Day of Pink- Let's Unite Against Bullying

April 9th is International Day of Pink. As educators we deal with bullying everyday. We see it. We discuss it. We know it's happening. And yet, it's not stopping.

What is the Day of Pink?

April 9th marks the International Day of Pink. It is a day where communities across the country, and across the world, can unite in celebrating diversity and raising awareness to stop homophobic, transphobic & all forms of bullying. 

The International Day of Pink was started in Nova Scotia when 2 straight high school students saw a gay student wearing a pink shirt being bullied. The 2 students intervened, but wanted to do more to prevent homophobic & transphobic bulling. They decided to purchase pink shirts, and a few days later got everyone at school to arrive  wearing pink, standing in solidarity. The result was that an entire school stopped homophobic & transphobic bullying. 

The message was clear: anyone can bully, any can be victimized by bullying, but together we can stop it.

Each year on the second Wednesday of April, millions of people wear pink to remember that positive actions make a difference. And that the change starts with each one of us. 

~ from DayofPink.org

This April 9th my school board will be participating in the Day of Pink as a day to promote awareness of bullying and to raise awareness against homophobic and transphobic bullying specifically. We have participated in the past years but again this year we are specifically talking about homophobic and transphobic bullying. 

I am so proud.

Regardless of your beliefs and faith, I hope that you too believe that no child deserves to be bullied for who they are. The Day of Pink is a way we can all come together to keep our children safe. 

Take some time on April 9th to talk to your students, your children, your co-workers, everyone you know about bullying and how it hurts. Let's keep our children safe. Talk about this!! It's scary and unfamiliar, yes....but losing even one child to bullying is scarier.

My school has pledged to wear PINK on April 9th.  Anything to show that you care for the children who deal with bullying everyday.

Last year I talked about this with my class and we had an open and serious discussion about how bullying hurts, specifically homophobic and transphobic   Together we are going to pledge to stop bullying and accept everyone for who they are.

If you would like to take a pledge along with us then click on the image below to pick up the pledge/reflection form I created for my class.

The font used is Mr. and Mrs. Popsicle from Kevin and Amanda fonts. 

Five for Friday

Happy Friday!! Congrats to all you working teachers that have successfully made it another Friday.

 Relax and enjoy, you earned it.

My five for Friday will be very child/baby oriented as I am on mat leave...sorry if it's not too exciting. 

My daycare provider fell and broke a few ribs on Wednesday so she asked that I keep my oldest daughter home with the baby and I the last 2 days. Even though it's been exhausting, I have learned that I can survive the day taking care of a newborn and a pre-schooler all by myself!

The trick has been an outing every day! We are going to try a new pre-school class at the library on Monday...maybe it'll become a weekly thing.

 I love my ring sling. It has saved the day many a time in the past 2 months. Like right now as I type on the island in my kitchen while my baby sleeps...finally. 

Bouncing a baby for hours on end is like an extreme exercise class. My calves and thighs are killing me.

No matter how tired or stressed I get, when my baby smiles or my daughter hugs me everything is right with the world again.

It's 8:04 and I plan to be in bed in the next 30 minutes or less!

Big News!!

So I know it's been awhile since I've really posted anything of substance but I have some really good reasons. 

Yes, I said reasons. Plural.

First, we bought a new house!! It has more bedrooms. A bigger yard. A fireplace. It's not a condo. So many pluses.

Then, we had to sell our place which meant we had to get it ready. Wow, was that not fun. We shipped our dog off to the in-laws for a week, hid all/most of Avery's toys and actually made the bed for a change. We listed on a Tuesday morning and had an offer by Wednesday night. Great!!

Not so great....the closing date for both house is the last day of school. Which I can't take off, obviously. So I'll go to work in the morning from my old house, hope everything goes well with the move and come home to a new house. Crazy.

But, I have saved the best news for last....on top of all of the house news we are also having a BABY!!

Which means that I have been dealing with all this while in the first trimester and super-tired. The baby is due in early November, so I am about 10 weeks right now and almost through the tiredness and everything else that goes with the start of a pregnancy. So far it's been so different than my first pregnancy (no morning sickness!!!) and I am looking forward to being in the new house, getting a nursery ready again and moving Avery into her big girl room. 

So much life all at once.

Happy.

Nothing At All To Do With Teaching What So Ever

I've been working on all sorts of posts.

Math workshop posts.

Freebie posts.

Follow up prediction posts.

(Finally getting back to) Follower Feature posts.

But...I've also been battling the flu/food poisoning. My daughter had surgery. It's report cards. The rain hasn't stopped for 5 days now.

Do you ever have these weeks? Separately none of these things would probably faze me all that much. Combine them all into a 5 day period....wow.

The biggest one has been my daughter's surgery. She had a small cyst in her right eyebrow since birth and the doctor thought it best to take it out and check it...just in case. I've known all along that it wasn't a big deal. It's barely even a surgery, but watching them- strangers basically- take away my daughter while she cried and reached out for me was too much. As soon as she was out of sight I collapsed into my husband's arms. For the first time in her little life she was with people I didn't know very well, hadn't researched or spent considerable time with and she was in a room I probably couldn't even find if I wanted to. I mean, I couldn't even find my way back to the waiting room. Some doctor took pity on a crying mother clutching a baby blanket and directed my husband and I to where we wanted to go.

In all actuality she was probably only away from us for 60 minutes tops. She was wide awake when I arrived in the recovery room. They barely even put her under, just enough to give local anesthetic and complete the necessary steps to remove the cyst. But it was long enough. It was too long.

It occurred to me last night that I never once asked to see anyone's ID badge. I didn't even really hear their names when they told me. I trusted the system and allowed strangers to take my daughter, perform surgery on her and trusted I would get her back. 

I did.

And she's fine. She's got a little black eye, a bunch of new toys and an appointment to go back and get her stitches out. She got to eat as many popsicles as she wanted on the peds floor. She had a long nap the afternoon after the surgery and never looked back. 

I, on the other hand, am still exhausted and traumatized days later.

I promise to get some real posts out soon especially now that I have reached the end of my babbling. If you are still here, thanks for listening. 

I needed that. 

Behind the Scenes Of Thinking of Teaching

TBA is celebrating our first fabulous year with a look behind the scenes of the authors and their blogs! Here's a quick peek into my life...

Tagged...

I've been tagged!! Super fun. Thanks to Haley over at Following Optimism and Kim at The Teacher's Lane for including me in this fun game. 


1. You must post the rules.
2. Post 12 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.
4. Tag 12 people and link them on your post.
5. Let them know you've tagged them!  





Twelve Fun Facts


1. I am addicted to coffee. I have a Keurig machine her at home that I just adore and I can barely drive past a Tim Horton's or Starbucks without stopping.


2. I am a VERY proud Canadian. I love my country and will talk about how great it is for hours. I even have a maple leaf tattooed  on my right ankle.


3. I am a knitter. I started during my mat leave..same as blogging...and like blogging it has become a major love.


4. I taught Grad 7 and 8 for 7 years before I moved to Grade 4 last year. I don't miss it!


5. Last year was the first time in my teaching career I ever taught Math..it was super scary but I have discovered that I like it.


6. I have a puggle. A pug and a beagle mix. He's pretty awesome.

This is a picture from last January when my baby was just born.

7. I am a curler. I used to competitively curl and thought I might try for the Olympics. Now it's few and far between and just for fun.

8. Football is my favourite sport to watch. 

9. I will read almost anything because I always have to have a book on the go! My favourites are historical fiction and fantasy.

10. My mom and my sister are two of my very best friends and I would rather hang out with them then almost anyone.

11. Being a mom is the hardest and most wonderful thing I have ever done. Every day is a stress-filled blessing....but look at this face!

12. The above picture was taken with Instagram which is my new iPhone obsession.

My questions from Haley:

1.  What is your favorite place to eat?

Any place Italian or Mexican

2.  What is your favorite accessory?

Purses. I have a ridiculous obsession. I even have vintage purses framed on my bedroom wall.

3.  What is your favorite game to play?

Scrabble.

4.  When you aren't blog stalking, how do you spend your time?

Playing with my baby, knitting or reading.

5.  Do you pack your lunch, or do cafeteria food?

Pack it...and I hate it everyday. I wish we could just get rid of lunch.

6.  Do you prefer a paper book, or a Nook/Kindle?

Both actually. I have a Kobo...the Canadian version of an e-reader and I like it more than I thought I would.

7.  How long do your morning announcements last?

10 minutes.....too long!

8.  If you could have any car, what would you have?  (this is for my hubby)

Jeep!!!

9.  Do you have more boys or girls in your class?

Even actually! 11 of each.

10.  Biggest indulgence?

Books...I have so many.

11.  Are you a cat or dog person?

Huge dog person. I am actually afraid of cats. It's a long story.

12.  Any big plans for "our summer off?"

I am excited about having the summer with my baby now that she is up and walking. Plus we have two weeks at the cottage and my cousins wedding...PLUS!!! My sister is having a baby in August!! Bring on the summer.

So now I am supposed to tag 12 people right...here goes! (I hope there are no repeats)

1. Jennifer- First Grade Blue Skies

2. Melissa- Dilly Dabbles

3. Heather- Heather's Heart

4. Jen R.- The Teacher's Cauldron

5. Stephanie- Teaching in Rm 6

6. Jen- Marvelous Multiagers

7. Mor- A Teacher's Treasure

8. Jen- Runde's Room

9. Elizabeth- Fun in Room B

10. Meghan- Inside the Classroom

11. Tara- Fourth Grade Frolics

12. Jennifer- Empowering Little Learners

And my questions....

1. Will you watch the Superbowl?

2. Coffee or Tea?

3. The Daily 5?

4. Do you have a favourite type of pen?

5. What's your must see TV show?

6. If you could go anywhere tomorrow where would you go?

7. Winter or summer?

8. What hobbies do you have?

9. Shoes or purses?

10. Mac or PC?

11. iPhone or Blackberry?

12. Describe yourself in three words.

Okay...have fun!!!

Everything I Ever Needed to Know...

... I learned at campfire? It sure seems like it when you read through the lyrics of some of my favourite songs. There's nothing like a good song to teach you a life lesson, eh?

It's this time of the year, as summer is really truly fading (although the weather sure was warm this weekend) that I start to get nostalgic for the summer months, the sunshine and the warm weather. I do love a good fall day but nothing beats the fun of summer camp and everything I learned there!

All My Life’s a Circle

All my life’s a circle, sunrise and sundown
The moon rolls through the night time
Till the day break comes around
All my life’s a circle, but I can’t tell you why
The seasons spinning round again
The years keep rolling by.

It seems like I’ve been here before, I can’t remember when
But I got this funny feeling
That we’ll all be back again
There’s no straight lines that make up my life
And all my roads have bends
There’s no clear cut beginnings, and so far no dead ends.

I’ve found you a thousand times, I guess you’ve done the same
But then we’ll lose each other
It’s just like children’s games
As I see you here again, the thought runs through my mind
Our friendships like a circle,
Let’s go round one more time.

Linger

Mm, mm, I’d like to linger

Mm, mm, a little longer
Mm, mm, a little longer here with you
Mm, mm, its such a perfect night
Mm, mm, it doesn’t seem quite right
Mm, mm, that it should be my last with you
Mm, mm, and come December

Mm, mm, I will remember
Mm, mm, our campfire bright and friendships true
Mm, mm, and as the years go by
Mm, mm, I’ll think you you and sigh
Mm, mm, this is goodnight and not goodbye

Frog Kissin'

Do you remember in the fairy tale, how the wicked witches spell
Turned the handsome prince to a toad?
By the power of a potion, she handed him the notion
He was lower than the dirt in the road.
And though she left him green and warted, her evil plans were thwarted
Their chanced to happen by a young miss
Who inspite of his complexion, offered him affection
And broke the wicked curse with her kiss

So if you've never been frog kissing

Then you don't know what you've been missin',

There's a wealth of opportunity under each and every log.

And if you've never been charm-breakin',

Then you've never been handsome prince makin'.

You've got to slow down, turn around, bend down,

Kiss you a frog!

Once upon a time ago, I was down and feelin' low
Like a lonely frog in a pond
My life was just a joke, and I was just about to croak
Cuz I'd be zapped by life's wicked wand.
But in the depths of my depression, there came a true expression
Of love from a person so sweet.
She gave me warm fuzzy feelings, feelings that were healin'
And she knocked me off my little webbed feet.
There's a happy-ever-after-land, deep in the heart of man
Where a prince and princess abides.
But all we get are glimpses, of the happy prince or princess
'Cauce they're covered with a green warty hide.
Though they're full of life's potential, they're lacking one essential
To enable them to shine like a star.
That's a handsome guy or missus, to smother them with kisses
And love them just the way that they are.

That's the secret of frog kissing

You can do it too if you'll just listen

There's a wealth of opportunity under each and every log.

That's the secret of charm-breakin',

That's the secret of handsome prince makin'.

You've got to slow down, turn around, bend down,

Kiss you a...

You've got to slow down, turn around, bend down,

Kiss you a...

You've got to slow down, turn around, bend down,

Kiss you a frog!

11 hours...

That's it. That's all. 11 hours until I go back to work and my mat leave is over. I have thought all day about what I wanted to write in this post and it's just not there. I can't really clarify my own feelings so how can I write it all out here? I am excited to go back to work, to be teaching and to be out in society again. Yet, every time I look at my sweet baby's face, kiss her fat little cheeks, or hug her close I start to tear up at the thought of being away from her everyday.

How much will I miss? How fast it she going to learn new stuff and I won't be here to see it all? What if she misses me and is upset during the day? What if....

I'm not sure I can even keep writing. This much thinking about being away from my baby is just getting me more and more upset. I am hoping that tomorrow will be so busy I won't even have time to think about missing my baby. I have a big picture frame full of pictures of her so I will still be able to "see" her all day. I am also going to have a student-teacher in my room starting tomorrow (yes, the first day!) so that will also be occupying my time...not to mention the 24 students!

For right now I am going to head off and watch Bachelor Pad to numb my mind...

Love is better than anger...

Today is a sad day for all Canadians and for the world. One of the hardest working men in Canada has lost his battle to cancer.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

~ Jack Layton

In an Open Letter to Canadians Jack left us with his final words. A call to stay positive and to continue fighting to make Canada, and the world a better place. It is something that everyone, not just his supporters, should read and take to heart. Jack was a fighter for all. He fought for the poor and disadvantage. He fought for seniors. He fought for education. He fought to make the world a better place.

As I have read in many place already today, this is a sentiment I must echo...he was the best Prime Minister we never had.

To read more about Jack go here and here, and here.

Le Bon Jack...you will be greatly missed.