I’m not sure if I am about “catching up” on all of the weekly blogs posts I missed over the last few months, nor am I about blogging too regularly such that I would attempt a daily blog (again). I do like the idea, and have done in past, blogging when I feel inspired. Today is that day, despite all of the emails I need to open and some work I need (or would like) to do before 2024 ends. Here we go!!
One of the things I would like to do each year is to choose “one-word” for the year. I started doing this more than a decade ago. It was something that folks on Twitter (when #bcedchat was a thing… LOL) and I found over time that choosing one-word was so much better than making New Year Resolutions. More often than not, I would not meet any of my resolutions and feel very disappointed.
Then I shifted to my focus to One-Word. At first, I would choose words that were somewhat “work-related” or something that I “should do.” I’m not sure if this makes sense, but I would not realize the outcomes or results of those words until years later. What I learned was, when focusing on one-word, that’s what you focus on for the year. Last year, I chose my #OneWord2024 to be HAPPY.
Choosing HAPPY as my one-word was out of the ordinary for me. Unlike the other words I have chosen in the past, this word focused on the present. It had not expectations or requirements for productivity. I chose this word because I wanted to be happy. I spent several years blogging about “what’s important to me” during and post-pandemic, and what I learned is, I love being happy. 🙂
My #OneWord 2024 helped me to self-assess and evaluate what I was doing and it was important to me to engage in anything and everything that made me HAPPY. And, if it didn’t make me happy, I was able to “let it go.” I learned about my value, my values, and my boundaries. The only person who could make me happy was ME. That’s it. And guess what? I am happy. 2024 was AMAZING!!
So, what’s my #OneWord2025? At first, I thought it would be LOVE. Love who I am, love where I am, and love what I do. Strangely, that’s all true… ALREADY!! My friend gave me a set of “Be the Change” cards years ago, and I pulled one out a card just before writing this blog post, hence the inspiration. The word I pulled out was JOY. Ahhh… it just felt right. Voila. My #OneWord2025 is JOY.
Or shall I say… ENDING A YEAR?!? Where did the time go? Great question. If anything, I am so grateful for 2024. I feel that I have grown and I feel HAPPY. My #OneWord2024 was HAPPY. It was an unusual word for me to choose. Over the last decade, I would often choose words that are “work related.” But not this year. This year I focused on a way of being or rather a way of feeling: happy. One-word has offered me an alternative way to goal set or make a resolution.
When I think about my one-word of HAPPY, I think about “does this make me happy?” My one-word served as an excellent self-assessment tool. In then end, I would only what made me happy. If it was something I did not want to do, I just didn’t do it. If I did like what I was doing, I stopped or pivoted. And, I learned to recognize what I love to do. For example, I love presenting at conferences. This photo is taken in Vancouver after presenting at the FNESC Fall Conference.
I also love networking. I love connecting. And, I love building and belonging to a community. Attending and presenting at the FNESC Fall Conference with my friend, Desiree, felt like coming home. We presented at FNESC in 2018 on assessment and I missed FNESC 2019 due to job action at the university. Returning to this conference felt more like a reunion. I reconnected with so many people and I also met so many people too. Conferencing fills my cup. 🙂
The year also ends with a swift recovery from a surgical procedure. I got my gall bladder removed. I was having many gall bladder attacks over the last 5 years. On December 3, my gall bladder was removed. The day surgery experience was amazing. The wait was worth it and the timing could not have been more perfect. One week after my surgery, I visited the surgeon for a follow up session to learn that my gall bladder was inflamed and there were 40 stones in it. Yikes!
Despite having to present a couple weeks after surgery and then a family trip to Vegas a week after that, my recovery has been quick and I feel great. I felt great soon after surgery, but now that I have recovered, I never felt better. Moreover, I was grateful for my Chair and university for being so flexible and patient. To end the term, I managed to complete my marking for 3 courses and course outlines for 4 courses for next term on-time. All I could think of was, one step at a time.
Admittedly, some deadlines were not met and some things had to wait for my return from Las Vegas. This trip was something I planned with my siblings and my kid. My kid turned 21 this year and I wanted to go to the states to celebrate this new chapter in her life. She is in the middle of the third year of her program and I wanted to celebrate her “official adulthood” in the city of lights. My siblings are so supportive and I am grateful for their company and planning abilities.
You can only do what you can do… and it has to be within reason. Part of my 2024 way of being was thinking about my wellness and sustainability. I was in the practice of SLOW and being ok with what I can and cannot do. One of the things that fell of the plate was my weekly blog post (for both websites). I just did not have the capacity for it even though I wanted to do it. That’s ok. I’m back!! And voila!! I am super happy to get back at my reflective practice via blogging.
Other deadlines that were met near the end of this term were submitting conference proposals for WestCAST 2025 at SFU. Another conference, of course, and I am a part of 3 submissions. The first one is co-presenting with a few teacher candidates from the secondary education cohort, the second one I am supporting an elementary teacher candidate with her solo presentation, and finally, the third one is co-presenting with my fellow colleagues from BCTEN.
All three presentations were accepted to WestCAST 2025 and I look forward to being a part of that conference in February. I just love working with teacher candidates and with folks from other teacher education programs in BC. I feel very lucky to do the work that I do… and yes, it makes me HAPPY. I have also been engaging in research projects I enjoy being apart of and I’m learning lots. Finally, I am volunteering with groups, like the art gallery, that brings me JOY!!
To conclude 2024 and the busyness of the end of term was purchasing a home. I cannot believe that I was able to do that and I did not realize how much I was compromising, coping, and stress I was experiencing at my rental apartment until I moved into my place. I was looking for quite some time and went to a few open houses. Once the ball started rolling, I made an offer, closed the deal, and moved in to my place while teaching and ending the term. And yes, I’m happy.
I am so grateful that a former student, now colleague asked me to go out for a walk. What a good reminder about being out on the land and going outside. I’ve been so spooked to go outside from last year when there were so many bears out and about the neighbourhood. It’s more about not trusting me rather than the bears. I am definitely not “bear-aware” but I love going outside and walking. I have not been doing either as much as I would like to and it’s having an impact.
I mentioned in my last blog post about health and not being ashamed of it if it’s not going well. The goal is to do something about it. I have been struggling for the last couple of weeks and trying my best to get better while being productive. Seems like an unrealistic ask, but I am ok that I am not as productive as I could be. Slowly but surely, I’ve been trying to get back to “regular speed.” I’m not quite there yet, but I am feeling a bit better. That’s what matters. PROGRESS.
We went to the trails near the Forests of the World. We walked by the pit house and I was so enamoured by the environment. I took a lot of photos and none of them are as good as the real thing. The air was crisp and the sun was shining. Walking through the snow was like walking on the sand on the beach. It was pristine. I enjoyed our conversation and it was good to catch up. I was grateful. It was also great to see other people on the trail, walking or mountain biking.
I never thought I would be a “snow-person” but I really enjoyed going out today. Being on the land, being in good company, and appreciating this place so close ot my home was a wonderful and healing experience. Although I was not 100%, I tried my best to be in the moment and to be present. After, we went for coffee, then I went home to rest and take care of myself. Listening to my body takes intentionality, slowness, and patience. I needed to rest… and I was ok with that.
The “old Christine”…. Maybe “Christine 4″… would have just ignored myself physical symptoms and just plowed forward driven by guilt and fear. This behaviour is sadly common for teachers. It’s not a good one and I’ve done this self-neglect for a long time. Nothing is more important than your health. Without it, you have nothing, so take care of it. Being out on the land today was a wonderful reminder that I’m not alone on this journey. Going outside helps.
There has been a tonne of things happening this term. Great things!! First, I’m adjusting to teaching and trying doing research (on the side of my desk). LOL. I find that the demands are up and down and lately, I’ve been finding time to get back in a place that is “more mindful, more demure.” I found myself running around and trying to make things happen. Taking it SLOW is not a bad thing.
The irony does not escape me when I just came back from a conference in Kelowna and presenting with a few teacher candidates about educator wellness. Most times, I am modelling what not to do. I tend to work late nights and often unreasonable hours. In return, this work output is complemented with extreme REST. When sleep is a luxury, then one needs to re-evaluate the pace of life.
On October 31, 2024, the purchase of my new home was finalized and I got the call from the surgeon regarding my gallbladder. I have a date. I’ve been waiting for months to get this call and I am learning over time the seriousness of my condition. Admittedly, it’s a condition that has developed over time that I created for myself. The horror knowing how I’ve lived my life, negatively impacted me.
Anyway, the gallbladder attacks are extremely painful and will only get worse over time. I remember chatting with the surgeon in the spring and he wondered why I did not get the operation earlier (after hearing my story). The truth is, I was not taking care of myself. My health and wellness was not a priority. What a horrible thing to say, but I put everyone else’s needs and wants before mine.
A long story made short, my health was in question more than 5-years ago. I never paid attention to these physical signs of “un-wellness” until someone brings it to your attention. It started with one dental hygienist refusing to serve me due to my blood pressure, to getting my wisdom teeth removed, to getting blood pressure pills, to getting gallbladder attacks that put me in the hospital.
This blog post might be perceived as TMI, but it’s something that myself as an educator should not be ashamed or afraid to speak of (or blog about). We need to talk about our health and wellness. Seek help, when needed. The goal is to learn from these experiences. Sadly, we are creatures of habit and denial can be easily ignored. This weekend, I had another gall badder attack. It was bad.
I am so grateful that my surgery date is coming soon. This last attack entailed three stones (in sequence) that tried to pass. It was 9-hours of hoping that the pain will cease. Something that started as something that was similar heartburn to something that is so painful that you can’t do anything about it and resist the notion of going to the hospital because it’s easier to suffer in silence… is sad.
In such pain, I was unable to do work. Nothing mattered. I feel better now, but I have taken the time to recover. That took about a day and I’m just getting back into things (one step or task at a time). I’m not 100% yet but I am being gentle and kind to myself. I need to. I’m just getting back into things, like work, one step or task at a time. Time and effort must be spent on one’s health and wellness.
Post operation, I have to eat well and exercise. Again, the solutions are known and easily ignored. Part of being “happy” (my #oneword2024), is not just mental and spiritual wellness, but also the physical. I took my health for granted and now that I am getting older and experiencing symptoms (of which I’ve ignored before my gall bladder attack), I am rudely reminded of what’s really important.
First, I am accepting that I missed out on writing last week’s weekly blog and I am allowing myself to pick up where I left off and write this week’s blog post without worrying about having to make up a blog post because I had committed to a weekly blog. It’s ok to skip a week (or two). I missed a couple during the summer and now I have missed another one. It’s all good. Last weekend I was recovering from a very intensive week supporting a colleague with a grant application and this week I went out of town to attend and co-present at a conference. Life is getting full with many things to do for my work and personal life, and I am very grateful. I can only do what I can do. Onwards and upwards.
Second, I don’t think this is going to be a very long blog post. As much as I think it might be, it’s already tomorrow (aka., 1am) and I have an early start tomorrow. I am super excited about what I am doing and I feel very lucky to do the work that I do. I have so much to catch up on as well, but I think that’s the nature of my work, but also I have chosen to take “Saturdays off” to “be a person” on that day. I have now mastered my “be a person day” such that I take the day off guilt free. I cannot believe how much of a difference it makes to my sense of being and well-being. I feel HUMAN when I take Saturdays off. It’s now lending itself to Friday nights and most of Sundays. I’m ok with that. Doing the laundry is good.
Third, the consequence of “being a person,” however, are very full work weeks and days. My days get very long and I’m in front of a computer for hours. Sleep becomes essential and I need to insert some outdoor time or daily exercise to balance these days. This “educator wellbeing” will be a scaffolded process. I just came back from Kelowna co-presenting with three teacher candidates at the “Research Forum on Educator Wellness” about student/teacher wellness and land-based pedagogies. There is something about being on the land. The presentation went well and I enjoy working with this crew on this lesson study.
The inquiry is ongoing and we hope to be writing about our experiences. The project started with four teacher candidates presenting at WestCAST 2024. Now, three teacher candidates are continuing with the work during practicum. I was coaching and mentoring this crew from the beginning and joined them in co-presenting at the research forum. We’ve applied for another national conference in Toronto and hope to write a chapter or article about this action research. I am convinced about our message of teaching curriculum outside and that student wellness equates to teacher wellness. This work also aligns to BC’s Curriculum, First Peoples Principles of Learning, Standard 9, and the TRC.
What I am learning in on of the classes I’m teaching is, the obstacles are the opportunities. I could not agree more. It’s like when learning happens when we make mistakes. The light shines through the cracks. I love that metaphor or imagery. It reminds me of the Japanese term, “komorebi,” that is, sunshine filtering through the trees. The word describes visible light, but its often known for its feeling. Feelings of hope, wonder, and curiosity come to mind when I think about what learning, leading, and living is all about. I said many times during our Kelowna trip to the teacher candidates, whatever is meant to happen will happen. Keep moving forward, but you can’t control others or the details.
I am grateful for my friend who drove me to and from Kelowna to Prince George and for the ongoing commitment, connection, and collaboration with the teacher candidates. This project has taught me a lot and I appreciate how we are able to redesign our presentation to suit the theme of each conference. It amazes me and I am reminded that at teachers, we are learners and leaders. We need to take the time to nourish those qualities in ourselves. It’s not meant to be perfect or scripted, but rather an opportunity to reflect and reimagine to get better at what we do. There is no “best practice” because it’s always changing. So, I think that if we are better at change, the better we can be as learners and teachers.
As I reflect on my teaching practice and where it is going, I am becoming more focused on place. I feel that is is more about developing my “self-knowledge” and learning more about myself in the context of this place. Most of my life I lived and learned with the ocean. I was born and raised in Prince Rupert and then went to post-secondary education in Vancouver. My teaching and school trustee career lasted about 25-years on the Sunshine Coast. My last 5+ years have been in Prince George. Much has changed in my life as well as my relationship with the land. In EDUC 394 in the teacher education program, I like to take the class to different places in Prince George to teach, learn, and collectively sense-make together.
In past, we have gone to West Lake Provincial Park. Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park, to the pit house in the Forest of the World, Cottonwood Island Part, the Prince George Public Library, and Two Rivers Art Gallery. I’ve been so grateful to have been able to take my class to these places and in other courses in the following term, I like to take my class into elementary schools to do “real-life” work in teaching and learning in context. When I was a sessional instructor at Simon Fraser University, I also took the class outside (as best I could). My week ended with my EDUC 394 class at Cottonwood Island Park to lesson plan using BC’s Curriculum. Although it was a bit cold (but not snowing), learning outside is magical. There is something about being outside that makes learning better.
In EDUC 394, I love the pace of learning outside and how we can use the land as teacher and inspiration. For me, teaching and learning outside is grounding. Being on the land helps me to learn more about who I am and where I am. The signature pedagogy of the program is People, Place, and Land. Although I was part of the curriculum redesign team for the program, I believe all faculty members and students are continually learning and figuring out what our signature pedagogy means. If anything, there is an interrelationship amongst all three aspects such that the intersection of People, Place, and Land is ME. The more that I am making and deepening my relations with people, place, and land, in the Central Interior of BC, I learn more about me and become a better me. Thank You Lheidli T’enneh.
On October 4th, we gathered in Vanderhoof to celebrate the conclusion of the Koh-Learning Research Project, a collaboration with UNBC and School District No. 91 (Nechako Lakes). I joined this group during the latter half of the project. The project lasted for 6-years with different graduate students, faculty and teachers like myself, and K-12 students. The project leader, Dr. Margot Parkes, had a vision about connecting health, the watershed, and student learning and leadership together to engage in a community-based research project. The project was land-based, student-centered, and culturally responsive.
I played more of a “supporting-actor” role and eventually a person who enjoyed taking pictures. I attended a few summer gathering events and participated in the bimonthly meetings online. The celebratory event was super well and I appreciated all those who were able to attend the event, but also for all those who were a part of the Koh-Learning project in some way. I loved hanging out with the two UNBC students, were were former SD91 student voice students, that night to help facilitate the evening event and to get to know them a bit better. I love their ambition, hope, and connection to this place and land.
In some ways, I wished that I had the capacity to be involved more with Koh-Learning, but on the other hand, I feel that things happen exactly the way it should. You can’t force things to happen, but you can open the window or door to make things happen. That’s what I appreciated about this research group. I loved that their willingness to create and innovate, to discover and explore, and to implement with all hands (i.e., K-12 students, graduate students, teachers, faculty, researchers, local experts, and community members). Knowingly or not knowing, overtime I am more inspired and willing to go outside, to explore, and push boundaries so that we can understand the land, place, and ourselves.
I am also working with a group of teacher candidates investigating the value of land-based pedagogies and student wellness… and teacher wellness. Although not exactly like the Koh-Learning in Our Watersheds, but this project can learn a lot from what Koh-Learning has achieved over the last 6-years. I’ve met so many wonderful people from this project and I am grateful that I was able to celebrate part of my birthday week with friends. What’s looming in the horizon is what’s next? I hope to share the seasonal rounds video created, that is, a digital story to conclude the project, but what will Koh-Learning 2.0 look like? There is definitely some interest from folks from UNBC and SD91. I guess it’s TBD.
Image from the UNBC School of Education Facebook Page – EDUC 394 – Sept. 26, 2024
September 29, 2024 – Truth and Reconciliation
Look at this day… a beautiful sunny day… as if the skies had opened up for us this day. It was raining almost every day (including September 26, 2024 in the afternoon) but this morning was gorgeous. I could not believe it. I felt lucky!! For EDUC 394, I have designed the first few weeks of the course to scaffold to the fourth week of the course to acknowledge the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (on September 30th) and Orange Shirt Day to create a foundation of understanding of “the hard work” required to comprehend BC’s Curriculum, First Peoples Principles of Learning, Professional Standard 9, and the TRC.
We started the class with the Blanket Exercise with Dr. Daniel Sims from the First Nations Studies department. We’ve collaborated on the Blanket Exercise for the last few years with teacher candidates. I appreciate his willingness to offer his time, knowledge, and expertise with teacher candidates in this exercise. It’s not an easy topic but it makes the history of Canada visible and experiential. As a consequence, the learning experience can be very difficult and challenging. I was proud of the courage and vulnerability these cohorts had expressed in the morning. I regret the sadness it provokes and the heaviness it creates, but the morning’s class was planned with intentionality having September 30th in mind.
The morning was difficult and challenging and to complement the Blanket Exercise, the UHNBC Traditional Drummers joined the class outside at the university’s Ceremonial Fire Circle where the teacher candidates built a fire. Thank you to the UHNBC Traditional Drummers of whom I shared our morning’s activity with the blanket exercise and how the teacher candidates were feeling. I am so grateful to the UHNBC Traditional Drummers for holding the space for the teacher candidates and sharing their compassion, kindness, and joy with us. The drumming session started with much heaviness such that one teacher candidate was brave to share their vulnerability, sadness, and gratitude. With each song and opportunity to participate in drumming and sing, the class ended with the eagle dance. Thank you EDUC 394 (Fall 2024) for doing the (hard) work. It’s not easy.
Video/image from the UNBC School of Education Instagram Account – September 26, 2024
What I have decided to do (intentionally or not intentionally) was to create a new site to model for students in EDUC 394. The portfolio platform has changed from EDUC 405. First, for reasons that the learning intentions are different. Second, I am thinking that the portfolio will be more teacher directed rather than student directed. We had our first class on this topic and I realized that the easier I can make this experience, the better. And, leave space for those who want to extend.
Classic teaching. You don’t know, until you know. I also have high expectations for this crew and sadly (or not sadly) I want to do a lot in this sampler course. But, it sounds like much of what people are doing are similar in other classes, so I can step back. There is no need to do “everything.” When I say everything, I mean everything that I would like to do. Sometimes taking it slow has its merit. I’ve been loving my #OneWord2024 of HAPPY, and part of that is to take things slow. 🙂
This week has been a whirlwind and it’s finally slowing down as I am writing this blog post at YVR, the Vancouver Airport. I’m between flights… from Prince Rupert to Vancouver then to Vancouver to Prince George. I have a few hour wait at YVR. My wait started with a big pasta dinner and now with resting at my gate, blogging, and listening to an audiobook. I can take a deep breath. My friend and I presented at School District No. 52 (Prince Rupert) for the district’s implementation day.
We presented on “Un-colonizing Assessment: Shifting Our Practice.” We spent HOURS planning and prepping for this presentation. We’ve presented together before for FNESC, but it was fun to present on September 20, 2024. My friend invited me to co-present with her. I am so grateful. The experience was a true confidence boost for me but also a rekindling of my love for Assessment. I love talking about assessment, but also helping or encouraging others to change.
Presenting provided a meta-moment for me. Reflecting in-action and on-action are elements of the reflective practitioner by Schön and I was reflecting during the presentation and after. Mid-presentation after just talking about recognizing our “unconscious bias” as part of the Professional Standards for BC Educators #9. After sharing my story about the salmon and assessment, my friend give me some feedback and I realized I was caught in my own unconscious bias and I shared that.
Being wholehearted during the presentation in the morning, then being myself in the afternoon with the high school teachers led to a very successful and fulfilling day. A colleague of mine from the university also came out to part of the morning and to the afternoon session to help me out. That worked out splendidly and I appreciated his feedback too. I can see how the world works when I am being authentic and doing what I love. I had a great few days in Prince Rupert and thankful for my EDUC 394 class for being flexible and adaptable. Feeling lucky.
I am reminded this week that I will be returning back to this blog on a somewhat regular way with my EDUC 394 class. The use of e-portfolios have taken a journey with me from EDUC 431 to EDUC 490/491 to EDUC 405 and ow EDUC 394. There is some part of me that is somewhat attached to e-portfolios as a platform for reflection, but also used as a platform to learn more about digital literacy and citizenship, to design a website, and to demonstrate the professional standards. This year in EDUC 394, the learning intentions are different from the former. The e-portfolio is now serving as an assessment tool and vehicle to store student work.
I am super excited about this concept. The e-portfolio has a different application and limited to the content found in the EDUC 394 course. I can still embed edtech into my classes by using portfolio, but now I can pick and choose different blog posts and webpages that directly reflect the student’s learning from the course. The image above is taken at West Lake Park. We went there for our second week of classes. The first week was on campus to discuss the course syllabus. This week, we were on the land learning about land as co-teacher. The class included land acknowledgements, teaching/learning metaphor, and walking curriculum.
Next week, we will be working online for EDUC 394 and adding content to our WordPress sites, adding our location statements and teaching/learning metaphor. We will also spend some time with design, personalization, and a blog post that reflects on our learning experience at West Lake. By the end of next week, they would have completed 3 of 10 items. The work is ongoing, not an event. What does it look like to have the same learning target, the same success criteria, but different outcomes because personalizing the learning experience is emphasized. This framework of teaching and learning is embedded in BC’s Curriculum.
I also love iterating ideas too. We talked about personalization and assessment with the teaching/learning metaphor at West Lake, and we are also going to see personalization in our portfolios. If anything, looking at the bright side, they will have a completed (mini) portfolio ready to share prior to their first teaching practicum. I will have to think about who the audience is for their portfolios. We will discuss this during our class next week. In writing this blog post, I am thinking that it will be a professional portfolio that reflects who they are as learners. But, the portfolio is an assessment tool for me in EDUC 394 and I’m pretty stoked.
