I have finished my Masters of Education!!
This week I found out I received 90 and 91 percent on my last two courses. I kicked ass, metaphorically speaking. Family and friends are happy for me. This week I will do the certification paperwork to GET MORE $$!
But what do I do now? Besides spending more time with wifey (who was super supportive the past 5 semesters) and walking the dog, I am already a bit bored. Ice hockey is over, and I don't think one game of ball hockey a week will cut it.
So today I went to the (gasp) gym. Felt good. Maybe I'll go tomorrow after work. Maybe.
Wife thinks I'll end up trying to do my PhD. Uh, no. I already have three degrees and one diploma from MUN (it will always be MUN, not MU to me) so if I WERE to think about a PhD, I would need to leave this rock and my wife.
No.
So for the rest of Spring I'll walk the dog (and eventually pick up the vast amount of sh*t in our back yard), watch sports, hang out with wife, and teach half time.
I'm free.
Sunday, April 27
Saturday, April 12
Play off Season has Arrived
My wife sometimes tells the story, 'When I first met Chris, he said he plays sports but don't watch it on tv........"
hehehehe
I rely that I would rather play sports than watch it, but it hasn't worked out that way.
So with my Masters almost out of the way (one last paper to finish today) and my wife working evenings, I have LOTS of time to watch Ron & Don on CBC or anything else I want:
-NHL playoffs
-basketball playoffs start soon
-baseball (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)
-sport shows
- etc
This past week I got into 2 hockey pools. One on Sportsnet with some ball hockey guys. Other with teacher team. I basically need Nasville and Washington to pull off some upsets for me to win.
Here's to holding my breath!
hehehehe
I rely that I would rather play sports than watch it, but it hasn't worked out that way.
So with my Masters almost out of the way (one last paper to finish today) and my wife working evenings, I have LOTS of time to watch Ron & Don on CBC or anything else I want:
-NHL playoffs
-basketball playoffs start soon
-baseball (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)
-sport shows
- etc
This past week I got into 2 hockey pools. One on Sportsnet with some ball hockey guys. Other with teacher team. I basically need Nasville and Washington to pull off some upsets for me to win.
Here's to holding my breath!
Friday, April 4
A Busy Week
Easter break ended and it was back to school to work with the kids for the last three months of the school year.
No, I didn't miss them. And they didn't miss me. But we still like each other. ha
Monday I finished my second-last Masters paper. Had to interview a classmate and write a short story or analyze 'meanings.' Naturally I wrote the story - my first! It was like pulling teeth. Only one more paper left!
Tuesday I had ball hockey. Tried out me new sneaks. Been playing with running shoes for the past year. Legs burning after each game. Finally, the rubber starting peeling off the bottom. So off to Sport Check! When I told sales girl that I was playing ball hockey with running shoes, she looked at me funny. Then smiled. So now I am wearing cross-trainers.
Funny thing. Legs didn't burn after game. But it certainly didn't improve my game!
Wednesday was our last ice hockey game in the teacher league. Another cut lip and stitches, but it wasn't me this time! During the game my left skate felt 'off.' At the end of the game I noticed a nasty crack in the mold which holds the blade. Gee, I replaced the right mold last year for the same reason.
So do I go out and buy a $40 new mold or get new skates? Will either help me put the puck in the net? Alas, no. I was given the skates back in 2003. With the technology today, I don't have a clue on what is considered a 'good' skate.
Thursday I had parent-teacher interviews. The first 2 attempts were cancelled by bad weather. Isn't it funny that the parents you really want to see don't show up? We even went as far as sending notes home, requesting to see certain parents, and telling other parents that don't need to come. But the opposite basically happened. With three months left, some of the kids are already starting to coast. And they are only in grade 5!
Lastly, I went to my FINAL MASTERS class last night! It has been an intense 5 semesters. But it is over. I won't be going back to get my PHD. But I will miss the intellectual challenge.
On a side note, I have set up a blog on wordpress.com. I am planning to transfer the content of this blog to my new one soon. Wordpress has more options.
No, I didn't miss them. And they didn't miss me. But we still like each other. ha
Monday I finished my second-last Masters paper. Had to interview a classmate and write a short story or analyze 'meanings.' Naturally I wrote the story - my first! It was like pulling teeth. Only one more paper left!
Tuesday I had ball hockey. Tried out me new sneaks. Been playing with running shoes for the past year. Legs burning after each game. Finally, the rubber starting peeling off the bottom. So off to Sport Check! When I told sales girl that I was playing ball hockey with running shoes, she looked at me funny. Then smiled. So now I am wearing cross-trainers.
Funny thing. Legs didn't burn after game. But it certainly didn't improve my game!
Wednesday was our last ice hockey game in the teacher league. Another cut lip and stitches, but it wasn't me this time! During the game my left skate felt 'off.' At the end of the game I noticed a nasty crack in the mold which holds the blade. Gee, I replaced the right mold last year for the same reason.
So do I go out and buy a $40 new mold or get new skates? Will either help me put the puck in the net? Alas, no. I was given the skates back in 2003. With the technology today, I don't have a clue on what is considered a 'good' skate.
Thursday I had parent-teacher interviews. The first 2 attempts were cancelled by bad weather. Isn't it funny that the parents you really want to see don't show up? We even went as far as sending notes home, requesting to see certain parents, and telling other parents that don't need to come. But the opposite basically happened. With three months left, some of the kids are already starting to coast. And they are only in grade 5!
Lastly, I went to my FINAL MASTERS class last night! It has been an intense 5 semesters. But it is over. I won't be going back to get my PHD. But I will miss the intellectual challenge.
On a side note, I have set up a blog on wordpress.com. I am planning to transfer the content of this blog to my new one soon. Wordpress has more options.
Sunday, March 23
Driving
To the guy I accidentally cut off on the outer ring road on Thursday while driving home from school - sorry.
But was there any need to keep pressing on your horn, raising both middle fingers in a frantic gesture (tsktsk, no hands on wheel) and cursing on me? (I couldn't exactly read your lips, but I strongly doubt you were wishing me a happy Easter)
But then you tail-gated the next vehicle, a little blue truck. Once again you pressed down on the horn and waved your hands while your rap music boomed. I think you are lucky the guy in the blue truck did not slam his breaks. You would have been f**ked.
So you continued on, swerving in and out among the cars in both lanes at high speed. Did you need to pee really bad? Was your favourite show about to start?
A word of advice - relax. I know the word out there is that Sin John's is booming with oil $$, but there is no reason to drive around town like we have a 401.
But was there any need to keep pressing on your horn, raising both middle fingers in a frantic gesture (tsktsk, no hands on wheel) and cursing on me? (I couldn't exactly read your lips, but I strongly doubt you were wishing me a happy Easter)
But then you tail-gated the next vehicle, a little blue truck. Once again you pressed down on the horn and waved your hands while your rap music boomed. I think you are lucky the guy in the blue truck did not slam his breaks. You would have been f**ked.
So you continued on, swerving in and out among the cars in both lanes at high speed. Did you need to pee really bad? Was your favourite show about to start?
A word of advice - relax. I know the word out there is that Sin John's is booming with oil $$, but there is no reason to drive around town like we have a 401.
Monday, March 17
Kid's lyrics to rock songs
I was surfing among the NL Blogroll and came across this video on 'Missing the Rock.' Very funny.
Tuesday, March 4
Teachers vs Society
This week is Education Week. The theme is 'Learn...Respect...Grow.'
That is a kettle of fish, for sure. With that theme in mind, go to VOCM's website (www.vocm.com) and click on question of the week and do the survey about teachers doing duty.
Then read the comments posted by adults. Nasty.
Personally, I don't mind doing lunch duty. And being involved with kids. But the misconception that 'teachers don't work' and 'get paid in the summer for nothing' really bothers me.
And I don't see a change a comin' soon in attitudes.
That is a kettle of fish, for sure. With that theme in mind, go to VOCM's website (www.vocm.com) and click on question of the week and do the survey about teachers doing duty.
Then read the comments posted by adults. Nasty.
Personally, I don't mind doing lunch duty. And being involved with kids. But the misconception that 'teachers don't work' and 'get paid in the summer for nothing' really bothers me.
And I don't see a change a comin' soon in attitudes.
Saturday, March 1
A Teacher Rants
It is an interesting time, to say the least, to be a teacher.
In the past couple of weeks, Education Minister has compared teachers to police and correction officers after a study on school violence was released. Her justification was that we (teachers) deal with the public. Ah, yes. BUT we deal with some children who are treating like sh*t and our hands are tied. Not ‘lifers’ in the pen.
The question is, “What is mommy and daddy going to do about it?”
A local lawyer stated that an alternative school is needed for all the dropouts in the city – students who can’t handle traditional schools. He also complained that his clients can’t read or write and socially promoting them is wrong.
Yes, socially promoting kids is wrong. It gives a false sense of security to both kids and their parents. If little Johnny can’t read in the warm and fuzzy years of elementary school, and the parents don’t take him to get tested (yes, it is their responsibility, not teachers – once again our hands are tied and we can only suggest testing), how do you think the junior high years are going to be?
Johnny is going to be frustrated, angry, and probably act out and quit. And the parents may say, “I don’t know what to do with him.” He is in Grade 8, but reading at a Grade 4 level. Why stop now. Let’s promote him to Grade 9.
I am not saying that teachers are blameless. It is the time of year that teachers think about who may not pass. I have a couple in my class who probably won’t, but the final say comes down to the parents – once again my hands are tied.
In the past couple of weeks, Education Minister has compared teachers to police and correction officers after a study on school violence was released. Her justification was that we (teachers) deal with the public. Ah, yes. BUT we deal with some children who are treating like sh*t and our hands are tied. Not ‘lifers’ in the pen.
The question is, “What is mommy and daddy going to do about it?”
A local lawyer stated that an alternative school is needed for all the dropouts in the city – students who can’t handle traditional schools. He also complained that his clients can’t read or write and socially promoting them is wrong.
Yes, socially promoting kids is wrong. It gives a false sense of security to both kids and their parents. If little Johnny can’t read in the warm and fuzzy years of elementary school, and the parents don’t take him to get tested (yes, it is their responsibility, not teachers – once again our hands are tied and we can only suggest testing), how do you think the junior high years are going to be?
Johnny is going to be frustrated, angry, and probably act out and quit. And the parents may say, “I don’t know what to do with him.” He is in Grade 8, but reading at a Grade 4 level. Why stop now. Let’s promote him to Grade 9.
I am not saying that teachers are blameless. It is the time of year that teachers think about who may not pass. I have a couple in my class who probably won’t, but the final say comes down to the parents – once again my hands are tied.
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