Back-To-School Blogging, Summer Recap, and "The Book Whisperer"

The return to classes can be an exciting and overwhelming time.  I imagine that like many other teachers I have spent a good deal of time thinking about the new things that I can bring to my classroom.  I'll get to some of those things in a minute, but I must, once again, acknowledge my failures to be a regular blogger.  It seems that in addition to the new, I must continue to work on some of my previous commitments.

Here we go...


How I Spent My Summer

I'll keep this brief, but I can't help but take a moment and reminisce about the exciting adventure that I was able to embark on with my family.  It was something that my wife and I had been planning and looking forward to for years and I was so grateful to be able to share so many memorable experiences with my children.

Without going into too many details, here are a couple of highlights:

• Driving around 6000 kms through the western United States
• Spending a week on the beautiful Oregon coast
• Enjoying 5 glorious albeit exhausting days at Disneyland
• Travelling to Calgary for a family wedding; we will be travelling to Edmonton for a second wedding in a week
• Other trips back and forth to Calgary to spend time with family, enjoy the zoo, and a day at Calaway Park

Much has been said about how good teachers have it when it comes to summer.  All I can really do is express my gratitude for having a career that allows me the freedom to spend this time with my wife and children.  I'm no busier or more special than a lot of other people, but it feels really good to unplug after what has often been a very busy school year.

Here are a few pics for good measure...

Liam exploring the trails near our condo in Oregon.

The tidal pools along the beach were always neat to see.

Our second go on what became our favourite ride at Disneyland.

Hard to beat a picture with Oswald.

"The Book Whisperer"

My wife has been encouraging me for years to read "The Book Whisperer" by Donalyn Miller.  She kept telling me for years that it might give me some ideas about how I could help give reading a jump start in my classroom.  I was genuinely interested in the concept, but often told myself that I was too busy during the school year to really have a look at it and I could maybe check it out in the summer.  I finally caved... and I'm glad that I did.

I won't give a detailed review or breakdown of the main points now, although I will likely touch on them over the course of the year.  Suffice it to say that my perspective on the value of reading was given a good wake-up call.  I was reminded of what reading is intended to be: something of interest that will draw you in.

I was so excited about some of the ideas that I even took one in particular and started running with it.  Donalyn Miller strongly advocates for the need for students to see constant reminders about the value of reading in the classroom.  This doesn't necessarily mean a dedicated reading area, although that would be great.  She does stress, though, that there is need for kids to be around good books.  In previous years, I have relied too heavily on whatever happened to be left in my classroom.  That wasn't going to cut it anymore.

With my wife's blessing (and eager offers to help, I might add) I began putting together my own library.

I will be giving myself a monthly budget to work with so that I can be constantly adding to the collection.  My hope is that I can create a library with something for every Developing, Reluctant, and Underground reader that enters my classroom.  I'll be reporting on my progress throughout the year.

Much more to come...

~Mr.T

World Poetry Day, Smash Brothers, and Jeff Dunham

This might be a bit of a shock for most people who know me, but I've never really considered myself to be much of fan of poetry.  I certainly haven't gone out of my way to read it and never really made it a priority in my life, instead choosing to focus on things that I felt mattered just a little bit more than words on a page. 

When I was first given the assignment to teach Grade 8 Humanities, I immediately felt inadequate and unprepared for the challenges that would surely lie ahead.  I had spent 5 years up to that point focusing on Social Studies and on helping students to tangibly understand their place in a rapidly changing world.  I've never doubted the value of good literature in our history and society.  I just didn't really think that I was the right one to properly convey that understanding to students.  Three years on and I'm still figuring things out 

Realizing that today was World Poetry Day gave me an opportunity to steal a colleague's idea (Thanks, Jen...).  In short, students would be given an opportunity to reflect on one poem that they like and to write a brief blog entry explaining what exactly they like about it.  The recognition that poetry is a much broader form of communication than originally thought definitely makes the assignment a little bit easier.  I'm also hoping to take advantage of some of the sharing that blogging makes possible.

I did, however, start thinking about my own experience with poetry, limited as it is.  While perhaps not the most profound example and one that is even somewhat cliche, I've long enjoyed 'Invictus' by William Ernest Henley reproduced below


Out of the night that covers me,
  Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be 
  For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
  I have not winced nor cried alout.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
  My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of weatch and tears
  Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
  Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
  How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
  I am the captain of my soul.

I remember coming across this poem as a high school student and thinking it was neat and promptly moving on.  However, a film on the end of Apartheid in South Africa (coupled with some darn good rugby) brought the poem back into my attention a few years ago.

I've long been a believer that individuals are in charge of their own destiny.  Age and experience has reinforced the knowedge that if I want to get something done for myself I need to get to work and get it done.  I can't hope to rely on the good graces of others so that I can craft my own life, for "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."  This poem is a call to stand up in spite of adversity and the challenges that get in our way.  Life is not easy and we cannot let the "fell clutch of circumstance' keep us from our potential or break us.  

I'll read this to myself every now and then or when I'm feeling a little down.  Maybe I'm struggling with something professionally or personally, or I'm questioning why things are turning out the way they are.  If I really want a quick turnaround, I'll even listen to the narration of Morgan Freeman.  Even if I'm roughed up and 'bloodied' by the journey of life, I can press on because I, and I alone, can determine the direction of my life.  

CHHS eSports Smash Tournament

Look how excited everyone is!!

This past Friday saw the first Smash Brothers Tournament hosted by the CHHS eSports Club!  All in all, I was very happy with the turnout and excitement that made the event such a huge success.  We had 22 students who made their way through a double-elimination bracket.  At times, the matches were pretty intense and the competition fierce, but I was impressed by the level of sportmanship that prevailed before and after matches, and the efforts by all those in attendance to help the even run smoothly.  We brought in pop and pizza for those in attendance, and had prizes for the top 3 finishers.

We are already planning our next event.

Jeff Dunham: Perfectly Unbalanced

Even with the 40 minute wait to leave the parking lot, the show was enjoyable.  I particularly enjoyed the efforts to discuss local matters, such as the legend for the name of Medicine Hat.

Mr and Mrs. T waiting to see Jeff Dunham

~Mr.T