Author: christine (Page 1 of 14)

March 15, 2026 – Conference Proceedings

It’s been an interesting week… and time is flying by. This little crew in the photo went to WestCAST 2026 at the University of Winnipeg last month. Each of them participated in a paper presentation, which is about a 15-20 minute presentation and Q&A. The University of Winnipeg did an outstanding job in planning and facilitating this conference for student teachers. There experience was intended to engage teacher candidates in inquiry and participate in a conference that is reseach focused. I’ve been coaching and mentoring this crew from UNBC.

I have been involved with WestCAST ever since I joined UNBC in 2018. It was an opportunity for my colleague to mentor and coach me to become a teacher educator, and going to this conference with teacher candidates was one of the things that they did as a teacher educator. I went to the University of Calgary in 2019 and then the University of British Columbia in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic happened soon after our return from Vancouver, BC and WestCAST had been struggling to stay afloat since then. There was an online conference at the University of Saskatchewan in 2022, then a gap year, then a return to the University of Calgary in 2024, Simon Fraser University in 2025, and then the University of Winnipeg in 2026. The momentum has been building since 2024.

For 2019 and 2020, I was the learner. I was observing and participating in WestCAST as a faculty member and co-presenter. for the last four conferences, I have been a mentor and coach for the teacher candidates, and sometimes a co-presenter or presenter. With each crew from UNBC, there is a clear mandate for me when supporting these teacher candidates with WestCAST. Do what they want to do… and just help and guide. That’s it. Every year has been different. With this year’s crew, they each wanted to do a paper of topics that are very unique and personal to them, but also connected to their future profession.

As we were planning and prepping for the conference, we almost took an ADST (Applied Design Skills and Technology) approach using design thinking as a process: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. We did each of these stages diligently and within that process entailed an iterative process with prototyping and feedback. It was a one-to-one and collective process. As we were approaching the conference dates, we practiced with one another and by the time it was their opportunity to present at the conference, they were ready, well-articulate, and confident in their presentations. They were AMAZING!!

Also in this preparation, they also wanted the opportunity to publish their work. I love this drive and initiative from the teacher candidates. The conference itself is going above and beyond the teacher education program. I love that they also wanted to follow through on the opportunity to publish. WestCAST 2026, for the first time in my experience, they are offering a Conference Proceedings for the conference, particularly designed for undergraduate (and graduate) students. So, when this was announced, the teacher candidates have been working on the idea that they would be writing a paper that was ready for publication.

Since the conference, we have met a couple of times to transform their script from the conference to a paper to submit for the WestCAST 2026 Conference Proceedings. They are all still interested in submitting a paper to be published. It will be peer reviewed as well, which is also another cool experience for them to participate in. Last week, we worked on their abstract to send back to the University of Winnipeg as an expression of interest to submit to the Conference Proceedings and now we are working on the paper. They University of Winnipeg offered similar outlines and prompts, much like a journal would. It’s very good.

Short practicum is now over… can you believe that? They are in practicum and we met last weekend for the abstract and this weekend to reformatting their script into a manuscript. I was sick last week… and still sick… so we met online. We held an online writing group… and it was AWESOME. I had so much fun, and I think they did to. Some coaching, some writing, some questions, then iterate. We got a great start to the writing process and the two hours just flew by. When they were writing, I was working on my own writing and edits. I loved it. We will be meeting again this Wednesday and maybe on the weekend too. The first submission of their manuscript is due next week. And, we are on track!!

I am really loving this process and I love helping teacher candidates to learn more about academia and higher education. The learning is reciprocated, 100%.

March 8, 2026 – An Unusual Weekend

Can you call it a “hat-trick” of wonderfulness? Here are a few photos of some folks from the Lower Mainland who reached out to me as they were passing through or visiting Prince George. I think what was so wonderful about each of them reaching out was, they just wanted to connect and say HELLO. As strange as it sounds, they made no mention of their work and what they were doing in Prince George and beyond. I did not really find out what they were doing here in the Central Interior until was met and had a conversation. IT WAS AMAZING!!

Normally, my weekend is OPEN. I’ve been trying to honour rest as part of my weekly routines (much like this blog post) and Saturday is “be a person day.” This day often includes recycling, laundry, vacuuming, organizing my office, cooking a meal or two, and cleaning up the kitchen. Or sometimes, I do nothing. It’s a guilt-free day. Sunday can be a “be a person day” but it is normally a day I sleep in and transition into the work week. Maybe emails and some planning. This term, Sundays were mostly spent prepping for my Monday classes. I’ve had the last few weeks free from the prep due to practicum and Family Day.

This week, I was blessed with visitors. During the week, my friend, Carolyn Roberts (photo above) was presenting at the ‘Ut’loo Noye Khunni – Weaving Words Celebration. She reached out to connect. I did not think I would be able to with my teaching schedule but I had some of my days wrong, and I had Monday off from teaching. We went out for dinner on Monday and I got to see her present on Wednesday. It was so great to see her. I loved our conversation over dinner. Lots of laughs. I loved her presentation at PGSS. I went with my daughter (also in photo above). We also went to the evening event at Omineca Art Centre to listen to drummers and other artists. I was so grateful to see Carolyn this week. I often use her TEDx video in my teacher education classes and I have used her book “Restorying Education” in one of my grad classes. I love what she has to say and she’s releasing her new book, “Tess’s Red Dress.”

On Saturday, which would normally be a “be a person day” was jammed packed with activities, so much so, recycling this week did not get done. The day started with grad photos with my kid on campus. She looked great and I cannot wait to see how the photos turned out. I have a few favourites in terms of the props permutation of cap, gown, parchment, and stethoscope. I cannot believe that she is graduating soon, and seeing her in a cap and gown (with hood) made it much more real. I’m not sure where the 4 years have gone, but she has made the most of her undergraduate experience, and I’m glad she lived with me during this time. She’s made my experience in Prince George joyful and fulling.

Saturday continued with a visit from my friend, Reema. She teaches at SFU and was giving a talk about “women and reading” at Books and Company. We met up soon after photos (and changing back into my hoodie). She knows a few other folks on Prince George, so she wanted to tour the university. We had an incredible chat about higher education, our careers, and next steps. I was so fascinated how similar some of our experiences were and I appreciated her kind words of calling me a “positive person” and that I needed to continue “the fight” for folks like her. I was inspired by her optimism and realism. We could have chatted all day. She has got an incredible sense of space and direction. I was a bit wowed. We visited my place, went to DandyLines and Zoe’s Coffee house.

Now, I’m running late. I am so grateful that Grace waited for me to say hello. Her patience is her superpower. I did not realize that she was not staying in Prince George, but was driving through after flying in that morning. UGH. I feel terrible. We had a wonderful chat and it was fun to connect and get to know each other better. Her generosity and kindness did not go unnoticed. I am so appreciative of our conversation and I feel that we are more aligned than anticipated. More often, emails do not do justice. Zoom might help to make a better connection, but nothing beats meeting someone in person to get to know one another. Thank you Grace for making the connection, for lunch, and for the conversation.

Grace did wish me well on “be a person day.” I was a bit combobbled by the scheduled activities during the day, even though connecting with folks is a good thing. I did head home to rest and take a nap THINKING that the rest of my day was free. Luckily, as I was rolling over to look at my phone, by chance, I looked at my calendar. GAH. It was 5pm, and I had invited three teacher candidates to my place to work with them to prepare for the WestCAST 2026 Conference Proceedings. These teacher candidates presented at WestCAST 2026 at the University of Winnipeg last month and undergraduate and graduate students who presented have an opportunity to publish their work. These three teacher candidates wanted to publish their work, so the conference proceedings (which is NEW for WestCAST) was an excellent opportunity, but it’s new territory.

In a staggered way, we wrote their abstract for the conference proceedings. It was announced that they would have an extension to the first draft of their paper, but what was required in the meantime was the title of the presentation and their abstract. The week extension involves submitting the manuscript. I really enjoy working with undergraduates on this kind of work. Research is new to them and the WestCAST 2026 conference organizers from the University of Winnipeg intended to create this opportunity for students, much like how they organized the conference itself, which really felt like a conference for research. I supported them in their writing and provided feedback where I could. I wanted to leave my place with an abstract they could submit ASAP because they are still in practicum and likely time and effort could not be afforded to continue writing.

After a few hours of working with the teacher candidates, I was on “designated driver duty.” I drove my kid and her friends to the restaurant and took some time to REST, but also clean the kitchen, vacuum the main floor, refill containers with food, clean the fridge, and tidy the main floor of my place. It was kind of a mess. I did not want to “work” but could do some household chores before picking up my kid and her friends. Yup. I went to bed at 1am. And yes, it’s daylight savings and lost an hour of sleep. LOL. I went out for breakfast with my friend to a new place I’ve never been too, and it was delicious. I wrote about that experience in my other blog, and then I met up with a former teacher candidate for coffee. This former teacher candidate, now teacher, was at Carolyn’s session on Wednesday and we made plans to catch up. We talked for 4 hours!! And, I missed Reema’s presentation (not knowingly). Apparently, it went well. Yay Reema!! Time just flew by. I walked away from that conversation also inspired. I needed to do that.

The weekend ends with a plate of dumplings and a diet Coke, a quick Costco shop with my kid, and picking up some sushi for a late dinner. I was not super compelled to jump into work (with exception to accepting a paper to review). I made a list of things I need to do on Monday, took a shower, got ready for bed… and then, started writing my weekly blogs and reflections in the middle of the night. #ClassicChristine The cat is not happy, but I am blogging on my bed. It’s now 2am, I’m done, and I feel very happy about the week and weekend. 🙂

March 1, 2026 – How Cliché

Teaching is all about relationships is a message that is sent during the first term of the teacher education program, but cannot be fully realized until the second term when teacher candidates start working with students. And, I would say, it’s more than the relationship with students, but it’s also about relationships with other teachers, administration, support staff, parents, and community members. Community and connection are both central to my teaching practice and I was pleasantly reminded of this value today at Tim Hortons. I went out for a walk today because it was beautiful and sunny (and not too cold). I needed to get outside and reconnect to the land and be situated in place. I loved listening to my podcast as well. Part of my walk involved getting coffee at Tim Horton’s.

There is a Tim Horton’s near my place and I feel that this could be a place I can learn to connect with. I’ll admit, Tim Horton’s is not a place I would normally go to, but I thought it could be a place where I can be open to because it’s nearby and a good pitstop for me mid-walk to grab a medium dark regular coffee… and it was. In doing so, I bumped into a graduate student I taught last term. This student is also working at an EA at Harwin Elementary, where I was teaching EDUC 421 to teach Assessment and Motivation in-situ. I always appreciate her smile and warm hug. She is always excited to see me, so I was very excited to bump into her at Tim Horton’s. I met her husband and it was good to see her.

I sat down to enjoy my cup of coffee before heading out for the second half of my walk. Mid-coffee, this student got up to give me a couple of chocolates. She did not have to, but dang… they were delicious with my cup of coffee. I was very grateful for her generosity and ongoing gratitude, but I was reminded that relationships matter… and they linger. She showed up to my class late in the term and she needed some support to get on track. I was happy to help, and I also feel that it’s part of my job, and also part of who I am. We are here to pave a way for students to be and feel successful. She did an amazing job overall.

As I reflect, I am also brought to my thinking about how I relate to all of my students, like the ones that went to WestCAST 2026 with me a couple of weeks ago. WE ARE A TEAM. I don’t see myself as the “course instructor” or someone who “knows more”… but rather, I see myself as the lead learner and I am co-constructing knowledge with my students. We are co-learning and co-teaching. Students come to class with an expertise. My job is to coordinate learning experiences so that we can collectively sense-make, discern, and discuss. I am not a big fan of individual competition, ranking and comparing, and learning in isolation. I want us to win together. WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER than apart.

February 21, 2026 – Thank You Winnipeg

What a cute photo… we just landed in Winnipeg in this image and we were in Winnipeg for WestCAST 2026 at the University of Winnipeg. We had a great time in Winnipeg and I’m so grateful to work with these teacher candidates from the UNBC teacher education program. This crew each wanted to present inquiry topics individually and they were each EXCEPTIONAL in their presentations. I am so proud of them. I am a little regretful that we do not do e-portfolios anymore in the program to read about what they would say about WestCAST and Winnipeg, but I feel that they shared lots of gratitude. What an experience!!

I guess I will take the liberty to share a little bit of our trip to Winnipeg. First of all, I would like to thank the UNBC School of Education and Chair for making this trip possible for the teach candidates. This trip would not be possible without that support. Second, I would like to thank the participating teacher candidates for their interest and willingness to prepare and present at WestCAST. To do so, they are working above and beyond the teacher education program, which can be very difficult. They each presented an inquiry that was important to them.

One presented about how ADHD is a superpower and the benefits of UDL, one presented on learning about their Indigenous ancestry through beading and wanting to include beading circles as part of their pedagogy, and one presented on BIPOC learners with exceptionalities and developing one’s cultural competency to create an inclusive and equitable learning environment. I presented about coaching and mentoring teacher candidates and creating a third space for these teacher candidates as part of a self-study. I also presented with members of BCTEN about Connective Professionalism. It was so great!!

I feel very lucky to be a part of BCTEN and UNBC teacher education program to make learning experiences like this possible. I appreciated our collegiality, collaboration, and cooperation. I feel grateful to have wonderful colleagues and peers to work with, but also have amazing teaching candidates to work with. I am reminded about what I love about my career and profession. I love the people, the creativity, and the connection. The theme of the conference was “Together, We Grow.” It’s about community, and I loved the words shared by keynote speaker, David Robertson. We are better together, and I feel that this togetherness, community, and human connection are at the heart of what I do.

Below, is a photo of us near the end of our trip in Winnipeg. We went to the Forks, Canadian Museum of Human Rights, and Festival de Voyageur. We had a great time. I also got to connect with colleagues from UBC, UVic, and SFU… but also meet folks from the conference planning committee from the University of Winnipeg and folks from other universities who seek to do the same work as me. Working with teacher candidates and undergraduate students is amazing. I also bumped into a former school trustee friend from Manitoba. He’s now the president of CSBA. (I knew him before he was famous). And, it was like no time had passed… when I think it was about 10-12 years ago since we had first met.

Thank you Winnipeg!! I feel hopeful, inspired, and connected. WELL DONE!!

February 16, 2026 – A Needed Break

Hello. My name is Christine. It’s been 2 weeks since my last blog post.

There… that’s my confession. My weekly blog posts did not make my list of priorities of “things to do” and normally it sits very high on my priority list. I was not going to happen. Nope. And, I feel no guilt or regret. Sometimes decisions like this need to be made and the consequences are very little. So, that’s what happened. But now I’m back, and it’s Family Day. No teaching today… just catching up with everything. This blog post will be filled with lots of gratitude.

I forgot how intense January can be. I almost burned out a few years ago and made a commitment to SLOW and REST that year so that this work can be sustainable, reasonable, and viable for years to come. That year, I was also intentional with doing only things that I enjoy doing. I love teaching, I love working with students, and I love writing about my work. What more can I ask for? It has taken some time to get here, but I feel that my work is getting there.

This year started wih getting a SSHRC Connections Grant Application submitted by February 1. Luckily, I was only a collaborator for this application.I am so grateful for the work of the Principal Investigator, Co-Applicant, and committee members for making that grant application possible. Sadly, my name was a barrier to our submission. UGH. What is my name? Good question. I was also messed up with Rogers cable and WestJet at the same time. I need to decide.

Then, my classes started a week earlier than expected. So, despite the planning and dates posted in the calendar, I returned to work a few days sooner than I though. Admittedly, it was a little combobbulating, and these courses are 4 hours long each, back-to-back on Mondays, then 2 night classes, one on Tuesday and the other on Thursday, of which run on the university calendar. The first 6-weeks were intense for my Monday classes, but we managed to get things done.

Also in January, I had to get a draft chapter written and ready for peer review. Although you think you have time to complete, it ALWAYS takes longer than you think. And when I say “you,” I really mean “me.” I have not yet mastered the time it takes to complete any task, but I continue to persist to get things done. Sadly, t’s one thing at a time, so the things-to-do list was accruing. That said, given a week extension, I called on my co-author team and things worked out perfectly.

Finally, I had to get my PAR (professional activity report) completed by FRIDAY, February 13th. Does that sound freaky? It sure does. As I have mentioned, by doing things one thing at a time, things on the “things to do” list was getting bumped to the next day. And, I was having long nights too, so sleep was important too. Friday was a full day with PAR and meetings. On Thursday, I needed to get my WestCAST conference powerpoint done for a meeting too.

Approaching Friday the 13th, it was a long marathon ending with my PAR. I had a plan to do my PAR. I revamped majorly last year, so I knew what I needed to do. What I did not anticipate was the time to work out my draft PowerPoint for WestCAST. That took HOURS!! We (the Teacher Candidates and I) practiced on Thursday and provided one another formative feedback. We are doing great!!

As for my PAR… I started it on Friday morning while addressing a few time dependent emails. I went to the university and continued to work on my PAR. I had a few meetings (one in person and two online) and I was back at my PAR. Holy moly, I thought I was organized with my stuff, but it took a tonne of time to collate every and format. In the end, I asked for the help from my kid to work out the averages on my course evaluation forms so that I can finish my submission.

Thank goodness for help… thank goodness for people. because of people, I got the SSHRC application submitted, the chapter completed and submitted, WestCAST presentation draft created with feedback, and my PAR completed just in time. There was no time requirement, but I got it in by about 5:35pm. Not horrible, but not what I wanted either. Without the kid, it could have been later.

Yay!! Those were the big things. As you can see with the image above, after my kid’s meeting at the university, we went to Earls for happy hour. A diet coke with a lime, yummy appetizers, and great service, celebrating the end of the week and the submission of my PAR, made this celebration with the kid AMAZING. But wait… I also bumped into a former student at Earls who agreed to present at a conference and guest speak at my EDUC 201 class. Yay. Also AMAZING!!

I finally took my “be a person day” on Saturday. It’s been awhile with all the things that needed to get done last month and it felt GREAT. I recycled, went thrifting, and got a tonne of AMAZING things to bring home. Yup. And it was Valentine’s Day too. I got Mexican food for lunch and Chinese food for dinner. Why not? I’m not cooking on my “be a person day.” I needed a day just for me. Valentine’s Day seems like the most perfect day for self care and active REST.

Sunday was consumed by making a script for my WestCAST presentation and revising my PowerPoint for better flow, coherence, and clarity. That work pretty much took the whole day. I did go out for dinner with a friend, but otherwise, I was in the ZONE with my presentation and I am hoping that it will resonate with those who will attend my session. The conference looks huge and AMAZING, of course, I can’t wait for Wednesday. This Monday morning, albeit a stat holiday, required some work to be done by noon. I did it, but not sure how well. LOL.

In the end, things are getting done, like this blog post. And for that, I’m grateful.

January 31, 2026 – Me and My Sit Spot

Oh my goodness… I should be stressed. I have a writing deadline to meet and I’m running out of time. Admittedly, it has taken me some time to get started, but I am really enjoying the process and realizing that I will have more content than I need. This is a good problem. When I checked in with other authors for this publication, a couple of my colleagues shared that they were struggling with too much content. Honestly, it’s a good problem, but I was not sure if that would be the case for me. Today, I’m realizing that it’s true for me too. Great news!!

For now, I will pause a bit to reflect on my next step given this understanding. I am the lead author for my group. The co-authors have written many reflections and I feel that we will be just fine with the message that we want to deliver. For now, I will take a moment to blog for some solace and reflection. I do find this platform offers me an opportunity to practice my writing (which is one of the main reasons why I started to blog) and to reflect. I find the writing process helps me to unravel some of my thinking in ways that mulling over it does not.

Yesterday, I wrote the “literature review” while reflecting on one learning activity I do in one of my classes. I’m not sure if it was the right way to go about the literature review and I am tempted to rename the section as “The Fire Circle” because most of what I described was the fire circle that year and correlating that experience with the principles of land-based learning and education. I’m not sure if I’m skilled enough to weave the literature with a learning experience, particularly when the second half of the manuscript is about land-based learning experiences and how it has impacted one’s pedagogy and student wellness.

I know that this chapter is in progress despite the imminent submission date. The chapter will need to be peer-reviewed by other authors who are unfamiliar with our chapter then redrafted for a second submission. That said, it would be nice to have the chapter framework settled and big ideas amicable to my co-authors, reviewers, and editors. That is the ultimate goal. I’m just so impressed and grateful to work with these former teacher candidates, now practicing teachers. We did some important work in the program and needs to be shared.

I am grateful to be co-authoring this work and taking the lead on this project. I am learning a tonne and I appreciate the trust and support from my co-authors. I look forward to the final product. It will be a process and I should make note of how much I am enjoying putting the pieces together as a piece of writing that hopefully is not only coherent but meaningful and relevant to others too. I also hope that the writing reflects the story experienced by all of us. When I think about developing one’s efficacy for research and writing… PRACTICE matters.

January 25, 2026 – Getting Off My Phone

My #OneWord2026 is manifesting in wonderful ways. What does it mean to PRACTICE? I love changing my one-word into an inquiry question or guiding question. Last week, I was really doubting the power of this word and was very tempted to change my one-word for 2026. Luckily, the blogging process changed my mind again, and thus, I’m really committed to this word. As I reflect on this week and take-action in enacting wellness and self-care, I was so wowed by the idea of taking care of myself as part of my productivity and happiness.

Yesterday, I went for a day trip to Vancouver to visit my family (and get a massage). Despite a billion things happening in the background, I went to the Lower Mainland on “be a person” day. A guilt-free day to do what fills me up as a person. It could be chores, watching TV, doing errands, travel, or doing nothing. My flight was a 6am out of Prince George then my return flight was at 6pm out of Vancouver. In that time, I walked 17,528 steps, visited the ocean with my sister, went to the THE BOSS RESTAURANT with my brother and sister, went for a 90-minute massage, then had dim sum with my brother, sister, and dad. We took my dad after dim sum to get his hair cut and then dropped him off home. It’s important for me to visit him from time to time. We even visited my mom at the cemetery. Afterwards, my sister, brother, and I went to Costco Business in Richmond. My brother bought a Dyson, then dropped my sister off at a SkyTrain Station to return home, then me to the airport to fly back home. It was a great trip and for most of the time, I was on my phone to take pictures.

Today, I started the day leaving my phone in my bedroom and starting the day without my phone with me at all times. IT WAS AMAZING. I got so much done. After being away for the day on Saturday and after a week of work, I spent the day cleaning up, freshening up the cat station/location, and vacuuming. I was putting things away and getting life in order. It felt great and I was productive. Things that needed to get done, got done. I did the dishes, made dinner tonight, and took out the garbage and recycling. I felt very grounded and shocked how good I felt. I then proceeded to pick up my computer (and phone) to blog, and the quick decline and habitual behaviours quickly emerged. UGH. I got caught in the trap of games, reels, and emails. Nothing was getting done. I was frustrated.

So, I’ve deleted all of the games on my phone. After working on the PowerPoint for tomorrow’s classes, I made a few emails and prepped some forms as well. I am back to blogging in the middle of the night with the aspiration of charging my phone in the washroom. I had wanted to talk about the amazing feeling of being disconnected from my phone, but what I am realizing is, I need to PRACTICE disconnecting, so that I can reconnect to life, self, and my friends and family. I am also going to re-watch this video below soon after I complete this blog post:

I believe this to be true and tried before a couple of times, but obviously I could not sustain it. After today, I’m convinced. I loved just “being a person” and not having to spend any time on a game or video. I did have the TV on today but I feel that’s more background noise (and not as addictive). Anyway, I will practice not being on my phone as much because there are so many ways to connect with others, with place, and with the land. I loved being by the ocean and being with my family. It was a good reminder of what I want out of life… and why.

January 16, 2026 – Changed my mind

I cannot believe it’s mid-January already. I have a tonne of things to do and accomplish and things are already falling off my plate… involuntarily. People have passed away and workload is increasing and in question. I had originally identified the word PRACTICE to be my #OneWord2026. In November and December, I really wanted to practice taking risks (with my academic work), practice going to bed and having a good sleep (for my health and wellness), and practice exercising, mindfulness, and eating well (for longevity and stress management). Anyway, those are all good things and practicing them are super important for all the reasons stated, but in January, I find myself overwhelmed.

The term started a few days early, plans are being solidified at the 11th hour, forms are being filled and I’m learning a new process, and I have been strongly reflecting on life, purpose, and my health. My dad’s health could be better, my friend/colleague passed away last week (and it was a surprise and not a surprise), and I just learned that one of my good friend’s health is being challenged. There is so much on the go around me… and then there is my work. Teaching is super busy and I am teaching 4 courses this term, I was just advised that my next year’s workload will be changing to more teaching, and I am doing research on three different teams, I’m leading two different teams, and I have my own writing and research to accomplish. Truthfully, this is a good problem.

Another aspect of my work is service. I love this part of my job and can/will tend to over extend myself. I realized today that PRODUCT or outcomes is the measurable metric versus process. For example, I have submitted two manuscripts to one journal and there is sits… one got accepted and the other is under review, but nothing has been published yet. The development and completion of the manuscript took a lot of time and effort. It was an amazing learning process, which I loved, but now, we wait for the outcome/publication. Anyway, I’m getting sidetracked. I’ve been second-guessing my #oneword2026.

My #OneWord2026 is PRACTICE. My original intention for the work seems to be focused on productivity… and doing more or being better. I can see why most New Year’s Resolutions are abandoned by mid-January. It’s tough commit and it does not feel good when you think you are failing or underperforming. Also, when people are passing or not doing well, it makes me think about my mortality and how I want to spend the last chapter of my life. In the end, I was worried that PRACTICE was leaning towards productivity. As a result, I wanted to avoid feelings of shame, failure, and disappoint. But as I am writing, maybe my first focus with practice is PEACE. I thought of changing my one-word to peace, but maybe I just need to practice peace, kindness, compassion, and patience.

January 11, 2026 –
I’ve still got it

Thank goodness I wore my runners and socks to the Basic First Aid class I went to this weekend. Normally I wear Crocs or Uggs (with no socks). We were indoors for the whole day and our shoes were left outside of the room. I cannot believe that I have returned to a first aid class to acquire certification for work. I needed to do this class on Saturday so that I can take my class from the university off campus. It’s part of FRASP, the Field Risk Assessment and Safety Plan. It’s a lengthy form asking about the safety of those heading off campus. although I am only bringing my class to an elementary school as part of their coursework, a plan needs to be created and submitted to the program chair and faculty dean for approval. Thank goodness it’s “low risk” because then the university would have to approve it too.

I never thought that I would have to return to first aid training. I’ve done Level 2 a few times as part of my job when I taught high school math. I was the school’s first aid attendant. I did not think too much about it. I liked the training and the processes and protocols seemed very aligned to mathematics. it was logical, sequential, and prioritized. The last time I was in a high school teaching math was in 2010 and long before that, I was the first aid attendant. It’s been awhile. So, I was not sure about what to expect from Basic First Aid. The terminology has changed. This course would have been the Level 1 course. I think that’s all I need for FRASP, and I felt ok about committing a day to get this certification.

There was not pre-reading or resources to prep for the final test. The Basic First Aid class was Day 1 of the 2-day Standard First Aid course (that is, Level 2). There was a lot of content to be covered and a very tight timeline. I appreciated the course instructor’s approach with the time and content crunch. The class went from 8:30am to 4:30pm, with the multiple choice test to be taken at 4pm. Oh my goodness… so many videos, PowerPoint slides, demos, notes on the board, direct instruction, and opportunities to practice. We had a few breaks too. Time was a strong variable and the course instructor did a good job managing it.

As you can see, the work-mode never shuts off. I was appreciating the course instructor. He had someone in the back of the room helping/supervising or evaluating him, of which had commented a few times, but the course instructor also invited him to chime in from time to time. i thought that was good. It was interesting to observe other adults in the room in terms of their participation and how I perceived how they were learning as well. And, it was an opportunity to observe myself as a learner. I was admittedly panicking because I needed to pass this course for FRASP and I was not sure how I would do on the test. Multiple choice tests can be tricky, and I’m not the fastest reader. I was stressed.

Most of the day, I found myself self-regulating. I needed to pay attention to the course instructor. I needed to be compliant to the expectations of the practice sessions (and not be shy or tentative). I needed to not worry about the person beside me who kept coughing throughout the day and often we would work together and be partners. There is a lot of touching during the practice sessions. I needed to remember (and not memorize) the course content. There was a lot and not much to read from. There was no study time. You just do the class and then write the test. And, I needed to not compare myself to others, especially during the multiple choice test at the end of the course. There is a standard form everyone gets, and then a duotang of questions. I was self-conscious of my reading speed and I did not want to fail this test. I needed at least 70% to pass!!

I got to thinking about multiple choice tests. I don’t do them in my teacher education courses, or the courses I teach at the undergraduate and graduate level. There is no question that it provides accountability in terms of knowledge acquisition, but it does not tell you a whole lot about comprehension or competence (even though the course instructor was observing and providing feedback during our practice sessions). I think I was on #10 (out of 30) when people started to finish the test and going to the class instructor to get their test marked. A classic overhead transparency held all of the answers, and the course instructor would mark each test in real-time. And hence, more self-regulation for me… to not worry about what others are doing and when they were finishing. Some were getting questions wrong, as some had asked if they could see what they got wrong and how they should of answered differently.

One person, I believe, did not pass and were asked to return a back to the front desk to re-take the test (or the course) again. Most of us in this course were here for work, with exception to one person who was there for school and needed the first aid course as part of their prerequisites to a program at the college. Me, on the other hand, needed it for FRASP so that I can take my class off campus to participate in in-situ learning for my assessment class. Oh… the irony of doing a selected response test to get my Basic First Aid certificate so that my students can participate in an in-situ experience on assessment and motivation.

I will admit, I was very motivated on trying to know as much as I could, and to sense-make where I could, so that I would pass the multiple choice test. I had no idea what would be on the test, and I was unsure how much I would retain after actively listening, observing, and practicing during the day. I learned how to take off my gloves, I learned about Occupational Stress Injury, and burns have been relabelled to superficial, partial, and full. Throughout the course, I was alarmed by the level of importance and responsibility of being a first responder. CPR, AED, and ABC along with informed consent, shock, and transport needs made an impression on me, so much so that I got 100% on the test. Hooray!!

January 4, 2025 – Starting a New Term

This image above is my brunch meal from new year’s eve. Ichiban with bok choy, one egg, and chilli crisp oil. It really hit the spot that day and it was a meal that I wanted to have for quite some time. So, why not? I made it. And, it was delicious and easy to make. That day, I took off, slept in, and appreciated a day SLOW. I really enjoyed New Year’s Eve. I stayed home with the cat and kept it very simple that day. I did not have to go out (and I didn’t want to). It was a good opportunity to reflect on the year and think about what I have learned.

In 2025, I have learned that “I am enough” (Brown, 2010). Looking back at life, I can see now that I spent a lot of time and effort to prove or demonstrate my worth to others. Thus, what other people think of me (and my work) matter. It some ways, other people’s opinions and perceived expectations defined me. As a result, I have great anxiety around course evaluations, blind peer reviews, and any formative feedback. I can feel my nervous system go wild, and overthinking takes over my soul and way of being. During that time, sadly, I was not myself.

As I am learning more about myself (in the last chapter of my life), I am learning how to be more my authentic self. Understanding Where do I come from? Where am I going? Why am I here? and Who am I? (Sinclair, 2024) matters. Maybe it’s mid-life unravelling for more than 15-years, but I am slowly learning and understanding what makes “Christine.” I guess this is why Palmer’s 1997 “Heart of a Teacher: Identity and Integrity in Teaching” is central to my teaching practice. Not only is knowledge of the subject matter and of the students matter to teaching, but also self-knowledge is equally important. I have been working on acquiring self-knowledge of the past 5 years or so, and I am still learning.

I was brought to today’s blog post with the intention of talking about making “reasonable goals” for 2026. I feel that the more you know yourself, the more you will know your value, which in turn lends to setting boundaries and goal making. I also approach this blog post with a tonne of things to do, but spent much of the day crafting what I wanted to say today. One of the wondrous and wonderful things about writing is… it’s a form of THINKING and reflecting. Often I write about things that are different from what I intended. I learn a lot too.

Lorna Earl (2003) would call this “Assessment AS Learning,” where students take ownership of their learning and “empowers students to become their own expert assessors, monitoring their progress, setting goals, and making adjustments to improve learning” (Google AI Overview, January 4, 2026). Blogging and critically reflecting on my day, week, or practice is a form of this assessment to help me make sense of the world and way of being and living. I am hoping that I am able to assess and reflect often to make reasonable goals.

What 2026 brings for me is an opportunity to PRACTICE… my #OneWord2026. I think that I am a recovering “people pleaser” where self-betrayal was a way of being for survival, acceptance, and perceived success. Now that I am learning how to be “Christine,” I am understanding that I don’t have to be someone else to “fit in.” Lots of this thinking stems from my childhood, my Chinese-Canadian heritage, and cultural norms that were not aligned to who I am. I will say, I have succeeded in some way. I have a doctorate, I teach at a university, and I live independently and autonomously as a homeowner, single mom, and cat mom.

To set realistic goals for 2026, I like to follow what Christopher William says on the DOAC podcast: (1) What would have to have to happen in 2026 to look back on 2026 for it to be a success? (2) If you have to pick something up, you have to put something down. What would that be? And, (3) if your life was a movie, what would the audience be screaming at you with what to do with your life? As quick responses to these questions, (1) write and submit manuscripts that I am too scared to create or send; (2) more things need to get off my plate, so once something is done, I will not add anything new to replace it; and, (3) get off your phone and be present with your life. Focus on health and practicing new habits.