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 :)