Marvellous Mathematical Memories with Matthew

Moments of pride occur for parents when we are able to see our child shine ~ these become moments we truly cherish!  One that stood out for me occurred a couple of weeks ago at Delta’s Math Celebration held at Port Guichon Elementary School.

My son Matthew was invited to participate in this outstanding, well-organized math event held by Donna Bletcher, Delta’s Mathematics Consultant.  Students were grouped into teams that worked collaboratively to share, discuss strategies, and discover solutions to mathematical problems.  As a math educator, I loved that the focus went beyond simply getting the right answer and instead valued the process of learning.  An inquiry approach was used as the questions were open-ended and had multiple pathways to answers.  This promoted active learning requiring both a hands-on and minds-on approach.  Points were awarded for exploration, communication, risk taking, use of multiple strategies, and cooperative learning.  Students worked as communities of learners, helping and learning from each other. 

As I observed my son and the other students in the room, you could see the high levels of engagement, enjoyment and motivation, as evidenced by the smiles and laughter upon the faces of all of the participants and observers.   It was mathematics at its finest!

Not only was I proud to be Matthew’s mom, I was proud to be a parent in the Delta School District.  A huge thank you to Donna Bletcher and all of the other educators who took part in creating proud mathematical memories for students and parents of Delta schools.

Matt's close buddy Nolan doing some big math thinking!

Matthew and his team!  He is on the far right.

The Neilson Grove Students!

Strength - My 2013 Little Word

Wow ~ what a year it has been.   2012 was very good to me and my family but wasn't without its challenges.

My word for 2012 was WONDER.  I did a lot of wondering and in the end I think I came out of the year knowing more, thinking more critically, and having a better overall view of life in general.   Some days I simply wondered how I would survive everything I needed to do... and other days I would lose myself in wondering about complex topics.   I have always been passionately curious.   I ask a lot of questions and like all the little details.  My questions allowed me to view and think about things, people, family, and education from multiple perspectives.   This helped me to focus in on what is important and what is less so.

Unfortunately as my schedule became increasingly busy, I wasn't able to write on my blog as often as I would have liked.  I did wonder how I could make this a priority as I find that through writing I am able to thoughtfully reflect and come to better understandings.   I never did find a way!

This year my focus word of the year came to me early.   Some time in October I felt the need to channel my inner strength to help guide and sustain me through what I believe will be one of the most challenging periods of my life ~ finishing the last bit of my Masters (completion set for August), working 80% (really 100% plus), parenting two kids, learning a new role at UBC, and holding dear those other things in life that I value such as friends, family and fun.  It was in this moment that I knew I had my word.

Although I am only in the beginning of understanding what Strength will mean to me this year, below are some of my initial thoughts.

This year I need strength:

• to stay focused and positive and not let the burden of worries tarnish the happiness of the day
• to have the difficult discussions and say things that others may not want to hear but need to hear in thoughtful, and respectful ways.  In my new role, this is a requirement. 
• to find the energy to deal with parenting challenges that should be addressed.   It is far easier to let things go but that doesn't do anyone any good.  
• to stay up late at night working so that I can give daytime hours to my family.
• to honour my own professional thoughts and opinions and stand for what I believe in.
• to say "no" to things and not feel badly.  Unfortunately this means no book club, less coffee dates, and missing some 240 club meetings.
• to remain calm and rationale when what I really feel like doing is screaming and throwing a fit!
• to resist those late night snacks!
• to let go of my wish to have the house (well, really the floors) clean at all times.
• to try to post at least twice a month on the blog.   I have found that writing brings me much reflection, laughter, and peace.  
• to remember that I do have the strength to endure ~ I just need to believe I can do it. 

Much thanks goes to both Janice and Lisa for their blogs and journeys with the one Little Word Project which was initiated by Ali Edwards.  Their blogposts bring me much wisdom, laughter, connections, reflections, and smiles.   I also thank my friend Toshi who got me kick-started and taught me how to blog.  A year into blogging I am hooked.  Throughout my grandfather's life he wrote in a daily journal and these have since been converted to text and shared with the family.   I see this as his ultimate legacy which he left for us and although I do not place my blog in this high regard, I do believe it is part of my small little footprint in this world.

Christmas Cookies

One of my favourite traditions at this time of the year is baking and delivering Christmas cookies to our friends, neighbours, coaches, teachers, family, and those who might not get cookies.  We begin our baking in late November and try to make at least 120 cookies of each recipe.   I try to make sure the kids have a hand in as many cookies as possible, either rolling the balls, adding M&M's, decorating with icing, and so on.   This year with me working more I wasn't able to make as many different cookies as I typically do... but we did manage to fill 30 plates.

The day of delivery is most special!  I keep the kids home from school and we sing to Christmas music, dancing around the kitchen table and island placing cookies on trays.   Preparing and wrapping the trays takes us until lunchtime.   Just before we pack the van we sit together and read aloud Amy Krouse Rosenthal's book Christmas Cookies: Bit Sized Holiday Lessons.   For any Christmas bakers, this book is a must have.  Rosenthal captures the spirit of the season using key words to describe each page... baking the same cookies each year (tradition), adding sprinkles (celebration), giving cookies to neighbours (thoughtful), not worrying about anyone else's cookies (peace).  

Wednesday Morning!

Our cookies for 2012!

First delivery of the day!

My little elves!

Finally we begin our deliveries.   I just love the way the kids beam with pride as they take their trays to their coaches and teachers and learn how good it makes them feel to be generous, giving to others.   Is is a magical day for my kids and I and this year it was extra special because of the snow!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Today I finished my last paper for this term and am feeling pretty happy!  Really I should have finished it this time last week, but my class was given an extension and I took the opportunity to begin enjoying all the wonderful festivities that this time of the year begins.   So far my kids and I have baked 12 dozen of seven of our favourite holiday treats!

Some of the many things that fill my heart at this time of the year:

1. TRADITIONS ~ Annual breakfasts with Santa, the Neilson Grove Christmas Concert (we are so lucky the staff generously puts this on EVERY year!), baking and taking cookies to others, and so many others...

Matthew and his  buddies!

The Neilson Grove Annual Santa Breakfast

 2. MAGIC ~ The excitement my children have each morning looking for our Elf "Rachoo."

3. SPECIAL ORNAMENTS ~ So many of our ornaments were handmade by the kids or family members and remind us of special memories.   As well, each year I buy the kids an ornament to represent something special in their life from that year.

Sparkly Bauble made by Matthew is Mrs. Morgan's class and  a snowman made
by Megan in Sparks

Aunty Audrey made this for Matthew's first Christmas!

The sandcastle was our way of telling the kids we were going to Mexico last year
and the little dog was for Matthew the year he was three.

Figure skates for Megan and a train back when Matthew loved Thomas the Train
and a cupcake for me!

 4. BEING HOME ~ The coziness of the house with the soft twinkling white lights and smell of baking.  I love the time I get with my family, especially cuddling all together and watching our favourite Christmas movies.

5. TIME WITH FRIENDS ~ Open houses, parties, shopping dates, etc...  Last Friday evening Megan has some special friends over to do some Christmas crafts, have dinner and watch a movie.   It was such FUN!   Matty has opted to take some close buddies to a movie with me over the holiday instead. 

I hope all of you are getting to enjoy some of the many wonderful things this time of the year brings!   

Time Out = Time In

Earlier this week Matthew got into a little bit of trouble for speaking disrespectfully to me.  He was upset about something really silly and lost his temper.   My first response was to ground him from a playdate and all electronics the following day.

This time out, or time away from his friends, did not go as expected.   Serendipitously  Megan ended up going to friends the next day after school to play, so it was just Matthew and I.   Rather than send him to his room, I used this time to reconnect with him.  He helped me make some cookies and we just talked with no TV, radio, or computers on in the background.   He was appreciative of not having to be in his room and always likes to bake cookies.   Some of you may argue that I really did not follow through with any consequence, but I actually might suggest that tuning in and spending time in "together" was just the consequence he needed.

Sometimes I think children act out because they need something.   In Matt's case, I think although he may not have known it, he was missing time with me and his only way to get my attention was to shout at me and overreact.   I've been super busy since September - REALLY, REALLY BUSY!   Scott is doing most of the nighttime routines, as well as taking Matt to and from all sporting events.   I do attend some of his games but I am not getting that time to talk in the car that Scott gets.   Anyway, I believe his actions were not just because he is at an age where he is testing, but also because he is still a little boy who doesn't always know how best to communicate his needs, nor even understand his needs.

So we decorated cookies and talked.   As we talked about sports, upcoming Halloween parties, life, and reflections on school, Matt was respectful and kind.  In fact, he was lovely and a delight to be around.  I did bring up the behaviour from the day before and he was able to see how his behaviour was inappropriate and together we talked about how he could address his needs/concerns in the future.

I am so glad I didn't send him to his room because I would have missed out on this opportunity to really see and reflect on the situation.   As well, I guarantee he would not have listened or discussed the situation with such calm, remorse, and understanding as he did after I had spent some time one-on-one, just he and I baking cookies.

I am certainly not a perfect parent and a lot of times I get it wrong ~ so I am thankful for this time where I think I got it right!

Being Thankful

On this beautiful Thanksgiving weekend, I cherished some quiet time with my family and had fun at Thanksgiving dinner at my parents place on Sunday night with 20 family or like-family friends.   Saturday I was able to sleep in and my children happily entertained themselves.   When I think about some of the many things I am thankful for, mornings like this rank pretty high.

I am thankful that my children still find joy in the creation of things where they can demonstrate their imaginations.   M&M took to putting together several puzzles, creating a "puzzle gallery" for their cousins to see when they came over later in the day.

Matthew worked on a stop-motion animation film of his Gogos battling all weekend long!  He was so proud of his video when it was done...  over 512 still pictures!  I was proud too :)

I am also thankful that Scott had some down time too.   He has been taking over a lot of the parenting things these days when I am working on my studies.   So it pleased me to see him enjoying time outside watering the lawn and picking at the flowers.   I do love my husband ~ sometimes he reminds me of Ferdinand the Bull.   If you have never read this classic story, you should!   Scott truly loves to stand with the hose and water and admire his grass (even though we have a sprinkler system).   I find it very endearing.

I'm also very thankful for the warm sunny fall days we continue to enjoy. When I look outside I still can't believe it is October and my sweet peas continue to bloom.    The mountains on my drive to work in the morning are simply stunning and make the traffic bearable.

Some other many things I am thankful for include:

• My mom has begun her 11th year of being cancer free this week.   Her miracle medicine Gleevec continues to chase away the Philadelphia chromosones that caused her leukaemia.
• Scott's Dad celebrated his 65th birthday this week.   What a wonderful milestone to reach such an age with great health and happiness. 
• Family and Friends - parents, sisters, brothers, grandparents, cousins, aunties, uncles, and friends who are like family.   Time with these people is so special.   I know I don't say it often enough to these people but I love my peeps... even if they make me crazy on occasion.
• Traditions - We headed to the Westham Island Herb Farm for the ninth year in a row with the kids.   It never gets old... just more fun!   I love watching them search for the biggest pumpkin they can find and then struggle to carry it to the wheelbarrow.   The gourds and pumpkins are a sight to behold.   This farm also has a small haunted house and some animals... a donkey, goats, chickens, and a hairy cow (not sure what it is called!)   
• My Neighbours - I appreciate all the growing caring friendships, the discussions that take place on the road, chit-chats, smiles, and waves of hello from those we know less well.   I appreciate how my neighbours take a genuine interest in my kiddies and support them by buying Girl Guide cookies and Purdy's chocolate bars.   I like how the kids in my neighbourhood play together and still knock on each other's doors to ask to come out to play.   I love how everyone looks out for each other's kids while driving down the road and returns things like hoodies left behind on the road to their rightful owners.   And when I am baking I really like that I can call next door to get an egg or other missing item!  
• The ability to Laugh - even little giggles - they are little burst of energy for me!

Having fun at the Herb Farm Pumpkin Patch with cousin Charlotte.

Aunty Julie took a family shot!

Matt loves the BIG pumpkins!

Wanting a Dog...

This digital video was sent to my email yesterday.   I just watched it and had such a laugh.   Megan made it yesterday (without help, I should add).   It will give you an idea of a recurring conversation we have had with both her and Matthew for the past several months.

When you click on the black square screen, it will take several moments to load...



I love how in the story it was the mom who said "no" and the dad has three eyes.   In our house it is actually Scott who is most opposed to getting a dog.   I am not saying that I want one but I am more open about it.   I have promised the kids that once my Masters is finished we will be willing to further the discussion but until then, the answer is "no, we are not getting a dog!"

On a side note, I am overwhelmed with happiness when I see children use technology to produce and create.   This is one of the pros of Ipads... they can be used for so much more than just consumption... you just need to load the right apps!