This Friday is a professional day. All of the PVP's from Sea to Sky are meeting in a Vancouver hotel to discuss/plan/share around the theme of Striving for Excellence. I have been given the task of warming them up with a team building activity and then leading an hour session on the second day. I've shared many activities and energizers with the group over the years. You may remember the stories. While playing "What are you doing?" someone said, "Scratching my bum." On another occasion, when writing down a little-known fact about himself for us to guess "Who am I?" one fellow wrote, "I'm kind." To which a prankster added, "...of weird!" They don't always play as nicely as the students do.
I've chosen three activities. To start in the morning, we'll do Extended Name Tag. Name in the middle, favourite colour top right, favourite place in Vancouver bottom right, title of last book you read or movie seen bottom left, one thing you'd like to leave the two day knowing top left. Then, I'll put them into groups using Occupations - what would a bus driver say, etc. They'll share their name tags in their small groups. I'll try not to forget the reflection questions at the end: content, process, personal.
Another activity I have prepped is one that I found on a website listing lots of different "ice breakers." I've filled a bag with 30 eclectic objects from around my house: flashlight, elastic band, paper clip, marble, penny, Pez dispenser, screwdriver, spoon, etc. Each person will draw an object from the bag and then think of two ways they are similar to that object, then share with the large group. Reflect, reflect, reflect.
Finally, at the end of the second day, we'll do Client/Consultant. On the other side of their name tags, each PVP will write a nagging question about their practice - one that bugs them in the middle of the night - like, "How can I get my teachers to read their email?" or "How should we be dealing with students and cel phone use in elementary school?" In groups of four, each person will have a chance to ask their question and hear some responses from their colleagues.
I hope it goes well. If I can just get them to turn off their Blackberries....

This weekend I went over to Victoria for the marathon. I took a pile of books with me - didn't get to them all, but was able to read one during dinner Saturday: Learning in Safe Schools, by my friend, Faye Brownlie and her friend, Judith King. If you do not have this book - be sure to get a copy! I can't believe I have not read it before: it is a real treasure trove of ideas for creating a sense of belonging in schools and classrooms. It is also a valuable resource for resource teachers and anyone who works with students who need adaptations. Published in 2000 by Pembroke. A couple of quotes:

• "When you solve the little problems then you don't have big problems." Robert, Gr. 2


• "Learning experiences that call forth our feelings and engage our imaginations are more likely to stimulate thought and to last over time." Jacquie Dunn, teacher.


• "Belonging - connected - appreciated - supported...These are feelings essential for success." Gladys Rosencrans, District Coordinator.

I'd love to talk to you some more about this book - let me know when you've read it, too.

October

October already! What happened? I've had three Mondays with our class and have to be away at the board office this Monday. I'm having to accept the fact that it is really had to build community with a group that one sees only once a week. I think that my teaching partner has done a fantastic job of creating a class cohesion - something I sense when I pop in to talk to her or to a student during the week. So when I say that it has been hard to create community with the class, what I mean is that I do not yet feel part of their community. Interesting.
We started Family Groups this week. These are groups of about 16 students K-7 who will meet every other week with their teacher-leader. The staff has agreed to take this leap of faith with me and I so badly wanted the first meetings to go well. I prepped the grade 7's to go and pick up the kindergarten and grade 1 students and take them to their groups, but some of the kindies were too afraid to go. That was really the only hitch. I have already heard some positive feedback from teachers and students. Nancy explained to her group that they were like a school family, like brothers and sisters, and when the students had to return to their own classes, they all said, "Bye Mom!" Liam, in grade 7, has "adopted" the kindergarten students that he picked up from class. He's decided they are his. Teachers are having conversations about students. They are noticing strengths in some that they did not notice before. I am pleased!
October is a month for giving thanks. I am going to try to focus on all of the people to whom I am grateful: for the students and teachers and parents, the support staff, the custodians, the plumbers and the painters who keep our school looking good, for the board office people who keep up the paperwork and for my wonderful office assistant, Denise. Thanks.