P is for PEDAGOGUE

pedagogue

ˈpɛdəgɒg

noun

noun: pedagogue; plural noun: pedagogues

1. 

a teacher, especially a strict or pedantic one.

Yes, I am a pedagogue.  However, when you read the definition, you'll see that it means "especially a strict or pedantic one."  Well, one could say I was strict in my classrooms.  I preferred to call it "setting boundaries" because my philosophy about teaching is that if it isn't fun for me, it isn't fun for the kids.  I would tell them straight out about boundaries and we set them up together; then we'd have a blast for the school year.

Once the boundaries were set, on came the fun!  Grammar can be SO boring, but I made it all a game and got the kids up and communicating with each other.  For example, each student got a card with a sentence's "subject" or "predicate."  I'd set the timer for 3 minutes and off they went to try to find a match for their card.  When time was up, each pair presented their complete sentence to the rest of the class.  To review for Science or Social Studies tests, we played "Family Feud" and you will not believe how competitive those kids were!  In Art, we did abstracts and displayed them on the hall bulletin board.  In French, the highlight of the year was when we made edible or non-edible pizzas. We displayed them in the school's front hall for all students, teachers, and visitors to view.  Four boys got together and made a "hubcap pizza" with real oil as the sauce and nuts and bolts for the ingredients.  Two girls made a garden pizza with dirt and real grass grown in it, topped with tiny flowers and garden accessories.  There were cake and candy pizzas, dog and cat pizzas covered in their treats, and even a poolside pizza complete with tiny chaise lounges.  Of course, they had to write up their pizzas' recipes and present them to the class, (en français bien sûr) but they were great about it because they were all so proud of what they'd produced.

One year, I had two grade 7 boys who were always acting up.  They weren't "bad" kids, but they seemed to need a lot of attention.  So because I'm not above bribery, (lol) I made up a chart for each of them and every day that they were able to get through French class without misbehaving, they'd get a tick mark.  When they got 10 ticks, I would buy each of them a giant chocolate bar.  Well, it worked.  Both had a couple of slips, but they both eventually received their chocolate bar.  You might wonder if I had to do that for the rest of the year.  NO!  When they tried to get me to do it again, I simply said, "You have proved to me that you are able to get through class time without misbehaving.  Now I know you CAN do it, so now I EXPECT you to do it."  Oh such sad faces - but they were so much better then and they respected me for my sense of humour about it.

Oh yes, some teachers can be pedantic, but without a sense of humour, all is lost.  So I made school fun for us all - for my students and for me!  Now I look forward to when my students come to my home for a tutoring session.  I don't have the administration or parents breathing down my neck so I can relax and be myself with these kids.  We work hard, we all learn (sometimes they're studying a novel that I haven't read so I have to read it and be able to guide them), and their grades go up up up.  And the parents are so delighted that they tell their friends about me and I get more work.  

Yes, I love being a pedagogue and when I started my blog years ago, it was my daughter who came up with the word "Pedalogue."  So now you know, whether you wondered or not, where my blog name came from.

Thanks to Denise Nesbitt, the poised yet perky creator of ABC Wednesday, and to the presidential and  professional Roger, our administrator. Each week, Roger puts aside his personal work to keep the team pepped up by assigning us our parts in responding to contributors' posts.  Have a peaceful, productive week, everyone.

O is for ONEROUS

adjective: onerous

1.  

involving a great deal of effort, trouble, or difficulty.

example:  "He found his duties increasingly onerous"

Yes, life has been onerous for me lately.  Actually, it's been onerous for both of us.  As my regular readers will recall, I broke my ankle a month ago.  Then, two weeks later, Lorne started chemo again.  So, as I was learning how to maneuver myself around the house with a bulky inflatable boot and crutches, Lorne was feeling the effects of all those drugs that had been pumped into him.

Because I broke my right ankle, I can't even drive, so I've had to rely on Lorne for transportation to the doctor and (finally) to the hairdresser.  He has continued to do the grocery shopping, but only a few things at a time because he tires so easily.  He also tried to keep on taking the dog for her daily walks, but when they started to get shorter and shorter due to his fatigue, I called upon my daughter to see if she could pitch in.  So that is one thing off my mind.  She absolutely adores all animals, especially dogs, and enjoys taking Tegan out.  

I still have three more weeks in this dratted "cast," and I can hardly wait to be able to take it off forever.  However, I have noticed that my achilles heel and the tendons on either side of my ankle are aching badly.  So, I might need some physiotherapy for some time before I'm walking normally again.  As well, I haven't been able to have my regular massage therapy for my back because I can't climb the 26 steps to her office, so I'm aching pretty badly everywhere.   

Once I'm up and about more, I'll be trading roles with Lorne and helping him get through the ordeal he is facing.  Actually, we are holding each other up now - emotionally.  Yes, life is onerous at times, but as they say "this, too, shall pass."

In the meantime, I've been so tired that I haven't been able to get over to read all your posts every week.  I try my best, but it's amazing how much energy it take to heal one's body, no matter how minor.  Do forgive me.  I hope you're all still enjoying ABC Wednesday and remember to think of the original Mrs. Nesbitt, the creator of ABCW, and the very organized Roger, our administrator.

Also, I hope you're enjoying the glorious month of October - my favourite month because it's my birth month and because of the magnificent colours as the trees transform for winter.  Here are three of my favourite photos that have been featured and/or won challenges on the Red Bubble site and, in my opinion, are perfect for this week.

N is for NEIGHBOURHOOD

Hi!  Glad you took the time to drop by.  As I mentioned in the ABC Wednesday introduction, I'm presenting a slideshow of my own neighbourhood.  I live in the municipality of Delta and the village of Ladner, which is about 20-30 minutes south of the city of Vancouver.  I'm very close to the United States border and often go across to Point Roberts for gas or a photo shoot or to take the dog swimming in the pristine waters of Lighthouse Point.  While looking at my photos, you might think I live in a rural area way out in the boondocks, but actually, we're a little oasis in the middle of urban and suburban living.  When I go for walks with Tegan, I feel like I'm in a forest in the wilderness, yet know that I'm next door to all the necessities of life in a suburb.

So turn up your sound, settle down for about 5 minutes, and enjoy the show.  Oh! Before you do that, be sure to give an air toast to the naughty but nice Denise Nesbitt, the creator of ABCW, and to the nutty but noble Roger, our administrator!

M is for MOORAGE at the MARINA

I couldn't figure out what to do for the letter M today, and after mulling it over, decided to go with a series of shots I've taken at various marinas around aarea.  As you may know, I live in the delta of the Fraser River which leads out to the Strait of Georgia and then to the Pacific Ocean. Photo by Evan Leeson via Flicker.

Muchas gracias to the macho Roger, our administrator, who keep ABC Wednesday a popular spot for people from many parts of the world.  He stepped into this role after our multi-talented Mrs. Nesbitt created ABCW and requested some much needed assistance.

So, there are many marinas around here where I go for walks and photo ops.  Hope you like my photos.