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.