VERA TESCHOW.CA
  • Home
  • About
    • Overview
    • Education & Diplomas
    • Consulting & PR
    • Teaching Experience
    • Workshop Facilitation
    • Volunteer Experience
    • Extra-Curricular Leadership
    • Writing
  • Learn
  • BLOG
  • Contact

Treasures from the Storage Locker

6/26/2011

0 Comments

 
We all have one, we teachers… a space filled with boxes of stuff we absolutely “need” for our classrooms.  Some of us have an attic, others a garage, or a shed.  Me, since moving into an apartment last year, I have storage locker.

I envy the teacher whose “stuff” is well labeled.  My husband (also a teacher) and I invested in 30 sturdy plastic bins about 7 years ago.  Stupidly, they were not clear bins.  The first year we packed them to move classrooms (it was the year I was moving from ESL/Music to Primary ELC, I think), I took pains to neatly label each bin:  “Intermediate novel studies”, “Vera’s desk”, “Medieval Times Unit”, “Poetry Overheads” and so on.  In subsequent years, moves became sometimes hectic, last minute affairs, punctuated by the arrival of twins at times, and at others, clouded by the uncertainty of a return to this or that particular classroom or grade.  Many treasures were given away in haste, at the time, a deceptively simple solution to cleaning out one’s classroom when time was at a premium at the end of June.  Over time, other mismatched and unlabled bins were added to the increasingly ecclectic collection.

In September 2011, I return to a classroom.  Grade 3 is on the roster.  I need my dayplan magnets, several early settler novels and a bunch of organizational stuff.  But the “novels” bin seems to now be housing a bunch of science equipment, and my Pioneers unit seems to have been mysteriously replaced with an unmarked bin (at the bottom of a pile of several back-breakingly heavy boxes) containing a bunch of outdated math workbooks and two recorders!

Happily, I did find a few other treasures in the storage locker to appease me:  Some picturebooks I thought had been lost, a few binders from my teachers’ college days, a set of cuisinaire rods…. And best of all, the seat to the drum throne I had started to unpack on my last trip to the music cabin in PEI appeared, and is now safely sitting atop the “PEI” pile in the closet.

The teacher's storage locker (garage/shed/attic).  It can be full of frustration, but contains many, many treasures!
0 Comments

Ice Cream Wins Again!!!

6/24/2011

0 Comments

 
The staff room of your average school is a dangerous place, especially at the end of June.  Leftovers and various other treats abound, and for the tired, run-down, weary and heavy-laden teacher passing by, the table beckons, "come to me, and I will give you rest". 

But don't be fooled -- it's a LIE!!!  I got sucked in today, and downed a 1/4 tub of delcious, creamy, ice cold Breyer's cookie ice cream.  Bad, bad news for my belly and my blood sugar levels!!!  After the temporary sugar rush, I was dragging once again, and barely made it to the end of the day!

Tomorrow will be filled with healthy foods.  I hope.
0 Comments

"Proof"

6/22/2011

0 Comments

 
I had lunch with an agnostic friend and some Christian colleagues the other day.  An interesting exploratory conversation about the possibilities of faith/non-faith ensued, as various participants presented their ideas, and considered the ideas of others around the table.

One question that arose was this (from one believer at the table to the agnostic):  "What constitutes 'evidence' in your mind?  What would you consider satisfactory proof for the existence of God?"

Read More
0 Comments

Back to School!

6/22/2011

0 Comments

 
First staff meeting at my new school this afternoon, and I am pumped!!!

Although the amount of paper and information was somewhat overwhelming, and made me realise my skills have moved in other directions over the past year and a half that I've been "out", overall, I am pretty optimistic about next year.  My new colleagues seem very welcoming and committed to teaching, and there are several new hires, so that I will not be the only "new guy".  Also, my new principal really seems on the ball.

I am reminded of my first year of teaching.  Fresh out of teachers' college, I was keen and eager to launch my career.  In a lucky, lucky twist of fate, I ended up in a school with a brilliant principal.  Thelma was passionate about teaching and learning, she was well organized, and held high expectations for her students and staff.  All of this came across to me as a new teacher in a very obvious and positive way at the first staff meeting I attended at her (my) school that June to prep for September.  I remember walking away from that staff meeting 13 years ago overwhelmed, and very, very excited.  I knew it was going to be an excellent year.  And it was!  (Well, except maybe for the Grade 8 Band class with 7 drummers I had to teach twice a week in addition to my Grade 7 Core package, lol!)

I am not naiive enough to think this transition back to the classroom full time will not be without its challenges, but I am for sure looking forward to a year of growing, learning and celebrating.
 
Can't wait to meet the kids and their families!!!
0 Comments

What's New in the World

6/14/2011

0 Comments

 
Had the opportunity to read the paper today in relative peace... and quite enjoyed it.  My commentary on a few selected highlights follows, with links to the relevant articles:

Some People are Good, and That’s a Surprise!
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1008304--porter-who-are-you-kind-stranger
I was delighted to read of the gentleman who could have stolen money, an iPad and various other personal effects from the purse left by a tired woman on the TTC the other day, but who elected instead to return it.  I did reflect, though, that such decent behaviour is considered "news".  Seriously?  People can actually live with themselves if they take advantage of some poor soul who--after working all day--out of sheer exhaustion, leaves her bag on the bus?  Terrible, terrible people!  I suppose there is some merit in the fact that he sought out her address and returned it, rather than simply handing it over to the TTC driver to put in lost and found... on the other hand, shouldn't we (wouldn't we) all do such a thing?  Sure, it's an inconvenience if I have to go out of my way to return something, but on the other hand, what about "do unto others..."?


University of Alberta Dean Plagiarises Speech
This I thought was kind of interesting… http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1007465--university-dean-apologizes-for-poaching-parts-of-convocation-speech  The Dean apparently gave a commencement speech which had been almost verbatim copied from another speech, and published in the New Yorker!  It’s unclear wether the copying was the issue, or the doing so without providing proper acknowledgement. The whole incident also begs the question:  Is copying like this a “bad” thing, ie. plagiarism, or a “good” thing, ie. flattery?

Fishing is Good, but Not for Sharks
Apparently it’s okay to stock a local swimming pool with poor, helpless fish and let people catch, kill and eat them, but it’s not okay to serve shark-fin soup.  Huh?  (Maybe shark are more worthy than trout, to live.  Wondering where, say, octopus or small children fit into the continuum….)

Let’s all Live Together in Harmony on the Water
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/1006776--innovator-patri-friedman-will-speak-of-his-concept-of-floating-colonies-on-the-ocean-at-ideacity-in-toronto
LOVING this idea of intentional communities… as Patri Friedman notes, “You have to try these things on a small scale because large systems inherently have inertia and are set in their ways.” (Is that why it takes so long for good ideas to be implemented so that children in classrooms can benefit?!  Ahhhh…. I finally get it.  It’s not the bad guys’ fault at the top, it’s just that darned, inert “system”, hehe.)

0 Comments

Rock Guys

6/13/2011

0 Comments

 
Stumbled across some neat rock creations while biking down by the lake...
0 Comments

Sunday Night

6/13/2011

0 Comments

 
The pastor at the church service I attended this morning talked about “in between” places; he spoke of those limbo times in our life when we’re not sure what comes next.

No doubt he was referring to things in the broader sense, but interestingly I find myself at just such an in between place this night. After rather a traumatic and chaotic scene at home involving my 7 year old having some sort of seizure, the response of 911 (including about 8 firefighters and paramedics Intermingled with

Read More
0 Comments

Great Things Come in Twos, Threes, and More...

6/12/2011

0 Comments

 
Yesterday Alex and Simon took us to their 7th annual TPOMBA picnic in High Park.  As I gazed around at the many families featuring sets of two and three same-aged children, I marvelled that our two were amongst the oldest there.

I remember our first TPOMBA picnic... the boys were 3 months old approximately, and we were totally overwhelmed.  It was all we could do to pack everything up and get to the picnic area.  And we didn't last long because the boys grew cranky and tired, and it seemed the easiest thing was to soon pack them back into their carseats and get them to sleep in the car!  But just being amongst others who also had twins and more seemed to help a little, as we saw how manageable the future looked. (Now we are that future, haha!  How ironic, I thought, as I chatted with other POMs carting and wheeling around the tiniest little 5-month-old babies yesterday, while my own two jumped merrily in the bouncy castle and stood in line for balloons, lol!)

It was nice, once again, to be surrounded by sets of two and three babies, toddlers and older children, and I marveled that good things come in 2s and 3s....  But as I sit here next to Simon at a local cafe, writing this blog while he enjoys his apple juice and a game on the iPod (Alex is at home, cleaning the apartment with Trevor!), I must say, nice things also come in singles.  :)

Here's to loving our multiples... in ALL their configurations!
0 Comments

Graphic Intelligence

6/2/2011

0 Comments

 
Much has been written about mind and concept maps, and their effectiveness as both teaching and learning tools.  (See Buzan, Novak, or Bennett, etc.) 

In an attempt to model DI, I recently offered some Seminary students I work with the option of completing a comprehensive concept or mind map rather than a linear write-up for a book review they prepared for me as part of a Principles and Practices of Teaching class at Tyndale.  I was pleased that two of the students chose to complete the assignment in this format, and in fact, did rather a great job of it!!
For more on graphic organizers, click here!
0 Comments

Wednesday Night Weeding @ HBBH!

6/2/2011

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

    About Vera...

    Vera & her Sons, April 2021
    After writing for several teacher and multiple birth publications, including ETFO's Voice Magazine, Multiple Moments, and the Bulletwin, Vera turned her written attention to prolific blogging for some years, including BiB,  "Learn to Fly with Vera!"  and SMARTbansho .  In 2014, Homeschooling 4 was her travel blog in Argentina.  She now spends more time on her Instagram (@schalgzeug_usw)  than her blog (pictures are worth a thousand words?!) and moderates several Facebook groups in Canada and Mexico.

    LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING?? Consider sending a gift to support our Little Free Library and other projects: bit.ly/VeraList
    DISCLAIMER
    The views expressed on this blog are the views of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the perspectives of her family members or the position of her employer on the the issues she blogs about.  These posts are intended to share resources, document family life, and encourage critical thought on a variety of subjects.  They are not intended to cause harm to any individual or member of any group. By reading this blog and viewing this site, you agree to not hold Vera liable for any harm done by views expressed in this blog.
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Argentina 2013
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Cycling
    Family
    Flying
    Geocaching
    Honduras 2011
    Lakeshore
    Lgbtq
    Math Eyes
    Music
    Other Stuff
    Prince Edward Island
    Teaching And Learning
    Teaching-and-learning
    Travel

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    November 2024
    June 2024
    December 2023
    August 2023
    August 2022
    March 2022
    January 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010

Vera C. Teschow, OCT, M.Ed., MOT
Toronto, ON & St Peter's Harbour, PE
www.verateschow.ca 2023
Photos from Sean MacEntee, Studio Paars, Bengt Nyman, zeevveez, GoodNCrazy, CJS*64, Accretion Disc, CharlesLam, Courtney Dirks, CJS*64 "Man with a camera", Accretion Disc, Bobolink, Ian Muttoo, BioDivLibrary, Alaskan Dude, IsabelleAcatauassu, runran, Transformer18, jglsongs, Create For Animal Rights, david_shankbone, Paul J Coles, foilman, Newport Geographic, Photo Everywhere, kevin dooley, Claudio , Alex Guibord, Tscherno, f_mafra, Terry Madeley, musee de l'horlogerie, BobMacInnes, wwarby, jonathangarcia, amboo who?, chimothy27, Elin B, cliff1066™, Grzegorz Łobiński, Rennett Stowe, Farhill, Phil Manker, Guitarfool5931, airguy1988, dierk schaefer, Rob Stemple, katerha, StockMonkeys.com, Ramotionblog, andrewk3715, charlywkarl, AJC1, rachel_titiriga, chaz jackson, haven't the slightest, paweesit