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;
lundi 8 octobre 2007
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
Inscription à :
Articles (Atom)