Autumn

Without a doubt, I am a “summer” girl…and yet, there is something about the fall that I love. The air is fresh but not cold, the leaves on the trees and ground are vibrant, you get to cuddle up in sweatshirts and blankets, and walking in leaves that crinkle and crackle is my idea of a really good time.
We went for another Sunday drive yesterday, and as always, my talented husband managed to get some beautiful shots.
Here is a taste…

Seen on highway 2 between Kingston and Gananoque


Howe Island Ferry, Kingston

A Few Thoughts

I’ve been at my practicum placement for a week and a half. – not quite the half -way mark. There is a lot to say, and a lot that should be discussed, but for confidentiality reasons (the students’, not mine) I’m not sure that a blog is the best place to share all those thoughts. It is a very low income, high needs school: it isn’t uncommon to hear of incarcerated parents (one or both), rehabilitating parents, and calls to Children’s Aid. With these kinds of backgrounds, it is not hard to imagine the struggles that may (and do) also happen at school in terms of learning and behavioural exceptionalities. I have really appreciated the school’s philosophy of understanding and taking into consideration the challenging home life, and yet not making excuses for it.
Being in the classroom has been a great experience – my associate teacher is an experienced, capable, and encouraging woman, the students are already growing on me, and I’m taller than all but one or two (or three). I have only been mistaken for a student once -at least that I know of – by the cleaning lady who called me her “little one.” Not bad.

Milestone

This weekend marked the 5th-month anniversary of the purchase of our new car. To celebrate such a momentous day, I calculated how many kilometres we have driven since we bought it. (As a side note: Three months of that time we both walked/rollerbladed to work, which means it was weekend trips only.)

The total: 17,300 km (and change).

That does not include our trips to BC in late April (an additional 4500 km) or to Newfoundland in August (an additional 6000 km).

The Grand Total: Lots.

Inspiration

That's why I say, "Duckie!
Don't grumble! Don't stew!
Some critters are much much
Oh, ever so much-much so muchly much-much more unlucky than you!"

Wise words, from the good Doctor - Dr. Seuss that is. I happened to find myself in the children's section and came across his books in the library today. It made my day as I sat there during my lunch break, reading old favourites and some new ones that I haven't read before.

Upcoming

Next week is our first week of practicum, an event that has most people somewhere along the excited and nervous continuum. Much of last week and this week have been spent asking other teacher candidates "Have you found out what grade you're teaching?" followed by an affirmative "Yeah, I have grade [fill in the blank]. I went to visit my school this week and [insert short story here]."
On both fronts (that of the school visit and that of knowing the grade level) my experience has been different than most. Two weeks ago, the teacher candidates and I that are at the same school set up a mutually agreeable time to meet with our principal. I called the school early last week and set up an appointment for tomorrow afternoon - more than a week's notice. I called this morning to confirm, and was told they had *no* record of our appointment. An awkward silence. "Hmmm... Um...Well," said the secretary "Why don't you call back in a little while." "Sure," I replied "When would be a good time?" "Uh. Well... I'm not sure." "I should be home by about 3 today, why don't I call back then?" "That should be fine." And so, after class today, I called back. I was told tomorrow didn't fit in with the principals schedule, and she was busy for the rest of the week. "Just show up on Tuesday morning." And that was that.
Most - all, actually - of the teacher candidates I have talked to have been assigned their classrooms. Kindergarten here, grade 1 there, grade 2 over there. So far, nothing over a grade 3. I have started telling people - in the hopes that in saying it out loud it will come to pass - that I hope I have a younger grade for my first practicum. (They are a little more forgiving, a little easier to trick, and a I still look like a teacher when you compare me to a first grader, but not so much when you compare me to a 6th grader.)
I found out today that I will be teaching a 5/6 split.
Go figure.

Old Marrieds

Rod and I went for a Sunday drive yesterday - I'll admit, we're an old married couple. Soon the knitting will start, the lap blankets will start coming out, and so will the pipe and newspaper. But it was such a beautiful fall day it was hard to resist, so for now, here is a picture.