Today's post is brought to you by my iPhone.

So as I am sitting in the truck while my hubby is fixing his new-to-him swather so we can get it home to do some major mowing of some grass and buck brush, I was checking my Twitter and seeing what was all new.  Well the ATA have a weekend long conference for their Annual  Representative Assembly and they have been actively tweeting all this May long weekend!  I thought it was very cool that the ATA were letting all their followers know what was all happening, being voted on, what was being said, etc.  The one tweet today that caught my attention was about second language being required in grade 4-9 (an idea that has been approximately around since I graduated high school in '04).  

Of course, learning a second language (L2) is near and dear to my heart.  My first language is English and by grade 10 when I went to a high school that had many options, I took French as a Second Language (FSL).  I took French 13, 10, 30, and 31A (I was able to skip 20 since since my Fr. 10 mark was over 80%) and loved every second of it.  In grade 11 I participated in the Alberta-Québec Exchange and spent 3 months in Barraute, QC with a great host family.  My teacher, Grace Fix, was an amazing woman and teacher.  She gave me the inspiration to be a FSL teacher.  Grace did not just teach the language, but she taught a mindset and engaging the students to want to learn more.  

So obviously I went I to teaching with a major in French so I can share the wealth of the experiences, knowledge, and opportunities that a second language can give to a students who is willing to learn and open their mind.  

I know for me knowing French can make it easier for me to find a job, but what I really like is that I can communicate with other French speakers when I travel.  I also love the culture of the French and their quirky differences (a , instead of a . for prices, how they eat later for supper, shoes instead of stockings at Christmas, etc.).  It's just a lot of fun to learn another language!  I know I stressed this to my students during my APT because I don't think the students realized what a L2 can do for them.  

I am a huge advocate for students learning a L2 or more.  I think the European countries have it right to have their students know at least three different languages before they graduate high school. Just think whom they all can make connections with through knowing other languages other than your mother tongue.  So by having students learn a L2 starting at grade 4 here, why not??  It would be beneficial to them and their futures!  My APT school (Daysland) enforced the idea a while back and have continued on.  By high school they can go on a class trip to either Québec or France (every three years they do this trip), and this year was their trip year and they went all over France for 10 days!  How lucky at 15-18 yrs old you get to go on a cool trip. 

I am happy that the ATA is in favour of a mandatory 9Y L2 program for grades 4-9 and I really hope the schools and government will push to follow through.  The ATA last tweet is as followed on the subject: 

@albertateachers: Teachers urge #AbGov to institute and support required additional language learning for students in Gr 4-9. #ARA2013 #abed

Lets hope that  they understand the importance of the L2...

Dr. Z Reflects: What IS the Difference Between 20th and 21st Centu...

The Following blog is pretty good read on 20th Century Learning VS 21st Century Learnin.

 
Dr. Z Reflects: What IS the Difference Between 20th and 21st Centu...: What ARE the differences between the 20th and 21st Century Classrooms?  We have heard a great deal about how the 21st Century Classroom&#39...

It is with great sadness...



Glenn, you would have made a
great second lang. teacher.  RIP.

I just received an email from my APT class informing us some bad news on Glenn Lawrie---his remains were found recently and his funeral will be May 24th at Sherwood Park. 

You see, Glenn went missing on the weekend leading up to our final week of classes before we were off to our 9 week practicums in February, 2013.  During this week, we had some major assignments due, so it was really weird for Glenn (who was always prepared, early for class, etc.) not to show up.  A few of us were puzzled about his absense, but my one friend took action to let someone know of his disappearance. He contacted my friend "Cathy"  all the time via email to see how each other were doing (both are no spring chicks back in school), and the emails stopped.  So that was an instant red flag for her!  Anyways, she let security and the police know. Eventually Glenn's sisters were notified (he had no wife or children of his own) and the hunt was on. 

Glenn left everything at his apartment that he would need when he left.  All he took was his keys and university ID card.  Even his glasses and wallet were left behind.  Very weird that he just left.  It's sad because he was so close of finishing his education degreen with concertrations in French and Spanish.

Anyways, it's really sad that he has passed on.  He was a nice guy---friendly yet spoke his mind.  I was not very close with him, but it still affects me in a way too, right?  I may not grieve like I did for my best friend that passed away over a year ago now, but I am still grieving.  Glenn was on my mind a bit---always wondering if they would find his body so his sisters could be at peace.  My heart does go out to them.  They lost a brother, and I a collegue.  I can imagine the pain they are going through, though I can't iumagine the unknowing (until recently) where he was and if he was even still alive.  But now they can lay him to rest and know that he is at better place. 

My thoughts and sympathies go out to Glenn's family and friends.  It is a hard time but time mostly heals all wounds.  The peace of mind will help begin the healing process.

Ugh Technology

Oh wow!  We all have those days when technology is just NOT on our side.  For an instance, this evening I played around to get this blog onto my other profile for my gmail account.  With some lovely person on the Blogger Forum, I found out I can only invite my other account to post on this and become an admin, then I can blog with this account.  Phew!  It's really annoying because I have all my gmail accounts connected so it's easy to check my emails.  Well I find out that when I am in one account to go in my blog and my other takes over.  Gah!  So if you notice "Erin Weinzierl" or "Erin Grams" posts, don't worry---it is just me!  If you are wondering, Grams is my maiden name.

So all this brings me to my big point, technology is GREAT when it works the way we want it, but when it doesn't it is a pain in the "derriere" (pardon my French).  This reverts back to technology in the classroom.  I know I have not taught a long time, but enough to realize my earlier statement.  I know I had to change my presentation of a subject when the SMART board didn't want to project or use its touch technology, or scrap a website when it would not work that day.  When it does not work, technology makes you think on your feet!  A love and hate relationship for sure.

Right now I am struggling with Java so my Wordle  will work.  *sigh*

I am definitely not a techie, but I will dabble at some things if they work for me.  I love my PowerPoints, starting to get to know Prezi, SMART Notebook I am a n00b/newbie so I have lots to learn (but want to learn, thanks to my mentor teacher Dianna Kroetch!), I just started to use Voki, and I want to somehow integrate Twitter.  So much technology at my fingertips and so little time between learning and dealing with technological/user issues.  

Some days I wish things worked the way we want them to, but don't we all?

RedCamp13 = Inspiring/Welcome back to Blogging Mme. W!

You ever get on an entry and just suddenly have nothing to say but just before you to to the entry on a blog, you have all these ideas?  Yup!  That is me!  I use to have a blog---well an online journal really.  I use to use it a whole lot when I was younger and now it hardly gets used...I think my twitter account is linked to it so I feel I do not have much to write because I use Twitter to say what is up.  I just lost the reason to write, but I am going to try as a professional growth---for me to reflect, discuss, ramble out some ideas of the day/topic.

So this is not my first rodeo on blogging, but it IS my first for making one as a professional outlook/reflection.  

To start off I just want to tell you a bit of my "story."  A condensed version of course!

• I am a University of Alberta student.  I am finishing up my Education Degree in Secondary Education with a major in French and a minor in Social Studies.  I will be done my last two courses in July and have my convocation in November!  Oh I can taste freedom....It is going to kill me to go back...But I may tough this topic later.
• I live on a 1/4 section of land south of Camrose, AB with my husband Dustin and our three dogs and a cat.  It's entertaining starting a yard site from scratch.  I can tell you I would never do it again!  It keeps me occupied anyways!
• I am a born and raised country girl.  I love my wide open spaces and my neighbour is a mile away.  Of course the perks of living in a urban area is great but like the saying it, "You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl."
• During my practicums I knew teaching was my calling.  I really loved my experiences and look forward to having my own classes one day real soon!  Hence why I am using Mme (Madame) Weinzierl as my name on this.  I am embracing my profession.

So why am I blogging when I already have an LiveJournal account? 
Well that is a good question....I was inspired today at RedCamp13 today and I think I could voice something even when I know not many people will read this.  My idea gets out there and helps me clear my mind.  Plus it can be a way of interacting!  Heck, maybe I might get some people who read this!  That would be kind of cool.

At RedCamp13 there were many great speakers that presented many topics.  I went to four sessions and I thought each one was good in their own way, and helped me add some "tools" to my "Education tool box" that I can take with me and use for later  one session was of storytelling and cultures and what I took away from that is that we still need storytelling to help connect and communicate with ourselves and everyone around us.  Each and every one of use has a story and that story can mold us.

My second session was on abolishing grades <insert gasps and ranting from possible audience here>.  I really understood what Joe Bower was saying!  This guy has done his research and almost practice what he is preaching! Right now he uses three ways of assessing his students:

1. Portfolios where EVERYTHING goes in it (like a museum not a hall of fame).
2. Through a classroom safe site that is LIKE Facebook (same idea)
3. Self-assessment.  All are great ways to have evidence of the students learning

All of these gives some sort of feedback which is key and has been proven that ONLY feedback increases the students work, not the grade or the combo of the two (Joe has a great blog post explaining Dr. Ruth Butler's study here).  Unfortunately, Joe does have to assign a number grade at his school so he actually has discussions with his students (one-on-one) on what the student's grade should be. Usually, the student is harder on themselves for giving a grade or right one par.  The key idea here is that Joe has all of this evidence of WHY the students should receive the grades they do. It's really cool to think that I could do the same thing!  

My third session was the advantages of being a "twerp"/someone who Twitters.  That was just a great conversation.  I learned some great hashtags to help me out (or anyone else who wishes to use this)

My final session was on trying to engage parents with the teacher which made me feel I was in my English 10 class!  I am not saying it was a bad thing, but it made me squirm and THINK.  The one man, I think he name is Paul, really asked questions to make me explain myself and it was hard to do it. 


Overall the day was really good.  I am happy that I got to go (and it was FREE!!) and I would totally go again next year! 

Well I am petering out.  I will try to blog at least once a week.  We will see how it goes....  Wish me luck!