Slice of Life - Hello 2013

It has only been 2013 for an hour. We watched the Dick Clark special - I still remember him from American Bandstand! We toasted in the New Year as the ball dropped in Time Square. 


This past year has sped by. Ups and downs, happy times and sad. I have been looking back through the questions with Reverb 12 and other places. It really does help to look back and then take the best forward.

One of the ways I prepare for the New year is to choose One word that will represent my hopes for this brand new year. Last year I chose "Carpe Diem" - seize the day. I had hoped that as I began my 60's, that I would fill my days with challenge and activity and creativity. Many days were like that, but gradually as the fall came and I dealt with pain and illness and school politics, that passion was missing.

So, I have chosen a new word for 2013, that will continue with being positive and seek the best in people and situations:   J O Y

It is a word with power and positivity. I am looking forward to finding more joy in my life. I want to savour every moment and spend more time with my family and friends. Simple acts of kindness, continuing with my gratitude journal, and looking at everything as a gift - all these will be ways to find that joy.


"Slice of Life" can be found at Two Writing Teachers.

To find out more about One Word, check out "One Word 365". It is building a community to support one another in living the word. 


Happy New Year everyone - may 2013 be filled with joy, peace and love for all.

Slice of Life Tuesday - a wee bit of a rant!

Rant alert!

Today the grade 3s began their EQAO assessments - these are the tests for all grade 3s and 6s in Ontario. It means 3 days of 2 -1 hour tests, in math, reading and writing.

No matter the reading level of the children, they must work independently with no help at all in reading, although questions can be read in math.  I have 2 little boys who are reading at grade 1 level and are in the process of being identified, but they must still write this #%$*## test!

One girl who is identified LD and uses assistive technology was a bit more successful, but she was so drained that by the afternoon she had a major temper tantrum and ran out of the building.

I have done these tests for over 15 years - my youngest who is 24 did the first one way back when it was 2 weeks! He received Level 1s and 2s and called himself stupid for months afterwards.

The worst comment I have received was "But you're a teacher, you're supposed to help". (and I still hear that every year)
.
Politics does not belong in the classroom and that is what this test is - a political tool to assess teachers.
I will be so glad for Wed. afternoon when we can celebrate that everyone is done and did their best.

Sorry - had to get it out.

Be sure to check here for other slices of life.

Slice of Life - Baby Birds and flowers

It has been a gorgeous weekend - hot and sunny all 3 days of this 2-4 weekend.
We bought our flowers on Saturday and planted some yesterday and today. What a difference when gardens are filled with flowers!
We did not finish the new garden at the front, but we will gradually get it done this week. In the fall we had a huge tree removed and we have decided to plant a perennial, full-sun garden - something I haven't had in a long time.

Yesterday morning I discovered that our morning dove has hatched her eggs - 2 downy little birds could be seen.

Then this afternoon, as my hubby and his son were putting in the new fence they built by our cedar hedges,

 they discovered a robin's nest with babies. When I went to look, there were 2 little ones and a blue egg. New life all around!

 Check out other "Slices of Life"  here.

Slice of Life

This weekend I attended the wake of a former student's mother, who committed suicide at age 31. The little girl was only 10, being raised by her grandmother as her mom had drug and mental health issues.

Too often lately, children are being impacted by the bad choices or the poor parenting of their parents. The schools then must support these needy children as best we can.

The older I get and the longer I am in education (over 35 years), the more and more angry I become at the lack of support for these young children. Who can learn when their lives are so disrupted and uncertain?

As a society we need to step in sooner and provide support and/or loving, secure homes for these children. Too often cuts are made to the very programmes that would give these families needed support.

Sorry - had to vent.

I am linking with my first "Slice of Life"