Today was my first day teaching. They just through me right in, head first. I can see that I have my work cut out for me. After surveying the classroom, the children's files and the planning that the previous teacher had done...and after talking to my mentor teacher...who teaches a grade called primary readiness which is between kindergarten and grade one....I realize that I must begin as if it were September.
My first plan of action is to test the children and my super fantastic TA has offered to help me. Also, the classroom needs to be rearranged so that it isn't so...wild. And organizing is going to be a time eater upper.
But the kids. Wow. They have already made this whole thing worth it. They are so independent...getting dressed on their own for outside, eating at the table nicely, moving from center to center well. They are incredible. And they were so happy to do whatever they were asked, whether it was to clean up, or to sit to hear a story, or to participate in a game. I am very blessed to be here and to have such fantastic kids. I am overwhelmed with joy and I can only thank God for allowing me to be here with this community.
Oh, and we pray in the mornings. It's a catholic thing by religion...but it's a God thing in my opinion. JOY JOY JOY.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
tuesday
Today I slept in and then spent an hour on my new home...unpacking and getting organized.
I have such a beautiful home. It is a unit in a fourplex, two enterances at the front and two at the back. I am number nine, enterance at the front, on the left. When you walk in there is a landing and you can go to the left to go upstairs or to the right to go downstairs. when you go upstairs, the coat closet is on your left and straight ahead of you is the huge storage closet and my deep freeze. To the left is my huge living room. It is furnished with a comfy couch and matching chair and three matching coffee tables. There are three lamps too...in case you were wondering. At the far end of the living room is my balcony that looks out onto a forest. Often my neighbors very gentle dog is out there sniffing around. The dining room and kitchen together are equal size to the living room. The dining room has a big window and a place to sit four. The kitchen is very big and spacious, with lots of cupboards and counter space.
If you go downstairs, the utility room is straight ahead of you...I don't go in there...it's kinda weird :) The laundry room is on your left. I have a nice sized bathroom with lots of cupboard space, a deep tub and a shower with lots of power...which I love. there are two bedrooms at the end of the hall. Mine had a queen sized bed with lovely furniture and a huge mirror. i haven't really gone into the other bedroom at all.
After unpacking, I went for a tour at the school and then drove to high level to do some shopping, for groceries. Already, when the teachers heard I was going into town, I had money and lists in my hands for orders! That was cool.
I guess I didn't really do to much today....driving takes up a lot of time. It is pitch black by 6pm and the last half hour driving home was making me a bit nervous, but I made it safe. and the community here is very close and caring. I called the vice principal before I left High Level and she came to see me at my home as soon as I got back. She probably saw my car seeing how town here is so small! Otherwise, If I wasn't back in three hours from the time I said I would leave...(and they do this for everyone)....she would have sent out a search party to look for my car in the woods. Seriously...that road is unbelievable! Fun, but dangerous.
I had a candlelight dinner and read up on some teacherish stuff and then went to bed. Tommorrow is my first day!
I have such a beautiful home. It is a unit in a fourplex, two enterances at the front and two at the back. I am number nine, enterance at the front, on the left. When you walk in there is a landing and you can go to the left to go upstairs or to the right to go downstairs. when you go upstairs, the coat closet is on your left and straight ahead of you is the huge storage closet and my deep freeze. To the left is my huge living room. It is furnished with a comfy couch and matching chair and three matching coffee tables. There are three lamps too...in case you were wondering. At the far end of the living room is my balcony that looks out onto a forest. Often my neighbors very gentle dog is out there sniffing around. The dining room and kitchen together are equal size to the living room. The dining room has a big window and a place to sit four. The kitchen is very big and spacious, with lots of cupboards and counter space.
If you go downstairs, the utility room is straight ahead of you...I don't go in there...it's kinda weird :) The laundry room is on your left. I have a nice sized bathroom with lots of cupboard space, a deep tub and a shower with lots of power...which I love. there are two bedrooms at the end of the hall. Mine had a queen sized bed with lovely furniture and a huge mirror. i haven't really gone into the other bedroom at all.
After unpacking, I went for a tour at the school and then drove to high level to do some shopping, for groceries. Already, when the teachers heard I was going into town, I had money and lists in my hands for orders! That was cool.
I guess I didn't really do to much today....driving takes up a lot of time. It is pitch black by 6pm and the last half hour driving home was making me a bit nervous, but I made it safe. and the community here is very close and caring. I called the vice principal before I left High Level and she came to see me at my home as soon as I got back. She probably saw my car seeing how town here is so small! Otherwise, If I wasn't back in three hours from the time I said I would leave...(and they do this for everyone)....she would have sent out a search party to look for my car in the woods. Seriously...that road is unbelievable! Fun, but dangerous.
I had a candlelight dinner and read up on some teacherish stuff and then went to bed. Tommorrow is my first day!
monday
On Monday, I woke up at 6:30am and I headed out of Edmonton. I had no tears...just a smile from ear to ear. I was so excited! I think that the smile lasted all the way to Fox Lake.
The roads were great, hardly any traffic. My car gave me a smooth and comfortable ride.
I didn't stop until I got to Peace River, where I got a snack and headed up to High Level. At High Level, I called Fox Lake and then drove to John D'Or Prairie to meet Gloria, the woman who hired me. We went to her home for a quick visit and then headed into Fox Lake.
Ummm...how do I tell you about my drive into Fox Lake. It was like nothing that I could have ever imagined. We drove into a world like no other. The road...it was pitch black night...was barely drivable, but gorgeous from what I could see. I seemed to go on forever, with trees towering high up into the night sky on either side of the road for miles. We drove over so many fallen trees, with snow built up so our cars could make it.
Then the river. We drove across the river! Can I even begin to tell you how cool that was! I prayed the whole way across, so excited and in awe that I was actually experiencing what I was. There is nothing more beautiful than to be completely submerged in this untouched world that God created. Everywhere I look I see his touch. I am absolutely giddy with joy! I am very happy to be here!!!!!!
The roads were great, hardly any traffic. My car gave me a smooth and comfortable ride.
I didn't stop until I got to Peace River, where I got a snack and headed up to High Level. At High Level, I called Fox Lake and then drove to John D'Or Prairie to meet Gloria, the woman who hired me. We went to her home for a quick visit and then headed into Fox Lake.
Ummm...how do I tell you about my drive into Fox Lake. It was like nothing that I could have ever imagined. We drove into a world like no other. The road...it was pitch black night...was barely drivable, but gorgeous from what I could see. I seemed to go on forever, with trees towering high up into the night sky on either side of the road for miles. We drove over so many fallen trees, with snow built up so our cars could make it.
Then the river. We drove across the river! Can I even begin to tell you how cool that was! I prayed the whole way across, so excited and in awe that I was actually experiencing what I was. There is nothing more beautiful than to be completely submerged in this untouched world that God created. Everywhere I look I see his touch. I am absolutely giddy with joy! I am very happy to be here!!!!!!
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Sunday
Tommorrow I will leave for Fox Lake. I am very excited about going!
It is a little bittersweet. Bitter, because I am leaving all behind. Sweet, because I will start a new life up there!
Read my blog so that I can keep you updated on my adventures!
It is a little bittersweet. Bitter, because I am leaving all behind. Sweet, because I will start a new life up there!
Read my blog so that I can keep you updated on my adventures!
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