Brief 2nd Year Experience as a Junior High Teacher

I should have done this earlier during the summer lull, I guess now is as good as a time as any other.

My second year as a junior high teacher... Definitely a lot easier than my first year in that I was fortunate enough to have a similar schedule to what I had last year. I taught Science 7, Math 8 and karate as an option. I was able to implement what I thought worked well in my first year, and made improvements to other things that did not go as well in my first year.

All in all, my second year went by EXTREMELY quickly in my eyes (for the most part anyways). One reason could be attributed to the various events that took place this year and the extra curricular I was involved in as well.

I don't have as many points as last year, but here are the things that I learned as a second year teacher:

1) Set the tone on day 1. On the first day of classes, I made sure to lay down the expectations of my students, and more importantly... myself. We're both accountable for the learning that takes place in the classroom! Also, I made sure to stick to my expectations... which led to me giving detention on the first day of classes! Word got around the school, and I had to say that I didn't have as much classroom management problems that I had in my first year. (I guess another reason could be due to the fact that I wasn't a first year teacher =P )

2) Exercise. I started working out again last August. It was a great way to relieve any stress that I experienced during the work day. Plus, it allowed me to lose a lot of weight and gave me a boost in confidence in terms of my physical appearance. At times, I also met a couple of my students at the gym, which I felt allowed me to build a rapport outside of school. It also reminded me that we all need some time away from school/homework.

3) Get involved with extra-curricular: I wasn't that involved in my first year, so I made sure to pull my weight during my second year. It gave me experiences that I wouldn't have received if I was consistently in my classroom. Once again, it allowed me to see a different side of the students in my school! =)

4) Your immunity is a lot better in the second year... Or so I thought till I was hit buy a couple illnesses in June! I can't really complain since I was healthy for most of the year.

5) Teaching can be heartbreaking, yet heartwarming at the same time. I haven't really experienced it as much in my first year, but I was able to develop, what I felt, strong relationships with my students. I remember being in my last practicum and how certain students will tell intimate stories to my mentor teacher. I didn't quite understand at that point in time since from my own personal experiences, a teacher was just there to teach me. Never did I thought that we could offer, hopefully, useful pieces of information.

Due to these relationships that I had with a few of my students, they told me about their fears, their anxiety, but also their strengths and their pride. I felt empathy for their troubles, but also shared their pride when they succeeded. It was something that defines this profession, that makes it very human... if you understand what I'm trying to get at! So all in all, do your best to relate to your students! They'll start to warm up to you! =)

And that's pretty much it! Summer has just begun, though I'm anticipating my 3rd year of teaching! Hopefully it'll be as great, or even better than this year!

Eggs Benedict Poutine = Delicious!

After teaching piano today, I went to go eat with a couple friends at Naina's Kitchen. It's a small restaurant located down South.

I was recommended to try their Eggs Benedict Poutine, though I initially hesitated... I had sinned quite a bit this week and it was apparent due to the bit of weight gain I had (nothing too dramatic, but I had to admit it did dampen my spirits a bit).

I finally caved in and got the renowned poutine.

And it's a choice I will never regret taking... it's savory taste...

Why must life be so cruel at times. =(

A roller coaster of a ride, but Date ended up the way it should have...

After over a week of watching an episode religiously, save for a couple days, I finished watching the last two episodes of the jdorama: Date.

The beginning was awesome. A "love" story between a social outcast and a career-oriented woman. It's an unusual match in that most people wouldn't feel attracted to either of the characters. I thought the screen writers did a marvelous job in making both character repulsive, yet intriguing at the same time. When you think about it, (pardon me if I sound rather ignorant) but how often would a person fall in love with a character that wants to do nothing but to leech off their spouse OR one that finds no sense in romance at all?

The screenwriter, however, managed to make this weird chemistry work between the two leads, from starting out as an similar ideological relationship to one that does bloom into a romantic one. The first half of the show was enjoyable, with the budding relationship between the two.

However... I felt like it went down hill at the start of the second half. Like I stated, I do not like love triangles. I feel like they have been done way too many times in romance dramas. These love triangles, or more like a love square since the main characters had others pursing them, created such a see-saw ride throughout the last half that I felt it became nauseating. The main characters get together with the ones that love them, then the two mains get back together again very briefly, and then back to the supporting characters! I'm making it worse than it sounds, but I felt it was a plot filler to fill up the last couple of episodes...

All in all, it was an enjoyable watch for the most part. A fun romantic comedy that touches base on characters that do exist; not everyone is a dashing princess waiting for her white knight to come woo her. Nor the dream girl walking down a sunlit staircase to the admiring eyes of the hero... I digress.... my imagination is becoming wild...

It's a good story, showing that the definition of love is not the same for everyone. The ending was well thought of, and I enjoyed how they ended it with how the two of them first met: through a date.

It's hard to believe...

that it's been over a year since I visited Japan! To this day, I can still relive certain memorable events. A year ago, I believe we went to Furano to see the Lavender Fields. I also recalled the small town of Biei and how it had a very nostalgic look to the place.

Besides reliving memories, I woke up a lot later today than I did on Monday since I wasn't able to fall asleep last night. I woke up in a coughing fit.,.. which I really hope it'll go away by next week...

Other than that, it was another workout day: squats, bench, back and triceps. My muscles were still sore from the lunges we did yesterday so I had a relatively light day with squats today.

Oh and I finally got my bronze crown in MH4U! Gogmazios was a pain in the behind to fight. You definitely need a team to fight that elder dragon. 

First Official Week Off!

The very first Monday of Summer 2015! Time is going by so slowly, which is kind of a good thing for now anyways! It makes me feel like I have more time to get things done; for summer and for the upcoming school year.

The weekend was relaxing: I got some work done and ventured on the Stampede grounds for a bit on Sunday. It was my first time on the grounds since I worked there in 2012.

As for today, I got up relatively early compared to my normal "holiday mode" hour. I got stuff done, went out and completed some chores and went to work out. I was extremely exhausted near the end, with a noticeable decline in performance.

Rest up and go at it again tomorrow!

Hot July

Hot once again!

Woke up at around 9, ate breakfast and got ready to go out and shop for supplies.

Mission success for the most part I would have to say!

Went and did a few errands afterwards and proceeded to go work out.

Summer is going well... though I wish my cough is going away... I really hope it isn't Bronchitis again...

Canada Day 2015

Yesterday was my last day of work, but it does not explain the reason why I didn't blog last night.

The reason for that... was because I was playing league till late.

As for today, my family and I went out to Banff. It was a pleasant day, in that the temperature was a comfortable 23ish degrees. I was a bit groggy due to the heavy thunderstorm at around 3 AM, but the fresh mountain air did perk me up. 

After walking around the town and visiting the Fairmount hotel, it was off home to finish G2 quests in MH4U. I'm now attempting G3 quests, but I did have the Kushala armor for a while now. =P

And that marks my Canada Day for this year! I'll post about my experiences as a second year teacher soon...