A Teacher's Ruminations

How do you view your days? As a cup half empty or a cup half full? Although, I move between the two perspectives, I try to stay inside the "cup half full" camp. Sometimes I succeed but not very often. I know it's more pleasant and enriching to see the positive side of things. But I have a difficult time letting go. I read somewhere that it is "human nature" to hold onto the negative aspect of things. So I'm OK, right? Either way, I'm working on letting go of what's not working, such as holding onto grudges, negative thoughts or feelings. What about you?

I think I'm a good driver.  Source: http://morganalyx.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/assertive-driving/ I'm careful, alert and follow traffic regulations. That's why I get annoyed when other drivers aren't the same way. When someone cuts me in traffic without signalling, speeds down a busy intersection, or is reckless in their driving, I get mad. But, I don't just get mad and then move on. After all, I have to pay attention to the road. No. I stay mad. I start cursing under my breath and I look around me, wondering why the other drivers aren't visibly foaming at the mouth, too. But before I go much further, I guess I should explain that driving in Quito, or in many other parts of Ecuador, can be challenging. Up until recently, many drivers didn't go through a certified driving school, have a "real" license, or follow, much less know, the traffic regulations in the country. There was no speed limit and getting to where you were going faster was t...

Tuesday, after school, was the first day of writing club, an after school activity modelled after writing workshop. I had four students, three girls in grade 3 and one boy in grade 4. Whenever I've sponsored a writing club in the past, I've gotten at least 40 kids. This was in my previous school in Calgary when I offered writing club during the lunch hour. This is the third time I've offered writing club at my current school and to have a total of four students register, again, was disappointing to say the least. Nevertheless, I decided it was important to offer these students a quality writing club experience so I pocketed my disappointment and planned for the first day. I modelled how to choose a topic by writing down two or three big ideas and smaller, more manageable sub-ideas below these. I used a think aloud strategy so that my students could listen in on how a more experienced writer selects a writing topic from a sea of potential ideas. Then, I had my students d...

I am an early riser. Morning is my favourite time of the day. During the school year, I'm up at 5:00 or earlier. On weekends and holidays, I cut myself a little slack and set my alarm for 5:30 or 6:00. The point is that I'm an early riser. I get my best work done in the early morning. I answer emails, write, read (mostly for my doctoral program), and assess student papers all while having my first (and usually only) cup of coffee. The house is quiet. The promise of a new and improved day is palpable. I feel at peace with myself. And, then the dogs start barking...but that's another story. During the past week, while we've been on a family vacation, I did not set my alarm or get up earlier than 8:30 in the morning. I didn't plan it this way. It just happened and I enjoyed "sleeping in". This morning was a different story. I woke up at 5:30 and felt fully awake and rested. Should I get up or just lie in bed for another hour or two? Was...