As we Part...

As this will be my last blog I would love to reflect on this entire project itself actually.
Well needless to say I absolutely loved it!
I have never done anything like this before, Although I have always wanted to.
Its so funny because my mother is so gifted and so talented that she has the most wonderful blog! Check it out ->http://www.rosesandrutabagas.com/blog/

She has the ability to transform a plain ordinary room into a masterpiece and her passion for that inspires me.
I mentioned in a beginning post of who inspires me.
I remembering listing a few of the great.. but I left the best till last..My mother.
I am so inspired by her. 
So unbelievably proud to call her mom.
She pushes me to be the best that I can be.
She inspires me to be the best teacher I can be. 
She has a gift of creativity and hopefully that can be passed on to me haha ya right! But I do hope that she can come transform my future classroom into a spectacular learning cave!
I was so excited to learn we would be embarking on this "Blog Adventure" for I hoped that my mom would rub off on me.
This blog was so helpful in clarifying my reasons for why I'm doing this. 
It allowed me to dip into my thoughts,concerns, feelings, other the school system. It was a great project all in all. Actually learnt quite a bit, and not as easy as I thought it would be.
Every blog took a lot of time and preparation, and investigating.
It helped me learn more about the school system in general and more about certain issues that would not have caught my eye if I wouldn`t have done this.
I would love to have the pleasure to do this again.

Chadbourn Elementary School

It was a devastating Monday afternoon in Columbus County, Ohio. It was so sad to hear that 10 year old Jasmine McClain had taken her own life, due to allegation's of bullying. I've blogged on Bullying in the past, and I  find it utterly disgusting and sad that kids, humans for that matter can treat their peers/strangers with such disrespect and hatred. Why can't people just get along. After seeing this video im about to share with you, it leaves me wondering more questions..How can a girl come home from school and seem to "be fine" as stated by her grandmother she was playing around and such and then commit suicide. Its so mind boggling and  just devastating that someone can be so hurt at such a young age. My friend in Lacombe, his brother committed suicide this summer and it not only affects the family but everyone in the community.  My thoughts and prays go out to that little girls family and the community for that matter to come together and be there for each other in moments of such a horrific tragedy  . 
 http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/10395193/

After school programs

After school programs for kids have been an absolute success in multiple schools over time. It's no surprise that kids benefit in many ways from it. Not only can they incorporate studies into these programs but also just provide time and fellowship that the student may not get at home. 


Students can widely academically benefit from these programs with homework clubs, study groups, math club, even a literary group. I know coming from experience students can gain so much when participating in after school programs. 
Not only are they getting their homework done, but practising the right technique while under proper supervision. 
Students that are involved in after school programs that are not about school work, are also very beneficial.


The home life of a student may not be up to par, and actually any time apart from home may be a blessing. Students are then able to connect with peers and mentors in a positive environment whether it just hanging around playing some games, or studying.
Their are all sorts of after school programs available and give students a awesome attitude. 
Hopefully we can expand on after school programs and get the kids off the street and help them stay out of mischief. We can be great mentors and role models to the new generation.


Here is a great after school program going on at Martin Luther King School in the states...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5VWdJuI_w8

Class Discussion Question.

Wednesday at the end of class we were given this scenario..

 "A student in your class, Cody, refuses to do his desk work. What is a possible purpose or function for this behaviour? Please suggest an alternative behaviour he can learn or adopt to meet this purpose or function."


With a lot of hard thought Cody could be refusing to do his work because he is having problems at home, or even having problems with someone else in the class, he might not even understand the work. Alternative behaviour could be to create groups to work on the homework together so if he doesn't understand what he's doing there's his peers to help him. Just sitting down with him and trying to understand the problem beyond his actions.

Facing the Future

Wow what a snowy day here in cold Alberta... BrRrRrR
All cozied up in a blanket enjoying some hot coco
and thought I would stop in for a warm Hello :)

Yesterday actually I stumbled upon a marvellous website called "Facing the Future ",available to teachers world wide.
Their moto online simply states :

Facing the Future engages students in learning by making academics relevant to their lives. We empower students to think critically, develop a global perspective, and participate in positive solutions for a sustainable future.


This website helps teachers around the globe to integrate their academics with global issues that are interesting enough to spark a student's interest and success. The website is fully loaded with curriculum and resources available to teachers.

A message brought to by Jack Edgerton.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WikLGz7Fjnk

Here is a short You-Tube video I found on Facing the Future that clearly illurstrates just what "FTF" really is..

http://www.youtube.com/user/FacingtheFuture#p/u/8/lH46ymGlJX0

I just think this is so extremely wonderful, I actually was so curious to see what the curriculum look like I registered myself so I could get a peek..

Here is a link to the free downloaded Teacher's resource that they sent me of a math lesson for middle school..

https://www.facingthefuture.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=mXyE8Fr8UHs=


And now here is the student's handout to the same math lesson plan..

http://www.facingthefuture.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=vBOztUNZW_U%3d

This website will be so useful for when I am actually teaching and in the workforce. I really truly believe that all schools should some how educate our students about how vital it is to be knowledgeable and smart about our world and how to treat it. We need to start educating our kids about this serious matter or there will be nothing left of it.
I sincerely hope this amazing project becomes popular all around the world,

What a difference it will make.....

BC teacher salary

Bonjour!                                                      
I started thinking today when I graduate with my education degree where I want to start teaching. 
My family all lives in Beautiful British Columbia so my dream would to land a job hopefully in the okanagan. I don't think I would want to live in Alberta here for the rest of my life.
And then I started investigating the differences in salary a teacher can make across Canada.
I was SO shocked and a little disappointed in my findings. Below is a chart I found (thanks to google!) 

Province	Salary	Year	Link
British Columbia (Vancouver)	$73,972	2011	BC's Local Collective Agreements (2006 - 2011)
Alberta (Calgary)	$87,954	2011	Alberta Teachers' Association Collective agreements (2006 - 2012)
Saskatchewan	$72,435	2010	Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation Collective Agreement (2007 - 2010) Teachers in Saskatchewan are currently trying to negotiate another contract.
Manitoba (Winnipeg)	$76,547	2010	MTS Collective Agreements
Ontario (Toronto)	$83,865	2011	OSSTF Collective Agreement (2008 - 2012)
Quebec (Montreal)	$52,435	2011	Montreal Teachers' Association Collective Agreement (2010-2011)
New Brunswick	$72,536	2011	New Brunswick Teachers' Federation Agreement (2008-2012)
Nova Scotia	$59,644	2010	NSTU Collective Agreement (2008-2010)
P.E.I.	$64,608	2011	PEI Teachers' Federation Agreement (2010 - 2013)
Newfoundland	$69,994	2011	NLTA Collective Agreement (2008-2012)

And then I really started investigating the BC teacher's issues and came across ALL this information about how teachers are actually seeking more money. 

I use to not really pay attention to the reasons why employees or teachers in this case want more money but I agree that the pay should be equal across Canada.

Below I listed the link and the great CTV story on this subject....

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/03/21/bc-teachers-contract-bctf.html

School Fees

So as I am buying lunch today at the school I reach into my wallet and pull out my debit card and then,
I am prompted with the information that their is a .25 fee for using the schools debit machine. 
Wow really?            $                 $                               $
After raising prices already with parking which is already 285 for parking (in the back of the campus on gravel) and textbooks being 100-160 EACH they feel it necessary to charge us students .25 for a debit transaction.
Paying them to use a method of payment to buy something off them?  
does that make sense to you? No me neither..              $
Were students who don't have a lot of money.. obviously.                              $
Yesterday I was at the school from 11 till 8. 
I therefore needed to buy a lunch and dinner which was $9 for lunch and $8 for dinner.... $17.00 to eat here yesterday...
What a joke!                              $                                   $
how is that accommodating to student's needs?
It's not...       $                                               $                              $
You would think the school would want to entice students to eat at their venues with cheap prices.  
In fact, I am now going to be bringing a lunch and snacks. $                               $
So lost business right there... although lets be honest it won`t matter or make a difference everyone else will still use the debits and spend the ridiculous amounts of money... so Ive done nothing except waste my breath to argue about the subject..             $
My point is simply that perhaps all the money the school raises (last time i checked on the loop they were at..26,432 which is awesome!) but can`t their be a break to the students at all.. like lower parking rates or cheaper resources here...
On a more positive note though... haha it`s Wednesday morning.. no more classes for the day... just have to go teach PLAS and then helllllllloooooo long weekend :)

Another awesome Video on Operant Conditioning

Hey all! haha I promise this is the last blog about this topic.. but as soon as I posted the last post I came across this amazing video actually of B.F Skinner testing his theories... so with that I am headed to bed :) Goodnight and hopefully youll enjoy this as much as I did!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ctJqjlrHA

Follow up...

Oh hello there! so I do realize I spoke to you this morning, but I think I need to point out how weird it is that we went over in class today things that I was worried about before class. In my previous post I was stating things that would worry me as a teacher... and well today we went over just that!!!

The solution is... Operant Conditioning...

What is it you may ask... well none other than managing behaviour!

Pretty much has to do with B.F Skinner's ideas of reinforcement and punishment!

Now not to bore you any more cause we all know what this about..but just in case your still unsure here is a clip from the hit tv show Big Bang Theory.... LOL enjoy :)

http://vimeo.com/18823407

UGHHHHHH

Today I am soo ready to just be a teacher already!!!
I can not wait to get out into the field and start the next chapter in my life.
When I was a little girl I wanted to be a teacher and now at 22 Im just
dying to start. Some of my strengths and weakness's would be.. 
HmMmM well some of my weakness's would be... 

Organizational Skills!!!    which hopefully I will learn in the next few months :)

Not Picking Favourites

Scheduling

Not Being such a Pushover

I really want to be the BESSSSSSTTTTT TEEEAAACHHHHEEERRRRR

Some of my Strengths would be...

Commitment


Ability to make personal relationships with each student

Able to allow the door of success to Open

Classroom Management

The students will looovvveee me!! and all my unique teaching strategies

Its days like today where I look outside and day-dream about my future..


aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh soooooo excited!!!!!


That is all for right now.... HAPPY MONDAY!




                                                                                                

ESL Students

As I sit here and study for my sociology exam (which obviously is not going well hence why I'm blogging)
I come across a very interesting article in the textbook that talks of an Ojibway woman that describes her experience involving boarding schools and her original language....

Boarding school was supposed to be a place where you forgot everything about being Anishinabe. And our language too. But I said, "I'm going to talk to myself" -and that's what I did, under my covers-talked to myself in Anishinabe. If we were caught, the nuns would make us stand in the corner and repeat over and over, "I won't speak my language." (Ross, 1996:122)


It got me to really thinking about when I become a teacher how vital it will be to allow student's culture background to not be hindered in any way. This being said I believe it is important for the knowledge of all historical backgrounds to be brought to the education curriculum. Students should not be shunned for wanting to speak their own native language. ESL (English as a Second Language) students should flourish and expand their native language not be punished for it.

In closing I came across this document on the US language policies which I recommend you check out

http://www.linguapax.org/congres/taller/taller1/Beykont.html

PD Session

This last Thursday night I attended a PD session at the college that dealt with on-line educational resources that we as soon to be teachers can use that are available and FREE! It was such a great learning experience not to mention the free pizza we got along with it :) It was so great to go, can't wait for the next one!

Something on my mind...

As I sit here I have running through my mind is how to achieve better marks in college... then I remember my p.e teacher telling me that I need to have physical education in my daily routine for best results. 
Well now I start "day dreaming" about when I become a teacher, what I could do to achieve the best results for my students .. I thought of a few things..

• Have a break of jumping jacks every 45 minutes..
• Have a couple treadmills in the classroom...(I know your probably laughing at that one)
• Have the students  participate in physically active sports through out the day/week
• Have your classroom do a 30 min of gym time (before math or science class. To get their heart rate up.)

Hmmmmmm What else what else.... enough for now.. ill post more tomorrow... ciao for now :)

Play

So yessss it's friday night here Wooo Hoo!!
and another video I have stumbled across that I lovvvvee!!
This video is great for realizing we as adults need to incorporate "Play" in our everyday lives to be happy individuals.  As a early childhood teacher we need to incorporate Play in our students lives to allow them to flourish.  
So with that I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did :)

http://www.ted.com/talks/stuart_brown_says_play_is_more_than_fun_it_s_vital.html

We need an Education Revolution!

http://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_bring_on_the_revolution.h

FFFLLYYYIINNNGGG CHHHIIICCKKKEEENNNN

A couple weeks ago I started my PLAS program for Kped...
It was soo excellent! Although I was pretty nervous, I stood there in the
gym waiting for them to rush in with excitement... I wondered to myself
Are they as nervous as I am...

The Clock strikes 12:00 and through the gym walls I hear screams coming
Louder
      and  
          Louder
               and
                  LOUDER

The doors swing open and here come 26 grade 5ers busting through with smiles and laughter
Three girls quickly come up to me with hugs and introduce themselves..Everything is going great.
I have the kids line up on the side of the wall.. there classroom teacher walks in sternly and tells
them to give me there listening posturing. They sit cross-legged with their palms up and most importantly

Eye Contact

I then proceed to introduce myself...

Hello my name is Ms.Liz!

all the kids go CrAzY!

Thats the name of our bus driver!! (they call out)

Then with that a boy on the end says LIZZZAAARRDDD!!

His teacher quickly glares and tells him to show me respect immediately

Fine... he says.... Ms.Lizard! LOL
I chuckled to myself and went on with the program. I really found the best name game. I thought since I wasn't familiar with any of there names what a perfect opportunity to start with a name game.
called Flying Chicken.                                                                                                 OVER
I have the kids in two groups one group is in a line passing a rubber chicken            AND           their
                                                                                                                  UNDER
bodies. Either going under their legs or over their head. When the chicken reachs the end person they yell out..  FLLLLYYYINNNGGG CCCHHIIICCKKKEEENNN   and thhhhrrrooowww the chicken across the gym. And while their passing that chicken over and under themselves the other group is in a circle repeating each other's names and when the chicken is thrown they go grab it and form a line and start passing it over and under, while the other group forms a circle... etc.
Well needless to say it was a HUGE hit amongst the grade 5's.
This Plas program confirms my heart's place in education,