Some helpful tips . . .

Although they have different messages, these two quotes have been a great help during this stressful year:

"One important key to success is self confidence. An important key to self confidence is preparation." - Arthur Ash

and

"Give yourself permission to leave some things undone."

:)

Chinese Proverb on Education ...

"When planning for a year, plant corn.

When planning for a decade, plant trees.

When planning for a life, educate people."

- Chinese Proverb

Activity: Let’s Take Action!
Left off the List: a David Suzuki Foundation Report

The federal government has failed to take the advice of its own scientists!
Twenty-one species, including the Peary caribou, western Wolverine, northwestern grizzly bear, several populations of beluga whale and Atlantic salmon have been recommended by scientists to be protected under the Species At Risk Act, but nothing has been done on the matter.


Here’s what you can do with your class . . .

Write a letter to the Minister of the Environment to let him know that something must be done. The Minister needs to act on the expert advice of the government scientists to protect Canada’s endangered species right now!

OR – email the Minister through this link provided my the David Suzuki Foundation:

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Conservation/Endangered_Species/Canada/Left_off_List.asp
Other activities:

As a class, work in groups and research on several of these endangered species. Become an expert on your group’s animal and spread awareness throughout your school and community. It is a good idea to learn about the natural habitat of your animal and what impact humans have made to either help and/or endanger that particular species. Make posters! Give speeches! Be creative and get the message out there.

Grade 7 Science - Life systems: Interactions Within Ecosystems

For Teachers

Overall expectations – Demonstrate an understanding of the effects of human activities and technological innovations, as well as the effects of the changes that take place naturally, on the sustainability of ecosystems.

Specific Expectations – explain the long-term effects of the loss of natural habitats and the extinction of species.

For those planning to teach in the Catholic Board ...

An explanation of why God allows pain and suffering:

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:
"I don't believe that God exists."
"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.
"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things." The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:
"You know what? Barbers do not exist."
"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"
"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."
"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me."
"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Social Issues Day I

Social Issues Day I - December 12th 2007

The two workshops I attended on Social Issues Day were "A World of Religions: What You Can Expect in Schools" and "Children and Grieving":

"A World of Religions: What You Can Expect in Schools":

What is world religions?
1. Religion focuses our "ultimate concern"
2.Religion is based on community.
3. Religion appeals to myth and symbol.
4. Religion is reinforced through rites and ceremonies.
5. Religion demands certain behaviours from its adherents.

*Religion is rapidly changing in Canada*

As teachers, it is important to understand "the other"
You should be aiming to accommodate (i.e. be aware of prayer times for Muslim students).
Understand the difference between Pluralism and Secularism.

"Children and Grieving"

Key points to remember as a teacher:

• Everyone grieves differently
• No need to apologize when you cry; it is a source of strength
• Crying is therapeutic
• Support crying
• Sometimes it takes a while to process traumatic events
• Grief of a pet is significant: the type of relationship you had with the loss of a loved one is very important.
• People grieve the same traumatic events in stages in different ways.

Federation Day - Discipline & Authority

Here are some notes I took during the "Discipline" presentation on Federation Day - December 7th 2007:

• Good teachers don't interrupt themselves. Learning is the focus. They use their voice for learning. Non-vocal discipline involves: eye contact, proximity, and relocating items.
• Time management helps with discipline.
• Your enthusiasm is infectious to your students.
• "Good noise" - students speaking about the subject context. They are making connections.
• Use review to discipline - ex: if a student is not paying attention in class, review material instead of scolding. Scolding wastes learning time.
• Students should be able to know how to behave in a school no matter what class they are in. (This includes in the hallways and outside)
• Behaviours that is non negotiable are: courtesy, work completion, and respect.
• Discipline is guiding people to do the right thing. It is not about punishing wrong behaviour.
• Authority is about taking charge, being assertive and speaking with confidence.
• Do not plead or apologize with your students. ex: "I'm sorry, but you need to do this"
• Be firm. Have a clear idea of how you want your students to behave
• The instructor is in charge at all times
• take ownership of your authority, do not quickly pass it to the principal.
• A low, slow and articulate voice is firm and controlled.
• Yelling is a power trip/pleading
• Let your students know that there is only one way to do something, it is the right way. Teach positive behaviour.

Better late than never!

This is my first official post on my blog. Right now I am just testing to see how this whole blogging thing works.

...more blogs to come.... : -)