Teaching is like...Canoeing on the Rapids!

Day 22: Friday, August 31st 

It was so nice going to school on this day - knowing that Kathleen was in the community! She went in for an interview (recreation coordinator position) and it was exciting for my students to see her in the hallway, since I had explained to them that she was coming. I told them she came from Ontario too, and the question asked was “is she blonde like you?”

Some of my students were complaining at the carpet about not feeling well, and I said “yeah, I think that there might be something going around”...one student replied: “I think the flea is going around.” I asked if she meant to say “flu” and she made some comment like: “ahh yes, flu and fleas are best friends!” 
SO RANDOM. So cute. (I can’t remember exactly how this story went...but it went something like that. I remember thinking it was so funny at the time.)

It's funny how many things we casually say without first thinking about the meaning. For example, “I grew up on the water.” It made perfect sense until I tried to explain to a class of grade 2 students. How can you possibly grow up on water?! Discussions like this prove that my students are listening...and this was the question I received afterward, “You growed in the water?”

The RCMP officers came right into my classroom to deliver my police check, that was nice! I expected I would have to go in and pick it up. They reminded me that I shouldn’t be a stranger and that we should feel free to drop by. We still haven’t really hung out with them, but I’m sure as we continue to settle in, we’ll crave social life more and more!

This is gross, even to write about - but it was one of those “classic first year teacher experiences” - students aren’t really grossed out by anything! I had a little boy hold my hands and inspect my face, he pointed to a pimple and inquired about it. He even touched it. EW! I tried to explain that he shouldn't touch my face, haha...it was quite an odd/funny interaction.

I got my first ‘teacher orange‘ and one of my students said “you’re kinda fun.” Well, I suppose ‘kinda fun‘ is better than “I wish I was still in grade one.”  I went home at lunchtime to see Kathleen and ask about her interview. Walking into the house and smelling food cooking was such an exciting thing! Some students were in my driveway waiting to catch the bus...there’s really no line between professional and private life here.


An unfortunate first experience: one of my girls had a beautiful charm bracelet at school and I took it from her since she was distractedly playing with it at the carpet...put it on my desk...sure enough, it was missing by the end of the day! I still have NO clue who took it or where it ended up...but we all learned a lesson that day. A) Don’t bring valuables to school and B) if Miss H is going to take something, she better put it in a more safe location. Needless to say, I think that I owe my student a bracelet. She dealt with the situation VERY maturely. It’s funny and sad to see how the kids automatically suspect and accuse each other of stealing. I had them check their pockets and I reminded them it’s important to be truthful, even if they made a mistake by taking the bracelet. I was REALLY hoping someone would confess...but it hasn’t happened yet.

After school, a couple of the male teachers asked us if we wanted to go for a lil canoe trip. Heck yes! Happy Friday :) Kathleen loves canoeing and she’s good at it - it was a great start to her weekend in the Patch. We took out a few canoes and the conditions were nearly perfect. Warm, sunny, a bit breezy...we went on the baby rapids and under the bridge...canoed right by our house and back to the school.

Teaching is kind of like...canoeing on the rapids! It is exciting...it is doable...but it takes a lot of focus, patience and some courage, too! I needed Kathleen to instruct me on how to paddle properly through the rapids, and I REALLY need my heavenly father to direct my teaching, in order to be successful. 

Cheesy comparison - but the two are quite relatable, I think!