NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is two weeks away!
For those of you who don't know, nanowrimo is an international contest that has been running for 11 years now, to write a 50,000 word (or more!) novel during the month of November. This is my third year competing, and hopefully my third win.
While I haven't completed a novel yet, my first year I wrote 50,000 words, plus some change in a story about the Witch Hunts in Scotland and my second year I wrote close to 65,000 words on a post apocalyptic fantasy. This year I plan on writing a romantic comedy about Zombies called "For the Love of Brian".
Alright, that's the background.
Normally, when I tell someone that I am/have participated in this they're amazed and supportive and enthusiastic. Well, last week I met my first 'nano skeptic'. I told her that this is what I'd be doing, and she looked at me like I'd completely lost my mind, and said, "Why?" Completely flummoxed at this reaction I managed to stutter out something that amounted to, "Why not?" To which she just looked at me like I was stupid. There she was thinking I was stupid to want to write, and I was thinking she was stupid for thinking I was stupid.
I'm still can't figure out why anyone would think it a waste of time. Writing is awesome.
About Me
Alrighty... so today was my third day at Balwin School in the 'Step Language Arts' program. Up to this point I really haven't done much at all and am beginning to reevaluate my role in the classroom as 'teacher assistant' more than anything else.
Last week all I did was sit while the kids read silently for 15 minutes, and then sit while the kids watched a movie for 30 minutes and then answer maybe one or two questions while the teacher was busy with other kids.
Today I wandered the classroom while they did computer buddies with a grade one class. I helped a couple of kids who typed a link in wrong. Then I sat and watched them play a game for 15 minutes.
I'm glad that I can be there to help, but I'm beginning to wish that there was more that I could help out with... that is what I signed up for, after all. Twice now I have thought that I'm wasting money on the babysitter by being there, and I don't like that I'm feeling that way.
Ms. Gervais did say that there was a kid who had been missing all week that she wanted me to work with today, but he wasn't there today, either. So, hopefully there's hope of some work down the line.
Last week all I did was sit while the kids read silently for 15 minutes, and then sit while the kids watched a movie for 30 minutes and then answer maybe one or two questions while the teacher was busy with other kids.
Today I wandered the classroom while they did computer buddies with a grade one class. I helped a couple of kids who typed a link in wrong. Then I sat and watched them play a game for 15 minutes.
I'm glad that I can be there to help, but I'm beginning to wish that there was more that I could help out with... that is what I signed up for, after all. Twice now I have thought that I'm wasting money on the babysitter by being there, and I don't like that I'm feeling that way.
Ms. Gervais did say that there was a kid who had been missing all week that she wanted me to work with today, but he wasn't there today, either. So, hopefully there's hope of some work down the line.
Something is bugging me.
As I was picking up my kids from the babysitters, she went to the basement to get them and she started yelling at a kid.... she told him that he was "not a nice boy" and if it keeps up she doesn't want him in her house, and that she was going to have to talk to his mom about it.
Then her and my kids came up stairs and everyone was taking and happy and we left.
When we got home, I asked Quintin who was it who got in trouble at Wendy's.... he said it was him. I asked him what the heck he could have done to prompt such a reaction from her. To me, saying "you're not a nice boy" and "I don't want you in my house" means that something very serious has happened...being violent or blatantly disrespectful, for example. It took a while to get any sort of a story out of him, cuz he was crying, but he insists that he just said "Yay" really loud and was running in circles, when he found out I was there. I asked him what else he has done to get in trouble, because this is obviously a continuing problem and he says he just doesn't remember his manners.
Now, either he isn't telling me the whole story, and I am inclined to believe him, honestly, because he IS a nice boy with the exception of not sharing with his brother from time to time.... Or, we have a problem with Wendy either or reacting or being extremely strict in her expectations of a 6 year old kid.
Telling someone he's bad should revolve around a bad offense, don't you think? Telling someone you don't want them in your house means that they've seriously offended you in some way. What the heck could my kid have done to warrant that? Does bad manners warrant it?
And what the hell am I supposed to do if she says she doesn't want to babysit him anymore?
I'm just heartsick at the idea that someone thinks my kid is a "bad boy", cuz he's not. I don't want to think that I'm being blind as a mom, but is it possible I am? Have I missed something serious?
Now I'm mad at him and I don't even know what/if he's done anything...I'm being super critical of his behavior thinking that it must be my fault...maybe I've been too lenient. Obviously, I need to talk to Wendy, but I won't be able to until Tuesday now, I don't want to bother her after hours. Sigh....
I hate feeling like this, it makes me sad and angry at the same time.
As I was picking up my kids from the babysitters, she went to the basement to get them and she started yelling at a kid.... she told him that he was "not a nice boy" and if it keeps up she doesn't want him in her house, and that she was going to have to talk to his mom about it.
Then her and my kids came up stairs and everyone was taking and happy and we left.
When we got home, I asked Quintin who was it who got in trouble at Wendy's.... he said it was him. I asked him what the heck he could have done to prompt such a reaction from her. To me, saying "you're not a nice boy" and "I don't want you in my house" means that something very serious has happened...being violent or blatantly disrespectful, for example. It took a while to get any sort of a story out of him, cuz he was crying, but he insists that he just said "Yay" really loud and was running in circles, when he found out I was there. I asked him what else he has done to get in trouble, because this is obviously a continuing problem and he says he just doesn't remember his manners.
Now, either he isn't telling me the whole story, and I am inclined to believe him, honestly, because he IS a nice boy with the exception of not sharing with his brother from time to time.... Or, we have a problem with Wendy either or reacting or being extremely strict in her expectations of a 6 year old kid.
Telling someone he's bad should revolve around a bad offense, don't you think? Telling someone you don't want them in your house means that they've seriously offended you in some way. What the heck could my kid have done to warrant that? Does bad manners warrant it?
And what the hell am I supposed to do if she says she doesn't want to babysit him anymore?
I'm just heartsick at the idea that someone thinks my kid is a "bad boy", cuz he's not. I don't want to think that I'm being blind as a mom, but is it possible I am? Have I missed something serious?
Now I'm mad at him and I don't even know what/if he's done anything...I'm being super critical of his behavior thinking that it must be my fault...maybe I've been too lenient. Obviously, I need to talk to Wendy, but I won't be able to until Tuesday now, I don't want to bother her after hours. Sigh....
I hate feeling like this, it makes me sad and angry at the same time.
Today I started volunteering for the Edmonton Public School's 'Study Buddy' program. Study Buddy matches undergraduate students with elementary and junior high students in Edmonton and St. Albert to help tutor them, one hour a week, in a variety of subjects.
Apparently the program looks really good on a teacher's resume so that was one motivation for volunteering, however, I was also drawn to the opportunity of working with the kids. Another opportunity came up a while ago, to work with inner city kids and I was interested in it, too...only it had an age restriction of 18-30, for some reason.
Anyway, so I've been paired with Ms. Gervais, who teaches a junior high special needs Language Arts class. There are about 17 students from grades 7-9, though there are only a couple of grade 9 kids. They are 'cognitively delayed', and learning at about a grade 4-5 level. Ms. Gervais doesn't have a teacher assistant in her room so basically that's the job I'll be taking on. She told me that Friday afternoons can get a little crazy as the kids anticipate the weekend.
Today was just an introduction to the class as they had a buddy computer class, where the kids were matched with a grade one class and were to teach them how to use a computer. I helped out by wandering around and making sure everyone was on task, and after about an hour of that they went back to the classroom to work on posters and my time there was spent praising efforts, as no one needed help. Some of the kids' art was really well done.
Despite the apparent lack of work available for me, it was very satisfying to be there. The kids are nice, even the one who I had to keep getting back on track, and I look forward to when I actually get to work with them, rather than just babysit them.
The school itself is in the midst of some major renovations, so it looked pretty rough, with ceilings torn out and what not. There are 600 students in the school, and it seemed like a lot more than that, for some reason... perhaps because I'm so used to the little elementary school here in Lamont.
Ms. Gervais seems like a sweet, friendly teacher but she has bite when she needs it and the kids obviously respect her and her authority. That is something that I will need to earn, as they listened to her and were quick to dismiss me. She's young, younger than me probably by 5 years so she can't have been teaching for an incredibly long time.
It's funny, I have this image in my mind of teachers being old and everywhere I turned today I found teachers that were a lot younger than I expected. I wonder if it's my own teenage memories telling me that teachers are old (in comparison) or if the teaching base is really that young, now.
It wouldn't surprize me to be the latter, considering the huge graduation classes from the Education Faculty, year after year.
The other thing that struck me was the computer class. I fully expected to walk to a computer lab, but apparently that is a thing of the past. Instead, the kids went to an open atrium (cuz the grade one class didn't have wireless yet) and all were given laptops to use. Huh.
Anyway, that's enough for now. I keep thinking of blog entries I could make while I'm driving. Maybe of these days I'll get those thoughts down, too.
Apparently the program looks really good on a teacher's resume so that was one motivation for volunteering, however, I was also drawn to the opportunity of working with the kids. Another opportunity came up a while ago, to work with inner city kids and I was interested in it, too...only it had an age restriction of 18-30, for some reason.
Anyway, so I've been paired with Ms. Gervais, who teaches a junior high special needs Language Arts class. There are about 17 students from grades 7-9, though there are only a couple of grade 9 kids. They are 'cognitively delayed', and learning at about a grade 4-5 level. Ms. Gervais doesn't have a teacher assistant in her room so basically that's the job I'll be taking on. She told me that Friday afternoons can get a little crazy as the kids anticipate the weekend.
Today was just an introduction to the class as they had a buddy computer class, where the kids were matched with a grade one class and were to teach them how to use a computer. I helped out by wandering around and making sure everyone was on task, and after about an hour of that they went back to the classroom to work on posters and my time there was spent praising efforts, as no one needed help. Some of the kids' art was really well done.
Despite the apparent lack of work available for me, it was very satisfying to be there. The kids are nice, even the one who I had to keep getting back on track, and I look forward to when I actually get to work with them, rather than just babysit them.
The school itself is in the midst of some major renovations, so it looked pretty rough, with ceilings torn out and what not. There are 600 students in the school, and it seemed like a lot more than that, for some reason... perhaps because I'm so used to the little elementary school here in Lamont.
Ms. Gervais seems like a sweet, friendly teacher but she has bite when she needs it and the kids obviously respect her and her authority. That is something that I will need to earn, as they listened to her and were quick to dismiss me. She's young, younger than me probably by 5 years so she can't have been teaching for an incredibly long time.
It's funny, I have this image in my mind of teachers being old and everywhere I turned today I found teachers that were a lot younger than I expected. I wonder if it's my own teenage memories telling me that teachers are old (in comparison) or if the teaching base is really that young, now.
It wouldn't surprize me to be the latter, considering the huge graduation classes from the Education Faculty, year after year.
The other thing that struck me was the computer class. I fully expected to walk to a computer lab, but apparently that is a thing of the past. Instead, the kids went to an open atrium (cuz the grade one class didn't have wireless yet) and all were given laptops to use. Huh.
Anyway, that's enough for now. I keep thinking of blog entries I could make while I'm driving. Maybe of these days I'll get those thoughts down, too.
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