Lest We Forget...

Many of my male relatives, both currently and from the past, have played a role in the armed forces. I am proud of my cousin who is currently serving as well as my many great-uncles who fought in the Korean War. My Grand-dad was a Merchant Seaman for the Canadian Forces and when my Grand-dad and Great-Uncle Tom on my Dad's side fought for England, they were captured by the enemy and became POWs during WW2. I am thankful that both were eventually able to return home. The world looked at war differently then; it was considered exciting to join and fight for your country and many young men even lied about their age to get the opportunity to go overseas. 

In grade 7, we have been reading the "Rememberance Times", a magazine about Canada's role in war and peace-keeping. The class was told to go through the many interesting articles and then pick out and write down ten interesting facts about the many wars and peace-keeping missions we have been involved in.

Next, each student had to create a character from WW2 who would write a letter from that time period. The character could either be someone from home, a mom, sister, factory worker etc., or someone overseas, a nurse, soldier, pilot, or other person serving. After creating a profile for their character - things like age, job, family background - students became their character and, using some of the facts found from the articles, are now in the process of writing a one page letter to someone - those overseas would write home and those at home would write overseas.  

It is so difficult for us to comprehend what it was like to be so far from home for perhaps years at a time, all to help millions of people we didn't know. And yet, over the years, hundreds of thousands have done just that. I hope that through this exercise, we will continue to learn from our past. Lest we forget...

Creative writing examples from grade 7....Autumn is arriving

Last week I wrote about my experience with the grade 7 literature class and our time outside "feeling" nature. I received some excellent reflective essays sharing what they experienced during their two minutes outside with their eyes closed, taking in the world around them. There are 19 students in the class so I could only pick a few examples but overall, I am very impressed with the creativity of these 11 and 12 year olds. I have done minimal editing...the work below is that of the students.

     "I heard the cars in the distance - a faint sound like waves, rolling over the ocean just waiting to get to the beach and be washed back out to the ocean."
     "The wind was chillingly cold as it floated through my skirt...my skin was getting prickly and the feeling of pins and needles were going down my spine."

     "I could feel the wind pressing on my back, wanting to lift me up in the air. Everything sounded so clear you could hear a stone falling on the other side of the street."

     "...then that nice, cool wind passed by again as if someone rewinded life and then clicked the PLAY button. The leaves and branches rustled and swayed more than before, and the feeling of autumn swept over me."

     "I felt the wind blowing my pants against my skin. I could feel it tickling against the back of my legs; it felt like that breeze you get as you are riding your bike."

     "I heard and felt the leaves falling of of the branches preparing for winter. I felt myself under a spell, like the wind wanted me to stay and listen. The wind gave me a breath of fresh air that calmed myself down...Everything felt so graceful and it was something that I never thought would be."

What did I feel and hear?

I just finished literature class with grade 7. We have been reading the short story, "The Most Important Day", in which Helen Keller meets for the first time her teacher, Miss Sullivan. In the story Helen learns that every thing is a thing and has a word to go with it. I shared with the class how it was beyond my comprehension how Helen lived without sight, hearing or the ability to speak. We tried to figure out which was the most important sense to have but couldn't reach a definitive agreement. During this last class we went outside, the students shut their eyes, and for two minutes listened and felt the world around us.

Even with my eyes open I was amazed at what I could hear and feel when I stood and did nothing else. I could feel the wind swishing and whirling my skirt around while biting at my fingers. The warmth from the sun managed to reach through the breeze, and I could feel the light and heat on my face and fingers. I could also feel the stillness of the class - all was still beneath my feet.

What surprised me though was what I could hear when I really focused. I heard our school flag flapping to its own rhythm in the wind. I could hear the elementary children playing in the back of the school. I could hear very clearly the cars cruising along Dunbrack Street which I did not expect because we are quite far from the highway. At one point, I heard a very young child crying inside one of the nearby homes. I could hear the sound the wind makes as it begins its yearly job of clearing the leaves from the trees in preparation for winter.

At the end of our two minutes we went inside and the class reflected on their experience. I am very interested to find out about their two minutes. If nothing else, I hope it helps to reinforce how blessed we are to have all of our senses when experiencing our world.

Extreme Organization

When I was a teenager, my room was so messy that my Mom would get to the point that she couldn't stand looking at it any longer. She would then threaten to hire in a cleaner to dig it out and take the charge out of my allowance. Of course, I would then clean it - very unhappily because I said I couldn't find my things when it was neat.

Flash forward a "few" years. I now wish I could afford to hire someone to come in and help me. Being "uncluttered" is definitely not one of my strengths and there are mornings where I sprint around my apartment in a bad mood because I can't find an important paper or my keys (even though I have a special key hook!). It really does make life more difficult.

As part of our study skills unit, the grade 7 class had a discussion about their current study environments. We then brainstormed what would make a good study environment. Then I sprung it on them....the "Extreme Organization" assignment. Everyone has to clean their room by next Tuesday. For some students this may be easy - for others (I would be one of the "others") it will be quite a challenge.

I realize that not all students study in their rooms but the intent of the assignment is to help everyone learn what a good study area should look like. Students must get their sheet signed by a parent and I welcome your reflections on the exercise -was it easy for your child, do you think he/she will be able to keep it clean, what helps your child study when it comes to the environment?

For the record...I did clean my room yesterday...I still don't enjoy it but I did it :)

A visit with my Mom

Yesterday in grade 7 we had a guest speaker - my Mom, Linda. Each year she comes in to be interviewed about what it was like in Halifax when she was growing up and what some of the similarities and differences were between grade 7 then compared to now. It is a really fun way to teach proper interview skills and more importantly, to learn about history and how each of us has a story which is an essential part of history.

Our class spent almost 1 hour and 30 minutes listening about poodle skirts and penny candy and how she got to go on the bus at a very young age all by herself. The students then asked some really great questions about technology, differences in school, cars and tv. I think the students really enjoyed hearing about her growing up years.

As the major Social Studies assignment for quarter one, I am assigning an interview to the class. All of the information will be sent home. I encourage you to become involved with this assignment, especially with choosing who to interview and the best kinds of questions to ask. The key to this assignment is that it must be someone at least two generations away (grandparent/great-uncle etc.) preferably from your family. Last year some students who did not have relatives living close by chose to do long distance phone interviews, while others interviewed a close family friend or someone from their church.

I hope they have fun with this assignment. This is the fourth time my Mom has come in and I am still learning new things about her childhood. Who knows what I will learn next year!

boring book report

Each year in literature 7 and 8, I assign a very straightforward book report. When I first show the students what I want to see in it they always have wonderful reactions to it like, "oh, no...not another one", or "why can't we do something fun"....etc. etc. etc. I have thus given it the name " The Boring Book Report".

I remember doing book reports as a young student and thought they were kind of fun. Then again, I was also the child who had at least three books on the go and if I ran out of books I would just re-read what I had. Books transported me to different places and cultures and I liked sharing about them.

This book report is meant to show me a student's writing style and their strenths and weaknesses in comprehending and then transferring that comprehension into writing. I gave a very thorough outline to help them with writing it. Hopefully they won't find it boring but will enjoy sharing each of their stories to me. I love to hear about a good new book after all!

Retreat directions.....

So....we are really close to the retreat! We have been planning and planning and are so excited to be going to the new Bayside Camp in Sambro Head.

Directions to Bayside Camp
Drive along the Herring Cove Road out approximately 20 minutes and you will pass Spryfield, and Ketch Harbour...eventually you will see a Bayside Camp Flag on your right. Turn right onto the gravel drive and go three kilometres in.

See you there Wednesday at 10am!!!

What is your favourite book...

I was the kind of child who always had my nose in a book. If I finished a book and had nothing else to read I would just go back to the first page and read it again. I travelled to different countries, got to be different people, solved important mysteries and even managed to go back in time - all through reading books. It is difficult to pick a "favourite" book, but if pressed, I would have to say that Anne of Green Gables, is the one I remember the best.

I first read it at around 10 years of age and re-read it every five years or so. Each time I get something new and different out of it. I could relate more to Anne's best friend, Diana because of my personality and need to do the right thing, but secretly wished I could be as spunky as Anne. We do however, both share a love of books and how one could get easily lost within its pages. How beautiful  it must have been to have cherry trees blossoming outside of your window and I could understand why Anne would have such a difficult time with the Pye sisters - Josie could be quite snobby at times.

To have been able to wear the big satin ribbons in my hair (as Diana of course because as Anne I would have been stuck with horrible straight hair stuck in braids that would allow rotten boys like Gilbert yank on) and pretty dresses with calico prints seems so girly and sweet. Even though Anne had many of the same issues as we do today, Green Gables and Avonlea was set in a simpler time when one could explore the forest and have picnics in a meadow. Unlike Anne's first teacher, Mr. Philips, who refused to spell her name with an "e" at the end, I always thought that Miss Stacey would have been my favourite teacher - she was exceptionally encouraging while still requiring all of her students to work to the best of their potential.

As an adult I have many books that I have enjoyed and authors that I am drawn to but I think it is Anne that I will always turn to when I need a break from the craziness of technology and our busy society.

And so what is your favourite book? Students in our school have been asked this question and to respond in an essay of approx 250 words (no more). In addition to getting some great ideas for books to recommend for book reports, their essays will be submitted to a contest that the Chronicle Herald is running. They could win a book and a family set of tickets to a Moosehead game. I can't wait to see how they describe and explain why they like the books they do. And what about you? Make sure to share your favourite book with your child - maybe they will pick it up and like it as much as you do!

The real New Year

This is just my humble opinion but over the past week I have decided that we should re-classify "New Year", to mean the first day of school rather than the current January 1st. That would make today, the day before school begins, New Year's Eve. As I began thinking about it, I kept finding more and more similarities between the two.

The build up to January 1st begins approximately two months before, and for some even earlier. The build-up to "back to school" begins the moment the famous "Staples" commercial begins..."It's the most wonderful time of the year" (note the use of a Christmas tune in their commercial...). From that moment on commercials, tv specials, radio stations all talk about the countdown to the new school year.

Rather than buying New Year's Eve decorations, we buy stacks of school supplies. Think of the time spent looking for the perfect back to school outfit (except at our school, where thankfully we don't have to think about it because of our uniform). How is that any different than hunting the stores for a pretty New Year's Eve dress? We get fresh haircuts, and new shoes so everyone looks sharp and squeaky clean for the big day.

At our house, we usually have a special supper on New Year's Eve and the night before school begins. Tonight it was nachos and cheese - other families I know go out for dinner the night before school to celebrate the beginning of a "new year".

Parents have renewed hopes for their children - this year I will make sure homework gets started earlier, or, this will be the year that my child will finish all of the mandatory reading before the last day of school. Sounds like a New Years resolution to me.

Unlike December 31st, when families often allow their children to stay up late, tonight, parents at our school will be putting their children to bed early - that however does not mean that they will fall asleep before midnight. The excitement of seeing friends is so overwhelming, that getting our children to sleep by midnight is quite an achievement.

Even calendars and daytimers have gotten on board - in stores I found it quite easy to find a calendar beginning at the start of September and ending next August - one full year. We begin new lessons, clubs and activities. These things are all based on the school year rather than Jan-Dec.

And so, while the majority of the western world considers December 31 to be the official New Year's Eve, and January 1st, the New Year, for me, it will always be these two days - the night before and the first day of school. Happy "School Year's Eve" everyone!

The best way to begin a school year...

What better way to begin a school year than by going back to summer camp for three days. That is what I get to do Sept. 16-18 with all of the students at our school in grades 7-12. For three days, all of the junior/senior teachers spend time getting to know the students better and on a more personal level. Classrooms are wonderful places to learn but I relish the learning opportunities that take place each year at our retreat. As the coordinator of our retreat, I break all of the students into six different groups - with each grade represented in the groups. I love watching the grade 11 and 12 students take leadership seriously as they help the younger students feel welcome and at ease in their new grade.

Since I have been at HCA, we have gone to a wonderful camp, Scotian Glen, located just outside of New Glasgow. This year we made a change - with the new Bayside Camp opening just 25 minutes away from the school we felt it would be a great year to try something new. A gorgeous new facility is awaiting our arrival and the director of the camp, Ben Trites, will spend some of our time challenging us through talks he will give. We stay up late, eat fantastic food, spend time in worship, play sports and games, get lots of fresh air and throughout it all we learn more about each other.

It is the highlight of the year for many students. I recently ran into a student who graduated over six years ago, and as we were chatting she brought up the retreat and how it helped to shape each of her years at the school.

I am so excited to see what will happen at this year's retreat...just over two weeks to go til I will find out!

What I did on my summer vacation....

Almost every tv show or movie I have seen that has a "first" day of school in it has a scene where the teacher assigns the dreaded, "What I did on my summer vacation". I personally don't recall ever being given that assignment but I thought I would give it a try, especially as today is my last day of summer vacation.

So....what did I do? In summers past I have travelled to England to visit family and the USA for sight-seeing and shopping. When I was quite young I even travelled to the National Ballet School and Royal Winnipeg Ballet school. More recently, I have spent a week each year at Malagash's Family Camp which has allowed my son and I to have a week free of all things normal - no cooking or cleaning for me and lots of playing and beach time for him.

This year was a little different. I didn't do anything other than school work and the odd visit to a friend's house. We had very abnormal weather this summer and so I really didn't feel like going to the ocean. I read a few books and planned what to do with my class this fall. I watched some old movies and did some card-making - really, it was no different than the school year.

My son however, had a very different summer. He stayed at his Grandma's and visited cousins from far away, joined the junior golf program at my parent's golf course, went to Fall's Lake with my Mom and other relatives where he had a week of freedom to run and swim and play with more cousins. He attended a number of day camps and even went by himself to his first week of sleep-away camp at Bayside. In the brief moments in between, I took him to the lake, to visit friends and even a wedding shower for our cousin (poor guy...I think he is too old now to drag along to those any more!). Even now, he is back to Grandma's for one last week of fun and collecting vegetables that he grew in her garden.

All in all, the summer went by quickly and now I am less than 24 hours away from beginning my year. I am really glad that I am not one of those students on those tv and movies I wrote about earlier....I don't think I would do so well on the assignment. Now my son on the other-hand....wow...he would have a lot to write about...

Why I like uniforms...

While Andrew was having a play-date with some friends the other day, I decided to go to MicMac Mall to look for a "first day back-to-school" outfit. Imagine...me, a teacher, worrying about what to wear - but I was - I want to make as good an impression with my class as I can, and having a new and up-to-date outfit can't hurt (okay...I also love clothes). It was fun to comb the stores looking at the cute tops and skirts and I was determined to find the perfect mix of chique and "cheap", but after my fifth or sixth store I realized that I wasn't going to find anything in my size or price range that met my "first day back-to-school" criteria. I then thought about the many moms I saw in the mall going through similar experiences with their children - the need for new clothes for school. Whether it was a growth spurt or just wanting to look cool, many stores were selling clothes that day to kids eager to have new outfits. I gave up after about an hour and as I walked out of the mall I breathed a sigh of relief that I wouldn't have to go through the first day of school outfit hunt with my son because he wears a uniform to school.

I am so grateful for uniforms. From September until the end of June he wears the same thing pretty much every weekday and so I only need to have a few outfits for weekends. I don't need to worry about the latest trend from the newest store that carries clothing so far out of my budget. Instead of five or six trendy pair of jeans he only needs one. He doesn't have to think about what to wear in the morning...up...uniform...ready to go.

About once a month at our school we have a dress-down day and students have the option to wear what they want. I have a son who is still quite young so it isn't such a big deal but I do know that for some of the older students it becomes one of the more stressful days with some getting up earlier in order to make sure the perfect outfit is chosen.

When I get his uniform each year I admit that it is hard to pay for his school clothing all at once. It can seem like a lot of money. But...then that is it...finished until he has outgrown or worn out what he has. I figure that I have saved hundreds and hundreds of dollars over the past few years. I also love how everyone looks equal; some may say that students in uniforms look like cookie cutter molds of each other and that they have no way to show their individuality but I disagree. Each and every student I teach has no problem showing me how unique they are, whether through their hairstyle or backpack or much more importantly, their personality.

So I am a uniform lover for my son at least. He looks neat and tidy and his personality shines out far past his clothing. Oh.....I am sure I will keep hunting for myself though...I still want a cute new outfit for the first day of school - but Andrew won't have to worry about it...up...uniform...ready to go for this year's first-day of school.

Berries

My cousin recently posted some pictures of some berries he and his fiance had picked. They looked so fresh and I wished I could reach into my computer screen to grab some. I think strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and all of the other sweet, delicious berries available locally for that short window of time in the summer are my very favourite kind of fruit. I don't need them in a pie or on shortcake or biscuits or as jam - plain old berries rinsed, put in a bowl and eaten plain mean summer has actually arrived. The flavour bursts in your mouth and for a millisecond the sun shines even when it is raining out...
When I was young, I remember travelling to the valley with my Mom, Nana and various aunts to go strawberry picking. We (well they...I mostly ate what I found) picked many flats of gorgeous, red, plump strawberries. On the drive home I was always tired from being in the sun and as I would drift off to sleep I had visions of strawberries - in fact I could see nothing else when I shut my eyes for the next day or so. I guess that is what happens after eating them for two to three hours straight! Mom would then take ours home and get them ready for jam and strawberry shortcake and all of the other recipes one can create with them. Later in the summer, we would walk to the top of my subdivision - this was before the condos and apartments and houses had taken over the forest between Dunbrack and the 102 - to go blueberry picking. This was much more difficult as you had to push aside the low bushes in order to reach the blueberries. It also took much longer to fill an ice cream container and I don't think I ate nearly as many while I picked or it would take too long. I don't think I went blueberry picking as often! Again, Mom would make jam and put them in pancakes and muffins.
My son got to have his own experience with strawberries - not with Grammie and Nana and the now Great-aunts, but still with me and his God-mother. When he was around four, we picked him up after a fun visit with Grandma and went to the local valley strawberry U-pick. We spent around an hour picking a flat - this time it was my son who ate each berry he managed to find. He took great delight in showing us how he managed to find the biggest and plumpest berries before popping them in his mouth. At the end of our visit there I took a photo of him - hoping to capture a bright, red strawberry smile, when he spied the camera and for the first time "got" me - he turned around and stuck his tongue out as if to say "hee hee...I got the best strawberries and you didn't". What a cheeky look he had on his face. While it wasn't the photo I wanted, I love it and even have it framed and sitting on my shelf. He fell asleep on the way home from the valley that day - tired from being in the sun. I wish I knew the pictures that went through his head as he slept....

Thank you cousin Bryan for reminding me of how wonderful berries are.

Summer

When people hear the word summer thoughts of hot sunny days lazing at the beach or maybe strolling at the park eating ice cream cones come to mind. Summer can mean visits with realitives not seen for years or maybe a week away at camp. Well, for me, summer means thinking about what I will be doing in the fall....SCHOOL. No matter how many visits I make to Kearney Lake with my son or how many moon mist ice creams we get from Pinkey's or Avery's, I am thinking about school in September. It begins the day I pick up my son's report card. The school year is done, hurray...now I can relax and re-group and have some "me" time. My non-teaching friends say how it must be so nice to have 7 weeks off - they wish they could have that much time off in one stretch - but nope, I don't relax and re-group at all. I don't even think of it as 7 weeks off...to me it is 7 weeks of looking at and experiencing the world as a potential lesson plan....that visit to the lake could become a great art class using sand and saran wrap to make watercolour paints look like the ocean. Visiting and listening to my aunts tell stories about their childhood while at Fall's Lake Campground sends thoughts of autobiographies and creating characters from a different time period that students could write about flying around my head. I tell myself each year that I will not think about school but I can't help it...I am a forever teacher I guess...hmm....maybe my class will do some blogging this year.....