Gearing up for a busy week...

Another busy week has come to an end.   Dinner at Scott's cousins house on Friday night was lovely but it was the third weekend in a row that we had a babysitter and the novelty had worn off...  it definitely taught me that Friday nights we should try as much as possible to reserve for staying at home.   I work the latter half of the week and I think the kids miss seeing me and Scott and are tired from a long week of activities and school. 

Saturday was typical... I was at UBC all day.  Matt had goalie skills practice first thing, followed by soccer and then his regular hockey team practice.   Both he and Scott are having frustrations learning how to put the goalie gear on properly.  I sure hope they figure this out soon - currently it is no fun for either of them and I am getting tired of the complaining.   Thank goodness for girlfriends.   One of my good friends took Megan for the day and that made things a lot easier for Scott and Megan was in heaven hanging with her pals and getting to go to a crafting party at Michaels.  We had my entire family, and my cousin and her boyfriend, who were in from Calgary, over for dinner.   It was so nice to catch up... I love how with family you can not see each other for such long periods of time and then we you do finally connect, it seems like you were never apart.


Oddly, we had NO SPORTING events on today's agenda!   We decided to take advantage of this and take a quick trip down to the States.   With the amount of trips and money spent by us, I'd have thought we would have kick started the US economy by now.   My children, husband and I,  are ALL lovers/fans of the shopping in the USA.   Our favourites are Target, Michaels, Costco, and Walmart.   The selection alone is worth the trip, not to mention that pretty much any item you purchase at Michaels in the States is bound to be half the price of the cost at home.   I've never really understood that.

On the way back we stopped in and had dinner at Scott's parents and celebrated my sister-in-laws 40th birthday and her daughter's 4th birthday.   Dinner was delicious but Megan was very tired and had a hard time playing nicely with the kids... we eventually left early due to her whining!  My patience was tested to its' limits and I am recovering with tea.

Right now the kids are helping Scott to search for the remote (it goes missing almost daily - I am thinking I may need to put some velcro on it and place another velcro strip on the coffee table, as tacky as that may be but I can't handle the wasted time spent searching).   I hope to get them to bed early so that I can gather my thoughts and create my lists to survive this week.   I have a heavy week with many required readings to get done, a pressing assignment, class Tuesday night, and preparation for an important meeting later this week.   With only two days off this week, it is going to be a tight squeeze.

A girlfriend is hosting coffee with other friends tomorrow morning and I am torn as to whether or not I should go.  Last week, I promised I would attend.  I hate to be "that" type of person who commits and then backs out.   It is a quality I don't like in others but if I go, I know I will regret it when I am working into the wee hours of Monday night trying to get it all done.  I 'wonder' what I should do???

Happy Sunday!

A Good Story

As a parent and teacher I find myself reflecting on my kids as learners.  Daily I enjoy how my daughter comes home bounding with enthusiastic stories about her class and the lessons she took part in.   My son Matthew, on the other hand isn't as forthcoming and would prefer to talk sports, as opposed to anything else.

This week Megan has been wrapped up in Roald Dahl's book The BFG that her teacher is reading to her. She loves to tell me what happened in the story each day and is constantly making connections to the characters.  As a teacher and reader, this warms my heart.

Is has also caused me to 'wonder' about kids like Matthew.  I know that boys in general tend to prefer non-fiction books and Matthew fits this characterization... he loves his hockey fact books and the Guinness Book of World Records but is this enough?  As a child I remember loving to get into a good fictional chapter book.   At Matthew's age or maybe a little older, I remember the pure enjoyment of reading Judy Blume books, The Secret World of Og, Chose Your Own Adventure books and so on and it saddens me that he isn't "hooked on books" as I was.   I don't think it has much to do with his reading level or comprehension because even when I read aloud to him I don't see that enthusiasm or love for story.   He likes picture books and but is not interested in reading anything longer and when I suggest it, he says "Do we have to?" Though I have tried some beginning fictional chapter books about soccer, I think I haven't found just the right book.

Knowing that he prefers "everything sports" I think I may have to have a lunch date with him this weekend.  It has been a long time since him and I have visited Kidsbooks in Vancouver and popped by Kalhoun's (A restaurant two doors down - we like the GIANT cookies they bake).   I hope Christianne is working on Sunday.   She seems to know the plot of every book ever written and is a great support to point you in the right direction.

Here is hoping to find just that right book that will "hook" Matthew in.

BTW - My husband, who is NOT a reader, self-proclaims that he never read a fictional book growing up unless it was read to him and that it never hurt him.   For those of you who don't know Scott, he is in management at the City of Vancouver in planning  One could argue  that he has been successful despite the fact that he "doesn't read"(at least for pleasure).  So I 'wonder' perhaps if the apple doesn't fall far from the tree... though I am still not sure if I am ok with this!

Inspiration

Today this quote is just what I needed...

Sweet Saturday

  

My Saturdays this term are mostly  taken up with my class at UBC.   This Saturday I had off and what a sweet day it was.   Friday night we enjoyed the Giants game with so many of our friends who play for South Delta Minor Hockey.   It was fun to watch Matthew, a true fan, and pure joy that he exuded each time they scored!

The kids ended up getting to bed quite late!  I was so proud of Matthew in the morning we he didn't complain when he was awoken for his Goalie Skills practices that he has every Saturday morning at 7 am - UGH!  I am NOT a morning person so I happily sit these practices out.   His love of the game is remarkable!

6:30 AM

 Later Matthew had a new friend over for a play.   It was so nice that soccer was cancelled due to the wet fields and that he didn't have a second hockey practice later in the day because his regular hockey practice was at the same time as his goalie class, so his missed it.   It felt liberating to only have one activity for the day and to have it completed by 8:30am.

Megan was excited to show the boys the experiment she did at Sparks earlier this week.   We've done the vinegar and baking soda experiment many times before, but it never gets old with these guys!

The boys soon headed to the garage to play more hockey and Megan wanted more play dough.  I was "done" and this point, as Megan and I had been playing, talking, and cuddling since 6:30am and I was wanting some of my own time.   Scott, a sucker for her smiles made her up some more play dough and played restaurant with her.  She made some excellent ice cream concoctions.  Her kindergarten teacher last year told us that she was the "Queen of Play dough creations".   I think she is missing her time at the play dough centre now that she is in Grade One.

The afternoon was perfect.   I was able to stay home and enjoy some time to relax and work on things on my never ending "to-do" lists.   One of them included grouping all the like colours in my closet and inverting the hangers.   I read an article about how to weed your wardrobe by doing this.   Each time you wear something, you turn the hanger back and then in 6 months you can see what you haven't worn!   I am not a packrat and am excited to see what I notice in six months.

The evening we enjoyed a lovely dinner at a friend's place (no kids!).   Our friends put on an impressive spread of deliciously cooked Thai food.  The company and conversations were the perfect ending to a sweet Saturday!

Never enough time in the day!

Where, oh where does time go?   Today seemed to rush away on me!   Worked until 6pm and then had a nice McDonalds dinner date with Megan, after picking her up from dance.   Then onto bathing and reading with my kiddies and then bedtime.

Since 8:30pm I have been working on another blog... one specifically about learning, designed for other teachers and for my student's parents to feel more connected to the learning in the classroom.   For those who might be interested, I've attached a link HERE that will lead you to "Investigating Learning".

I need more hours in the day!!!

True Hockey Fans

Kids are RESILIANT!!!  Fourteen years into teaching, I am still stunned by children's ability to ward off the cold.  Today was bitterly cold, around -7 C.  To give you an idea, my nose and ears started to burn from the blowing snow on my quick walk from my car to the school.

At recess, my principal offered the children a choice, as to whether or not they would like to stay inside or go outside for recess.  I was sure that most of my class would choose to stay inside... but I was wrong!   All but one little girl, quickly bundled up and ran out the door, itching to get outside.  

When I arrived home around 4:45pm, my son was outside playing, despite the encroaching darkness and freezing cold.  Beaming with pride, he told me that our backyard is now home to the "Winter Classic" hockey game that he and his best buddy had been playing since 3:30pm.  They're hoping the snow will last all week!

For the love of blanky's

Meggy and her blanky!

I have never quite understood why some people think children should give up their blankys.

I grew up with a blanky.  My sister and brother had blankys and many of my close friends did too.

Over Christmas, I had the good fortune to catch a Charlie Brown show called Happiness Is A Warm Blanket.  The story is about Lynas, a character who loves his blanky and is being forced to give it up by his Grandmother.   Throughout the story the other characters, such as Lucy and Snoopy try to help Lynas break his blanky habit but to know avail.  Throughout this classic tale a lesson seeps through.

Charlie Brown
"I think there is value in this blanket business.  It puts him [Lynas] in the mood for contemplation.  It quiets his mind so he can really think about things".

Lynas
"Who among you doesn't have an insecurity?  Who among you doesn't depend on someone or something to help you get through the day?"

"I need this blanket...  Remember the last time you were here Grandma... Remember when you drank 12 cups of coffee?  Perhaps your drinking 12 cups of coffee was not unlike my need for a security blanket..."

Blankys offer children comfort and security.   My daughter Megan LOVES her blanky.   It is worn and has holes, but these have been given to blanky through endless love and chubby little hands that have held it.   She says it has her "special smell" and she even has a favourite corner that has a little hook that she holds it with.

I say, cherish those blankys!

My Very First Blog

My Little Word

This is my first blog...  I spent some time this morning using Wordpress but didn't find it all that user friendly - so here I am on blogger!

This year I plan to document my thoughts on this blog around my word for 2012 - WONDER.   A mentor of mine did this last year on her blog and I thoroughly enjoyed her reflections and found myself connecting to her posts and growing through her wisdom.   She discovered the One Little Word movement that you can find more information about HERE

So what does the word "Wonder" mean to me?  I think it means that I need to be open to speculate curiously and trouble myself with deep thinking this year, in order to grow as a parent, wife, and educator.  I say trouble because I think sometimes when you think deeply you find yourself moved from a place where you are content with the knowledge you have, to a place of uneasiness... and why would one want to do this???

~ Hopefully to promote healthy growth and positive change!  I don't promise any wisdom, just some random thoughts that I hope will connect and inspire others in their own life long learning journey.

My "wonders" for today include:

At Home

• Wondering if my husband and kids know how much they light up my day?  Today Scott had a minor accident (although we aren't sure if his car will need to be replaced!) and I was so happy to hear he was fine but it made me wonder if he knows how much I and the kids love him.  
• Hoping Scott settles in at his new position at the city.   Change is always a little uncomfortable but brings new opportunities.  

Education

• How to better organize my student's writing into folders and find a way to assess during writing blocks so that I can stop lugging home all my student's books!
• Thinking about lessons that teach and promote social and emotional intelligence... I plan to create some lessons using some superb children's picture books that will teach self-awareness, empathy,  confidence, self-control and many other necessary life skills. 
• Education in the 21st Century... what will it look like?  As we move away from a time of memorizing facts and information, how will I inspire inquiring attitudes and habits of mind that will enable my students to become life long learners?  This question needs to sit and resonate for awhile!
• The  BC Education Plan - when can I find some time to complete the interactive questionnaire?
• Wiki's - want to know more about these and how they can improve my practice.

Generally

• Thankful for a friend who encouraged me to get into the world of blogs...  She gave me the necessary nudge and I am so grateful for the time she spent with me today teaching me the skills!