So, as my first year of Education is coming to a close, I am struck by a strange thought..."I don't want it to be over yet!" Now perhaps some people wouldn't find this comment so bizarre. A lot of folks have a hard time with things ending. I know people who started freaking out about their grade 12 graduation in grade 9 (maybe if I had been more like them, I would have known which university I was going to before June of my graduating year, and I might have bothered to apply for scholarships). I am the girl who can't wait to get onto the next big thing. I am constantly moving, exploring and changing things up. I also become extremely attached to things I believe are awesome.
Like Vancouver. You only have to talk to me for about five minutes to know that I think everything to do with Vancouver is amazing (except for the cost of living and lack of sunshine). Or food. I am addicted to eating. I could never be one of those who only eats to live. I LIVE TO EAT! Or my cats, Tika and Spunx, who are pretty much my whole world. Or Brandon University, this snazzy little institution in the middle of nowhere (everything in Manitoba is in the middle of nowhere) that is perpetually underrated by everyone, except for the people who work or attend school there, and realize what a gem it is.
While my years of living in residence (yes, I adored living in Flora Cowan and was actually sad to leave after three long years) and completing my Bachelor of Arts degree (No my dear European friends, I am not an artist. This is our way of saying we don't know what we want to do, so we take psychology courses) were some of the best of my life, this year in Education has me finally feeling like I belong. I know, without a doubt, that I am meant to be a teacher. I also know, without a doubt, that I chose the best possible place to help me realize my potential.
This past February, a good friend of mine from the Faculty of Education at U of M presented at WestCAST. We were having a discussion and comparing our programs, when she told me "You have no idea how lucky you are. Your program is amazing! From what I've seen of your buildings, what I've heard from other students, and the professors of yours that I have met, I am jealous. I kind of wish that I had come here now..." You kinda wish?! I thought. You have no idea.
Our small campus, while being the brunt of many jokes for other universities, is ideal. It is so easy to feel comfortable in, and nearly impossible to get lost. (I say nearly impossible, because it is not impossible. That's right. I have gotten lost in the Education building. But I won't tell you going where from what.) The courses we take are relevant to what is happening in school today. I have learned so much about who I am, and how to be an effective teacher. I like the way our student teaching placements are set up. Experiencing four different schools, and working with four (at least) different cooperating teachers gives us a better idea of what's out there and where we may be interested in teaching. The best part about BU's Faculty of Ed in my opinion? The people. We have awesome professors and support staff. I certainly have not met or worked with all of them, but I have had an absolutely fabulous experience with the ones I have. Julie Ann Kniskern has the best taste in children's literature of anyone I have ever met. She has dramatically increased my knowldge of quality literature, and I have a whole collection of cool activities to implement in my classroom thanks to her. Shelley is a great teacher, and I am grateful I got to be in the one class she taught last semester. Thanks to her, I am part of a group of students going to Thailand to student teach for the first time. I know it will be an experience I will never forget. Diane Novak has probably never encountered a student as technologically-handicapped as myself. Thanks to her, I can now make a website, use movie maker and download free (and legal) music. I love her policy of being able to redo assignments. That is absolutely the best way for students to learn. Tammy is always cheerful and pleasant to be around. This is such an important skill for a teacher to possess. I really appreciated how she would deviate from the topic if she thought that the new conversation would be beneficial for us. Sandy is famous Canada-wide for her ability to make math awesome! This is not an easy feat. I don't think math is awesome. I think it stinks. But Sandy makes it fun. I can't wait for her to show me that science is stupendous next year.
And of course, Jackie. Jackie demonstrated to me why assignment dates can and should be flexible. Many students come up with their best work when they are not focused on a deadline. She showed me that evaluating a course using outcome based assessment is practical and the way of the future (I must confess I thought she was crazy when she handed out our Professional Teacher course outlines). Jackie valued everyone's contributions, and was eager to make class an enjoyable experience for all involved. She pushed us all to be the best we could be, and was understanding whenever someone didn't feel comfortable or thought something should be done in another way. It was because of Jackie that our class had 100% attendance at WestCAST (she is very persuasive). Thanks to her, most of us presented at it, and felt confident that our presentations were noteworthy. Jackie encouraged us to go deep, and think about who we really are, and how that applies to our teaching. She only recommended one book for us to read, and it is a winner. I am about halfway done Parker Palmer's "The Courage to Teach", and I think it should be a required reading. It is excellent. Most of all, Jackie believes in each and every one of her students. She finds their strengths, and focuses on them. She takes the time to get to know them. Her biggest fault is that she doesn't teach second-year courses. Her students will miss her a lot.
Thank you for having us write the Ellie poem. Thank you for your encouragement. Thank you for a great year.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Taking the Easy Way Out (and Effectively Damaging Our Students)
So, I have to write about an issue in the world of Education. I only get to choose one, so I had better make it a good one. Perhaps I will address the issue of "Balanced School Days - Are They Better?" (YES). Okay. That's that.
I'm sure I'm supposed to write more, so I'll write on the topic of aboriginal education. This is such an important and relevant discussion right now. On second thought, maybe that's not such a good idea. It is such a complex and broad topic, I would have to spend weeks just doing my research. And since I am already late in writing this, I should choose something I know more about.
A-ha! I like to think I know a thing or two about English as an Additional Language (considering I just made a presentation at WestCAST on this topic, I would hope so). Well...maybe I should exapand my horizons and write about something new.
I like the healthy movement that is going through our education system due to the realization that our Canadian youth are overweight, lazy and making poor food choices (our adult population is certainly not exempt from this). In Manitoba, physical education is now required through grade 12, and lots of schools are getting rid of pop machines and candy bars, and replacing them with juice machines and fruit in the canteen. Although, I don't have much more to add to this revolution except to ask "Why didn't we realize this sooner?"
I've got it. How to effectively utilize Educational Assistants in the classroom (and why many teachers are not). Perfect.
This is a topic that I have been interested in for many years. I remember even as a student thinking that teachers had their Educational Assistants (EAs) doing strange things. Several years later, I am finding that many of the teachers I have talked to see EAs being misused all of the time, and they are frustrated by it. I have not read any scholarly artices on the topic, but I have conversed with plenty of intelligent people, and it will be their collective opinions I will be pulling from.
I am not covering poor treatment of EAs. While I am sure this exists, this is another topic entirely. I am interested in the two main ways a teacher can misuse an EA; by either not making sufficient use of the EA in the classroom, or having the EA do things the teacher should be instead.
"I want to do it all. It's just easier to do it myself, because I know exactly how I want it done. I like my way best." - Lindsay Gemmill (This quote in no way reflects the way this young woman actually feels about things - except for when it comes to cooking, baking, cleaning the bathroom, scrapbooking, group projects and building snow forts. It was created entirely for the purpose of this blog post). Many people have a hard time delegating. Some find it more of a challenge to determine something for a helper to do than to just do it on their own. Unfortunately, I think a lot of teachers fall into this category. They have their day planned out perfectly and then BAM! What is this extra adult doing roaming around in my classroom? Do I actually have to find something for them to do? "Ummm...you can sharpen the pencils. In another room, so you don't distract the kids. That would be great." Teachers: Educational Assistants are such a valuable resource. They are there to support the work of the teacher. Work as a team. Use their individual strengths to your advantage. Help them to help you. Make sure they are being used to their full potential, but don't forget why they are there: Is there a specific student they are supposed to be working with? Make sure they get adequate time to aid that student. Listen to them: They may not be experts in their field, but they are often working one-on-one with the students, a luxury most teachers don't get. They may have noticed things you possibly couldn't have.
I can imagine that as a teacher, it is very exciting to get your very own Educational Assistant. The possilities would seem endless with a whole other adult in the classroom. Unfortunately, some teachers have EAs performing tasks they really shouldn't be, especially not on a regular basis. There are some difficult kids out there. (Ed students: If this statement was shocking to you, perhaps you should consider a different course of study). Very difficult. It would be oh-so-tempting to have these students removed from the classroom, but in a nice way. Then you could just focus on those little geniuses that are eager and able to learn. Imagine the things you could accomplish! You could have the smartest grade 1's on the planet! You could be multiplying and dividing like no one's business! But what about those other kids? The ones that maybe aren't little geniuses. The kids that can't read, and struggle to add. The ones who can't sit still, and those who think they are stupid and will never be able to learn. "Oh no problem. They are in a separate classroom with the EA working on their worksheets. The EA is overseeing everything and can come to me if a problem arises."
DOES ANYONE ELSE SEE THE ISSUE HERE?
So the Educational Assistant, who isn't required to have any form of post-secondary education or formal training for the classroom (but is most definitely a lovely person who has a deep affection for children) is in charge of the children who are experiencing difficulty, while the educated teacher, who went to school for a minimum of four years and attends ongoing professional development seminars to stay updated on how to be an effective teacher, is looking after the easy kids. Right...
Now I'm not saying that EAs shouldn't work with difficult students. Absolutely not. That is usually what they are hired for - so that the child who is experiencing difficulty has someone to help them whenever they need it. Many EAs are incredibly gifted at working with the children they do, and I know lots of teachers have to go to EAs for advice on how to get the most out of a particular student. But...those children who are frustrating, the ones you want to constantly send out of the classroom, are the ones who need their teacher the most. Sending out a whole group of children who are unable to read basic words, and expecting the EA to be able to give them all the attention they need is outrageous. The teacher is the one who is trained to teach large groups of children to read. The teacher is the one who went to school to study how to help children sound out words and draw meaning from illustrations.
Teaching is not an easy job. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I am certain that nearly every teacher out there wishes they could provide their students with the kind of one-on-one individualized instruction that they need. This is impractical, however, and the best needs to be done with the resources available. I think that utilizing EAs effectively in the classroom is an area that can be improved upon, with positive implications for everyone involved.
(On a side note, I would just like to say that our education system in Canada is pretty awesome. We have issues, that's for sure, and it's important to be aware of them so we can improve the system. Sometimes we just need to look at all of the things we do have, and be grateful for them. Like the fact that education is available for all Canadian citizens. Or the fact that educators care enough about their students to want to make their education better. How about that we are able to openly critique the way our schools run, and promote change? We still have a long way to go, but I think we are on the right track).
I'm sure I'm supposed to write more, so I'll write on the topic of aboriginal education. This is such an important and relevant discussion right now. On second thought, maybe that's not such a good idea. It is such a complex and broad topic, I would have to spend weeks just doing my research. And since I am already late in writing this, I should choose something I know more about.
A-ha! I like to think I know a thing or two about English as an Additional Language (considering I just made a presentation at WestCAST on this topic, I would hope so). Well...maybe I should exapand my horizons and write about something new.
I like the healthy movement that is going through our education system due to the realization that our Canadian youth are overweight, lazy and making poor food choices (our adult population is certainly not exempt from this). In Manitoba, physical education is now required through grade 12, and lots of schools are getting rid of pop machines and candy bars, and replacing them with juice machines and fruit in the canteen. Although, I don't have much more to add to this revolution except to ask "Why didn't we realize this sooner?"
I've got it. How to effectively utilize Educational Assistants in the classroom (and why many teachers are not). Perfect.
This is a topic that I have been interested in for many years. I remember even as a student thinking that teachers had their Educational Assistants (EAs) doing strange things. Several years later, I am finding that many of the teachers I have talked to see EAs being misused all of the time, and they are frustrated by it. I have not read any scholarly artices on the topic, but I have conversed with plenty of intelligent people, and it will be their collective opinions I will be pulling from.
I am not covering poor treatment of EAs. While I am sure this exists, this is another topic entirely. I am interested in the two main ways a teacher can misuse an EA; by either not making sufficient use of the EA in the classroom, or having the EA do things the teacher should be instead.
"I want to do it all. It's just easier to do it myself, because I know exactly how I want it done. I like my way best." - Lindsay Gemmill (This quote in no way reflects the way this young woman actually feels about things - except for when it comes to cooking, baking, cleaning the bathroom, scrapbooking, group projects and building snow forts. It was created entirely for the purpose of this blog post). Many people have a hard time delegating. Some find it more of a challenge to determine something for a helper to do than to just do it on their own. Unfortunately, I think a lot of teachers fall into this category. They have their day planned out perfectly and then BAM! What is this extra adult doing roaming around in my classroom? Do I actually have to find something for them to do? "Ummm...you can sharpen the pencils. In another room, so you don't distract the kids. That would be great." Teachers: Educational Assistants are such a valuable resource. They are there to support the work of the teacher. Work as a team. Use their individual strengths to your advantage. Help them to help you. Make sure they are being used to their full potential, but don't forget why they are there: Is there a specific student they are supposed to be working with? Make sure they get adequate time to aid that student. Listen to them: They may not be experts in their field, but they are often working one-on-one with the students, a luxury most teachers don't get. They may have noticed things you possibly couldn't have.
I can imagine that as a teacher, it is very exciting to get your very own Educational Assistant. The possilities would seem endless with a whole other adult in the classroom. Unfortunately, some teachers have EAs performing tasks they really shouldn't be, especially not on a regular basis. There are some difficult kids out there. (Ed students: If this statement was shocking to you, perhaps you should consider a different course of study). Very difficult. It would be oh-so-tempting to have these students removed from the classroom, but in a nice way. Then you could just focus on those little geniuses that are eager and able to learn. Imagine the things you could accomplish! You could have the smartest grade 1's on the planet! You could be multiplying and dividing like no one's business! But what about those other kids? The ones that maybe aren't little geniuses. The kids that can't read, and struggle to add. The ones who can't sit still, and those who think they are stupid and will never be able to learn. "Oh no problem. They are in a separate classroom with the EA working on their worksheets. The EA is overseeing everything and can come to me if a problem arises."
DOES ANYONE ELSE SEE THE ISSUE HERE?
So the Educational Assistant, who isn't required to have any form of post-secondary education or formal training for the classroom (but is most definitely a lovely person who has a deep affection for children) is in charge of the children who are experiencing difficulty, while the educated teacher, who went to school for a minimum of four years and attends ongoing professional development seminars to stay updated on how to be an effective teacher, is looking after the easy kids. Right...
Now I'm not saying that EAs shouldn't work with difficult students. Absolutely not. That is usually what they are hired for - so that the child who is experiencing difficulty has someone to help them whenever they need it. Many EAs are incredibly gifted at working with the children they do, and I know lots of teachers have to go to EAs for advice on how to get the most out of a particular student. But...those children who are frustrating, the ones you want to constantly send out of the classroom, are the ones who need their teacher the most. Sending out a whole group of children who are unable to read basic words, and expecting the EA to be able to give them all the attention they need is outrageous. The teacher is the one who is trained to teach large groups of children to read. The teacher is the one who went to school to study how to help children sound out words and draw meaning from illustrations.
Teaching is not an easy job. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I am certain that nearly every teacher out there wishes they could provide their students with the kind of one-on-one individualized instruction that they need. This is impractical, however, and the best needs to be done with the resources available. I think that utilizing EAs effectively in the classroom is an area that can be improved upon, with positive implications for everyone involved.
(On a side note, I would just like to say that our education system in Canada is pretty awesome. We have issues, that's for sure, and it's important to be aware of them so we can improve the system. Sometimes we just need to look at all of the things we do have, and be grateful for them. Like the fact that education is available for all Canadian citizens. Or the fact that educators care enough about their students to want to make their education better. How about that we are able to openly critique the way our schools run, and promote change? We still have a long way to go, but I think we are on the right track).
Boo-yaa BU! We Nailed It!
Well, I hope everyone has their calendars marked off for February 22-25, 2012. If you don't, I'm assuming it's because you forgot. Get a pen, and write it in, because we are going to CALGARY! WHOOP WHOOP!
In case you're lost, my whooping is in reference to WestCAST, this brilliant teaching conference that gets juggled between various Western Canadian universities every year. I am so grateful that Brandon University happened to be hosting my first year of Education. This was beneficial to me in two ways: It actually got me to go to the conference, and it has absolutely motivated me to go next year.
I thought Brandon did a terrific job of hosting WestCast. Now, I may be slightly biased, considering I have never been to another WestCast, and the fact that I think BU is the greatest university in Canada (except for Simon Fraser University, because it is located in Vancouver, and Vancouver is the greatest city in the world. They also have a giant statue of Terry Fox on their campus, and they are constantly undervalued compared to UBC. I root for the underdog).
Which brings me to my next thought. Why can't WestCAST be held in Vancouver next year?! Sigh. Who actually wants to go to Calgary? They may have Jarome Iginla, but the Flames have nothing on the Canucks. And Banff doesn't even begin to compare to Whistler/Blackcomb. The only thing they are really known for is their stampede, but that's only for such a short time in the summer. NOT HELPFUL in February. And what's with these Calgarians trying to bribe us with their IKEA? IKEA can be found pretty much anywhere that isn't Manitoba or Saskatchewan (or Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or PEI, but everywhere else). Apparently Calgary has a pretty rockin zoo, so I guess I'll just have to spend my free time hanging with the elephants.
Vancouver, however, is a completely different story. It is the most beautiful city in Canada, if not the world. The Vancouver Canucks are pretty much the greatest NHL team EVER (mostly because Roberto Luongo is the coolest goalie in the history of the game). There are mountains and oceans and beaches and a temperate climate. Vancouver has fantastic restaurants, the neatest shops, beautiful parks and the best transit system in Canada. Although that last statement doesn't really mean anything. Have you ever tried to take the bus anywhere in Brandon? Yah, I know. I got frostbite before it came too. I could go on and on singing the praises of the glorious settlement of Vancouver, but I don't want to give Calgary too big of a complex. Besides, if it was held in Vancouver, the whole purpose of the conference would be defeated, because no one would be going to the sessions (we would be skiing in Whistler and stuffing ourselves with Starbucks).
For me, the highlight of the Conference was being given the opportunity to present. It certainly was not my most brilliant performance, as I was super nervous and certainly no expert on my topic; but it was an awesome experience to be able to prepare and present an issue that is such a personal passion for me. My beloved friend Marlene was able to help with our session, and this was a very special experience for both of us. I learned a lot, and hope that I will be able to do this again in the future. (Yes, I do realize that I am going to school in preparation for a lifetime of presenting to my darling students, but it's a whole different experience speaking in front of colleagues and other professionals).
I found that all of the sessions I attended were wonderful; my only complaint is that I wish I had been able to go to more! I understand that there really was no other way to arrange all of the sessions, (unless WestCAST went on for a month or two), but it was so hard to choose! And, because life is like that, it always seemed that there would be one time slot when I was interested in three or four presentations, and the next slot had nothing that tickled my fancy. I went to a brilliant session on incorporating deaf students into the classroom. The presenter was awesome, although he was unfortunately cut short because we were behind schedule, and then he was unable to access his presentation because our technology was malfunctioning.(Welcome to Brandon University! We have nasty weather, no concept of time management, and we're all technologically handicapped!) Oh well. He was just a UBC student....
My favourite session focused on bringing music to children who present with special needs. What a heartwarming, engaging and inspiring 50 minutes! Dr. Sheila Scott of Brandon University is certainly an inspiration for teachers everywhere. The work she is doing is incredible. I aspire to be an innovative and passionate teacher like her.
Probably the most relevant and useful session for my life was the panel discussion. This was such a great idea! I know that everyone who attended found it very useful. It is so important to talk to other teachers in the field and get their perspectives.
I enjoyed the keynote speakers immensely. Ian Ross has such a likeable personality, and a subtle approach to humour. I found that by the end of his address, I was disappointed that it was over (even though he had already spoken for far longer than he was supposed to). Hannah Taylor is an absolute sweetheart. She is lucky to have parents that support what she believes in. It seems hard to believe that a 15-year old has actually done so many amazing things. What an incredible role model! I am very interested in the Ladybug Foundation Education Program. This is certainly a resource I would like to make a part of my future classroom.
What would WestCAST have been without the social events? Rather dull and overly-informative, I think. My compliments to the social planning team... WELL DONE! My favourite part was that every social event involved lots of food. Wherever there is food, you will find me, because I adore eating. The wine and cheese event was excellent. I had a lot of fun playing the game, even though I think it was rigged because I had like 30 tickets in there and I didn't get drawn. (Thanks a lot Sandy!) While I would recommend the Roadhouse changes their dinner title to "Bud, Spud and Chicken...not steak, because we serve nasty, uncooked cuts of meat", the rest of the supper was delicious and the evening was a good time. I have always thought that being a magician would be a pretty rockin' career. I must confess I was initially disappointed when I found out that the "Cracker Barrel Social" was simply a reference to conversing in the general stores in the olden days over a cracker barrel, and not to my favourite brand of cheese. I was pretty certain we had convinced Kraft to be a sponsor for our event, and that Friday would be devoted to cheese sampling. However, all was forgiven when I discovered a tub of sour keys available for my devouring! (I was on a sugar high for the rest of the weekend). While my team didn't win the game (we should have), it was still lots of fun to play, and it was an important reminder of how to be a good sport (the winning team totally cheated, and our buzzer was rigged to just put in random wrong answers, I know it).
Thanks to everyone who was instrumental in putting together WestCAST 2011! I feel sorry for those who were either unable to attend, or just chose not to. They really missed out. I have been bragging to all of my non-education people about what a fabulous conference our university put on, and how I feel very privileged to have attended. I hope that this is a tradition which is carried on for many more years.
Good luck in 2012 Calgary. You have a lot to live up to.
In case you're lost, my whooping is in reference to WestCAST, this brilliant teaching conference that gets juggled between various Western Canadian universities every year. I am so grateful that Brandon University happened to be hosting my first year of Education. This was beneficial to me in two ways: It actually got me to go to the conference, and it has absolutely motivated me to go next year.
I thought Brandon did a terrific job of hosting WestCast. Now, I may be slightly biased, considering I have never been to another WestCast, and the fact that I think BU is the greatest university in Canada (except for Simon Fraser University, because it is located in Vancouver, and Vancouver is the greatest city in the world. They also have a giant statue of Terry Fox on their campus, and they are constantly undervalued compared to UBC. I root for the underdog).
Which brings me to my next thought. Why can't WestCAST be held in Vancouver next year?! Sigh. Who actually wants to go to Calgary? They may have Jarome Iginla, but the Flames have nothing on the Canucks. And Banff doesn't even begin to compare to Whistler/Blackcomb. The only thing they are really known for is their stampede, but that's only for such a short time in the summer. NOT HELPFUL in February. And what's with these Calgarians trying to bribe us with their IKEA? IKEA can be found pretty much anywhere that isn't Manitoba or Saskatchewan (or Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or PEI, but everywhere else). Apparently Calgary has a pretty rockin zoo, so I guess I'll just have to spend my free time hanging with the elephants.
Vancouver, however, is a completely different story. It is the most beautiful city in Canada, if not the world. The Vancouver Canucks are pretty much the greatest NHL team EVER (mostly because Roberto Luongo is the coolest goalie in the history of the game). There are mountains and oceans and beaches and a temperate climate. Vancouver has fantastic restaurants, the neatest shops, beautiful parks and the best transit system in Canada. Although that last statement doesn't really mean anything. Have you ever tried to take the bus anywhere in Brandon? Yah, I know. I got frostbite before it came too. I could go on and on singing the praises of the glorious settlement of Vancouver, but I don't want to give Calgary too big of a complex. Besides, if it was held in Vancouver, the whole purpose of the conference would be defeated, because no one would be going to the sessions (we would be skiing in Whistler and stuffing ourselves with Starbucks).
For me, the highlight of the Conference was being given the opportunity to present. It certainly was not my most brilliant performance, as I was super nervous and certainly no expert on my topic; but it was an awesome experience to be able to prepare and present an issue that is such a personal passion for me. My beloved friend Marlene was able to help with our session, and this was a very special experience for both of us. I learned a lot, and hope that I will be able to do this again in the future. (Yes, I do realize that I am going to school in preparation for a lifetime of presenting to my darling students, but it's a whole different experience speaking in front of colleagues and other professionals).
I found that all of the sessions I attended were wonderful; my only complaint is that I wish I had been able to go to more! I understand that there really was no other way to arrange all of the sessions, (unless WestCAST went on for a month or two), but it was so hard to choose! And, because life is like that, it always seemed that there would be one time slot when I was interested in three or four presentations, and the next slot had nothing that tickled my fancy. I went to a brilliant session on incorporating deaf students into the classroom. The presenter was awesome, although he was unfortunately cut short because we were behind schedule, and then he was unable to access his presentation because our technology was malfunctioning.(Welcome to Brandon University! We have nasty weather, no concept of time management, and we're all technologically handicapped!) Oh well. He was just a UBC student....
My favourite session focused on bringing music to children who present with special needs. What a heartwarming, engaging and inspiring 50 minutes! Dr. Sheila Scott of Brandon University is certainly an inspiration for teachers everywhere. The work she is doing is incredible. I aspire to be an innovative and passionate teacher like her.
Probably the most relevant and useful session for my life was the panel discussion. This was such a great idea! I know that everyone who attended found it very useful. It is so important to talk to other teachers in the field and get their perspectives.
I enjoyed the keynote speakers immensely. Ian Ross has such a likeable personality, and a subtle approach to humour. I found that by the end of his address, I was disappointed that it was over (even though he had already spoken for far longer than he was supposed to). Hannah Taylor is an absolute sweetheart. She is lucky to have parents that support what she believes in. It seems hard to believe that a 15-year old has actually done so many amazing things. What an incredible role model! I am very interested in the Ladybug Foundation Education Program. This is certainly a resource I would like to make a part of my future classroom.
What would WestCAST have been without the social events? Rather dull and overly-informative, I think. My compliments to the social planning team... WELL DONE! My favourite part was that every social event involved lots of food. Wherever there is food, you will find me, because I adore eating. The wine and cheese event was excellent. I had a lot of fun playing the game, even though I think it was rigged because I had like 30 tickets in there and I didn't get drawn. (Thanks a lot Sandy!) While I would recommend the Roadhouse changes their dinner title to "Bud, Spud and Chicken...not steak, because we serve nasty, uncooked cuts of meat", the rest of the supper was delicious and the evening was a good time. I have always thought that being a magician would be a pretty rockin' career. I must confess I was initially disappointed when I found out that the "Cracker Barrel Social" was simply a reference to conversing in the general stores in the olden days over a cracker barrel, and not to my favourite brand of cheese. I was pretty certain we had convinced Kraft to be a sponsor for our event, and that Friday would be devoted to cheese sampling. However, all was forgiven when I discovered a tub of sour keys available for my devouring! (I was on a sugar high for the rest of the weekend). While my team didn't win the game (we should have), it was still lots of fun to play, and it was an important reminder of how to be a good sport (the winning team totally cheated, and our buzzer was rigged to just put in random wrong answers, I know it).
Thanks to everyone who was instrumental in putting together WestCAST 2011! I feel sorry for those who were either unable to attend, or just chose not to. They really missed out. I have been bragging to all of my non-education people about what a fabulous conference our university put on, and how I feel very privileged to have attended. I hope that this is a tradition which is carried on for many more years.
Good luck in 2012 Calgary. You have a lot to live up to.
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