wonderings...
Some initial questions to start the conversation...
Arnbjorg (who I now call Dadda) has answered in red whereas my additions are blue.
Starting things off…
Work stuff…
Canadian life…
Arnbjorg (who I now call Dadda) has answered in red whereas my additions are blue.
Starting things off…
- What drew you to the exchange process?
- I think that a process like that is one of the best way to learn. I have once followed a principal in Iceland for a few days and I learned a lot from that. I have always admired the Canadian school system and that opportunity was too good to let it go by :)
- My previous job was working in our Global Learning department dealing with everything international. (international students, international certificate, field trips and exchange programs) I have taught overseas and have had many experiences working with international delegations. The idea of exchange is not new for me, it just seems now is the time, both family and career-wise, to take the leap. Iceland has been on my list of places to visit for some time and when this opportunity presented itself I just HAD to try for it!
- What are you most interested in learning about during our exchange?
- I am interested in how you work with children and staff at school. Especially non english speakers and traumatized children. Personally I am interested in meeting new people, getting to know you and your family and learn about life in Canada. I am also looking forward to see the landscape in your area.
- I am very interested in learning about your school system and the ways in which you engage with families and students. My area of passion is working with students that have special learning considerations, English Language Learners and those who have experienced trauma in their lifetime. I find myself drawn to the students and families that need the strongest advocates, that have experienced the most and need the greatest amount of compassion.
- On a personal note, I feel very open to whatever this process offers me. I can be pretty easy going, like to plan and be organized but also appreciate the freedom of not being planned down to the minute. I want to experience your country and system from a firsthand perspective, alongside an inside view. I am open to whatever happens and seeing the things you find amazing in your own community.
- What are you most excited about? Anything making you nervous?
- Learning how you do things and see you at work in your school.
- I am excited about meeting new people, seeing new things and getting out of my comfort zone. I grow best when I am placed into situations that are unfamiliar and cause me to reflect on what I find normal and commonplace. I am enjoying connecting and collaborating with you about this experience and hearing the things that we can do together to grow as professionals and as humans.
- Nothing! I am not at all anxious about the travel or the experience but I do want to be sure your time here in Canada meets or exceeds your expectations. I don’t really do anything halfway. ;O)
- What is something you love to do on Sunday mornings?
- Read, take a walk, making brunch for my kids, go swimming. It depends mostly on the weather.
- I really love sleeping until I wake up naturally. I like a morning coffee, time in my PJs and just connecting with my family. Dave and I will often go for a walk around the lake, grab a coffee and some fresh bread from the local bakery and then I catch up on work/chores and just time relaxing. We took this picture today to show you a small bit of our scenery. It was chilly when we started, and you can’t see much of the lake but it was a lovely morning!
Work stuff…
- What are your professional goals this year?
- To visit all classrooms formally every other month and give the teachers feedback on their professional work. That means sitting for a whole lesson and take notes.
- To support my teachers in their teamwork.
- Give myself more time to read professional literature.
- My goals are inextricably linked to the goals of the school as a whole. (See below) I want to provide a place for staff to grow and support each other, to reach beyond what we have always done and provide new and exciting learning opportunities for students. I want to read more (there never seems to be enough time to read…)
- What is something you are working on with your staff?
- Teamwork in all classes
- Implement the new laws regarding the privacy of each individual
- As a school, we are working on three main goals.
- To improve proficiency in mathematics, particularly number operations, and to help students see the real-world connections we have daily in math.
- We are working to develop a stronger sense of community and empathy with our students. Many have experienced serious trauma in their journeys to or in Canada so we work hard to provide opportunities for them to connect with safe adults and other students. I look forward to sharing our Family Fridays and our breakfast program with you.
- What are you most proud of professionally?
- To have been a part of changing the school climate and culture. It was a very old fashioned school were the staff were the main thing and the pupils were the second. The communications between students and staff were tough.
- A few things have made me proud over the past few years. We have made significant changes to the building and much of the programming we offer. Staff works closely together, we have greater parent involvement and the tasks in which we are asking students to engage are stronger, have more student voice and are exciting. This has been the work of our collective, I could never take credit for any of this work on my own. We work as a team, always, and make decisions as this team.
- What keeps you up at night in terms of work?
- Nothing! I always sleep when I want to. But if something could keep me up it would be concerns about children that have some problems and how we can meet them and help them to thrive and learn.
- I worry about our students and families that need greater support. They have experienced so much, have gone through so much to arrive in Canada and, for those that have always lived here, struggle with many of the basic necessities of life. I worry that we are doing enough, providing enough, reaching out enough...that keep me up at night.
- What are you most hoping to see, experience, talk about?
- How you work with diversity
- How you help your teachers to achieve professional success.
- How you work with children that are traumatized
- I want to be able to just listen, observe and then be a part of your school and personal community. I don’t think it needs to look a certain way, I just want to go full out the entire I am there to make the very most of our time together!
Canadian life…
- If you could go anywhere, or experience anything, what would it be? Why?
- See Rocky mountain
- See the animals living in the national park
- Because that is different from Iceland. We have mountains but not like that and your wild life if much wilder than in Iceland.
- What do you know ,or believe to be true, about Canadians?
- Canadians are very open and friendly
- Canadians are open to diversity
- Multinational, even my ancestors went to Canada and lived there
- Most of you speak both english and French
- Your school system is one of the best
- Your way of integrating refugees into the country and into the school system is exemplary
- Canadians are a outdoor nation, climbing mountains, fishing, walking ……
- Is there anything about coming to Canada that is making you worried? Weather? People? Food?
- No I am just very excited.
- I love meeting new people and taste local food when I travel.