`ll get a negative response but what the heck .
I send them an e-mail on a certain Sunday .
I get a positive response the very NEXT day,Monday.
Are these people nice or what ?
The thing is, I checked my e- mails upstairs Monday night at 10:45 and what I did NOT know is that Pierre is sleeping downstairs on the sofa.
When I read the e-mail and read the positive response I screamed and ran downstairs!
Pierre woke up.
He thought I was having a heart attack !
So when I finally got downstairs yelling OH MY GOD OH MY GOD Pierre thinks I`m having an attack but cannot quite understand why I`m smiling ear to ear at the same time .
I had to wait a few minutes for Pierre to get his blood circulation come back to his head and those were the longest minutes.
Pierre had no idea that I had sent an e-mail and had no clue about my personal investigation.
I wanted to see the reply before talking to him about it.
When I finally could tell Pierre, he was suprised,happy but still mad at me for almost killing him with my reaction .
Now it`s still a top secret thing because like I said, things need to be confirmed .
No the Pope, Céline Dion, Mr.Harper are not coming to school !
They are very inspiring people who I KNOW for a fact will inspire a lot of you : an AHAAAAA moment. Their story is so great and inspiring you won`t want them to leave.
You`ll meet people who were DESTINED to do what they do .
You won`t be disapppointed.
Final point for today. Literature stuff. No no don`t go, it is interesting.
I was almost late for work Friday after lunch because of a short story !
Didn`t eat lunch because of the short story either .
Let me explain :
Friday 12:05, I go home for lunch. Pierre is busy with the school radio so I have the house to myself.
Prepare lunch but before attacking my sandwich I decide to check my e-mails.
And for a reason I don`t remember I end up on one of my favorite websites : an archive of short stories.
One of my favorite short story author is Dorothy Parker. She writes the kind of short stories you read in bed: They`re light , funny and funny.
Anyway, I start reading and really lost track of time. Why ? Because obviously it was good and it was so darn funny.
Next thing I know, it`s 1:05 !
I haven`t eaten but I had one heck of a good read and laughed.
I grab 2 oatmeal cookies and jump ( literally ) in my truck.
What is the title of the short story ?
You`ll have to come and see me.
I will print the story and we will read it in class.
Throughout the story I had one of my sec.4 kids in mind.
When we`ll read it, you`ll surely recognize him. I know he will ! And yes it is a HE.
Here are my new projects :
1- Read the book Double Dutch from an American author I had the pleasure to meet in Montreal a week ago.
This is for my sec.2 kids.
If it`s good, we`ll read it.
2- Truman Capote: American author.
Breakfast At Tiffany`s is a book composed of : a novella ( short novel ) and 2 or 3 short stories.
Mr. Capote was a weird and original man. His biography is really interesting.
Gotta read his stuff, he has a very unique style of writing. Asked Santa Claus for his other books-including the one he never finished because he died before he could . Am I a masochist or what ?
3- I ordered new grammar books ( do want cheese with your WHINE ?) for my sec.4 because they have a BIG ministery exam in January and I want new stuff to prep you guys.
One is titled : Grammar Naturally. Can`t wait to check that one out !
Before I go, I`d like to thank:
Patrick at school for reminding me to write my blog and helping me out with very technical and multimedia stuff. I love you too.
Paul: for personally delivering me a latté in a bowl and panettone in class Friday while I was teaching. You really DID like my caramel. I`ll bring some more when I make some.
Katherine for rubbing her face in my classroom door window just to make me laugh.
Works every time.
Caroline : for being just as excited as I was when I shared my new project with her Tuesday morning in her office. She`s taking care of some stuff for me too.
And finally but not least for 2 special people I can not name: for being nice enough to say yes and giving my kids in class the opportunity to be inspired by real living people.
It will be worth the trip I promise you.
And to Pierre for not divorcing me after the Monday night incident.
I swear I wasn`t trying to kill you !
MUSTANG MOMENT - A MINUTE OF SILENCE PLEASE
Pierre and I can`t wait for April. You guessed it, my 1973 Mustang is in hibernation till then. We get to see her everyday ( it`s so cruel ) but we only get to SEE her .
I miss the sound of the motor, the smell of the leather seats, the wind in my hair, the sound of ACDC playing while I`m driving,the feeling of of driving a REAL car. I know, I know, I need to take my medication.It`s an illness. We bought her new accessories . Too cool.
On that I say TATA, I will be back soon, promised .
Although I love it when you verbally comment my blog, I do like it when you leave a comment.
Come on, leave a comment.
Annie Fröhlich
Well people are reading this blog and obviously NOT reading recently since I haven`t written since October 8th.
A lot of you were not shy to tell me I was neglecting my blog and some of you even called me at home to tell me to get writing .
Thank you ! What a compliment. What a motivation to write.
Here `s what I`ll be talking about :
1- My excuse for not writing.
2- A project I`m working on that I KNOW you will love.
3- Literature stuff you`ll see in class.( sec.2 and sec.4)
Here goes : brace yourself, it`s a long one. Do you have 15 minutes ?
What IS my excuse anyway ?
A few reasons but I will explain the major one in a few lines .
Now normally when my students are absent from school, mom or dad have to sign the student`s agenda (page 8) to motivate their absence.
It`s a bit ironic how my absence is due to the fact that my mother or mothers are the reaons why I was absent .
I have two adopted moms : Let`s call them Mary and Susan for the sake of this blog.
Mary is a mom I met 8 years ago in a professional or school context. Circumstances made us grow closer and Mary became a mother figure, a mentor, a friend, a model , a confidant :
a close friend or associate to whom secrets are confided or with whom private matters and problems are discussed ( dictionary definition ).
She `s also so much more than that. She is my little voice inside my head - my internal mom. She`s the one telling me to slow down, take care of myself, validates what I do and think.
She`s also one of the few I LISTEN TO when it comes to advice !
In September I find out she has breast cancer.
I mentally went nuts. I do not believe it, I don`t want to believe it and I do not even want to think about it !
Then it hit me. It really affected me and was very sad for a long time.
Now, normally in a situation like this I would run to her but I couldn`t. She was the one needing help this time. But how do I help someone with something you know nothing about : breast cancer ?
Well you do what you can .
You encourage them, you pray for them ( I do that a lot lately for her ) .
I also have a second mom : I `ve known Susan for 15 years.
She was the school nurse at school for many years. She now works in a CLSC.
She was also unavailable lately because she was fulfilling her longtime dream : being a nurse in the northern part of Québec ( Natashquan ).
We called and e-mailed each other but nothing is better than actually talking to someone in person. So my 2 moms were unavailable and I was abit saddened by the whole thing.
Susan is back now ! We are actually having coffee together tonight. I can`t wait to hear her stories from her experience way up north.
Do my 2 moms know each other you ask ? Yes they do .
So now you know why I was absent : mentally absent from my blog : the plate was full .
I try as much as possible to be positive in my blog because if you want negative stuff just turn on the news .... and I couldn`t be positive in my blog lately. I needed to step back for a while.
BUT I AM BACK AND WITH A VENGEANCE !!
I have been told I am nuts or crazy ( in a positive way here people !) since I can remember. I accept it. Life is good in Annie`s world and you are welcome in it if you are nice, but I can actually confirm it : Life IS good when you`re a bit bananas.
Here`s the thing : I was working on a personal project when I suddenly thought about my students ( my students have a way of finding their way in my personal life sometimes ) and how they would enjoy the fruits of my personal investigation !!
As I was working on my project I was thinking : What are you thinking, you`re nuts? !
But I continued working on my project anyway thinking I won`t take NO for an answer and will go all the way with this.
And I did and It`s working! I can`t say what it is yet because there are still some details to settle but the bottom line is I got a YES from certain people and I just went nuts.
I don`t know why Pierre didn`t have a heart attack when I got the positive reply.
Here`s how it went down people :
I send an e-mail to some very friendly people on a certain Sunday thinking : I`ll get a negative response but what the heck .
I send them an e-mail on a certain Sunday .
I get a positive response the very NEXT day,Monday.
Are these people nice or what ?
The thing is, I checked my e- mails upstairs Monday night at 10:45 and what I did NOT know is that Pierre is sleeping downstairs on the sofa.
When I read the e-mail and read the positive response I screamed and ran downstairs!
Pierre woke up.
He thought I was having a heart attack !
So when I finally got downstairs yelling OH MY GOD OH MY GOD Pierre thinks I`m having an attack but cannot quite understand why I`m smiling ear to ear at the same time .
I had to wait a few minutes for Pierre to get his blood circulation come back to his head and those were the longest minutes.
Pierre had no idea that I had sent an e-mail and had no clue about my personal investigation.
I wanted to see the reply before talking to him about it.
When I finally could tell Pierre, he was suprised,happy but still mad at me for almost killing him with my reaction .
Now it`s still a top secret thing because like I said, things need to be confirmed .
No the Pope, Céline Dion, Mr.Harper are not coming to school !
They are very inspiring people who I KNOW for a fact will inspire a lot of you : an AHAAAAA moment. Their story is so great and inspiring you won`t want them to leave.
You`ll meet people who were DESTINED to do what they do .
You won`t be disapppointed.
Final point for today. Literature stuff. No no don`t go, it is interesting.
I was almost late for work Friday after lunch because of a short story !
Didn`t eat lunch because of the short story either .
Let me explain :
Friday 12:05, I go home for lunch. Pierre is busy with the school radio so I have the house to myself.
Prepare lunch but before attacking my sandwich I decide to check my e-mails.
And for a reason I don`t remember I end up on one of my favorite websites : an archive of short stories.
One of my favorite short story author is Dorothy Parker. She writes the kind of short stories you read in bed: They`re light , funny and funny.
Anyway, I start reading and really lost track of time. Why ? Because obviously it was good and it was so darn funny.
Next thing I know, it`s 1:05 !
I haven`t eaten but I had one heck of a good read and laughed.
I grab 2 oatmeal cookies and jump ( literally ) in my truck.
What is the title of the short story ?
You`ll have to come and see me.
I will print the story and we will read it in class.
Throughout the story I had one of my sec.4 kids in mind.
When we`ll read it, you`ll surely recognize him. I know he will ! And yes it is a HE.
Here are my new projects :
1- Read the book Double Dutch from an American author I had the pleasure to meet in Montreal a week ago.
This is for my sec.2 kids.
If it`s good, we`ll read it.
2- Truman Capote: American author.
Breakfast At Tiffany`s is a book composed of : a novella ( short novel ) and 2 or 3 short stories.
Mr. Capote was a weird and original man. His biography is really interesting.
Gotta read his stuff, he has a very unique style of writing. Asked Santa Claus for his other books-including the one he never finished because he died before he could . Am I a masochist or what ?
3- I ordered new grammar books ( do want cheese with your WHINE ?) for my sec.4 because they have a BIG ministery exam in January and I want new stuff to prep you guys.
One is titled : Grammar Naturally. Can`t wait to check that one out !
Before I go, I`d like to thank:
Patrick at school for reminding me to write my blog and helping me out with very technical and multimedia stuff. I love you too.
Paul: for personally delivering me a latté in a bowl and panettone in class Friday while I was teaching. You really DID like my caramel. I`ll bring some more when I make some.
Katherine for rubbing her face in my classroom door window just to make me laugh.
Works every time.
Caroline : for being just as excited as I was when I shared my new project with her Tuesday morning in her office. She`s taking care of some stuff for me too.
And finally but not least for 2 special people I can not name: for being nice enough to say yes and giving my kids in class the opportunity to be inspired by real living people.
It will be worth the trip I promise you.
And to Pierre for not divorcing me after the Monday night incident.
I swear I wasn`t trying to kill you !
MUSTANG MOMENT - A MINUTE OF SILENCE PLEASE
Pierre and I can`t wait for April. You guessed it, my 1973 Mustang is in hibernation till then. We get to see her everyday ( it`s so cruel ) but we only get to SEE her .
I miss the sound of the motor, the smell of the leather seats, the wind in my hair, the sound of ACDC playing while I`m driving,the feeling of of driving a REAL car. I know, I know, I need to take my medication.It`s an illness. We bought her new accessories . Too cool.
On that I say TATA, I will be back soon, promised .
Although I love it when you verbally comment my blog, I do like it when you leave a comment.
Come on, leave a comment.
Annie Fröhlich
lundi 8 octobre 2007
All You Teachers Out There : Check This Out !
So while I`m listening to The Cranberries ( Thanksgiving- cranberries, do you get it ? ), I had to make an announcement.
Starting today, I will post a special thought of the day to all teachers. Hopefully they will inspire you. Whenever possible I will give you the source of the quote in case you want to do some reading on the source.
I will also post the quote of the day on different subjects with its source. Facts on the author of will be given since they won`t necessarily be authors. They might be a politician, playwright, novelist, poet, philosopher and the list goes on.
Since there`s no time like the present, here we go :
Inspiring thought for teachers .
When we give of ourselves, we gain the most.
A sacrifice made for the betterment of someone else is a gift that, by its definition, is seldom acknowledged. But through these silent acts of love, we experience our greatest growth.
Author unknown.
Just so you know, teachers will never admit to themselves or others that this is part their job, that`s what they do. Which is fortunate since it would ruin the whole act in my opinion. Genuine giving shouldn`t be preceeded by trumpets and horns. Giving must be a secret almost. But that`s just me.
Quote Du Jour :
One is not born a woman, one becomes one.
Simone De Beauvoir ( French existentialist novelist, essayist, political activist, feminist )
On a total different note, I painted a cliché this weekend. No , actually it was my husband but I am totally responsible.
I hate clichés.
1.
a trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse, as sadder but wiser, or strong as an ox.
How can you paint a cliché ?
First you need kids. Then you decide to redecorate their bedroom.
If you have a son, you paint his bedroom like the Montréal Canadiens.
If you have a daughter, you paint it pink and add lots of ballerinas and dollhouses.
Hey I know , clichés are so well you know, cliché. But we just redid Rosie`s bedroom and I have to admit it : I LOVE IT !
It`s so pink, so girlie, so princess.
I`m so jealous !
At thirty something, I wish I had her bedroom !!
I surprise myself walking in her bedroom, just standing there in the middle of the room with a cup of java in my hand and just staring at the walls.
It`s so pink you want to eat it. It`s so cute, you want to live there permanently.
Have I lost my head ? NYES.
You see, when you have a daughter, I realized, you relive certain experiences, joys, periods of your life when YOU were a little girl and those of your sisters too. But always have to keep in mind this is NOT your life in INSTANT REPLAY but a sort of déja -vu.
And to think I wanted a second son when I was pregnant with Rose.
Girls I knew since I am the eldest of 3 girls and a baby brother.
I wanted to be surrounded by boys for a change.
But life has a way of throwing you stuff you need and not what you want. So when I gave birth to Rose-Anne, I thought to myself : So what is it I have to learn from this ?
This question is answered almost everyday. She is not a mini-me ( THANK GOD ) and fortunately we are so different. I learn more from her than she from me, I am sure.
So as a famous saying goes : Thank God for little girls !
And before heading off, think pink.
Annie c;
Starting today, I will post a special thought of the day to all teachers. Hopefully they will inspire you. Whenever possible I will give you the source of the quote in case you want to do some reading on the source.
I will also post the quote of the day on different subjects with its source. Facts on the author of will be given since they won`t necessarily be authors. They might be a politician, playwright, novelist, poet, philosopher and the list goes on.
Since there`s no time like the present, here we go :
Inspiring thought for teachers .
When we give of ourselves, we gain the most.
A sacrifice made for the betterment of someone else is a gift that, by its definition, is seldom acknowledged. But through these silent acts of love, we experience our greatest growth.
Author unknown.
Just so you know, teachers will never admit to themselves or others that this is part their job, that`s what they do. Which is fortunate since it would ruin the whole act in my opinion. Genuine giving shouldn`t be preceeded by trumpets and horns. Giving must be a secret almost. But that`s just me.
Quote Du Jour :
One is not born a woman, one becomes one.
Simone De Beauvoir ( French existentialist novelist, essayist, political activist, feminist )
On a total different note, I painted a cliché this weekend. No , actually it was my husband but I am totally responsible.
I hate clichés.
1.
a trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse, as sadder but wiser, or strong as an ox.
How can you paint a cliché ?
First you need kids. Then you decide to redecorate their bedroom.
If you have a son, you paint his bedroom like the Montréal Canadiens.
If you have a daughter, you paint it pink and add lots of ballerinas and dollhouses.
Hey I know , clichés are so well you know, cliché. But we just redid Rosie`s bedroom and I have to admit it : I LOVE IT !
It`s so pink, so girlie, so princess.
I`m so jealous !
At thirty something, I wish I had her bedroom !!
I surprise myself walking in her bedroom, just standing there in the middle of the room with a cup of java in my hand and just staring at the walls.
It`s so pink you want to eat it. It`s so cute, you want to live there permanently.
Have I lost my head ? NYES.
You see, when you have a daughter, I realized, you relive certain experiences, joys, periods of your life when YOU were a little girl and those of your sisters too. But always have to keep in mind this is NOT your life in INSTANT REPLAY but a sort of déja -vu.
And to think I wanted a second son when I was pregnant with Rose.
Girls I knew since I am the eldest of 3 girls and a baby brother.
I wanted to be surrounded by boys for a change.
But life has a way of throwing you stuff you need and not what you want. So when I gave birth to Rose-Anne, I thought to myself : So what is it I have to learn from this ?
This question is answered almost everyday. She is not a mini-me ( THANK GOD ) and fortunately we are so different. I learn more from her than she from me, I am sure.
So as a famous saying goes : Thank God for little girls !
And before heading off, think pink.
Annie c;
samedi 6 octobre 2007
Thank You
Well it`s that time of the year where we get a breather ( a little time off ) and can actually breathe .
It`s Thanksgiving folks so bring that turkey on .
Actually, turkey on Thanksgiving isn`t so popular here. It`s more of an American and Canadian tradition. Too bad, turkey is underrated.
I know you guys prefer the 4 days off to the food, so do I ; but let us not forget WHY we`re off in the first place.
I do not want to turn all religious but think about this . Putting aside the Catholic element to the holiday, this holiday is necessary.
First to take a break before the hectic schedule leading us to the christmas holiday and most importantly and the word says it all: to give thanks, to be grateful.
Thanksgiving is entirely linked to the period of the year we call HARVEST.
Farmers harvest what they sowed last spring. Thanks to their harvest, we may have a diverse variety of fruit and vegetables on our tables.
Yeah so what I hear. We are so used to living in a society where abundance is a daily thing that we so often forget that it is not like this GLOBALLY.
We are privileged. We don`t have to hunt for food and water. We don`t have to walk miles to fetch water. We just jump in our cars and go buy some. Not everyone on the planet can do the same.
It`s not my fault I was born on the right street !! No it certainly isn`t but can we at least recognize that we are fortunate? Can we at least appreciate, if only for a day, the fact that we live in society where bare neccessities like food , fresh water, peace, education, health care and respect of our civil rights are often taken for granted? Just turn on the local news and see for yourself that NOT everybody lives in the same conditions as we do.
Oh, this is not a guilt trip but just a little pause to say : wouldn`t it be fun if for a change we had more of this attitude : It's not having what you want ,It's wanting what you've got.
Appreciation and being grateful do go hand in hand. But first we must recognize what we have and NOT take it so much for granted ( prendre pour acquis ).
I sound so serious. NO I am not a preacher in my spare time.
Speaking of : you know how the saying goes " Practise what you preach and do what you teach " ?
I am embarrassed to say I didn`t do that on Friday.
Let me explain . Friday October 5th was a ped day for us teachers while you guys were busy preparing the turkey. Ped days consist of meetings ,reunions and personal work ( correction, preparing exams etc. ) in other words : fun stuff.
Friday morning started with a staff meeting at the library with the 3 principals. Mr. Pruvost had us grouped in small groups to perform a very specific job.
I couldn`t do it. The job was fairly easy to do. The problem was I couldn`t focus, concentrate.Plus at my table were teachers I like to have fun with. In a social context this would not have been a problem but when you have a job to do, it becomes one.
I was sitting next to Katherine Bourgeois with whom I have a special bond. She really makes me laugh. And she doesn`t need to talk. Just writing about it makes me laugh. And I obviously make her laugh too.
So we did just that. Oh Katherine was much more disciplined than me. She wrote all the things we had to write for the rest of the team and came up with very good ideas while we were brainstorming.
But I MUST NOT sit next to her. If we had been 15 years old and sitting in a classroom, we would have been separated by the teacher right away.
And this is my point. Teachers are not that different from students sometimes. We have more self-discipline but we do not apply it all the time. No, let me rephrase that : I do not apply it all the time. Taking responsibility is afterall, part of being an adult !!!
But there are people at school that have this effect on me. I turn 12 ( years old ) when I`m around them. And there are also some people I just love to make laugh. They`re so much fun to have fun with. Anyway, to be continued.
I want to take the opportunity to thank certain people :
1- A certain English teacher named Guy : for getting all dirty because he was hiding on the ground next to my truck in the school parking lot to scare me by going " BOO". I didn`t get scared but I certainly laughed . And eventually he did too.
2- A certain science teacher named Pat who watches a certain tv program I love and lets me talk about it all the time . He always sincerely listens to me .
3- To Katherine. You make me laugh and feel like a kid .
4- To Karyna who likes to ask me English stuff. You make me feel useful and needed.
I also ask her English stuff too.
5- To my kids : for making me feel what truly is unconditional love.
6- To my husband : because you are always there no matter what.
7- My sisters : they represent unconditional love, a common history and tons of fun.
8- My students : because they are so darn cute when they work hard in class !
9- Baileys : my dog and walking partner. For leading me places when I need to .
10 - My Mustang : for making me feel like I can do anything ( except speeding $$$ ).
Old Mustangs are just plain BEAUTIFUL. I can`t explain it.
11- My books : what a great addiction. The look , smell and texture of books are simply addictive. I`m sure I `ll die holding a book in my hand.
12- To life : for offering me choices and opportunities.
On this note I wish you a great Thanksgiving weekend.
THANKS for reading,
Annie c;
It`s Thanksgiving folks so bring that turkey on .
Actually, turkey on Thanksgiving isn`t so popular here. It`s more of an American and Canadian tradition. Too bad, turkey is underrated.
I know you guys prefer the 4 days off to the food, so do I ; but let us not forget WHY we`re off in the first place.
I do not want to turn all religious but think about this . Putting aside the Catholic element to the holiday, this holiday is necessary.
First to take a break before the hectic schedule leading us to the christmas holiday and most importantly and the word says it all: to give thanks, to be grateful.
Thanksgiving is entirely linked to the period of the year we call HARVEST.
Farmers harvest what they sowed last spring. Thanks to their harvest, we may have a diverse variety of fruit and vegetables on our tables.
Yeah so what I hear. We are so used to living in a society where abundance is a daily thing that we so often forget that it is not like this GLOBALLY.
We are privileged. We don`t have to hunt for food and water. We don`t have to walk miles to fetch water. We just jump in our cars and go buy some. Not everyone on the planet can do the same.
It`s not my fault I was born on the right street !! No it certainly isn`t but can we at least recognize that we are fortunate? Can we at least appreciate, if only for a day, the fact that we live in society where bare neccessities like food , fresh water, peace, education, health care and respect of our civil rights are often taken for granted? Just turn on the local news and see for yourself that NOT everybody lives in the same conditions as we do.
Oh, this is not a guilt trip but just a little pause to say : wouldn`t it be fun if for a change we had more of this attitude : It's not having what you want ,It's wanting what you've got.
Appreciation and being grateful do go hand in hand. But first we must recognize what we have and NOT take it so much for granted ( prendre pour acquis ).
I sound so serious. NO I am not a preacher in my spare time.
Speaking of : you know how the saying goes " Practise what you preach and do what you teach " ?
I am embarrassed to say I didn`t do that on Friday.
Let me explain . Friday October 5th was a ped day for us teachers while you guys were busy preparing the turkey. Ped days consist of meetings ,reunions and personal work ( correction, preparing exams etc. ) in other words : fun stuff.
Friday morning started with a staff meeting at the library with the 3 principals. Mr. Pruvost had us grouped in small groups to perform a very specific job.
I couldn`t do it. The job was fairly easy to do. The problem was I couldn`t focus, concentrate.Plus at my table were teachers I like to have fun with. In a social context this would not have been a problem but when you have a job to do, it becomes one.
I was sitting next to Katherine Bourgeois with whom I have a special bond. She really makes me laugh. And she doesn`t need to talk. Just writing about it makes me laugh. And I obviously make her laugh too.
So we did just that. Oh Katherine was much more disciplined than me. She wrote all the things we had to write for the rest of the team and came up with very good ideas while we were brainstorming.
But I MUST NOT sit next to her. If we had been 15 years old and sitting in a classroom, we would have been separated by the teacher right away.
And this is my point. Teachers are not that different from students sometimes. We have more self-discipline but we do not apply it all the time. No, let me rephrase that : I do not apply it all the time. Taking responsibility is afterall, part of being an adult !!!
But there are people at school that have this effect on me. I turn 12 ( years old ) when I`m around them. And there are also some people I just love to make laugh. They`re so much fun to have fun with. Anyway, to be continued.
I want to take the opportunity to thank certain people :
1- A certain English teacher named Guy : for getting all dirty because he was hiding on the ground next to my truck in the school parking lot to scare me by going " BOO". I didn`t get scared but I certainly laughed . And eventually he did too.
2- A certain science teacher named Pat who watches a certain tv program I love and lets me talk about it all the time . He always sincerely listens to me .
3- To Katherine. You make me laugh and feel like a kid .
4- To Karyna who likes to ask me English stuff. You make me feel useful and needed.
I also ask her English stuff too.
5- To my kids : for making me feel what truly is unconditional love.
6- To my husband : because you are always there no matter what.
7- My sisters : they represent unconditional love, a common history and tons of fun.
8- My students : because they are so darn cute when they work hard in class !
9- Baileys : my dog and walking partner. For leading me places when I need to .
10 - My Mustang : for making me feel like I can do anything ( except speeding $$$ ).
Old Mustangs are just plain BEAUTIFUL. I can`t explain it.
11- My books : what a great addiction. The look , smell and texture of books are simply addictive. I`m sure I `ll die holding a book in my hand.
12- To life : for offering me choices and opportunities.
On this note I wish you a great Thanksgiving weekend.
THANKS for reading,
Annie c;
lundi 1 octobre 2007
WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS
No I am not dead nor was I kidnapped ! I am alive and kicking .
Ok so I am not kicking too high but I an alive and well.
In general I hate routines : doing the same thing all the time : get up, go to work, dinner, kids`s bath and homework. Hate the school routine. But let me tell you lately I like it . After the last couple of weeks I appreciate the routine now.
Like some of you already know , Rosie had a cast. She broke her wrist while playing outside . I was just getting rid of the guilt I felt when I got a phone call from Curé Brassard school.You guessed it : one of my kids got hurt at school. This time : Félix-Antoine.
Get here quickly they tell me. So I jumped into my truck and off I went.
I`m in the school yard and see this trail of blood and say to myself : I hope it`s not Filou`s blood.I follow the trail from the yard to the school cafeteria.
IT WAS! There he was , all bloody and crying with an ice pack on his nose. The minute he sees me , Filou starts crying . I breathe in and out slowly and keep telling myself : YOU are the ADULT here, do NOT panic.
I didn`t.
So off we went to the hospital with a swollen nose , blood all over his shirt,shoes and pants. We didn`t have to wait long at the hospital. After an x-ray, the verdict was a broken nose.
How did he break his nose you ask? By standing too close to a buddy who was batting a baseball.
He received the bat right on the snout.
Ironically, we were at the hospital that SAME day. In the morning, Rosie saw her doctor to get her cast removed !
Now that is 2 breaks in 3 weeks ! That is a bit too much for my nerves. And I am so not kidding.
I worry all the time for my kids, family and even my students. Now this episode just ate a lot of my energy.
Hence the absence.
I just couldn`t concentrate.
But now, all is well. Back to the routine which I welcome with open arms.
On an other subject. I have told my Sec. 2 students that they will visit Ottawa in May. Most probably May 15 and 16. They are so pleased.
This year is a first for me : I will totally organize the trip but other teachers will go with my students.
But why they asked ?
Well it`s simple : 3 reasons.
1- Health reasons : I`m not getting any younger .
2- Family reasons.
3- Personal reasons.
Although I won`t be there, they will have a wonderful time. As long as no one brings a baseball bat !!! It`ll be hard this year to see the buses depart and not be on it. But every good thing comes to an end. I so wish I could but just CAN`T anymore.
On a bright note, I must say I have recently noticed something new.
My students have felt at home in class really early on this year.
When I see them walk into class you can easily see it. They feel at home. They come in with a smile, draw on my board, chit chat together. They are relaxed. This phenomenon usually is noticed a bit later into the year. I even have a nickname already. It`s quite cute. You`ll have to ask me in class.
Hmmm. I `ll have to investigate.
Here`s the word of the week or should I say MONTH: CRANKY
1.
ill-tempered; grouchy; cross: I'm always cranky when I don't get enough sleep.
2.
eccentric; queer.
3.
shaky; unsteady; out of order.
4.
full of bends or windings; crooked.
5.
British Dialect. sickly; in unsound or feeble condition; infirm.
[Origin: 1780–90]
Let me explain. Aside from the fact that my kids have a new hobby of breaking bones, I have cut back on sugar a lot lately. For health reasons.
Well this is a side effect. For me anyway. I would quit smoking and it wouldn`t be any worse I am sure. I AM SUGAR DEPRIVED- CRANKY.
This usually lasts a few days but this time it`s been like this for 2 weeks now.
And it really is a drug for me ( sugar ). I had a piece of my husband`s birthday cake last weekend , and it was pure heaven first of all and I was back to normal : happy, smiling, funny, patient ( at least more than now ).
So I apologize to anyone who has suffered from my sugar withdrawal ( Julie Houle : you know what I mean ).
What are the symptoms of sugar withdrawal : whiny, cranky, you want to cry for no reason, very impatient ( you snap at people for no reason ), you feel blue and then some.
I am sure my husband wishes I would wolf down an Oh Henry sometimes. Bless this man. He is very patient.
So on this, I`ll go have a chocolate bar- just kidding.
I`ll have a nice cup of mint herbal tea - my NEW addiction.
Talk to you later.
Tata,
Annie c:
Ok so I am not kicking too high but I an alive and well.
In general I hate routines : doing the same thing all the time : get up, go to work, dinner, kids`s bath and homework. Hate the school routine. But let me tell you lately I like it . After the last couple of weeks I appreciate the routine now.
Like some of you already know , Rosie had a cast. She broke her wrist while playing outside . I was just getting rid of the guilt I felt when I got a phone call from Curé Brassard school.You guessed it : one of my kids got hurt at school. This time : Félix-Antoine.
Get here quickly they tell me. So I jumped into my truck and off I went.
I`m in the school yard and see this trail of blood and say to myself : I hope it`s not Filou`s blood.I follow the trail from the yard to the school cafeteria.
IT WAS! There he was , all bloody and crying with an ice pack on his nose. The minute he sees me , Filou starts crying . I breathe in and out slowly and keep telling myself : YOU are the ADULT here, do NOT panic.
I didn`t.
So off we went to the hospital with a swollen nose , blood all over his shirt,shoes and pants. We didn`t have to wait long at the hospital. After an x-ray, the verdict was a broken nose.
How did he break his nose you ask? By standing too close to a buddy who was batting a baseball.
He received the bat right on the snout.
Ironically, we were at the hospital that SAME day. In the morning, Rosie saw her doctor to get her cast removed !
Now that is 2 breaks in 3 weeks ! That is a bit too much for my nerves. And I am so not kidding.
I worry all the time for my kids, family and even my students. Now this episode just ate a lot of my energy.
Hence the absence.
I just couldn`t concentrate.
But now, all is well. Back to the routine which I welcome with open arms.
On an other subject. I have told my Sec. 2 students that they will visit Ottawa in May. Most probably May 15 and 16. They are so pleased.
This year is a first for me : I will totally organize the trip but other teachers will go with my students.
But why they asked ?
Well it`s simple : 3 reasons.
1- Health reasons : I`m not getting any younger .
2- Family reasons.
3- Personal reasons.
Although I won`t be there, they will have a wonderful time. As long as no one brings a baseball bat !!! It`ll be hard this year to see the buses depart and not be on it. But every good thing comes to an end. I so wish I could but just CAN`T anymore.
On a bright note, I must say I have recently noticed something new.
My students have felt at home in class really early on this year.
When I see them walk into class you can easily see it. They feel at home. They come in with a smile, draw on my board, chit chat together. They are relaxed. This phenomenon usually is noticed a bit later into the year. I even have a nickname already. It`s quite cute. You`ll have to ask me in class.
Hmmm. I `ll have to investigate.
Here`s the word of the week or should I say MONTH: CRANKY
1.
ill-tempered; grouchy; cross: I'm always cranky when I don't get enough sleep.
2.
eccentric; queer.
3.
shaky; unsteady; out of order.
4.
full of bends or windings; crooked.
5.
British Dialect. sickly; in unsound or feeble condition; infirm.
[Origin: 1780–90]
Let me explain. Aside from the fact that my kids have a new hobby of breaking bones, I have cut back on sugar a lot lately. For health reasons.
Well this is a side effect. For me anyway. I would quit smoking and it wouldn`t be any worse I am sure. I AM SUGAR DEPRIVED- CRANKY.
This usually lasts a few days but this time it`s been like this for 2 weeks now.
And it really is a drug for me ( sugar ). I had a piece of my husband`s birthday cake last weekend , and it was pure heaven first of all and I was back to normal : happy, smiling, funny, patient ( at least more than now ).
So I apologize to anyone who has suffered from my sugar withdrawal ( Julie Houle : you know what I mean ).
What are the symptoms of sugar withdrawal : whiny, cranky, you want to cry for no reason, very impatient ( you snap at people for no reason ), you feel blue and then some.
I am sure my husband wishes I would wolf down an Oh Henry sometimes. Bless this man. He is very patient.
So on this, I`ll go have a chocolate bar- just kidding.
I`ll have a nice cup of mint herbal tea - my NEW addiction.
Talk to you later.
Tata,
Annie c:
vendredi 14 septembre 2007
WHY I LOVE MY JOB
No it`s just because of the weeks off in the summer. Actually, my husband and I call those two months off : CONVALESCENCE. But that`s a different blog subject altogether.
No, in truth, it`s certainly when the students are there that it is worthwhile.
Let me explain :
Every year, around August 9-10th, I get the blues and fidgety. It`s not because of lack of housework, activities or social life but something`s missing.
I finally put my finger on it this week. I was thinking about it while brushing my teeth one morning when it dawned on me.
I like helping people.
Don`t get me wrong, I don`t go hunting for other people`s problem to solve. I`m more talking about assistance, the extra push in the right way, guidance , advice or downright problem solving. It`s not always exclusive to teaching English either.
I often find that teaching and mothering are somehow closely related. It`s even hard to draw the line sometimes. I KNOW I am not a mother at school but at times when students come to me for : a facial tissue, a stain on the seat of a pair of pants....( " Annie help, I can`t spend the rest of the day like this , the others are gonna tease me...." ), a bunch of Bristol boards and markers for a project, an opinion on whatever subject, a bad break up with a boyfriend or girlfriend I Do feel I need to mother a little bit.
And I also feel privileged . You always ask someone for help because you trust him or her. You know they won`t make fun of you no matter what . I try to give them as much help as they have trust in me. It`s not an easy task to ask for help . I`m thirty-something and I still have trouble asking for help. But seeking help is the key to a happy ending or at least a resolution.
We don`t always need assistance. Afterall,we learn from past experiences .
Proverb on the subject :
“The true secret of giving advice is, after you have honestly given it, to be perfectly indifferent whether it is taken or not, and never persist in trying to set people right."
-Hannah Whitall Smith
AMEN.
Another reason I love my job is : gratification .
I had a very humbling experience this week.
I`ve been imposing certain novels to my sec.4 students for the last 9 years now.
I usually allow them one and a half week to read two chapters before testing them on the chapters in question. Let me inform you that these novels are for anglophone readers and NOT for students learning English second language. So it usually takes more time to read because of the slang , vocabulary and sentence structures in general.
Well, one morning this week I asked the students after their first test on chapters 1 and 2 if they were enjoying the novel and where they were at in their reading chapter-wise.
Thank God I was seated. A lot of them were halfway through the novel already and some even were about to finsh the novel.
Now I was really looking forward to correcting an exam for once to see if they were both quick and good readers or just quick to get rid of it and not understanding a thing. They nailed it. They ARE quick and excellent readers. And this is not an easy feat. This is Cégep level and they are just in Sec. 4 !! Wow, no- double Wow.
Some went to get the second novel from S.E Hinton at the library. They are reading , understanding and loving it. How gratifying ! Is my job fantastic or what ?
You really have to love reading to enjoy seeing others read and loving it.
The way I see it, students and teachers teach each other. It`s an unofficial cooperation : I help you progress and evolve and you help ME improve my ways of helping other students in the future( experience ).
I met an ex-student of mine two weeks ago. He was a student o in my FIRST year of teaching. He recognized me and so did I , even his name ! Well I just had to apologize and inform him I was a much better teacher now ! Fourteen years of experience can make a difference !
He laughed .
I don`t have the pretention of changing lives or saving lives like nurses and doctors do. I do though have an opportunity to both touch other people`s minds and hearts. And I let them touch mine.
Giving is really receiving. It energizes. It gratifies. It nourishes and I truly feed on it.
To boost an ego ? Certaianly not. To give meaning to life.
Speaking of helping : this is for Kathleen .
"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..."by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday'sMost quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to useIn my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to loseWith my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,I shall but love thee better after death.
I had a total blank this morning when it came to the name of this wonderful poet. I fell in love with Ms. Barrett Browning when I was in Sec.3. She writes beautifully.
Enjoy.
If you need help with it come and see me.
Now, on with the weekend !
Family time, relatives visiting are on the agenda and I can`t wait !!
PS : Félix-Antoine`s question and discussion of the week :
I ( HIS MOTHER ) am so mean and nasty to kidnap eggs from hens so I can buy tham at the supermarket !
How can I live with that he asked me at the supermarket Friday night? I tried very hard to explain that once you TAKE not KIDNAP an egg from a hen, it is no longer a potential baby chicken ( a chick ) . Didn`t work . He still views me as baby chicken KILLER every time I buy a dozen at Métro or IGA.
Now this discussion has been going on for one year . He still doesn`t believe it is not cruel to buy eggs. From now on I`m hiding the eggs somewhere in the refrigerator. Case closed !
TAtA,
Annie c;
No, in truth, it`s certainly when the students are there that it is worthwhile.
Let me explain :
Every year, around August 9-10th, I get the blues and fidgety. It`s not because of lack of housework, activities or social life but something`s missing.
I finally put my finger on it this week. I was thinking about it while brushing my teeth one morning when it dawned on me.
I like helping people.
Don`t get me wrong, I don`t go hunting for other people`s problem to solve. I`m more talking about assistance, the extra push in the right way, guidance , advice or downright problem solving. It`s not always exclusive to teaching English either.
I often find that teaching and mothering are somehow closely related. It`s even hard to draw the line sometimes. I KNOW I am not a mother at school but at times when students come to me for : a facial tissue, a stain on the seat of a pair of pants....( " Annie help, I can`t spend the rest of the day like this , the others are gonna tease me...." ), a bunch of Bristol boards and markers for a project, an opinion on whatever subject, a bad break up with a boyfriend or girlfriend I Do feel I need to mother a little bit.
And I also feel privileged . You always ask someone for help because you trust him or her. You know they won`t make fun of you no matter what . I try to give them as much help as they have trust in me. It`s not an easy task to ask for help . I`m thirty-something and I still have trouble asking for help. But seeking help is the key to a happy ending or at least a resolution.
We don`t always need assistance. Afterall,we learn from past experiences .
Proverb on the subject :
“The true secret of giving advice is, after you have honestly given it, to be perfectly indifferent whether it is taken or not, and never persist in trying to set people right."
-Hannah Whitall Smith
AMEN.
Another reason I love my job is : gratification .
I had a very humbling experience this week.
I`ve been imposing certain novels to my sec.4 students for the last 9 years now.
I usually allow them one and a half week to read two chapters before testing them on the chapters in question. Let me inform you that these novels are for anglophone readers and NOT for students learning English second language. So it usually takes more time to read because of the slang , vocabulary and sentence structures in general.
Well, one morning this week I asked the students after their first test on chapters 1 and 2 if they were enjoying the novel and where they were at in their reading chapter-wise.
Thank God I was seated. A lot of them were halfway through the novel already and some even were about to finsh the novel.
Now I was really looking forward to correcting an exam for once to see if they were both quick and good readers or just quick to get rid of it and not understanding a thing. They nailed it. They ARE quick and excellent readers. And this is not an easy feat. This is Cégep level and they are just in Sec. 4 !! Wow, no- double Wow.
Some went to get the second novel from S.E Hinton at the library. They are reading , understanding and loving it. How gratifying ! Is my job fantastic or what ?
You really have to love reading to enjoy seeing others read and loving it.
The way I see it, students and teachers teach each other. It`s an unofficial cooperation : I help you progress and evolve and you help ME improve my ways of helping other students in the future( experience ).
I met an ex-student of mine two weeks ago. He was a student o in my FIRST year of teaching. He recognized me and so did I , even his name ! Well I just had to apologize and inform him I was a much better teacher now ! Fourteen years of experience can make a difference !
He laughed .
I don`t have the pretention of changing lives or saving lives like nurses and doctors do. I do though have an opportunity to both touch other people`s minds and hearts. And I let them touch mine.
Giving is really receiving. It energizes. It gratifies. It nourishes and I truly feed on it.
To boost an ego ? Certaianly not. To give meaning to life.
Speaking of helping : this is for Kathleen .
"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..."by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday'sMost quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to useIn my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to loseWith my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,I shall but love thee better after death.
I had a total blank this morning when it came to the name of this wonderful poet. I fell in love with Ms. Barrett Browning when I was in Sec.3. She writes beautifully.
Enjoy.
If you need help with it come and see me.
Now, on with the weekend !
Family time, relatives visiting are on the agenda and I can`t wait !!
PS : Félix-Antoine`s question and discussion of the week :
I ( HIS MOTHER ) am so mean and nasty to kidnap eggs from hens so I can buy tham at the supermarket !
How can I live with that he asked me at the supermarket Friday night? I tried very hard to explain that once you TAKE not KIDNAP an egg from a hen, it is no longer a potential baby chicken ( a chick ) . Didn`t work . He still views me as baby chicken KILLER every time I buy a dozen at Métro or IGA.
Now this discussion has been going on for one year . He still doesn`t believe it is not cruel to buy eggs. From now on I`m hiding the eggs somewhere in the refrigerator. Case closed !
TAtA,
Annie c;
mercredi 5 septembre 2007
All Roads Lead To Room 219 !
Yes it`s true. I don`t know if it`s because our classroom is near the stairway, the ladies`room , my door is always open or all of the above but let me tell you now, it`s never boring. It`ll be like this all year.
Almost everyday someone drops by to say " hello ".
We had two visitors today : Marie-Pier Comeau and Dany Jutras.
Marie-Pier graduated from the Intensive English Program about three years ago. She now lives in Toronto studying at Queen`s University . She`s studying in French Literature and doing a minor in English. Wow. She seems so happy. She is in Nicolet to visit her family and came by to visit us.
It`s always a pleasure to meet graduates.
Then came Dany Jutras. Dany, Dany, Dany. I like to call him Flea or Dany California because he is a huge fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. So am I ! Dany came to retrieve his English dictionary he forgot in class last June. I like to think it`s his way of dropping by to say " Hi ". Be warned , he`ll be back. He never did find the dictionary in question... I miss that group so much. I call it separation anxiety. Students move along to new teachers, different classrooms but I stay. BUT I get visitors ...
You`ll also notice that no matter who steps in the classroom : the principal, janitor , a French/Math teacher-everybody speaks English. It`s automatic. I don`t even have to say it. It`s like magic.
Paul Lachance likes to drop by often. Usually he brings me a latté or a capuccino with a croissant.
For years students thought he was my husband. Many students know my husband teaches at school and all assume it is him because of the free coffee. Actually Pierre Bergeron is the husband who serves me my coffee every morning in the bathroom while I try to put on my morning face. Paul is a generous and great friend.
I will all ask you one thing : when people drop by and speak so-so English : DO NOT laugh. You have no idea of the effort involved. They are trying hard and they know you are better than them. Be polite and instead use it as a motivation to keep working hard on your speaking skills....
EXPRESSION OF THE MONTH :
Try to use this expression whenever possible in class .
" What doesn`t kill you will only make you stronger ." - Martin Luther King
Bonus points for those who use it correctly AND in the right context.
Hi to Sylar and thanks for everything darling. Keep the helpful tips coming.
Tata for now,
Annie c :
Almost everyday someone drops by to say " hello ".
We had two visitors today : Marie-Pier Comeau and Dany Jutras.
Marie-Pier graduated from the Intensive English Program about three years ago. She now lives in Toronto studying at Queen`s University . She`s studying in French Literature and doing a minor in English. Wow. She seems so happy. She is in Nicolet to visit her family and came by to visit us.
It`s always a pleasure to meet graduates.
Then came Dany Jutras. Dany, Dany, Dany. I like to call him Flea or Dany California because he is a huge fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. So am I ! Dany came to retrieve his English dictionary he forgot in class last June. I like to think it`s his way of dropping by to say " Hi ". Be warned , he`ll be back. He never did find the dictionary in question... I miss that group so much. I call it separation anxiety. Students move along to new teachers, different classrooms but I stay. BUT I get visitors ...
You`ll also notice that no matter who steps in the classroom : the principal, janitor , a French/Math teacher-everybody speaks English. It`s automatic. I don`t even have to say it. It`s like magic.
Paul Lachance likes to drop by often. Usually he brings me a latté or a capuccino with a croissant.
For years students thought he was my husband. Many students know my husband teaches at school and all assume it is him because of the free coffee. Actually Pierre Bergeron is the husband who serves me my coffee every morning in the bathroom while I try to put on my morning face. Paul is a generous and great friend.
I will all ask you one thing : when people drop by and speak so-so English : DO NOT laugh. You have no idea of the effort involved. They are trying hard and they know you are better than them. Be polite and instead use it as a motivation to keep working hard on your speaking skills....
EXPRESSION OF THE MONTH :
Try to use this expression whenever possible in class .
" What doesn`t kill you will only make you stronger ." - Martin Luther King
Bonus points for those who use it correctly AND in the right context.
Hi to Sylar and thanks for everything darling. Keep the helpful tips coming.
Tata for now,
Annie c :
mardi 4 septembre 2007
WELCOME !
Well it`s official, my kids in Sec. 2 know where to find me. They now have the address.
Hi guys and welcome.
A special welcome to Simon who just joined the group. He moved to Nicolet 3 weeks ago from Montreal. I`m sure you`ll have a great time among us.
Sec.2 : don`t forget your homework in the Skill Sharpener p.5 and study irregular verbs p. 114 upto the verb " feel ". Quiz on Thursday !!
You made quite an impression on me with your oral presentations . Most of you are very comfortable and your sentence structures are very solid. Congratulations and keep up the good work.
See you soon,
leave a comment,
Annie c:
Hi guys and welcome.
A special welcome to Simon who just joined the group. He moved to Nicolet 3 weeks ago from Montreal. I`m sure you`ll have a great time among us.
Sec.2 : don`t forget your homework in the Skill Sharpener p.5 and study irregular verbs p. 114 upto the verb " feel ". Quiz on Thursday !!
You made quite an impression on me with your oral presentations . Most of you are very comfortable and your sentence structures are very solid. Congratulations and keep up the good work.
See you soon,
leave a comment,
Annie c:
dimanche 2 septembre 2007
IT`S THE WEEKEND !
After years of teaching experience I can now confirm : TWO MONTHS OF VACATION WILL MAKE YOU STUPID !
Yes ladies and germs , after 8 weeks off , busy doing not much, it can make a pretty YET very intelligent ( ; woman quite slow.
I caught myself saying to my husband very excitedly this Wednesday : " Hey honey we`re off 3 full days this weekend woohoo! " If I were not a teacher and heard someone say that I would have beaten him or her senseless. The truth of the matter is that my brain needs it.
A strange phenomena happens : your brain gets very slow while you`re not doing much . Getting back in the real world IS difficult . Life is just so fast you hardly can keep up.
People who know me very well can tell you I have no short-term memory. I can`t remember what I ate an hour ago and certainly won`t remember what I have to do 2 hours from now even if my life depended on it. Well listing all the things I shouln`t have forgotten which I ended up forgetting anyway would be too time consuming . Do you want the whole list or the top ten ?
Like the Tin Man said in The Wizard Of Oz : " If I only had a brain ! "
Ì can `t wait for October, I`ll be so darn smarter and faster !!
Oh and another thing : my bilingual brain is so screwed up at the beginning of the year . My students ask me the simplest stuff ( a translation ) and my brain goes : which side of my brain is supposed to be working ? The French one or the English one ? Let`s try the Frenglish side . I often end up talking like someone from New Brunswick :" Check la girl l`autre bord d`la street." Thank God I only speak English in class.
So if you ask me how my transition back to school is doing after my holiday , I`ll have to admit it is painful.
This weekend, I promised my brain a RESET with occasional exercises. Not too much input and more output.
I went grocery shopping with the kids, went for a ride with the family in the Mustang, had dinner at the restaurant with my family and in-laws, read, picked up my dog`s poop with the greatest little gadget I like to call : The Pooper Scooper 2000, cover my kids` school books, clean house and finally some laundry. And I suvived ! Takes more time than usual but as they say : slowly but surely. And best of all, no one was harmed or injured in the process !
I must apologize to all of you who wanted to write their comments on this blog. I just totally blocked all of you out without even knowing . Blame my vacation !
Thanks to my pal Pat Bernier who informed me of the problem I could remediate it.
Please send me comments and / or questions. I love them to death.
For those who are wondering what my kids are up to this week in Intensive English, well we are working hard already. There`s no time for the lazy in our class.
Here goes :
Sec.2
One day after setting foot in my classroom I dared to ask my kids to present an oral production . I do this every year and Pierre likes to tell me " Wow that`s quick ! "
Let me explain : my kids are always very nervous before their first oral of the year so why suffer we start with a bang. It doesn`t count on the report card and they have to introduce someone in class which permits me to get to know them better right off the bat.
One group has already presented and they did just great. Let me tell you that the students in Intensive English LOVE oral productions and it shows.
Sec. 4
We went to the library on the second day to pick up our novel so we can start as quickly as possible after I tell them about the author, the characters and the premise of the book. One group is reading The Outsiders while the other group is reading Rumble Fish. Both are from S.E Hinton. They have no idea they are about to read something they will never EVER forget!
Swing by later for the official dates of the chapter quizzes.
Before I go I want to congratulate my sister Nadia for her new job and responsibilities. Go get `em girl -you can do it !
To all my students in Sec.4 : welcome back . You are just as lovely as when I had you in Sec.2. You are interested , interesting and you laugh at ALL my jokes. Bonus points for all of you!
I finally DID learn how to post some pictures. Thanks Pat B. and Pierre. Pictures of my school kids in action will soon be posted.
Tata for now,
Annie
Yes ladies and germs , after 8 weeks off , busy doing not much, it can make a pretty YET very intelligent ( ; woman quite slow.
I caught myself saying to my husband very excitedly this Wednesday : " Hey honey we`re off 3 full days this weekend woohoo! " If I were not a teacher and heard someone say that I would have beaten him or her senseless. The truth of the matter is that my brain needs it.
A strange phenomena happens : your brain gets very slow while you`re not doing much . Getting back in the real world IS difficult . Life is just so fast you hardly can keep up.
People who know me very well can tell you I have no short-term memory. I can`t remember what I ate an hour ago and certainly won`t remember what I have to do 2 hours from now even if my life depended on it. Well listing all the things I shouln`t have forgotten which I ended up forgetting anyway would be too time consuming . Do you want the whole list or the top ten ?
Like the Tin Man said in The Wizard Of Oz : " If I only had a brain ! "
Ì can `t wait for October, I`ll be so darn smarter and faster !!
Oh and another thing : my bilingual brain is so screwed up at the beginning of the year . My students ask me the simplest stuff ( a translation ) and my brain goes : which side of my brain is supposed to be working ? The French one or the English one ? Let`s try the Frenglish side . I often end up talking like someone from New Brunswick :" Check la girl l`autre bord d`la street." Thank God I only speak English in class.
So if you ask me how my transition back to school is doing after my holiday , I`ll have to admit it is painful.
This weekend, I promised my brain a RESET with occasional exercises. Not too much input and more output.
I went grocery shopping with the kids, went for a ride with the family in the Mustang, had dinner at the restaurant with my family and in-laws, read, picked up my dog`s poop with the greatest little gadget I like to call : The Pooper Scooper 2000, cover my kids` school books, clean house and finally some laundry. And I suvived ! Takes more time than usual but as they say : slowly but surely. And best of all, no one was harmed or injured in the process !
I must apologize to all of you who wanted to write their comments on this blog. I just totally blocked all of you out without even knowing . Blame my vacation !
Thanks to my pal Pat Bernier who informed me of the problem I could remediate it.
Please send me comments and / or questions. I love them to death.
For those who are wondering what my kids are up to this week in Intensive English, well we are working hard already. There`s no time for the lazy in our class.
Here goes :
Sec.2
One day after setting foot in my classroom I dared to ask my kids to present an oral production . I do this every year and Pierre likes to tell me " Wow that`s quick ! "
Let me explain : my kids are always very nervous before their first oral of the year so why suffer we start with a bang. It doesn`t count on the report card and they have to introduce someone in class which permits me to get to know them better right off the bat.
One group has already presented and they did just great. Let me tell you that the students in Intensive English LOVE oral productions and it shows.
Sec. 4
We went to the library on the second day to pick up our novel so we can start as quickly as possible after I tell them about the author, the characters and the premise of the book. One group is reading The Outsiders while the other group is reading Rumble Fish. Both are from S.E Hinton. They have no idea they are about to read something they will never EVER forget!
Swing by later for the official dates of the chapter quizzes.
Before I go I want to congratulate my sister Nadia for her new job and responsibilities. Go get `em girl -you can do it !
To all my students in Sec.4 : welcome back . You are just as lovely as when I had you in Sec.2. You are interested , interesting and you laugh at ALL my jokes. Bonus points for all of you!
I finally DID learn how to post some pictures. Thanks Pat B. and Pierre. Pictures of my school kids in action will soon be posted.
Tata for now,
Annie
mardi 28 août 2007
D-Day
Or shall we say THE-Day ?
For me anyways it really was THE day. I finally met my students !
Some totally new ones ( Sec.2 ) and some very familiar ones ( Sec.4 ) whom I taught two years ago.
It really is all about the students. After days of preparation , it all boils down to them . They`re the reason you shower in the morning and leave ( in exchange of a salary I know ... ).
You work both for and with them.
The beginning of a school year is always fresh and exciting. New challenges, goals, objectives are established and it`s the beginning of the rest of the year. We are all rested , ready to tackle the world. Of course deceptions will occur but isn`t that part of the learning process ? We often tend to forget that if one can really taste and savour success , one must unfortunately taste failure to different degrees. As a teacher I will witness that . Your failures and victories. I will see you grow and surpass yourself. Not only academically but in general. I will witness your physical changes : growing a foot a month for example.
I also got to see my former students ( sniff sniff ) today. How you`ve grown this summer ! I miss you guys already. Some I will see again next year and some never since you`ll be graduating this coming June . I miss you all dearly.
On this note, I say " Later ". As days will pass we`ll get acquainted. But we`re in no rush right ? We`ve got the rest of the year ...
Annie
For me anyways it really was THE day. I finally met my students !
Some totally new ones ( Sec.2 ) and some very familiar ones ( Sec.4 ) whom I taught two years ago.
It really is all about the students. After days of preparation , it all boils down to them . They`re the reason you shower in the morning and leave ( in exchange of a salary I know ... ).
You work both for and with them.
The beginning of a school year is always fresh and exciting. New challenges, goals, objectives are established and it`s the beginning of the rest of the year. We are all rested , ready to tackle the world. Of course deceptions will occur but isn`t that part of the learning process ? We often tend to forget that if one can really taste and savour success , one must unfortunately taste failure to different degrees. As a teacher I will witness that . Your failures and victories. I will see you grow and surpass yourself. Not only academically but in general. I will witness your physical changes : growing a foot a month for example.
I also got to see my former students ( sniff sniff ) today. How you`ve grown this summer ! I miss you guys already. Some I will see again next year and some never since you`ll be graduating this coming June . I miss you all dearly.
On this note, I say " Later ". As days will pass we`ll get acquainted. But we`re in no rush right ? We`ve got the rest of the year ...
Annie
vendredi 24 août 2007
Blog Fight
If you`re a woman you have already noticed that my blog`s title has been changed. If you`re a man : it`s the title on top of the page. The very top . Higher.There you go...
Originally, the title was INTENSE ANNIE. Yep. Ever since I started this blog a few days ago Pierre ( hubby ) has been bugging me to change it.
As usual, I ignored him. But Pierre can be as persistent as I can be stubborn.
But why ? I would ask .
Apparently the title had a double meaning .
Hey , I`m just an English teacher, if it suggested something less appropriate, I would know !
I kept it. Was it pride? Darn right.
Besides, why fix something that isn`t broken ?
Why did I finally change it ? To shut him up.
I am less patient than I am stubborn.
So if perchance I have offended anyone, fuelled any fantasies, started any arguments within a couple, I am sorry. My intentions were pure and clean.
It is official I have changed office at work. I am no longer with Sec. 1 and 2 teachers but rather with the Sec. 4`s . I miss some of my co-workers already. You have no idea how much fun I had there last year.
I liked the routine :
Michel : Tiens si c`est pas la petite Annie "
Annie : " Merci pour l`adjectif "petite " "
And that was EVERY morning !!
Loulou`s jarS of candy on her desk. So many trips I made to her desk....
Seeing Guy on the computer and then inviting me-no YELLING at me from across the room :" Annie j`ai d` quoi à te montrer "
Who can I say " you moron " to if not to Guy ?
Julie R`s coffee she`d prepare and sometimes deliver to my classroom !!
Loulou`s great candy.
Anne-Claude`s little giggles and repeated question : " t`as manger du chocolat pour être enervé de même ? "
Loulou`s candy.
Loulou`s famous phrase : " Toé mon Bélanger "
But why did I leave you inquire ?
A change and free coffee.
Paul promised me free lattées and they are divine. He usually adds a croissant or chocolatine with that.
Yes I am that easy.
To my pals in Sec.1 and 2 : I`ll miss ya but having a sweet tooth you`ll see me around to grab a few pieces of candy from Loulou`s candy jars. Thanks for making last year a great one!!
I cannot wait for the kids to come in. Can`t wait to meet them. Can`t wait to see my Sec.4 too.
Once they start, stuff will get interesting around here.
I GOT NEW SCHOOL BOOKS!!!
The biography of my favorite author : S.E Hinton . My kids in Sec. 4 will get to know her very well in September. She writes literature for young adults.
Other literature books I will need in Sec.4.
Guess what I`ll be doing this weekend ?
To Caro- Caroline : good job !
She has had one heck of a week and has been nicotine-free for the last 2 weeks !!!
To Frank : They are real and they are spectacular !!
Love you Frank xx
As the Brits say : Tata for now.
Intense Annie ;)
Originally, the title was INTENSE ANNIE. Yep. Ever since I started this blog a few days ago Pierre ( hubby ) has been bugging me to change it.
As usual, I ignored him. But Pierre can be as persistent as I can be stubborn.
But why ? I would ask .
Apparently the title had a double meaning .
Hey , I`m just an English teacher, if it suggested something less appropriate, I would know !
I kept it. Was it pride? Darn right.
Besides, why fix something that isn`t broken ?
Why did I finally change it ? To shut him up.
I am less patient than I am stubborn.
So if perchance I have offended anyone, fuelled any fantasies, started any arguments within a couple, I am sorry. My intentions were pure and clean.
It is official I have changed office at work. I am no longer with Sec. 1 and 2 teachers but rather with the Sec. 4`s . I miss some of my co-workers already. You have no idea how much fun I had there last year.
I liked the routine :
Michel : Tiens si c`est pas la petite Annie "
Annie : " Merci pour l`adjectif "petite " "
And that was EVERY morning !!
Loulou`s jarS of candy on her desk. So many trips I made to her desk....
Seeing Guy on the computer and then inviting me-no YELLING at me from across the room :" Annie j`ai d` quoi à te montrer "
Who can I say " you moron " to if not to Guy ?
Julie R`s coffee she`d prepare and sometimes deliver to my classroom !!
Loulou`s great candy.
Anne-Claude`s little giggles and repeated question : " t`as manger du chocolat pour être enervé de même ? "
Loulou`s candy.
Loulou`s famous phrase : " Toé mon Bélanger "
But why did I leave you inquire ?
A change and free coffee.
Paul promised me free lattées and they are divine. He usually adds a croissant or chocolatine with that.
Yes I am that easy.
To my pals in Sec.1 and 2 : I`ll miss ya but having a sweet tooth you`ll see me around to grab a few pieces of candy from Loulou`s candy jars. Thanks for making last year a great one!!
I cannot wait for the kids to come in. Can`t wait to meet them. Can`t wait to see my Sec.4 too.
Once they start, stuff will get interesting around here.
I GOT NEW SCHOOL BOOKS!!!
The biography of my favorite author : S.E Hinton . My kids in Sec. 4 will get to know her very well in September. She writes literature for young adults.
Other literature books I will need in Sec.4.
Guess what I`ll be doing this weekend ?
To Caro- Caroline : good job !
She has had one heck of a week and has been nicotine-free for the last 2 weeks !!!
To Frank : They are real and they are spectacular !!
Love you Frank xx
As the Brits say : Tata for now.
Intense Annie ;)
jeudi 23 août 2007
All Is Well
Reality ( after weeks of slacking and R & R ) quickly bit me in the butt today.
Filou , Rosie and I took off for the hospital in Trois-Rivieres early this morning and everything went smoothly. ``Look mom, a new cast ! Can I go play outside now ? `` I don`t think so, at least not today ``.
Because I own a daughter with a cast who require TLC ( tender loving care ), I must be extremely brief tonight.
I `ll be back with a vengeance tomorrow...
Annie
Head Nurse of the Bergeron household.
PS : the nurses are great in Trois-Rivieres too.
Nurses rock man !!
Filou , Rosie and I took off for the hospital in Trois-Rivieres early this morning and everything went smoothly. ``Look mom, a new cast ! Can I go play outside now ? `` I don`t think so, at least not today ``.
Because I own a daughter with a cast who require TLC ( tender loving care ), I must be extremely brief tonight.
I `ll be back with a vengeance tomorrow...
Annie
Head Nurse of the Bergeron household.
PS : the nurses are great in Trois-Rivieres too.
Nurses rock man !!
mercredi 22 août 2007
ON THE FIRST DAY
Was I happy to go back to school today ?
To be honest : nnnyes.
Let`s face it after so many days off and crappy weather,5-6 pounds heavier, it was time to go back in the real world.
All your friends go back to work so you`re stuck cleaning up the house because at this point , there`s not much else left to do.
But if my kids weren`t so darn cute ( here she goes again- I do have a point here. ) , nice, cuddly, funny , this mother would have no difficulty running back to work.
BUT I am not complaining nor whining since I spent 2 great months with them 24/7. Great kids are like fine chocolates : they`re addictive. And to think I used to NOT want any kids 10 years ago, I wanted a career! Thank God I came to my senses.
The only motivation to come in this morning essentially was the free coffee and cookies. Really glad though to see my co-workers all nice, tanned and relaxed .
My husband Pierre takes off right after dinner and Murphy`s law kicks in : when daddy`s away, things go astray.
Rosie is my athletic one and at times, a tomboy. She takes fun seriously. And what seemed like a typical fall turned out to be a free evening at the emergency room with free cable : La poule aux Oeufs d `Or and other crappy shows intended to entertain you while your kid is crying because she`s in pain and the other one wants to try every beverage and snacks displayed in the vending machines. Free medical care ?! I think not, it cost me 10.00$ worth of junk food to keep them busy . Felix likes to read wrapping labels. Ask him the percentage of potassium and calcium or the number of calories in an Activia strawberry yogourt and this little guy can give you a correct answer. This boy knows the recipe to Heinz ketchup. And if you really want to have a laugh : ask him to read the ingredients on a jar of Cheez Whiz. Hilarious !!
Anyway, I`m drifting. 3 and a half hours later , you guessed it : a broken left wrist. BUT that is not all. You get a free trip to see the orthopedist to get a free cast. Except it`s in Trois-Rivieres . That`s tomorrow morning. If you want to splurge, you can pay an extra 10 dollars to get it in fiberglass. I`ll have one of those since Rosie is going to have it for 4 to 6 weeks and bathing and showering are important in this household.
I do want to mention that the nurses at Christ -Roi hospital in Nicolet are simply fantastic ! Ihave a full-time membership there ( comes free when you give birth ) and NEVER have I not have great care with a genuine smile !! The nurse even showed me Rosie`s x-ray and played a game of : Bet You Can`t see the Break ? I couldn`t and that`s why he`s the nurse and I teach. What a nice gentleman.Later, one of the nurses had to go somewhere with Rosie`s x-rays and asked Félix Antoine to tag along to `help her out `. Bless you nurse of the night whose name I don`t know ! Lovely lovely people. Love you guys.
Sooo , it`s midnight and my husband still doesn`t have a clue about his princess. I am so getting a free night of dishes after tonight .
If you don`t here from me tomorrow night , it`s because I `m still at the hospital in Trois-Rivieres, put my face on the milk carton....
What`s odd is that my brown labrador has a limp on her left front paw ( a rock while playing outside ) and Rosie broke her left wrist. I knew these two had a special connection but this is ridiculous.
I`ll keep you posted.
Annie
To be honest : nnnyes.
Let`s face it after so many days off and crappy weather,5-6 pounds heavier, it was time to go back in the real world.
All your friends go back to work so you`re stuck cleaning up the house because at this point , there`s not much else left to do.
But if my kids weren`t so darn cute ( here she goes again- I do have a point here. ) , nice, cuddly, funny , this mother would have no difficulty running back to work.
BUT I am not complaining nor whining since I spent 2 great months with them 24/7. Great kids are like fine chocolates : they`re addictive. And to think I used to NOT want any kids 10 years ago, I wanted a career! Thank God I came to my senses.
The only motivation to come in this morning essentially was the free coffee and cookies. Really glad though to see my co-workers all nice, tanned and relaxed .
My husband Pierre takes off right after dinner and Murphy`s law kicks in : when daddy`s away, things go astray.
Rosie is my athletic one and at times, a tomboy. She takes fun seriously. And what seemed like a typical fall turned out to be a free evening at the emergency room with free cable : La poule aux Oeufs d `Or and other crappy shows intended to entertain you while your kid is crying because she`s in pain and the other one wants to try every beverage and snacks displayed in the vending machines. Free medical care ?! I think not, it cost me 10.00$ worth of junk food to keep them busy . Felix likes to read wrapping labels. Ask him the percentage of potassium and calcium or the number of calories in an Activia strawberry yogourt and this little guy can give you a correct answer. This boy knows the recipe to Heinz ketchup. And if you really want to have a laugh : ask him to read the ingredients on a jar of Cheez Whiz. Hilarious !!
Anyway, I`m drifting. 3 and a half hours later , you guessed it : a broken left wrist. BUT that is not all. You get a free trip to see the orthopedist to get a free cast. Except it`s in Trois-Rivieres . That`s tomorrow morning. If you want to splurge, you can pay an extra 10 dollars to get it in fiberglass. I`ll have one of those since Rosie is going to have it for 4 to 6 weeks and bathing and showering are important in this household.
I do want to mention that the nurses at Christ -Roi hospital in Nicolet are simply fantastic ! Ihave a full-time membership there ( comes free when you give birth ) and NEVER have I not have great care with a genuine smile !! The nurse even showed me Rosie`s x-ray and played a game of : Bet You Can`t see the Break ? I couldn`t and that`s why he`s the nurse and I teach. What a nice gentleman.Later, one of the nurses had to go somewhere with Rosie`s x-rays and asked Félix Antoine to tag along to `help her out `. Bless you nurse of the night whose name I don`t know ! Lovely lovely people. Love you guys.
Sooo , it`s midnight and my husband still doesn`t have a clue about his princess. I am so getting a free night of dishes after tonight .
If you don`t here from me tomorrow night , it`s because I `m still at the hospital in Trois-Rivieres, put my face on the milk carton....
What`s odd is that my brown labrador has a limp on her left front paw ( a rock while playing outside ) and Rosie broke her left wrist. I knew these two had a special connection but this is ridiculous.
I`ll keep you posted.
Annie
mardi 21 août 2007
Here We Go !
Hi everyone,
Welcome to my blog. Never in a million dreams would I have thought of starting my own blog.
But it was so easy, too easy and I `m afraid I could really get addicted to this..... Annie`s found a new way to communicate !!
There are 3 reasons I started this blog :
1- Find a new way to communicate with my students ( A big howdee to my sec. 2 and 4 students in the Intensive English ( hence the title of this blog ) Program at Ecole Secondaire Jean Nicolet in Nicolet) family and friends.
2- I have just read my pal`s blog ( Duff ) for the first time. He`s in the Persian Gulf ( NO HE IS NOT A SOLDIER ) and it just blew me away. How interesting, how practical, useful ( I need my Thesorus dictionary right now )anyway, you get the point. I HAD to have my own.
3- Well it was just too darn easy to get this blog started. I just let my fingers do the talking and VOILÀ !
Why in English you say ?
Because life is too darn short and English is so much easier for me. Besides, my students need to read various English reading material and this an other one.
Why Now ?
Because tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life....Soooooo cliché I know. Seriously, tomorrow is the first school day of the year ( us teachers that is ). And a new year rhymes with a new challenge : professional and personal . This is my professional one . Besides, I need an excuse for not doing the dishes once in a while.....This will do the trick.
So before I sign off, I just want to say a big HELLO to my pal Duff ( Alain Dufresne ). Love your blog, keep it up .
Your intense Intensive English teacher or just Annie if you`re over 18.
Welcome to my blog. Never in a million dreams would I have thought of starting my own blog.
But it was so easy, too easy and I `m afraid I could really get addicted to this..... Annie`s found a new way to communicate !!
There are 3 reasons I started this blog :
1- Find a new way to communicate with my students ( A big howdee to my sec. 2 and 4 students in the Intensive English ( hence the title of this blog ) Program at Ecole Secondaire Jean Nicolet in Nicolet) family and friends.
2- I have just read my pal`s blog ( Duff ) for the first time. He`s in the Persian Gulf ( NO HE IS NOT A SOLDIER ) and it just blew me away. How interesting, how practical, useful ( I need my Thesorus dictionary right now )anyway, you get the point. I HAD to have my own.
3- Well it was just too darn easy to get this blog started. I just let my fingers do the talking and VOILÀ !
Why in English you say ?
Because life is too darn short and English is so much easier for me. Besides, my students need to read various English reading material and this an other one.
Why Now ?
Because tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life....Soooooo cliché I know. Seriously, tomorrow is the first school day of the year ( us teachers that is ). And a new year rhymes with a new challenge : professional and personal . This is my professional one . Besides, I need an excuse for not doing the dishes once in a while.....This will do the trick.
So before I sign off, I just want to say a big HELLO to my pal Duff ( Alain Dufresne ). Love your blog, keep it up .
Your intense Intensive English teacher or just Annie if you`re over 18.
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