Wow it's been a while...

I have been busy! The past couple months have been pretty insane. I've been supplying a lot, which is great, and have been lucky enough to be in the same school working in the resource room. It's really the first time that I've gotten a chance to actually get to know the kids since teachers college, and it has been amazing. Even better, I'm getting to know the staff and starting to feel like I belong there. The hardest part of supplying is a new school, new kids, new staff, and very lonely lunch/prep time. It was so nice to be able to keep up with the same people and be social. Somebody even brought me a surprise Starbucks drink one day!

Because I was working in resource, I also had access to a lot of kids IEP's, and got to learn so much more about the process and steps to be implemented. Many students came to me with issues ranging from anxiety and depression, to physical disabilities, to not having anywhere top live or enough food. It's hard to believe that this is reality for some kids, and yet we need to keep them motivated on school. And sometimes, they are actually the hardest working students. It is so easy to help and support students who are willing to put the time and effort in. It's the students who don't give a crap about anything, and aren't wiling to try that are the hardest. Often they have so many opportunities, and they refuse to give an ounce of themselves. They don't care if they pass or fail, they don't care about anything! Growing up I always cared too much over school, so I really don't know how to handle kids that have zero motivation to give.

How can I help them if they don't help themselves?

New Puppy!

Ok so I'm already not doing well at this blogging thing, but I have an excuse! I got a new puppy! Her name is Kita, and she is an 8 month old Husky, Shepherd, Collie, and maybe Lab mix, and kind of looks like a beautiful fox. She has been eating up all of my free time, and I haven't even been able to think about anything else! But she is worth it :)

As for my current teaching position - I did not get the summer school job :( Apparently it is ridiculously hard to be chosen when you are only an OT, so I don't feel as bad. However, this means I have two months off, and very little income coming in. I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do about that... any one else have anything that they do to supplement their income during the summer months?

All the LTO's will be posted mid August, so I guess I've got nothing I can do until then. And of course the LTO list early September.

Until then, I guess I'm going to have to start some new hobbies...

Welcome!

Hello everyone!

I have only been an occasional teacher for about 7 months and am definitely still considered a newbie. This is my way of making sense of my new world, as I take the plunge into supplying in high schools across Ottawa. It has been one heck of a roller coaster ride, with many ups and many downs, but I am determined to continue on this journey and become a better teacher. This blog is going to be filled with my thoughts, experiences, ideas and useful resources, and anything else that I feel like adding as I go.

I can't promise this blog will be fantastic and wonderful, but I'm going to give it a go. You are welcome to come along for the ride :)