Decade of Teaching

It just occurred to me the other day when I was chatting with one of my dear friends, whom I met in university, that this September will be our tenth year of teaching. A whole decade! Wow, time flew by.  For me it still feels like yesterday that I began my career as a bright eyed, naive teacher, ready to take on the world.  But it wasn't yesterday, it was Sept 24th 2004. My first teaching assignment was a .40 job share at North Surrey Secondary, teaching English 8, 9, 11, Comm 12,and Wr12.  That was also the year I did my only stint as a TOC.  A position that I'd never want to do again, but it's one I think all teachers should endure, as that's where I learnt my classroom management skills, found the schools I like working in, and it made me appreciate my own room when I got one.

The following year I landed a full time gig at Sullivan Heights, where I have resided for the past nine years. But my course load sure has changed over the years.  I started as the drama teacher and soon realized I'd be better suited for a full time English position.  In order to do that I had to wheel and deal over the next few years to achieve that.  In the mean time, while teaching drama, I had lots of fun playing games, writing scripts with students, and putting on several shows.

 Then as the years went on I gained a few blocks of English by taking on the program most English teachers don't want- Communications. This is where most of the clientele need a different approach to education.  It was here that I learned the value of good rapport with your students.  In a Comm class this is paramount. They need to be able to trust you and feel like you are on their side, but you also need boundaries.  If you can attain this then the students will be on your side.  It works with regular classes too, but Comm kids need more of an ear to listen than a lecturer.

This was also the time in my career that I was a travelling teacher.  I had a home-base in the drama room, but as the semesters moved along and I picked up English courses, I had to teach in other teacher's classrooms.  I did this for a few years and killed myself every year. It was exhausting running from one end of the school to the other, towing a crap load of materials with you.  I'd always forget something along the way.  I've been very fortunate to have my room for awhile now, and I can't imagine doing that again.  My heart goes out yo the new teachers that do it all the time.

Now I'm a full time English teacher and far from being a newbie.  But I still don't consider myself a veteran.  I'm still learning new ways to fine tune my classroom management skills and hone my teaching practice.  It seems each year I try to incorporate something new.  The past two years I focused on technology in the classroom, which had it's up and downs.  This year I want to take on a more social/emotional approach to teaching.  Getting students to be more aware of their emotions and how to control them a bit better is a goal of mine.  Not to mention I want to have them spend less time on their devices and more time focusing of their studies, and interacting with one another.  You'd be surprised at how many students are afraid to talk to a fellow student they don't know.  Many have a hard time making friends in school, and I'm hoping to help with that.

These past 10 years have not been easy by any means.  There were lots of moments I wanted to give up and search for a new career path, one that wasn't so demanding.  It's the only job that you are 'on' from the moment you step into the building, with so many people dependent on you and your mood.  If you start off in a bad mood, chances are the rest of your day will be challenging.  Everyday I have to watch what I say and do, as everything I do and say are scrutinized by students, colleagues and admin.  Well it's usually the students who notice your new outfit or that your shirt is inside out. Yes that happened to me.  As well as, I have spilled an entire smoothie down the front of me while lecturing a group of sixteen-year-olds.  Oh, there are so many things I've done that are embarrassing.  At least my students know I'm human.  My job at work is not just teacher, but a counsellor, parent, police officer, role model, and at times a glorified babysitter.  There are times I feel like a juggler trying to keep all the balls going, get everything done, and try to drink a cup of coffee without it getting cold.

But my job is never boring.  In ten years I have had some bizarre things happen in my classroom, like boys duking it out, girls crying, spontaneous dance offs, witches and many different types of Shakespearean characters visited, political debates, and silly debates about the best food to eat when you are feeling sad.  Students have left me speechless after their presentations, wowed me with their achievements, and made me see life in a different light.  And if you ask any of my colleagues who teach near by you'd know at least once a day I break out laughing.  My students make me laugh everyday. What other job does that happen?

I may complain from time to time about the things they didn't teach us in Teacher's school, like all the politics around teaching, but it's something I love doing.  I love September and the start of another new school year.  It holds so much promise.  So I hope this Sept I get to celebrate in my classroom with my new students.

Cotton Anniversary (year 2)

It has been 730 days of wedded bliss!  Okay maybe not every moment could be described as blissful, but so far these past two years of marriage have been good, and our 2nd wedding anniversary vacation was pretty amazing.

Beach Time

Just like last year, Scott and I, with our dog Triggs, managed to get away from reality for about a week.  This in itself was considered an epic feat as Scott hasn't had more than a few days off in one stretch for about a year now.  His young business SMT Cabinets and Millwork has been keeping him pretty busy in the last year; not that we are complaining in the least.  It's just that all work and no play makes for a stressed out man and consequently a stressed wife.  So with our anniversary in sight we both agreed Scott needed to push back his work schedule and schedule in some "down time" with me.

Chef Scott with his chicken

So last week we packed up and headed to sunny Shuswap.  We arrived at the cabin Wednesday night in record time to find the the place without power.  Usually that would have put a damper on the vacay mood, but we made the best of it; in actuality it created spontaneous romance- candles, nothing to do but sit on the deck and watch the millions of stars (which are normally hidden from the lights of near by cabin ect).  We drank wine and reminisced about our wedding day and finally got a chance to reconnect.  The next day it poured rain but the weather didn't wash out our plans, as we didn't have any.  That's right, we did something so foreign, so radical called - NOTHING.  With rain as our backdrop and only a chilled -out dog to care for, we hunkered down on the deck armed with coffee and Handyman magazines for Scott and Food Network magazines for me.  Then for countless hours we read and relaxed.  After a lengthy nap Scott and I adorned aprons and created a feast for dinner; menu being grilled corn on the cob, summer salad, and BBQ spatchcock chicken (butterflied whole chicken) in Scott's special spice blend and Quail's Gate Pinot Noir..

As the week waxed on, we got into the habit of sleeping late (8ish, since the alarm at home goes off at 5), reading on the deck while drinking coffee, and then after brunch heading to the beach.  Friends of ours lent us their kayaks and this semi-new activity became one of our favourite past times.  Within 20 mins of our first voyage we were gliding along enthusiastically planning the purchase of our own to tool around the lower mainland with.  Hours floated by while on these vessels and I felt the burn in arms later.

They even came in handy when we had Triggs on the beach with us one day.  He spotted a flock of ducks in the water and swam after them.  These ducks didn't want a new friend but Triggs wasn't taking no for an answer, so Scott paddled out into the lake to redirect Triggs before he would drown.  Later that day we got Triggs into a kayak with Scott.  On our last day we were treated to a boat cruise with our lake family.  It was so relaxing and really cool to see the other side of the lake.

After six full days we were all uber relaxed and headed for home.  Little did we know our epic vacation would be slightly prolonged as entering Merritt we discovered the handy #5 HWY to be closed.  This meant rerouting through Spences Bridge to get onto the very slow, but scenic #1 (Fraser Canyon).  Still in our zen state we took this as another opportunity to see new places.  And I actually stayed awake (normally I sleep on the way home from the lake).  6.5 hours we made it home safe and sound.

Here's to another 365 days of wedded bliss.