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

Und Nun...?

7/8/2016

2 Comments

 
The first days of summer vacation… So much freedom, especially if you're a teacher… Right?

Well, sort of.

​The truth is, I feel a little… adrift for lack of a better word. In some sense, my work has always been cut out for me. The rhythm and routine of teaching means that you always know what comes next, at least in a general framework sort of way.

And now? Well, now I am moving on to something much less defined. Exciting, but also somewhat anxiety-inducing in its apparent lack of rhythm and routine.

So this will officially be my last "teacher summer", where the work I do is by choice (such as an 18-hour, multi-day session I am facilitating for teachers outside of the GTA next week, or the online math course I intend to take later this month), and the way in which I fill my days is driven by a need for rest and a desire for downtime with family and with friends.

I spent the final days of my classroom career making my peace with my departure from that domain. The closure and goodbyes this year were gradual; near the middle of the month, a colleague persuaded me to invite a few professional friends from over the years to a "farewell picnic" in the park, and, June being in the month of Ramadan this year, and me teaching a class comprised of at least 50% Muslim students, several had already departed before the last weeks of school, some travelling to their own countries to spend time with family, others opting to stay home for all or part of the month.

Those few who continued coming to school while fasting joined the rest of us on a field trip we had cooked up together for the last day of school: Rather then sweating out the final few hours in our un-air-conditioned classroom, we took public transit to downtown Toronto instead for a visit to the Redpath sugar factory museum, and enjoyed lunch/break at Sugar Beach afterwards.
We even bumped into Mayor John Tory doing a press conference at the latter, on our way to the playground at Sherborne Commons, before trotting back to Union station for the long trek out to Mississauga.
Picture
As we rode public transit back to school, a number of students stayed on the bus and headed directly home. Others dispersed quickly on arrival, as it was already quite late. This made for a relatively "easy" goodbye, on the other hand, it seemed a rather anti-climactic end to a 17-year teaching career and a particularly intense closing season in the classroom!

The first few days following my "retirement" were relatively straightforward; it was Pride weekend in Toronto, with all the fun and commitments that entails, including this year for the first time taking the plunge and embracing rainbow hair!!!
I had even made some "pride shoes" out of on old pair of white converse and some markers…
Picture
I took my rainbow hair and matching shoes to the teacher tent and the Canadian Aviation Pride (CAP) booth, and did a stint at each for a few hours before walking with Tats to Yonge Street, to watch the Dyke March and cheer on our sisters in the struggle.
Picture
At the CAP booth on Saturday, we were enlisted by Fierte Montreal, who were in the three booths next to us, to produce 100 of our rainbow necklaces, which they intended to put on their drag queens!
Tats and I were also able to squeeze in some flying on the weekend, though it was a very bumpy ride; the high winds at altitude made for considerable turbulence, and it was more an opportunity for me to marvel at my partner's incredible piloting skills rather than an enjoyable dual flight over the city, LOL!
Picture
And then it was time to drop Alex off at his summer camp (the boys' dad dropped off Simon at his summer camp; yes, they attend different overnight camps by choice!) The 3-hour drive each way was punctuated in the middle by a very confident little boy eager to minimize long, drawn out goodbyes and displays of public affection with his mommies, and get on with his week to explore his new-found freedom!
Picture
Spending time with our post-op recovering dog at a friend's house nearby, and taking her in car rides to animal physio took up some time...
Picture
So did getting ready for my first meeting with my new boss, and beginning the orientation session at the giant office building where I'll be working come September...
And suddenly, a week has gone by; the first week of summer, and what am I doing, really? What am I thinking about? How will I define the next decade and a half of my life?

I knew I had some personal reflecting to do when I woke up this morning damp with sweat from a nightmare I had had about school: contrary to reality, I had dreamt that there were still two weeks left of school, and that I was late for class, having mistaken this for a summer morning, and having slept in! And to make matters worse, all my lesson plans had gone missing!

(You know you're a teacher when…!!!)

For 17 years, I've been a classroom teacher, or held positions that have allowed me to return with relative ease to the classroom to practice and refine my craft in between "leadership opportunities".

I've raised my own elementary school age children while teaching their counterparts in classrooms, or directly working with teachers who do. Many of my blog posts over the past several years have been inspired by experiences and interactions with these children and/or conversations with their parents.

My summers have been defined by reflecting on the year that has passed, and planning for the year ahead. August is a flurry of activity, preparing both my classroom and my "back to school" lessons. There are times in the year for conferences, for report writing, for planning and participating in certain rituals and routines with my students and my colleagues. I have preserved much of the activity of these seasons of each year here in my blog. Learning skills comments, a new way of recording student thinking, ideas for integrating emerging technology with problem-based learning in math, etc., etc., etc.

Now, I am moving into a space that is considerably less defined, at least for me who has become somewhat of an expert in my increasingly growing "small pond".

I am also moving into a position that is by necessity (political and otherwise) less blog-friendly. What, then, will provide the means for me to export my educational reflections and document my professional growth? And what will I blog about here? Or will I stop blogging altogether?

​This blog has become for me a sort of digital scrapbook, often documenting the evolution of my teaching practice, and providing an archive of my thinking, even when that thinking has been messy or unpolished.

As a public servant stuffed into a small, grey cubicle, one of thousands at the Ministry of Education, my thinking will necessarily need to be more private than public now.
Picture
This evening's view from the living room couch; lightning storm outside not easily captured on camera.
We met a fellow in the elevator this evening; he rode with his daughter, and was carrying a leather container with a drink cup Tats and I where well familiar with from our days in Argentina: "Mate!", I exclaimed, and the man – – excited that someone recognized this key aspect of his South American culture – – clarified... It was actually a cold drink, made with yerbamate, yes, but also infused with mint leaves and lemon.

As I open-mindedly took a sip from the bombilla-ornamented mate he offered, I reflected on how this new take on an old standby was in some sense representative of the new adventure I was about to embark on professionally; as I had immersed myself in mate culture during and following our year in Argentina, if someone had told me that mate leaves could also be used to make a very tasty and acceptable cold drink, I would have scoffed at the idea -- and yet, here was this drink, and it was good! Very tasty and refreshing. And enjoying this new drink certainly didn't negate the value of the warm mate I had been drinking hitherto!!

Refreshing, too, I hope my new job will be. And, as my experience with and understanding of mate in general helped me to more fully appreciate the new drink I was offered by my neighbour in the elevator this evening, so, too, I hope my experience with and understanding of classroom teaching and classroom teacher coaching will guide me in my contributions in my new role in education provincially come September.

And now.... HAPPY SUMMER!!!!
2 Comments
NancyacDonald
7/12/2016 01:31:05 pm

Such a great post, Vera. I cannot wait to see what you'll do next! You've changed things from within and now you'll help to move things forward at the Ministry. You're a shining star, a pioneer and an advocate for all.

Reply
Carrol
7/21/2016 03:52:06 pm

Loved the mate analogy, "clever is as clever does," Vera, that's the old saying. All the very best to you in your new career!! I, for one, have the utmost confidence and appreciate the fact that the Ministry recognizes your many talents.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    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

    June 2025
    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