Student Blog: Briana

So, I had a genius plan… I would write blogs ahead of time, and get them up when it was right. Let me tell you how well that worked – not at all. Ed has been insane. I had big plans, you know, do all my lesson planning ahead of time, go to the gym regularly, work, get up to High River for family time. No. Education is my life now, and I assume it will be until the end of practicum. Not that I mind.

Third grade is an experience. It’s crazy, it’s busy and it’s frustrating. But at the same time, it’s beyond rewarding. Every day I spend in the classroom, I become more and more certain that I am making the best only possible decision that will be right for me in the future. I love teaching. Don’t get me wrong, it’s the most frustrating, unnerving experience I’ve ever had. But I absolutely love teaching.

The biggest issue so far has been the crazy roads. Like right now, for example. This morning on my 20 minute commute to my school, the roads were decent. Blowing snow, but not too bad. Now I learn that RCMP are recommending no travel on any highway that connects my school to Lethbridge. They are all in critical condition with a tow ban. Awesome news right? It’s not that I mind the cold, or the snow or even the wind. It’s that I mind all three at once. But this is Lethbridge, and you’d think that after 3 and a half years here, I’d be used to it. Ah well.

Drive safe, my dears, and remember that even though the cold is a great excuse to not attend class, this is crunch time. Finish strong, you’ve almost survived Fall 2010. I promise Spring 2011 will be more enjoyable, weather-wise… there’s something calming about have to tolerate exams, but feeling the weather warm up just as that happens.

It’s been a month, and I have so much mroe to say! But I need to be planning and marking and reflecting and self-assessing and all those other things us future teachers work on. So keep warm!

– Bri

So this wonderful Halloween weekend, I was lucky enough to be co-hosting the world’s most epic party. I’m allowed to say that without tooting my own horn, because I use the term “co-hosting” in the loosest way possible.

My amazing friend Chris has a tradition of holding epic Halloween parties, but he wasn’t going to have one this year because his apartment was too small. So I volunteered my little townhouse for his use. BEST. DECISION. EVER.

Here’s how I knew the party was going to be epic. Chris comes over with six Rubbermaid tubs full of decorations and asks, “Is anyone allergic to smoke? Because I have a smoke machine…” Oh, yes. And that was only the start. There was a six foot tall, inflatable glowing pumpkin statue at my door. There were garlands and streamers and orange lights all over. There were cobwebs strewn over our bookshelves and evil things with glowing eyes hanging from the walls. Our home looked creepier than I ever thought possible.

Then… there were the games. This is Chris’ 16th annual party, and to say he’s an expert is a massive understatement. There was pumpkin carving, egg tossing, bobbing for apples (and I’ll tell you, I don’t remember the water being so cold when I was 7), Name That Tune and a DnD-esque game, where your individual character had the power to steal points or get up to other trickery. It was ridiculous amounts of fun. Everyone was laughing and talking and getting eggs splattered on them… oh wait, that was only one guy.

As for costumes, some of the more notable ones included: a Boy Scout, Rosie the Riveter (she’s the girl from those American WWII posters who says, “We Can Do It!”), the Mad Hatter, some paper bag princesses, Vince from Slap Chop – complete with examples – Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys, the lottery, some grapes, a tomato, a bubble bath, Elmer’s glue and the girl from Avatar (painted entirely blue). Everyone really enjoyed themselves and I had so much fun doing it! It was great to take a night off and just enjoy everyone’s company.

-Bri

So I had my Orientation last Thursday, in my grade three class. It was so exciting and so much fun!
The staff was friendly and inviting, and at lunch in the staff room, they invited both myself and the other student teacher to feel free to come out and observe any classes we want, in any section of the school (which is a K-12).
In PSI, student teachers are expected to do a third teaching, a third planning and a third observing. My Teacher Associate (TA) is really supportive and easy to approach. She told me I can teach any subjects I want, rearrange the classroom however I want, try any new things I want! I cannot wait to start on November 15, back in the classroom.

I’ll be teaching a science unit, Testing Materials and Designs, and a social unit about exploring the Ukraine. Those things I’ll be able to start as soon as I get in the classroom, so I have a LOT of planning to do. It will be good though, I’m looking forward to it. As for math, which is the one subject I absolutely love above all others – even social – she said I can jump in at any point and try math lessons or English lessons or some health and PE related things. I’m glad to have someone so supportive of my professional growth!

Otherwise, things are crazy!! This week I have an assignment due in every class (and I have six classes) plus two due on Friday when I don’t even have school! But next week is my last full week, and then I’m done November 9 at 4 p.m. Going home to see my family that weekend, for the first time since August!!

On a non-related note: GO HORNS!! Fifth consecutive national championship in Women’s Rugby. What a bunch of winners!! 🙂

Tonight is Trick or Eats with the campus Rotaract Club! We’ll be collecting food donations for the local food bank by heading door-to-door on the West Side. If you see us, please feel free to donate! And we’ll have a club table set up this week, so you can drop us off some non-perishable food at your leisure!

-Bri

So it’s official! The day I’ve been waiting for since July has finally arrived! I got my practicum placement yesterday at 11.30am and I’ve been on cloud nine ever since! Yours truly will be teaching grade three in Nobleford. I’ve never been to Nobleford, but I Googled my future school and it turns out there are 600 people there and the school is K – 12. I can’t wait! My section of PSI spent at the U will come to an end on November 10, and then I have a long weekend – to go home and see my family! – and then I start Monday, November 15, teaching the third grade!!

Other cool things that have been going on in Ed include the Literature Fair. This was a whole Friday of PSI students hanging out, listening to William Bell, our keynote speaker, then going to smaller breakout sessions to learn about how awesome reading is and how we can incorporate it cross-curriculum. I went to “Surviving Middle School Through Literature,” “Books in Mathematics Education” and “Graphic Novels.” They were all amazing and interesting, but the middle school one awoke a burning desire to read anything and everything. For the past four years, I’ve put off any and all pleasure reading (except in the summertime). So I have been reading ridiculous amounts lately and I love it!

The other thing going on in my life is that I’ve decided to push up my graduation date. Instead of taking this summer off to work and taking a full year next year, I have decided to take a full course load in the summer and then opt to do my PSIII in the fall, hopefully in my hometown. This would be ideal, because then if I perform well, I could potentially have a job for January! There’s only one thing holding me back. As a General Social Science major, I need a “quantitatively-based methodology course” to graduate. This is a very specific requirement, and only 5 courses will fulfill it. I opted to take Psychology 2030: Methods and Statistics, because I have the pre-requisites and it will also count as my last Science GLER. This course was offered last summer, so I figured I was golden. WRONG. I talked to the Psych department and got them to print me off their summer 2010 course offering, and 2030 is not on it.

I’ll visit academic advising tomorrow morning, but I have a back-up plan in mind, juuuuust in case. My roommate showed me TransferAlberta, which is an Alberta Government website that shows you whether or not certain courses will transfer. If you’re transferring from ULeth or to ULeth or, like me, need a specific course but ULeth doesn’t offer it when I need it, you can search for directly transferable courses from that site. (http://alis.alberta.ca/ps/ep/aas/ta/transferalberta.html). So I’ve discovered that Athabasca University (distance learning) won’t transfer directly, but Concordia, Keyano, Red Deer College, MRU and St. Mary’s all offer courses that U of L will accept in lieu of Psych 2030. “Substantially similar” is what they call them. So I’ll talk to advising – located on floor 0 of the Student’s Union Building, if you weren’t already informed – and see what they suggest.

Otherwise, working some night shifts this week, which I don’t ever recommend, and the Rotaract Book for Babies Bowl-a-thon this weekend… where I will be dressed as a superhero to raise money for charity! Can’t wait!

– Bri

So this weekend was the 3rd Annual High River Fire Department (HRFD) Gala. My friend is a volunteer firefighter, and has been for the past three years, so I went with him and his family to support the HRFD!
Did you know…

• Every time you leave the city limits, you’re in the hands of a volunteer firefighter.
• Volunteer firefighters respond to everything from industrial fires, vehicle collisions, medical first responses and cats stuck in trees.
• Firefighters are often the first to arrive and the last to leave.
• Across Canada, there are 127,000 volunteer firefighters.
• 80% of Canadian soil is protected by volunteer firefighters.
• Approximately 3,500 of Canada’s 4000 fire departments are volunteers.

These men and women volunteer their time and even put their lives on the line to protect their communities. I know my buddy goes to training every Tuesday night, and takes on minimum three shifts every week. These shifts mean he’s on call from 6pm – 6am and carries his pager with him at all times.

The Gala was amazing! It was so great to see the entire Fire Department out and dressed to the nines. The HRFD BetterHalves Society outdid themselves, and the Set the Night on Fire Gala was gorgeously done. I had tons of fun with my friend’s family and came away with a new appreciation for volunteer firefighters!!

Here’s another topic that’s very dear to my heart: The Campus Women’s Centre. Now, I’m biased because I’m a Women’s Studies major and have been a volunteer there for the past couple years, but I believe it’s an important resource and something greatly beneficial to have on campus (yes, even for you boys!)

The Women’s Centre is a place to hang out. It’s a place to sit and chat and help yourself to coffee and maybe take out books from the lending library there and possibly peruse the feminist magazines. It’s a place to take a nap on the couch, if you feel comfortable enough, or to relax between classes.

The Women’s Centre is for education. We have resources about mental and sexual health, sexual orientation, all forms of abuse and numerous other important topics. If you need to find counseling services, or a clinic for a pap test, or a doctor accepting patients, chances are the Women’s Centre can help you find that. Or if you just need condoms, we have those too. The Centre strives to be a one-stop shop for referring you to resources around the city.

The Women’s Centre is a connection. We do events with various other groups around the city of Lethbridge. For example, we have worked with the HIV/AIDS Connection, the YWCA, Womanspace and the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery. We participate in the Take Back the Night March, Week Without Violence, HIV/AIDS week, the White Ribbon Campaign among others. We strive to connect with our community on important topics that can affect the student population.

So, if you’re wondering what your dollar does for you, I strongly, STRONGLY encourage you to check out the Centre, located in the basement of the Student’s Union building (in the tunnel). Ask what we’re all about, help yourself to some coffee or even just poke your head in and say hi to the ladies volunteering. And if you’re interested in maybe getting involved, let us know!

Alright. This blog has been a long time coming. I’m about to drop some important knowledge on you. This could, quite possibly, be the most important thing anyone will ever tell you about university life and Lethbridge in general. Are you ready?

A Jamie Sandwich.

That’s right, boys and girls. It is imperative that you all head over to Backstreet West and enjoy a Jamie sandwich. Now, I’m unsure who Jamie was and how he got a sandwich named after him, exactly, but any Lethbridge veteran will tell you that the Jamie is a legend. For $9.50 you can have a Jamie by itself, and for $10.50 you can enjoy a side with it – the pasta salad is amazing.

By now you’re likely wondering, “Bri, what is a Jamie and why is it worth my precious time?” And the answer to that is – a Jamie is a miraculous sandwich. It’s a party for your taste buds. It’s a delightful foray into high-end cuisine that will tantalize your senses.

Essentially, a Jamie is an individual sized pizza, flipped over so all the toppings are inside and the crust makes an almost sandwich. Inside, you’ll find mayo, a tomato and some lettuce. Voila! Delicious sandwich. But it gets better, because you choose three toppings for your Jamie, in addition to the cheesy, lettucey, tomatoey goodness. Anchovies, back bacon, pineapple, onions, ham… you name it, you can get it. Almost. My recommendation is the tropical sauce – half BBQ, half pizza sauce, all deliciousness.

So, if I can leave you with one thing to do while you’re here, one thing to change your life… it’s a Jamie sandwich. So grab a new friend, old friend, classmate, roommate, anyone! And enjoy a Jamie as soon as you can!

Happy eating!

Well, my PSI semester is underway. After a first day of speeches and welcomes and other various housekeeping activities associated with being accepted into Canada’s premier Faculty of Education, my group started classes today! The structure of the PSI program is a little different from other programs. Our classes are kept secret until Orientation Day, when we receive our CRNs to register and our schedule. I scored the mother of all schedules: Tuesdays I don’t start until 10:30am, Wednesday mornings off, Thursday afternoons off and no school on Fridays!
So far it’s been exhausting. There’s not too much to report so far. I’m too tired and overwhelmed to really pass judgment, but I’m expecting it to be a crazy, wonderful, active term!

Now that we’re back in school, be on the look-out for all those awesome things I mentioned! You’ve seen the Fresh Fest crew around campus, drumming up excitement, selling tickets and even dressed up as lemons! Tonight is movie night and I know it’s going to be tons of fun. Rush week starts Monday, and I know clubs are frantically preparing schedules to sit tables and set up posters to draw you in. Lots of excitement during rush week for sure!

Now one thing that’s near and dear to my heart: the Fitness Centre and everything that comes with it. You may have noticed that you pay around $70 per term to have unlimited access to the Fitness Centre… this is a steal! And since it’s mandatory, it’s in your best interest to take full advantage. This year I’ve set myself some fitness goals that I’m pushing to achieve by the end of the semester:

– run a 10K without walking
– bench press 100lbs
– climb a 5.10 route

The gym itself is great. The machines are current and well-maintained, and the track is a great alternative to the dreaded treadmill. As well, they offer drop-in classes in the mornings and at noon, in addition to having full-on fitness classes during the year. You can try out yoga (it’s awesome), spin class (a crazy workout) or even ballroom dancing! As well, sign-ups for intramurals are on! You can put in a team or just sign up as an individual. Sports range from ball hockey and 3-on-3 basketball to dodgeball and Ultimate Frisbee. A great way to meet people, and if you’re a certified official in any of our intramurals, a great way to make money!

My favourite part of the gym membership is the access to the Ascent Climbing Centre. The wall at the U is one of the best in any university. It’s actually modeled of a genuine rock face, so you can use the wall itself to climb and not just the holds. The bouldering cave is an immense facility, with routes ranging from basic beginner to ridiculously advanced. Boulderfest is a great way to get involved and spend a whole Saturday hanging out in the cave! You can get your climbing card for free by passing a belay test in the centre, whenever you like. If you don’t know how to belay, or need a refresher, the U offers a course for around $40 for 3 hours that teaches the basics of both climbing, belaying and bouldering. This is a unique experience, and I can’t stress enough how cool it is!

My last thing to push on you here is the ULeth 5K Fun Run/Walk on September 25. It’s a little jaunt around campus in part to welcome Dr. Mahon to our University community. The registration fee is $15, with all proceeds going to Kidsport. Also… the $15 includes a waterbottle and free refreshments! (And if university life has taught me one thing, it’s not to pass up free anything!) So come sign up if it’s your cup of tea. I’ll be there, running those hills and trying not to pass out.

Until next time, pals!

– Bri

It’s the last day of August!! I’m finally finished up with DeWalt, and I figured my summer would slow down and I’d be able to relax and enjoy the last week before classes start… but no. I just got back to beautiful Lethbridge last night, and I’ve been unpacking and grocery shopping and catching up with friends and all sorts of things. I’ve had an interview with a tutoring company, and tomorrow I start back at work at my old job. Then this weekend I’m pitching rock to help out a friend’s company – he does stonework on houses.

Basically, there’s no rest at all for me! Back to classes with Orientation next Tuesday and then diving headfirst back into life at the University. There’s so much to look forward to in the first couple weeks! Here’s a brief (brief because even after three full years, there’s still things that go on that I know nothing about!) overview of things to definitely look out for!

1.    FRESH FEST!
Fresh fest is the party of the year! You can meet new people, catch up with old friends and have an everlovin’ ball at this event, put on by a team of dedicated students and of course, our ULSU. According to Facebook, there’ll be a luau, an outdoor movie, BBQs, lemon themed events and a music concert with two stages and several bands! This is all going down starting September 9, so purchase your tickets and I will be seeing you there!

2.    Rush week September 13-17
Going to a new University is hard, especially if you don’t know anyone or if you’re moving away from your hometown. The easiest and most fun way to get involved on campus and meet new people – fast – is to join one of the U of L’s super awesome clubs! The U has over 60 different clubs, ranging from the Management Student’s Society and the Rotaract Club to more specific clubs, like the Fire Spinning Club and the Head Bangers’ Society. And don’t forget the Surf Club! That’s right, friends. We have a Surf Club in Lethbridge. As well, if the whole sorority/fraternity idea appeals to you, we have both! Kappa Sigma, an international fraternity, has a chapter at the U of L, and you can learn more here. Delta Eta Iota is a local sorority, started here at the U of L. Be sure to check out all the club tables in the atrium, floor 6 of UHall!

3.    The IVCF booksale.
An alternative to buying your books at the bookstore is to wait about a week or so and buy them used through this great booksale! Returning and past students can sell their books here and set their own prices, which is much easier than trying to post flyers around the University. For those who aren’t keen on waiting for the booksale to come around, the University bookstore will be open the entire week heading into classes, so you can grab all your books, pencils, paper and U of L gear to start September off right!

So keep an eye out for these great campus events! I’ll do my best to keep you posted on what you shouldn’t miss in the first couple weeks and I’ll fill you in on how much fun I’m having being back in classes!!

– Bri

OH MY GOODNESS!! It’s August already! I can’t wait for school to start! Do I sound like a huge keener? It’s because I am, a little bit. I’m so excited for school to start and for Ed Orientation and to move back to Lethbridge and see my amazing roomies every day again! I’m also excited to leave Manitoba. I’ve been on the road for just over three weeks so far, and it’s 11 sleeps until I get back to High River!

For anyone who might be new to Lethbridge, or for those people who just don’t live there year-round, the September long weekend is crazy. West Lethbridge goes from a slow, quiet community to a thriving student town. Suddenly the University Drive/Columbia Boulevard intersection is packed all the time, the grocery stores are full of parents trying desperately to stock pantries and fridges and the campus is filled with people trying to sort things out, buy books, meet up or just find their way around. Everything is alive and exciting after a sleepy summer.

I went shopping in Winnipeg today and bought myself some “teacher” clothes. This whole Ed thing is really hitting my wallet harder than it should. But I suppose it’s okay, since food, gas and hotels are all on DeWalt!

So I thought I’d elaborate on my awesome job, and why I’ve been traveling all summer. I’m an Event Marketing Representative for DeWalt, which is a company that manufactures industrial-grade power tools. I got the job at the beginning of May, and they flew me out to Toronto for a week of training mid-May. I drive a big yellow Silverado and the three of us on Team Prairies travel from Fort St. John, BC to Winnipeg, MB and sell DeWalt tools on every stop along the way. We go to different locations every day and  set up the BFT, which is a huge truck with two fold-out stages. We also run the Ultimate Cordless Challenge, which tests how fast challengers can drive 5 drywall screws into a wooden plank using our DCD970 drill.

We have to take photos from each event to email to our head office, which is located in Toronto. So these are some from our summer, so you can get a taste for the job I’m loving!