.....first semester done.....

.....and wondering where all the time went????  So much has happened in such a short span of time.  I am loving every minute of this experience.  My first few rehearsals are done - biggest fear - will I remember all of my lines when I need to?  I am hoping to record and play back my lines as many times as possibly so that I can in fact do a great job.  It is an exciting time for me to explore and feel free to experiment with all of these opportunities...ones I would not necessarily have taken advantage of when I was a high school student.  There is a lot to be said about being an older student!!

Last Wednesday night, after 8 hours straight of classes, we had a study-a-thon for our Social Foundations class.  There were a number of classrooms set up with various sections to study, quiz or test in preparation for the final exam in the semester.  I won a coffee card for answering a question in the professor run part of the evening.  It is a sad moment when you see a professor retire who you know has such passion for this vocation.  I shook Alliston's hand at the end and once again thanked him for a great lecture experience.

My husband Max had surgery on Thursday and gratefully, his Mom and Dad were able to take him to Strathroy hospital for the procedure.  It was my last day of classes and I felt horribly guilty that I was unable to be there for him.  As it was, the surgery went later than expected and I ended up running around to get his meds after 7 pm.  With little time left to study, I read through my notes and went to bed for some much needed sleep....which never came.

Friday morning - day of the final Social Foundations test and I popped into the cafeteria for a coffee and to check in with my classmates.  I had a bag of gifts to hand out to the group I normally hang out with and a box of chocolates for the janitor and a box for the cafeteria ladies.  Vladka was so excited and surprised when I gave her a box of After Eights....she never expected it from anyone.  So sad considering she has been so sweet and warm to me since I started in September.  Her bear hugs and smiles just made my day!!!  She is not just a janitor, she is a Mom, a wife, someone's daughter and a heck of a nice lady!!!

It was indeed a spectacular day!!  The sun was shining in a bright blue sky with temperatures at 9 degrees.  I had Veronica take in some deep breaths outside Elborn College, to clear her mind and to dry up her nervous tears.  The sun felt good on my face and I was ready to face the exam.  It would be fine and it would work out - faith that I had attended lectures and tutorials and understood the purpose of the course.  Multiple choice are not exactly my top pick, but needless to say, the exam was fair.  Once finished, it was time to head out to Buffalo Wings to meet up with my colleagues for a beer and wings before heading into the Christmas holidays.  While I adore the majority of my colleagues, those that I might not fully appreciate, I always try to find a great personal quality and focus on that.  Speaking well of others, despite what you may feel/think is always the best policy, no matter what.  Lots of hugs later, it was time to head out.... Merry Christmas Everyone!!!! xoxo

Friday was also a day of deep sadness as we sat and watched the unfolding news coverage of an elementary school in Conneticut, whose younger members were gunned down by a mentally disturbed 20 year old man.  My heart broke to hear the stories of children whose lives were cut down and of Robbie Parker, father of Emilie Parker, address the world about the loss of his own precious daughter.  When will these school shootings end?

I have done a lot of reflecting over the past four months and some days I feel really emotional about this   journey.  I know I am on the right path and that this has always been my calling.  I just belong, simply and without question....belong.  We spend our lives looking for that place we know where we just fit in and can be ourselves without having to justify why.  Teaching has always been that place for me.    While my careers were satisfying, none has been moreso than my experience as a teacher.

I have committed myself to living each moment with enthusiasm and joy.  There are a number of additional courses I will be taking on as the year begins in January.  They are opportunities to expand my knowledge and gain insight into the latest teaching principles for engaging and teaching our youth.  This experience has opened so many more doors for me and I look forward to a future filled with more adventures.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!!! xoxoxox

......drum roll to reveal the part in the play.....

......for the university play 'Alice through the looking glass'...... which i will be playing.....is.....the White Queen!!!!!  Tonight was the first read-through with most of the crew and it was fun, fun, fun!!!!  I can't wait to get started on the rehearsals which begin next week.

Max is worried about my school work, and with only 1 project left to complete in two weeks time, I am confident that the marks I have been earning will keep me on the honor list......my desire to balance life with a deep desire to enjoy this experience has given me so much joy.  I am always up to a challenge and wanting to continue to be challenged to be better and to evolve and grow as a person and as a professional.

There is only a few weeks left before Christmas vacation and a chance to catch up and work ahead in the course and complete course content before the final practicum.

....an exciting audition....

......in a dynamic environment!!!!  It is only 30 years later, and I now have the courage, spunk and desire to live out some of the things I never had the nerve to try.  I stood on the stage at 7:30 tonight, sang 'Oh Canada', played a quick part as Alice in Wonderland and did a few dance moves.....and I felt amazing!!!!  This is the gift of enjoying your life and every single moment of it.  I have made some amazing  friends and I spend my days feeling excited to be given this incredible opportunity.....the chance to really live my life.  My friend and colleague sat in the front seat and enjoyed the experience of watching me perform.  Yes, sweet Veronica, it really is like the movies!!!  She is a talented hair and make-up artist and wants to help behind the stage.  Our other techie colleagues willl help support behind the scenes to make this a fun filled experience.

......earlier today.....

Monday started with a cup of chocolate raspberry coffee....yum!!!  Off to Aboriginal studies in a circle and enjoyed listening to some funny and not so funny stories told by our groups.  Today, we needed to understand the power of telling stories and what oral storytelling means to different people and the power of telling a story to lead into a lecture.  We then had an opportunity to meet with two guidance teachers for the Fourth R program which is offered in thousands of education environments to teach healthy relationships and mentoring for Aboriginal students.  There are three high schools that offer this  leadership course in London.  I was very blessed to have been able to participate in one such program on my practicum placement.

I received two assignments back with both earning 100%.  The lecture I gave in our Instructional course  was one I used in the civics course I taught in practicum.  It was phenomenal and I really worked hard on creating an interactive and interesting group activity.  The paper was based on the rationale as to why we really need technological studies.

After school, it was off to Costco to go shopping with the girls and have a quick bite to eat.  I got to push the cart :) and we all got to laugh and laugh and laugh....just drinking in every moment and enjoying the ride!!  We all managed to join the meeting in progress of the first GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) gathering at the Faculty.  Fantastic that there has been the desire to create a safe environment for Gay/Lesbian/bi members of the school and to have those of us who want to support them to be there.

What a great adventure!!!!  I hope you all venture forth and find what makes your soul sing!!!!!!!

......six weeks later....

......and we are heading back to classes tomorrow...

    The time has flown by and so much has happened....I started in one school, moved to another a week later and found myself paired with a natural mentor.  He has taught me so much in the short time I have been there and a part of me doesn't want to leave. While we have different styles, I am in awe of how he effectively deals with some of the most difficult personalities.... I watched a student go from not wanting to cooperate, to one who became involved in the class discussion sans attitude.

     I am looking forward to attending classes again as a student.  I did after all decide that I would enjoy every minute of this experience and I can honestly say that I am.  Friday was a PD day at the high school filled with meetings and a parting of ways. It was difficult keeping emotions at bay with another candidate tearing up every time she saw me.  She wants to stay and continue teaching and I have to admit that a part of me will stay once I step out into the late afternoon sunshine.  My associate and I exchange gifts - he gave me a T-shirt from the DIG convention and I gave him a gift I had commissioned my husband to make - a weapon from StarCraft.  We hug and promise to keep in touch.  We will hug again later when the final assembly takes place and we know the day is over.  I tell him how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to be mentored by an inspiring teacher.  I have learned so much and am eager to learn so much more.  Thank you so much!!!

I am tidying up the written projects which are due this week.  I have been working steadily on my Career Catalog and am nearing completion.  With some helpful hints from other teachers and a VP, I know it will be a good project when completed.

It's time to head off to bed and get some much needed sleep before an early start in the morning.  Three more weeks until Christmas!!!!  Happy Birthday today to my Mother-in-law.  Sending her smoochies!!

....where is the time going.....

.......with so much to do and so little time to accomplish everything.  I am juggling my schedule and flying by the seat of my pants.  Tonight after classes, I sat and watched a rare few hours of T.V as I let the past two weeks sink in.  In just the past 10 days, I have swapped schools to a program that better suits my education and abilities.  While I enjoyed teaching myself graphic design with Max's guidance, I was burning the candle at both ends.  I miss the girls I drove to that school and thankfully, they have found alternate transportation.  The bonus is that I am now a bit closer to school and being mentored by an amazing teacher.

Today I managed to bring in the remote scoreboard controller I repaired on the weekend and later, I was able to repair the 'chyron' computer for the studio.  I am feeling more in the groove and doing things that bring an air of familiarity in a new environment.  It is a great boost to the confidence level.

I taught my first Civics class today and was able to get the students engaged and actively working together in groups to create a new law.  I had a rough start getting the hook-up of my iPad done - I laugh now but first thing Monday morning playing around with the unit is rather embarrasing.  No worries, we got it done and were able to use the rest of the time wisely.  My associate had great feedback and discussed the finer points of the presentation.  In life you come to value those who bring that candid and insightful commentary to help you to improve and see things you would not normally notice.  Life is great.  Tonight I have quite a bit of work to do but that is in keeping with life since starting teacher's college. I am loving every minute of it!!!

The best thing about being a tech teacher??  Having the most amazing tech classmates!!!  We try to get together as much as we can.  The input is invaluable from each person's experience and the humour is a total bonus.  I am deeply grateful.

For the next 2 weeks, I will be teaching the remainder of the Civics classes.  My personal experience with politics is really helping with my knowledge and ability to speak to the students.  Tomorrow after class, I will be heading over to automotive shop to participate in that class so I have packed my boots and safety glasses for that period.

Life at home is just as busy with the kids, husband and twice weekly care of my father at the long-term home.  He really isn't sure who I am anymore but when I say my name, it sparks a memory - he is surprised when i tell him that I really am Marita.  I will enjoy whatever time I have left with my Dad during the weekly Corona Night and the bedtime stories.  He looks so little to me now as he curls in with anticipation for a story I have read him dozens of times.  He smiles up as he begins to doze off.  I take care of his bedtime ritual and have overcome my discomfort of cleaning him from the teeth to the bum.  He has become just another one of my children as I tuck him in tightly and kiss him goodnight.

I will write again when I have a moment to breathe....right now....its time to go back to work.....

.......getting organized???......

......with all the class material and what is expected in this third week of school. I took a quick trip over to staples last night and grabbed some new binders, portable hole punch and dividers and walked past the Mac Air display.  I stood staring at the beautiful screens trying to figure out if I could afford one.  Not right now, money is tight.

My cell phone rang in class again....funny how the kids would normally text before i started school. I don't usually put it on vibrate because I am terrified that I will put in down and not be able to find it again.  My mind is so packed with 'other' stuff and distracted most of the rest of the time.  Last night Max and I carefully packed up 42 little pouches of candy to disperse to the classmates I disturbed!!  

what a surprise filled day!!!  There were so many treats brought in that by the time we were nearing the 8th hour.....we were all just exhausted, coming down off the sugar high and giggling like mad.....  

The fellow who spent an hour clicking his pen in yesterday's lecture had brought in a different pen and was keeping a low profile....an email had been sent out to ask that people be mindful that their actions might affect others ability to concentrate.  

There were a few of us who decided to go out to dinner and look at the quiz.  I had already completed it last night and just wanted to get out to eat and catch up socially.  We have a really fun bunch of very chatty techie students.  Its great hearing all the background stories and sharing knowledge.  I am totally grateful.

Max is pulling in overtime tonight to catch up at his regular job.  I do not get to see much of him when the school season starts.... I miss him a lot these days.  One of us is generally leaving when the other one shows up!!!  The kids are great about it and we take turns with them.  Lydia is taking Hip Hop classes this fall and Mitchel is just keeping himself busy with school, his guitar playing and keeping the house running.  My Dad is sliding again and although he recognizes me, he does not really know who I am.  He often mistakes me for Mom.  Mom is doing as well as she can while hobbling on a healing knee replacement.  

I did get to steer the Dragonboat on Monday night!!!!!  It was awesome!!!   I told my Dad and he was instantly taken back to a time when he sailed.  He misses his freedom......I miss him!!

......think I might just have a cure.....

......for insomnia!!!!  Each and every time I pull out the book for Ed Psych.....I get through a handful of pages and wake up hours later feeling confused but rested.  I thought it was a phenomena until I asked a friend of mine who giggled, then advised me to just scan the pages and take notes.  Apparently I spend so much time trying to figure out the mass amount of terminology that my brain shuts down.  The reboot time takes hours to complete!!!  Last chapter discussed Pavlov's dog....woke up to a wet shirt front and my face stuck to the leather recliner...when the door bell rang.

I spent yesterday morning struggling to get through the third chapter of the book.  After 6 hours, I decided it was time to read something else and meet a deadline for a course in Aboriginal Studies.  The reading from that book was considerably shorter by 5 hours but the 750 word essay would prove to eat up the remaining time.  As I am typing, I look over to see the Ed Psych book beside me and the yawning has started....I pray no one rings the doorbell.

My brother in law and myself went to Stratford on Saturday for the Dragonboating Festival.  It was such a great day out on the water.  In our second heat of the day, we ended up paddling in what we later and affectionately (?) called 'the concrete canoe'. We were dead last and 15 seconds behind the three teams we were competing against.  It felt like we were dragging an anchor behind us.  I had visions of it collecting and dragging submerged logs.  The boat we were supposed to get from the race before was damaged by posts sticking up along the shallow shoreline.

These next few weeks are going to be busy with reading....dear God, and creating a number of written essays.  There are quizzes and exam essays to consider for the week after next, which then leads us into our first practicum. I have asked to be situated into a high school that offers challenges in diversity.  The best way to learn happens when we face our biggest challenges. While I am nervous about being evaluated every step of the way, I am excited for the challenges that lay ahead.