Anti Bullying Week

This week was Anti Bullying Week, and to go along with the theme, I thought it was important to make a post about bullying.

Being a person who was once a victim of bullying, I greatly know the affects that being picked on can cause. I remember my first encounter with bullying - it was my one of first day of school. I always wondered why I became such an easy target for bullies to pick on; a question that I have never been able to answer.

Bullying is an unacceptable reality in our world that is one of the most difficult things to deal with. I personally know the lies that cover a bully from getting in trouble. "It was just a joke, I didn't mean any harm" is the most common. For a teacher, they must put their judge hat on and hope to make the right decision. To most parents, their child is always innocent, so no matter the ruling made, there will be a protest about it, and as a teacher, you must be ready to hear the pleas of angry and upset parents.

Coming from a past were I was bullied so much, you'd think that I would have grown to resent school itself, but this was not the case. I was fortunate enough to have a lot of fantastic teachers who we're always there for me. I could always count on them to have my back, and to be the friend that I needed. This is the main reason why I decided to be a teacher myself. Maybe it's the wrong reason, I don't know, but it is a reason.

Nobody, no matter what they have done or what they look like deserves to be put down and belittled, rather, they deserve to be treated equally and fairly and they should have access to the same educ

ation and opportunists as anyone else, and when I take on my role of being a teacher, I will enforce that no matter what. That is my educational philosophy.

From my journey to yours,
Amber.

Photos from here and here.

School is back...

Hello everyone!



Okay, so it's actually been a while since school has started back... and it certainly has been a while since my last post.

So, as everyone who either knows me or has read my blog before knows, I've started university! Without a doubt, this is one of the most different adjustments that I've had to make. From the atmosphere to the people, to the structure, to the teachers/professors, university is an experience that is very new, and at the beginning strange. So, in this blog post today, I would like to share with you a few things that I have learned so far.

Being in the concurrent education, I've started learning the fine art of pedagogy (a fancy word for teaching). In our classes that are focused around the school environment and making lesson plans, I've noticed the importance around the use of technology. It is actually listed in my one text book (Becoming a Teacher, Fourth Canadian Edition from Pearson Canada) as being an essential knowledge for teachers.

Years ago nobody would even think of the terms that are being integrated into the classroom today. Examples would be Blended Learning and Flipped Classrooms. These advancements have enabled students to be able to take control of their own learning, as well as further their abilities in what has become our future.

In light of Remembrance day (or Veterans Day in the US) that took place this past Tuesday, I would like to take some time in my writing to honor the soldiers who have given their lives for our country. I feel so grateful to live in a country that has a maple leaf on our flag that not only has the words "glorious and free" in the National Anthem, but makes sure that it lives by those words. Lest we forget.

I hope to be trying to get back into my Friday routine, the burdens of university assignments has kept me off for the last while, but  on the bright side, I'm finally going to be graduating high school today! (Woot woot!)




From my journey to yours,
Amber.

Photos from here, here and here.