Quote of the week: "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference" - Winston Churchill

I have been encouraged by my yukonian friend Jayme to begin writing in my blog again (apparently people are actually bored enough to read this). I'd like to start off by saying that BC is still the most beautiful place in the whole world, and I can not believe that I've already been here for a month. As I finish my 3rd week of teachings I am happy to report that things are going very well.

This week was actually pretty hectic for our school, or at least the 5,6,7 class. On Monday it was a Pro-D day, which meant meetings all day! I spent the afternoon/evening planning for the week and was in bed pretty early on Monday night. On Tuesday we had a regular school day. It was hard to get the kids back on track after a 3 day weekend. I was talking with one of the other teachers and we decided that Wed and Thurs are the optimal teaching days. On Monday its a write off because its just after the weekend, on Friday its a write off because its just before the weekend and Tuesday is still too early in the week to tell. Any big concepts or new concepts will be introduced on Wed or Thurs....we'll see if that theory works. HA.

On Wednesday my class took part in BC's "forest week" we got to go on a field trip to explore BC forest industry. We planted trees, went on a hike, and participated in logging games. It was a lot of fun to hang out and bond with the students outside of the classroom. They really have unique personalities and I am really enjoying getting to know them.

Today I had a really great day, we didn't do anything exciting in the classroom but everyone was so well behaved it made me very happy. The kids play this game during gym called "snowball" and its actually so fun. I played a few rounds and it was exhausting. After school I planned on starting a running club.....but I don't want to get started on how that turned out.

All in all I am having an amazing time out in BC! I have a great class, an amazing apartment and have met some really wonderful people. I am so lucky to have the opportunities that I do, and I am living the dream.

Cheers :)
Sarah

cute poem :) (thanks LISA)

my cousins gave me this poem (which is now posted in my bathroom) and I LOVE it :)

I didn't know poem

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I didn't know that years of school and a college degree would be of little

consolation when facing a room full of bright little eyes on the

first day of school. I thought I was ready...



I didn't know that five minutes can seem like five hours when there is

idle time and an eight hour school day far too short for a

well-planned day of teaching.



I didn't know that teaching children was only a fraction of my job.

No one tells you about the conferences and phone calls, faculty meetings, committees, paperwork and paperwork...



I didn't know that it took so long to cut out letters, draw and color pictures,

laminate-all for those bulletin boards that were always "just there"...



I didn't know that I would become such a scavenger, and that teaching

materials would feel like pure gold in my hands...



I didn't know that an administration and co-workers that support

and help you could make such a difference...



I didn't know that there would be children that I loved and cared for

and stayed up late worrying about, who, one day,

would simply not show up.

And that I would never see them again...



I didn't know that I can't always dry little tears and mend broken hearts.

I thought I could always make a difference...



I didn't know that the sound of children's laughter could drown

out the sound of all the world's sadness...



I didn't know that children could feel so profoundly.

A broken heart knows no age.


I didn't know that a single "yes ma'am" from a disrespectful child

or a note in my desk that says "You're the best!" could make me feel like

I'm on top of a mountain and forget the valleys I forged to get there...


I never knew that after one year of teaching I would feel so much

wiser, more tired, sadder and happier, all at once.

And that I would no longer call teaching my job,

but my privilege.