the journey of 3600 km's.

another year in mexico is over and done. i am back in canada once again.

this year i was great because i
worked less
ate healthier
socialized more
travelled tons
got a dog
got stronger in spanish

but this year i neglected a few things that i really care about
reading
blogging
keeping in touch

i was reading an article for my masters class last week saying that schools want to be able to "do it all". i feel that way about my life. i want to be able to "do it all". i don't want to have work be going well, but still be biting my nails. i don't want to travel lots, but still be in debt. i want it all! i want to be able to control all parts of my life at once -- not one or two at a time. just when i feel i am getting one area of my life under control, i lose control of another. for example: this year i got to bed earlier. but gone was my prime internet time! the time when i usually wrote e-mails, blogs and surfed the net. what a disappointment! i was getting more sleep but not keeping in touch with my facebook account.

in teaching we are so lucky. for a number of reasons. each year we get the opportunity to start over. we can change the way we do things, re-evaluate over the summer, and try it all again in the fall. teaching has a built in fail-safe mechanism.

ginny and i drove across the united states on the weekend. we listened to a 17 hour book on tape, a pete yorn cd 3 times, slept in austin, nashville and chattam and finally made it home. since i have been home (albeit for 24 hours) i haven't done much re-evaluating. i have slept a bit, hung out with emma, hung out with my dad, watched a few movies and tried to get back in touch with my friends. i really want to take advantage of this summer. i want to take some time to relax, but i also want to reassess my life. i want to take the same approach to my life that i take to my teaching, using summer as my fail-safe.

happy summer! enjoy the sun.

miss. sarah's vision statement.

"The goal of education is to replace an empty mind with an open mind."
-Malcolm Forbes



i am a teacher who...

teaches students FIRST
and
the curriculum SECOND.

i am a teacher who...

came into this profession to ensure that there are more
great teachers
in the world.

i am a teacher who...

fuels young minds with an awareness of diversity.
cultivates a community of curiosity.
establishes a culture of lifelong learning.

i am a teacher who...

has an adventurous spirit.
laughs often.
smiles always.

i am a teacher who...

gives every child an opportunity to shine every day.
teaches through exploration, inquiry and problem solving.
differentiates instruction, encouraging all children to be challenged.

i am a teacher who...

takes advantage of teachable moments.
is a facilitator, motivator and leader.
is a friend.

i am a teacher who...

instills a love of reading.
makes math less scary.
takes kids beyond the walls of the classroom.

i am a teacher who...

loves to teach.

BUT

i am also a student who...

NEVER STOPS LEARNING.