My first Pro-D day!

Yesterday was Professional Development day in Vancouver where teachers and administrators have the day to attend workshops, conferences, seminars, take courses, etc.  I chose to attend the BCTLA Conference which stands for BC Teacher Librarians' Association.  I figure after a couple years down the road  and having some teaching experience, I would take courses at UBC to become a teacher librarian. That's my long-term plan.  I've always loved reading books as a kid and a teenager.  It's sad that I don't have the time to anymore since the teaching program I'm in is intense! I have a page long list of books I want to read! Hopefully, during my Christmas break I'll get a chance to read a few books.

http://bctf.ca/bctla/

The conference was unbelievable! The conference was sponsored by kidsbooks and there were over 30 vendors present.  It was held at Burnaby Mountain Secondary School (BMSS).  There were many student volunteers available to help out for the event.  We were provided with boxed lunches, coffee, croissants, danishes, brownies, fruits, and more. It was catered by BMSS students in the catering program.  I thought they did a fabulous job!  I also bought an Art book for my nephew for Christmas.  It's called Art Treasury and it's absolutely wonderful!  He's been painting since he was two!

http://sd41.bc.ca/programs/career/pdf/cook_training.pdf

The three workshops I chose to attend were: 1) Great New Books for Grades K to 8. 2) The 35 Best Web 2.0 Classroom Tools: Prezis, Glogs, Blogs, Museum Box, Popplets and More! and 3) Creativity: THE 21st Century Skill. I enjoyed them all! Especially the first one.  Here is a list of New Books for 2011 from kidsbooks.

http://www.kidsbooks.ca/default.aspx

Picture Books

Brown, Monica. Waiting For the Biblioburro.  Tricyle, 2011
Bruel, Nick.  A Bad Kitty Christmas.  Roaring Brook, 2011
Cutbill, Andy.  First Week at Cow School.  HarperCollins, 2011
Jeffers, Oliver.  Stuck.  HarperCollins, 2011
Lester, Helen. Wodney Wat's Wobot. Lynn Munsinger. Houghton Mifflin, 2011
Lewis, J Patrick.  And the Soldiers Sang. Gary Kelley. The Creative Co, 2011
Offill, Jenny.  Experiments That Failed.  Schwartz & Wade, 2011
Reid, Barbara.  Picture a Tree.  Scholastic, 2011
Reynolds, Peter.  I'm here.  S & S, 2011
Rosenthal, Amy Krouse.  Al Pha's Bet.  Delphine Durand.  Putnam, 2011
Rosenthal, Amy Krouse.  This Plus That.  Jen Corace.  HarperCollins, 2011

Non- Fiction

Carle, Eric.  The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse.  Philomel, 2011
Hoffman, Mary.  Great Big Book of Families.  Frances Lincoln, 2011
Say, Allen.  Drawing From Memory.  Scholastic, 2011
Williams, Marcia.  Ancient Egypt Tales of Gods and Pharoahs.  Candlewick, 2011
Young, Ed.   The House That Baba Built.  Little, Brown, 2011

Fiction
Angleberger, Tom.  Darth Paper Strikes Back.  Amulet, 2011
Avi.  City of Orphans.  Atheneum, 2011
Banks, Lynne Reid.  Bad Cat Good Cat.  HarperCollins, 2011
Carey, Benedict.  Island of the Unknowns.  Amulet, 2011
Clements, Andrew.  Trouble Maker.  Atheneum, 2011
Deedy, Carmen Agra.  The Cheshire Cheese Cat.  Peachtree, 2011
Gibbs, Stuart.  Last Musketeer.  HarperCollins, 2011
Meloy, Maile.  The Apothecary.  Penguin, 2011
Mills, Claudia.  Fractions = Trouble.  FS&G, 2011
Morpurgo, Michael.  Elephant in the Garden.  HarperCollins, 2011
Selznick, Brian.  Wonderstruck.  Scholastic, 2011
Sparkes, Ali.  S.W.I.T.C.H. series.  Oxford, 2011
Willems, Mo.  Happy Pig Day!  Hyperion, 2011
Wolitzer, Meg.  Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman.  Penguin, 2011

What a great selection of books and all contained themes and lessons!! The book "First Week at Cow School" was for kids who didn't quite fit the perfect mold.  "Wodney Wat's Wobot" had issues on self-esteem.  "Stuck" is about a cause-effect disaster.  "Happy Pig Day" is great for preschoolers and children just starting to read.  "I'm here" is about a child who is autistic and feels disconnected from other children.  "This Plus That" is about little mathematical equations.  "Al Pha's Bet" shows how the Alphabet got its name (fiction).  "11 Experiments that Failed" gives hilarious examples of experiments you may or may not want to try out.  They were all great!

My goody bag!

Sensory Rooms

Today, for my practicum observations I was at Van Horne elementary school.  One of the really neat things I learned was that they had a sensory room.  Unfortunately, during the time I went to check it out on the ground floor, the room was locked and not being used.  Sensory rooms are used as therapy rooms for children with autism and other developmental disorders.  A typical sensory room may look like a playground of light, color and sound but for children with autism and other developmental disorders, it is a place of comfort.  Besides having sparkling lights and soothing music, the room may also contain soft play furniture such as a trampoline, a rocking chair, mirrors, a waterbed, a large board, as well as other areas for work or play.

Some examples:
http://www.leaderpost.com/Health/Photo+gallery+Jean+Vanier+sensory+room/1593342/story.html?id=1593342

Smart Boards

Today, I went to David Livingstone Elementary school for my 2nd week of practicum observations. We are rotating between four schools before we get our placements at the end of October.
Last week, I went to Collingwood Neighbourhood school which was a cute little school that taught Kindergarten to Grade 3.

What's interesting about David Livingstone is that every single classroom has a smart board.  A smart board is an interactive white board.


David Livingstone Elementary School located in beautiful Vancouver were the pioneers to use smart boards in BC.  In 2003, they were the first to have it in their classrooms.  Today, numerous schools throughout BC have smart boards in their classrooms.

I think they are absolutely amazing!  I believe it revolutionizes the way a teacher can teach students.  It engages students and can support diverse learners.  You can do so much with it.  You can get your students involved during the lesson and have them highlight words and choose the right answers, etc.  You can show video clips, read books, show pictures, play games, movies, and so forth.  And, it allows you to be creative with your lessons.

I have to admit I'm extremely inept when it comes to technology but I would really like to excel using smart boards.  Gone are the days of screechy chalk against the blackboard or getting markers on your clothes!

Where are your students from?

Vancouver is an amazing city with a mosaic of cultures.
The majority of students entering schools today are from all over the world. It's important to know where our students are coming from to gain a better understanding of their background and traditions in order to help them cope in a new learning environment.
To find out more about their culture, the cohort I am in at UBC has put together presentations of some of the countries our students come from.  Thank you TELL (Teaching English Language Learners) cohort for putting these together.

Cultural Profiles

China
Hong Kong
India
Iran
Pakistan
Philippines
Punjab
Sri Lanka
Vietnam
Columbia - a Prezi presentation
Serbia
Hong Kong

RESP - Registered Education Savings Plan

Today on my Monday morning commute to UBC, I grabbed a copy of the Metronews that's usually being handed out at the train station.  It's always good to know what's going on in the city.  In the metrowork & education section, one article caught my attention and hit close to home.  It was titled, "Tuition keeping students stressed: Poll"   I, as well as many other students can probably empathize with the subject matter.  My tuition for the one year teaching program at UBC is over $13,000.00 and that's not including living expenses.  Vancouver's high cost of living and BC's low wages don't help much either.  Working part- time is difficult and limited to only evening and weekend shifts.  For students who are able to juggle work, school, and still have a personal life, Kudos to you!

http://reader.metronews.ca/digital_launch.aspx?id=b4d5ffbf-55e8-4207-9a22-f645bdd87f06&pnum=20

The article states that according to a 2010 Statistics Canada report, average student debt on graduation is $18,800.  And the total cost of school for students living away from home at a hefty $80,000.  It also says "that more than half - 58 percent - of post secondary students feel anxious or stressed when they think about how they're going to pay their way through school."

Most parents aren't able to cover tuition costs and some students don't qualify for loans.  The article suggests some tips for saving.  A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is suggested.  Parents, grandparents, family members can start putting money into childrens' RESP at a young age.  I recommend even starting before your child's born.  Put a set amount aside every month, deposit gifts (monetary) from friends, grandparents into this account so that your child has access to the money to use for his/her post- secondary education.  This would definitely ease students stress levels and allow them to shift their focus onto their schoolwork.

My Personal Philosophy

I believe…

P- Patience, don’t give up.  Be supportive.  Help students to comprehend and promote understanding by making meaningful connections and providing clear examples.  Try not to take things personally if you receive a negative reaction.  Overcome barriers by setting goals and by having a positive attitude.

A - Appreciate each individual’s uniqueness and differences.  Respect and embrace the different levels of abilities within the class.  Present students with opportunities that allow them to express their creativity.  

S- Social experiences.  Work together with your students to build a classroom community based on trust and respect.  Make sure each student feels included and involved.  Learning is everywhere.  You can learn through social experiences and individually.  Be approachable and in constant communication with your students. 

S- Solutions.  If students have problems whether it’s behavioural or motivational, a teacher should consider various solutions to help students by combining several techniques.  Teachers should also be aware that there may not be a ready solution and ask colleagues and administrators for support.  Experiment, further inquire and utilize strategies.  Teachers are problem solvers, academically and personally.  Make adjustments, accept errors and welcome suggestions.  Develop specific solutions to help students achieve their goals.

I - Inner drive.  Invite students to think critically.  Motivate students to want to learn and you as the teacher should want to learn with your students.  Incite curiousity.  Be enthusiastic when teaching lessons and show students that you want to be there and work with them.  Be prepared and plan lessons accordingly.

O- Open- minded.  Be open to learn.  Allow students to have an opinion and care what they say and contribute to the class.  Broaden their thinking and be flexible, non-biased, and non- judgmental.  Learning outcomes are not always the same.  Recognize that there are different learning styles and adapt you’re your teaching method to fit the constantly changing learning environment of the classroom. 

N- New ways of learning.  Invite exploration, discovery, reflection, and engage students in the classroom.   Foster an inquiring attitude.   Make the effort in educating yourself.  Attend workshops and collaborate with other teachers on what works and what doesn’t.  Modify lessons.  Learning is a life- long process and it is always changing.  Welcome new techniques and strive to always improve your teaching practices and acquired skills.

My personal philosophy is a work in progress.  I believe it will continue to change as I evolve as a teacher and continue to learn and develop new skills, and take on new values and beliefs.

Digital Tattoo

Today, I attended a presentation conducted at the auditorium in Scarfe building at UBC.  The presenters discussed our roles as teacher candidates.  We are just a small step away from being teachers, therefore we need to "Think Like a Teacher!"

Several years ago, a student teacher in the United States was denied her teaching certificate for having posted a public image of her on a social networking website.  Here is a link of the story:
http://www.barbarafeldman.com/student-denied-teaching-degree-over-myspace-photo/

Social networking sites are popular amongst friends, acquaintances, co-workers, and family members,  however we do need to take into account that being a teacher places us in the public eye.  Whether you're in a grocery store, on the bus, you need to watch what you say and if you are ranting about your school life, it's better not to do it in public.  We all like gossip, but there is a time and a place for it.  Most importantly, we also need to watch and monitor what we and others post online. Because like a tattoo, once it's posted, it's permanent and is out there and your information could be seen by potential employers looking to hire you!

More information on digital tattoo:
http://www.barbarafeldman.com/student-denied-teaching-degree-over-myspace-photo/
http://collegechoicesforadults.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/have-you-checked-out-your-digital-tattoo/

Here are some sites how anyone is able to search you.
http://www.pipl.com
http://www.spezify.com
http://personas.media.mit.edu/personasWeb.html