Sick
I feel like I have a bit of the flu. My throat was really sore Sunday night. I sort of thought it was just from yelling '1,2,3,4' over and over again at the dragon boat practice, but then my nose started running, and all my energy disappearing. I called in sick Monday night because I figured Tuesday morning would be too late. Sometimes it seems like more work to get a sub, but my muscles started aching more and more. I think on some psychological level I am sick of marking and running from one activity to the next. The homily at church on Sunday was about being still to experience God's presence. I didn't think I would have time this week, but now it seems I have. In a strange way it's been a relaxing day amidst being half-awake and in and out of strange dreams. I will now be much more sympathetic to the sick students in my class. I had been getting a little fed up about organizing papers for them when they were absent. Hopefully tomorrow I will have more energy.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Surprise!
During a break this morning, a student offered me a Chinese candy. I had no idea what to expect, but I like to try new things. It was a brown cylinder shaped sweet that I f
irst thought was a chocolate and then I put it in my mouth to be surprised by a soft chewy texture. I don't really remember the taste, but it wasn't exactly sweet. After class I showed the wrapper to the Chinese woman in the marketing office to find out what was in the candy. Apparently figs, and I think some nuts. She then went onto explain to me that the Chinese characters on the front of the wrapper read something like 'wishing you a healthy baby boy.' Maybe I should ask more questions next time I am offered a candy. Here is a photo of the wrapper to help you identify it should you be offered one (sorry that it's upside down).
irst thought was a chocolate and then I put it in my mouth to be surprised by a soft chewy texture. I don't really remember the taste, but it wasn't exactly sweet. After class I showed the wrapper to the Chinese woman in the marketing office to find out what was in the candy. Apparently figs, and I think some nuts. She then went onto explain to me that the Chinese characters on the front of the wrapper read something like 'wishing you a healthy baby boy.' Maybe I should ask more questions next time I am offered a candy. Here is a photo of the wrapper to help you identify it should you be offered one (sorry that it's upside down).On the theme of surprises I asked a student who was not paying attention to read the next question. For some reason he was on the wrong page, and the sentence he ended up reading was 'I have big ears' which ended up being another funny surprise to the day.
Happy Bastille Day to my French friends! Wishing I were in a fire hall in Paris for the fête.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Secret friends
What I thought would be a simple classroom activity. My class has been paired with the other level 20 class to correspond with a secret penpal. Each student has a penname and was asked to write a letter in which they would talk about themselves, their weekend, and then write three questions for their penpals to answer. I love the pen names which range from Google to Jane Eyre. Some people still don't understand they should not write their own name on the letters, nor change pen names week to week. The question idea also had to be explained a couple of times. One student had included three skill testing factual questions about Saskatchewan in his letter and not only that he had also answered his own questions. Then others wrote comprehension questions to see if the reader had understood their descriptions of themselves. Now that I managed to make the students understand they were supposed to answer the letters some of the 'answers' are very brief like "#1 - Yes, I do" to whatever the question had been. Gone are the days of pen and paper correspondance maybe we are teaching an antiquated skill?
What I thought would be a simple classroom activity. My class has been paired with the other level 20 class to correspond with a secret penpal. Each student has a penname and was asked to write a letter in which they would talk about themselves, their weekend, and then write three questions for their penpals to answer. I love the pen names which range from Google to Jane Eyre. Some people still don't understand they should not write their own name on the letters, nor change pen names week to week. The question idea also had to be explained a couple of times. One student had included three skill testing factual questions about Saskatchewan in his letter and not only that he had also answered his own questions. Then others wrote comprehension questions to see if the reader had understood their descriptions of themselves. Now that I managed to make the students understand they were supposed to answer the letters some of the 'answers' are very brief like "#1 - Yes, I do" to whatever the question had been. Gone are the days of pen and paper correspondance maybe we are teaching an antiquated skill?
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Student writing
As much as I dislike the time it takes to mark writing assignments, I do quite enjoy some of the way things are written. On the first day of class I had one student interview me because of the odd numbers in the class. His paragraph was quite well written, but I was surprised to read that he wrote I was living with my husband and two daughters. This came from me telling him in the interview that I had two sisters. He apologized profusely when I explained the error to him. I did however ask him to make the correction before we put up in the hallway.
It doesn't quite compare with the wonderful sentence from last term in a student's 'All about me' paragraph which read; "When I am young, I always stay in everyday with my mother, and I don't like talking to other people, so I think I am not outgoing, and I am not good at intercourse." Sometimes electronic dictionaries are not your friend.
As much as I dislike the time it takes to mark writing assignments, I do quite enjoy some of the way things are written. On the first day of class I had one student interview me because of the odd numbers in the class. His paragraph was quite well written, but I was surprised to read that he wrote I was living with my husband and two daughters. This came from me telling him in the interview that I had two sisters. He apologized profusely when I explained the error to him. I did however ask him to make the correction before we put up in the hallway.
It doesn't quite compare with the wonderful sentence from last term in a student's 'All about me' paragraph which read; "When I am young, I always stay in everyday with my mother, and I don't like talking to other people, so I think I am not outgoing, and I am not good at intercourse." Sometimes electronic dictionaries are not your friend.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Stories from Brazil
I am very glad Father Les is back in Saskatoon and at St. Annes Parish. His homilies are always interesting with stories from his mission trips to Brazil. I also kind of apreciate the fact that he finds it hard sometimes being back in Saskatoon after having been away. Today he told a story about a woman in Brazil who stopped him one day. She said to him, "You know what your problem is Father?" and he said his reply was "which one?". She said "you walk too fast" and he argued he had a lot of things to do. She told him sometimes people on the street would like to talk to him and then he said he didn't have time to talk to everyone he saw on the street because he would never get anything done. I really understand that. I feel like I walk too fast and in someways it is a North American thing. I spend a lot of time doing activities, but not a lot of time with people. His message was to pay attention to the prophets around us. Listen to the things people around us are saying, and a prophet can be the person sitting next to you.
I am very glad Father Les is back in Saskatoon and at St. Annes Parish. His homilies are always interesting with stories from his mission trips to Brazil. I also kind of apreciate the fact that he finds it hard sometimes being back in Saskatoon after having been away. Today he told a story about a woman in Brazil who stopped him one day. She said to him, "You know what your problem is Father?" and he said his reply was "which one?". She said "you walk too fast" and he argued he had a lot of things to do. She told him sometimes people on the street would like to talk to him and then he said he didn't have time to talk to everyone he saw on the street because he would never get anything done. I really understand that. I feel like I walk too fast and in someways it is a North American thing. I spend a lot of time doing activities, but not a lot of time with people. His message was to pay attention to the prophets around us. Listen to the things people around us are saying, and a prophet can be the person sitting next to you.
"Even a goat can float"
Yesterday I went on a small road trip to Manitou Beach for the Centennial weekend homecoming dance at Danceland. The town of Watrous was celebrating its 100th birthday and Manitou Beach its 90th. The StoneFrigate Big Band was playing and a group of Swing dancers from Saskatoon went to join the party and dance on the floor famously built on horsehair. I have left a small mark on the history of Manitou Beach when I worked at Camp Easter Seal eleven years ago now. I have to say I never really appreciated the dance floor until last night. It was so easy and comfortable to dance on and the live music was great. We even got a chance to take in the centennial fireworks and after the dance I went for a quick swim. Little Manitou lake is apparently so rich in minerals and salt that 'even a goat can float'. I told everyone as soon as I got there that the lake was calling my name, and since I am stuck on the prairie no where near the ocean it was the next best thing. Next time I will have to bring a goat.
Yesterday I went on a small road trip to Manitou Beach for the Centennial weekend homecoming dance at Danceland. The town of Watrous was celebrating its 100th birthday and Manitou Beach its 90th. The StoneFrigate Big Band was playing and a group of Swing dancers from Saskatoon went to join the party and dance on the floor famously built on horsehair. I have left a small mark on the history of Manitou Beach when I worked at Camp Easter Seal eleven years ago now. I have to say I never really appreciated the dance floor until last night. It was so easy and comfortable to dance on and the live music was great. We even got a chance to take in the centennial fireworks and after the dance I went for a quick swim. Little Manitou lake is apparently so rich in minerals and salt that 'even a goat can float'. I told everyone as soon as I got there that the lake was calling my name, and since I am stuck on the prairie no where near the ocean it was the next best thing. Next time I will have to bring a goat.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Busy times ahead
Today I met my new class. I am now teaching in the mornings and I have seventeen students. I spent the afternoon planning things for the upcoming week, and then went to the Global Gathering class where I am substitute teaching a class Thursday evenings for the next month. Over my supper 'break' I stopped in the park to listen to some music and mark a few diagnostic tests. This weekend I have to finish my marking and writing my paper that's due on Monday. The summer is already going by too quick.
Today I met my new class. I am now teaching in the mornings and I have seventeen students. I spent the afternoon planning things for the upcoming week, and then went to the Global Gathering class where I am substitute teaching a class Thursday evenings for the next month. Over my supper 'break' I stopped in the park to listen to some music and mark a few diagnostic tests. This weekend I have to finish my marking and writing my paper that's due on Monday. The summer is already going by too quick.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Live music at River Landing
Last night there was a mini-storm. It poured rain for about ten minutes and then the dark clouds and gusting wind seemed to settle. Surprisingly it barely rained downtown and the Swing night was still on. A couple members of the band 'Jump Me Martha' came to play for us, and it was a real treat to have live music. They posted a video from the Jazz Fest last Sunday on their Facebook page. You can see me a couple of times. I am wearing a red shirt and a blue hat.
Happy Canada everyone!
Last night there was a mini-storm. It poured rain for about ten minutes and then the dark clouds and gusting wind seemed to settle. Surprisingly it barely rained downtown and the Swing night was still on. A couple members of the band 'Jump Me Martha' came to play for us, and it was a real treat to have live music. They posted a video from the Jazz Fest last Sunday on their Facebook page. You can see me a couple of times. I am wearing a red shirt and a blue hat.
Happy Canada everyone!
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