Working from home is rough. It's not why I went into teaching and it is not in line with who I am as an individual and especially as an E X T RO V E R T. One of the biggest reasons why I went into teaching is to be surrounded by the students, the educators and everyone in between. Not to sit in front of a computer all day... 

If you're like me, social interaction GIVES you energy. You feel replenished and ignited after talking and spending time with people. Whereas, if you are an introvert, you feel totally drained after interacting with others... Provided that you fall into the same category as me, you might be struggling in the "social" department. 

An article from the NY Times called: Check on an extrovert today, starts off with this... 

It's SO true... Nor I or Matthieu (who has always proudly called himself an introvert) are reaping the rewards of this isolation. I've also even seen multiple people who are shared that they THOUGHT they were introverts but in reality, they might be more extroverted than they think. Are you one of those people? I want to know when it clicked? I find that very interesting. 

In these times of adaptations, I have had to find OTHER ways to gain that energy, usually provided by those social interactions, as I can no longer access it from face-face meet ups or conversations (for obvious reasons). Ways I've coped have been through: 

• Twitter chats
• Podcasting conversations
• Phone calls
• Virtual suppers and gathering
• Simply walking around in my community and seeing other human beings! 
• (& sometimes even just watching videos of crowds - LOL I SWEAR I've done this).

Am I missing something? I want to know... How have YOU found energy in this social distancing if you're an extrovert? Comment below ⬇

I didn't think I would be getting accustomed to it as well as I have (at one point I honestly didn't know what I was going to do!), however, I obviously often get those urges to just want to reconnect with my friends, family and colleagues. Because... REAL TALK: Facetime-ing/Zoom-ing and/or Google Meet-ing just don't cut it. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what's missing, but it's just not the same. If I to guess.. It would be the actual PEOPLE part of the equation. 

All that being said, don't worry, I am taking the necessary precautions, but the cravings are real. I yearn for the day I can share some good laughs with my girlfriends around an actual table in a real restaurant with decent ambiant chatter around us. (IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK!?)

But in all honestly, being an extrovert and all, I sometimes worry about the "new normal" we might have to live in for the next while... Masks, distancing, walking off the side walk to cross someone, no hugs or handshakes... What are us francophones going to do - no more kisses on the cheeks?  ​I try not to put too much attention and energy into this because no one​ knows what the futur holds. So, I will just leave that thought there... And check in, in about a year.  

https://www.bcm.edu/news/psychiatry-and-behavior/a-new-normal-for-social-interaction 
https://www.mcgill.ca/delve/article/covid-19/six-ways-introverts-and-extroverts-can-make-most-working-isolation
​https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/14/style/extroverts-introverts-isolation-coronavirus.html

In this COLLECTIVE CRISIS, I want to serve my community, my friends and my family, my partner and our daughter more than ever... 

Because I am safe at home, with a happy family, a paying job that I get value from and stable mental health, I have been intentionally making choices to serve others. What does this look like? you might ask. This means, taking time to chat with distant friends over FaceTime, donating items to free groups on Facebook in my community, calling my grandparents more regularly, listening to the cashier express their frustrations... 

I feel as though, 73 days in, we have TWO types of people. Those who are thriving and those who are struggling (and then there might be a few in between). 

Wether you are a human being that is  THRIVING or a human being that is STRUGGLING, every human being deserve GRACE (pandemic or not, honestly!). You never know what others are going through.... I heard some stories on various podcasts I listen to that give me goosebumps. With job losses, hours cut and cases spreading, people are suffering; people are scared and people are reacting. It makes me think of the Tragically Hip song: Scared.  So, for all those people who are afraid and anxious, I ask: why NOT be a light for them? and How can you be a light for them? 

Maybe it's your neighbour, your aunt, your best friend.... Let's be mindful of their situation, offer help when and where you can add value. More often times than you think, just lending a listening ear can allow them to feel heard and help process what they're going through. You do not need to take on their burdens, but you can let them know that they are not alone. 

Anthony ONeal, speaker and financial coach, in one of his LIVE videos said: Speak what you seek. If you want love and kindness to find you, speak it. Make sure your discours reflects your desires. This could be HOPE, POSITIVITY, JOY, ENCOURAGEMENTS, Try it out! I have seen much benefit. 

I would love to know: how are YOU serving others? Or, how have OTHERS served you? How have THEY been a light in this time of darkness? 

Answer below ⬇️ or tweet me @sarahlalondee :) 

This blog post was supposed to be released many times, many days and many weeks ago. This personal project could have taken many shapes and forms, but here it is... I've decided to divide my outpouring of thoughts into bite size blogs that can be read or listened to in only a few short minutes. That being said, I will be publishing one part of the blog, for the next 7 days on THIS website and in podcast form! 

The blog posts you will read for the next 7 days are truly ideas that have been bouncing around in my head like balls in a Bingo cage for the past 72 days (since March 13th). Sometimes my brain would spit out sentences of how I was feeling OR I heard worthy statements on a live shows or podcasts and would write it down in my notes. 

Blogging and podcast has always been an outlet for me. Publicly reflecting and sharing is a powerful tool that I learnt early on in my teaching practice. Although these blogs/podcasts aren not necessarily teaching related, I wanted to share them anyways. We need now, more than ever, to find ways to unload and process our thoughts in order to be able to FEEL them, REFLECT upon them and LIVE them. I choose to blog and podcast instead of masking them with alcool or food consumption, online shopping or being a workaholic.

I also have a desire to contribute and share when I think I can add value to other's lives. So, here's to hoping you find some valuable nuggets of information and inspiration throughout the next 7 days.

I love the fact that I am taking the time to write and produce a podcast creatively and personally. It feels so good. I realized how much I miss it, so, here we go!
​

​When Mel Robbins was doing on her daily LIVE videos on Twitter and Instagram, I would watch them religiously. Early on into quarantine she said: "Everything new is hard".

I thought about it for a second, two seconds... three seconds and then told myself, you know what - she is totally right! This is all so new. Not only new to me, but new to everyone in the world. No one else has ever lived through a pandemic... And then something clicked. At that moment, I started to give myself  PERMISSION to struggle; to struggle through the new adaptations of work life, through new family life, through the lack of routine and so much more! After I heard those words, it was finally OK to say to myself that I didn't have it all together.  

The beauty of hard times (pandemic or not) is that it will make you stronger, a more resilient person. Mel kept explaining that this is a SEASON that will prepare for the next. Always staying present and knowing this is probably one of the most hardest things you will ever go through is almost soothing to hear, because you know you will be free eventually. (This will NOT last forever) And, you can only come out more courageous and tough at the end of it all, right?

Although this "new normal" is hard, is discombobulating, is scary, is frustrating...How you react and adapt to this season, will allow you to build your emotional resilience. You know that ability to stay CALM and POSITIVE in the face of all uncertainty... Yeah, THAT!

A couple tools that Mel Robbins shared throughout these lives events to help you succeed through the HARD time were:

1. Recognizing what you can control: thoughts and behaviours. (Let go of everything else!)
2. Make a plan (for every day!) to help you stay focused, create a routine and have control of your time! 

All that to say: when you're on the rollercoaster, you gotta ride the ups and the down - but ultimately, the rollercoaster is going to end. At this point, we still don’t know when or how much longer we are on it... But it's going to end. And when it’s over, it might not be the same. But it will end. 

Thirty one days • Trente-et-un jours. 
 
In the month of October, you may have noticed a lack of @sarahlalondee on your Twitter feeds and even the absence of @sarahannelalonde checking your Snapchat and Instagram stories…
 
Well, I was a little busy changing my life… You know, undoing bad habits and being more present in my life. That old chestnut!
 
Matthieu and I completed a social media detox for a month. We made up our own little list of apps we were and were not allowed to visit. After we made this list, we deleted the apps on our phone (because God forbid I would not have enough self-control at the time to not have used them). 

​Initially, the inspiration came from a Youtuber named: Matt D’avella who accomplished a one month detox from all social media. His video goes in depth into the highs and lows he faced throughout his 31 days. 

For me, it was a roller coaster with peaks and valleys as well, so let’s go through the THEN and NOW. ​

​I have to admit, at first, I didn’t think I was going to get through.
I had:

• Repeated thoughts about what was happening on Twitter
• A major FOMO (fear of missing out)
• Been constantly re-searching for the apps on my phone
• Pushing away the desire to re-install them, just for a minute
• A fear of rejection (after not answering my tweets / DM’s / snaps!!)

*I even cheated… (Matthieu if you’re reading this: I checked twitter in the bathroom once).

​I feel as though I have truly tweaked my digital habits:

• breaking the cycle of opening my phone and going directly to Twitter / Snapchat and Instagram
• I no longer have the NEED to be AS present on social media (for example: checking 67 times a day)
• My phone is not glued to my hand
• My phone is not distracting me from life in front of me

I found I was using apps I never went on before (like watching videos on Youtube?? Or opening my photos 600 times a day). 
​

​On Oct 24th, I forgot my phone at home. Yup, left the house without it and didn’t even realize until first period! I truly think that this was the breaking point in my detox. That morning, I used my phone as my alarm, shut it off, walked away and left it there. I didn’t roll over and get lost in a Twitter rabbit hole to start my day. The first thing in the morning, I didn’t see a bunch of “Instagram” perfect shots to make my life feel less perfect… I think you get the point.  Nonetheless, it felt SO GOOD to have left my phone at home, “by accident”. I believe it showed my lack of dependency and freedom from the phone. 

​Then, on November 3rd,  I reached a true sate of JOMO (JOY of missing out) about not being social media addicted or dependent  (which I never thought possible). Once I was able to go back on my apps that I once missed so dearly, I had no desire to now know what each and every person I know (by Snapchat and Instagram). I was seeing all my friends glued to their phones and talking about superficial posts and stories… And, in that moment, I felt in my heart and in peace in my mind that true state of JOMO for missing out on a multitude of irrelevant information. I was proud of the progress I had made and I was happy to be present in the moment. 

One thing I found the most difficult was the "dead time". For example: waiting in car, in line at the grocery store, waiting for an appointment...). My brain felt like it needed to be entertained. Was I scared to face my thoughts? Why did I need to feel busy? Why couldn't I just sit there waiting and doing nothing? This is something I had to work on. 

 I had been sharing my first week struggles with them and one Friday decided to ask if they wanted to do it with me. This small idea I had in my head in September grew into something much bigger and much more powerful. My students and I co-constructed a list of social media apps they thought should be "banned"... Here is the list we came up with:

At the end of the detox, I rewarded my students with a signed certificat and a key chain with a word they had chosen to represent HOW they felt during the detox. It is a simple reminder to sometimes take the time to be disconnected. Here are some photos! 

• I want to be more intentional with my social media use.
• I have no need for Instagram, as it does not necessarily bring value in my life.
• I still enjoy using Snapchat to communicate the best with some of my friends, but do not allow myself to check the stories.
• I wanted to keep Twitter because of a few reasons: the sense of belonging I feel, the desire to contribute to the space and other educators, seeing Tweets ignite me... but I do need to cut back. 
• I now have the self-control to have these apps on my phone and USE them intentionally.
• I am beginning the book: Digital Minimalist to dive even deeper into this concept!
• Reflecting on the process is KEY 🔑

​

My students have NOT given up yet... We are going strong! Here is our reflection for Day 4. 

​

What my students are saying?
​Some of the advantages was , you have more time in your day, you have more time to do the thing that you love to do like for my it was having more time to read a book and do my chores ar home.

 Some of the detox presented in the video is your mind jet to relax more like the video sade if somebody post on social media you are not going to see if they're a school event you will not miss out. 

Sleeping and cooking.

​Some good things about the detox is that you focus more on yourself and you think about everything thats been going on. You also will plan out ur next day if you have nothing or plan what ur gonna wear for the next day. To add, its a good way to get things done and go to bed early. 

What my students are saying?
Yes I would consider doing this for longer because I have more time for my self and have more time in my days.

​Yes, I would do the detox for langer because I read a book in a sad of going on my social media. 

​Non because I just what to go on Tiktok and it fell like it was not 4 day it fell like more.

​What my students are saying?
Well two thing I have learned about my self is that I like reading book, I like thinking about my emotion and juste about life where am I can be when I grow up I'm going to college or travel the world with my 3 Best friends.

​ I have learned about myself this week is that I dot social media to occupy myself. 

I learned that I can not live without Tiktok.

I have learned that i can not go without social media or my phone because its one of the most important things that i have and i need it all the time. Also if i cant comunicate with my friends and family then i will go nuts.

Day 4: j’ai faite beaucoup de travail aujourd’hui car je na pas de notifications de mes app mais je regarde beaucoup mon netflix et youtube 

​​What my students are saying: 
​Day 3 was harder, because I was thinking to go on Snapchat, Tik Tok and pinterest, but most of all it was pinterest. 

It's really harder I find the time really long at school and at home.
​

​What my students are saying: Yes I had some moment of weakness, like this morning I was about to go on Snapchat to look at some picture and take some picture. 

Yes a have because Im always on Tiktok  so I find the time long but I go on youtube instead.

It's Is very good I do not faidite tempting for me and I just feel relaxse and I am reely fun for me and I feely mor prodoctife and I do more ting And the app that is youtub

​

​What my students are saying: 
​I am using more youtube, netflix, reading book I am reading Girl, stop apologizing and doing my chores at home like my laundry, cleaning my room and ect...

​Well am using youtube and I watch dance videos, and I do a slide for my friend to know if they really knows me, I'm playing outside with Stella and William, I'm going to watch William's hockey game.

Mme Lalonde: When I tell people that I am doing a social media detox, they are very surpised. They often ask why and what the purpose is. Sometimes they tell me that they would never be able to do it, but encourage me. When I told my students, they seemed shocked, but then once I explained everything, they wanted to join! I think that I am a good role model for my students and can help them! 

​What my students are saying:
My dad said that I would be able to this for one month, my cousin's reaction was why are you doing this for, well a said that it was a challenge that my teacher wanted us to do. 

Most of the people are saying that it's good for you to take a break and do something more productive.

Well, my Mom was shocked that I was doing it and my Dad was just bugging me for it. Most of my friends are doing it white me so they were not really surprised about it .and I think I told my big sisters and my big brother about they were supportive and they try not to bug me.

My friend are saying that im crazy to do this, Véronic and Simon are really happy that am taking a break forme Tiktok Snapchat Instagram  and facebook.

I can definitely say that my mind is less busy. I am not thinking or worrying about everything that I see on social media all the time. I am not comparing myself as much and feel overall more happy. I think that my body and mind are much calmer. However, sometimes when I think about what I am missing on Twitter, I find myself getting a little anxious. I hope that with the next upcoming days and weeks I am able to find more peace about the FOMO on Twitter. 

​​What my students are saying:
I find my mind less worried because, I don't have to worry about how I look like in pictures. I'm able to focused more in class because I don't have to go on social medial all the time I can not go on. 

I do feel more relaxed and more calm with this .

​​I find my mind extremely tense but RELAX and I guess I have more time to do stuff. and most of the time I paint find writing ideas. I try to make time go faster for all of the tings are doing .and I work on most of my assignments. 
​
I find my mind more focused on the real life and more relaxes,
​

I have noticed that I am constantly opening up my PHOTOS app on my phone to keep my brain busy and looking at something. I will aimlessly scroll through my photos to entertain me. I have also started watching Youtube videos (which I never ever ever) did before. I am not sure if I will continue to have the Youtube app on my phone as it is simply seeming to take the place of other social medias. 

​​What my students are saying:
The apps I'm more use youtube I watch AlishaMarieVlogs and Netflix I watch sugar rush. 

I am using youtube as my app. 

​I am using allot more youtube and even Netflix and google docs and google slides. 

The other apps I am using is youtube, my photos. I am reading like  books, school work and juste talking with other people. 

​Well am using youtube to pud music and danse to, I play some games that I was on my phone, Im using https://soap2day.com to watch my favorite movie Descendants 1 2 and 3

What is the main reason why you are not able to be away from your phone? How do you feel without it.....The main reason why i can not be away from my phone is because im soo used to having it with me that its like attached to me and i have everything on it so i can not leave it with someone. I feel bored or lonely without my phone because thats how i comunicate with the people i love when i cant be with them, i also feel very weird and i will probably just go to sleep and past the time if i have no service or my phone. 
​
How many times a day do you think your check your phone? I check my phone like every minute unless im very busy or if im not aloud to be on it. I hate not having it with me or if i cant be on it because it just gives me anxiety and stress. 

How much time (hours) do you think you spend on your phone?I honestly spend a lot of time on my phone and sometimes im sure ill be like 1 hour on my phone, not 2 because after a while i wont have nothing to do on it. I dont hate always being on my phone because its part of my lifestyle and its something that i do and not realize it so like i dont hate myself for being on it all the time.

What are you most used apps? Rate them in order 1 - 5. 
​The first app i ALWAYS open is snapchat because thats mainly how i comunicate with my friends and i see peoples stories and what they are doing. The second app i open is instagram because i like to see what people post and i like to watch memes and funny  meme vidoes. The third app is facebook because i see what my family posts and the new things they got or what they are doing. My 4th app would be tik tok because usually there are some funny vidoes and stuff that i can relate too. And finally my 5th app is VSCO because ill check if i got any notifications or if anyone republished any of my pictures and stuff.

The blue light on your phone prevents you from:
- going into a deep sleep
- falling asleep
​- creating melatonine to help you sleep

Looking at your phone causes MYOPIA (near sightedness):
-​ half of the population needs glasses

We are becoming humpback whale:
​- people curve their backs to look at their phones

Why did you decide to commit to the detox? (2 REASONS)
I decided to take on the detox because I wanted to challenge myself. I also think that this is a good opportunity for growth. I want to see if I can be strong and not go on. I also want to see if I feel better without Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram.

​How has it been so far, not using social media? (What are your thoughts, comments, feelings, anxieties?) 
It has been very hard not using Twitter. I have an easier ability to not go on Instagram and Snapchat but I have been living FOMO with Twitter. I constantly want to check to see what is going on without me. I often stop myself from looking for the app on my phone. 

I decide to do this because it's a good opportunity to see who your are.

So the reason that I decide to commit to the detox, it because I just need some time off of my phone and the social medial.  

I'm only doing it once a week but today it's been really relaxing I can sorta focus more and see more reality.
​
I decide to commit to do the detox for my perants  to stop annoying me and to see to if i could last 5 days whit none of the social media.

I decided to commit to the detox because I know can do it for month. I like to do challenge it help to concentrate on other things or sometime I read a book. 

So far it been good, my feeling is I am more happy, I have lass stress and I sleep better.

I'm not having any anxieties or feelings about it but my thoughts about it are I can been mentally  healthier  and my comments is this is a good thing to do when your stressed.

I am feeling just fine. 

I think so far is going good because wan i did not have a phone I can not go on social media at all for a year.  So I got  a year of practice. ​

------------------------------------------------------------------------
​
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO NOT DO THE DETOX? ( 2 REASONS)
I decided to not do the detox because i am addicted to social media and my phone. I also like to be caught up on whats going on online and i like texting my friends.
​
WHY DO YOU THINK OTHERS SAID YES TO DOING IT?
I think that the others did it because they find it ​

I feel as though it is fair to say that: “At the beginning of your teaching career, no one necessarily knows who they are.” I believe it is important to know who you are currently, who you want to be and how you want to get there. Naturally, you have to understand that there are so many experiences to be had to allow you to develop tons of your teaching self; that is a mindset I adopted early on in September. I believe that...      In order to be the best version of yourself as an educator, you have to stay true to who you are and your core values. There’s no better feeling in the world than when you can be yourself in front of the class and a group of students. So, be proud of who you are and be your authentic self! Students can smell a phony from a mile away ;) When you show your true colours, students are more prone to feel comfortable demonstrating who they are with you… it’s in the classroom culture! ​

Lastly, and most importantly... Don’t try and be the teacher across from you, or the teacher you saw on Instagram or the teacher who won the best teacher award three years in a row…
During an OnEdMentors show, a line from new teacher Karaline Vlahopoulos shared some wise words: Do not compare your Chapter 1 to someone’s Chapter 7, 15 or even 23! If you’re interested in listening to that conversation, you can catch it here.  
​
Simply be happy with where you are RIGHT now. If you keep a growth mindset, ask questions, be yourself, stop comparing and find people to support you - I can almost promise that you will be able to live a successful first year of teaching.

Going into my second semester, I am going to take my own advice. Keep my focus on what works, ask myself how I can improve and continuously try and find balance.

An extra resource I want to share for any new teachers reading is the free Disillusionment Power Pack from Roxanna Elden. “The Disillusionment Power Pack is a free, one-month series of the emails I'd send to the first-year-teacher version of myself. I don't send these emails to most of the people on my mailing list, nor will you find them on my website. They are my small experiment in over-sharing for new teachers who are having really bad days right now. If that's you, sign up below to receive emails every few days for one month. Which, as you'll see soon, might be all you really need.” I felt as though the e-mails found in my Inbox really spoke to me and what I was going through that week - yes, kind of like magic. You can sign up to receive these emails at: RoxannaElden.com

​

Salut, cher lecteur, et merci d'être ici! 

En mai, j’ai eu le plaisir absolu d’être engagé par le CSDCEO. J’ai accepté un poste à temps plein régulier à l’École secondaire catholique Le Relais à Alexandria, Ontario. J’ai la chance d’enseigner les élèves de 9e et 10e année en English, Français et Histoire ce semestre; ainsi que English, Histoire et Géographie le semestre prochain. Les billets de blogues que j’envisage publier seront axés sur mon cheminement en enseignement. Étant toute nouvelle dans cette profession, j’ai encore beaucoup à apprendre, donc pourquoi ne pas le documenter ici! Depuis 4 semaines j’ai vécu ma première rentrée scolaire. Une occasion de partir sur le bon pied avec tes élèves, apprendre à les connaître, faire des diagnostics, créer des communautés d’apprentissage qui ont un climat de classe positif, etc. Voici ma réflexion par rapport à ces dernières 4 semaines. 

​(Disclaimer : All of my blogs are going to be completely bilingual!)

​Recently, I’ve been living moments where I am pulling into the school parking lot, unlocking my classroom or simply walking through the hallways at break when I have stopped and am struck with this feeling of gratitude and wonder. I think to myself: “Wow, I am a teacher. This is my school. I have students. I have co-workers. I am so happy.” I have told a lot of people this when they ask, but I am simply living the dream, every single day. Of course, not every day has been perfect but this “teaching thing”, I can officially say, is for me. (Are you surprised? Because I’m not…) It has simply been everything I have imagined, and more! I hope I can take this feeling into the next few months as the semester progresses. And if not, I will come back to read this blog! I think it’s so important to have these moments and live in the happiness of what you get to do every day. 

Comme nouvelle enseignante, il va sans dire que l’apprentissage que je fais chaque jour est non seulement fondamental, pourtant un peu accablant. Il a certains jours, je vis une surcharge de nouvelles informations, de contenus et de stratégies d’enseignements et c’est beaucoup à traiter, à analyser, à comprendre et se rappeler. Je suis une éponge quand ça vient à écouter des enseignants qui parlent de pédagogie, donc je suis toujours à la recherche de façon pour améliorer ma pratique pédagogique. C’est la beauté d’être non seulement une nouvelle enseignante en train de développer mon art, mais aussi d’être apprenante à vie; l’apprentissage ne se termine jamais, il n’y a pas de fin.  Le processus se vit comme un peu comme : un moment : « Woah ». Arrête. Demande de l’aide. Questionne. Réfléchis. Change. Adapte. Continue. Répète. 

​Mes élèves… Oh, mes élèves. Comme ils sont extraordinaires. Je suis très chanceuse d’enseigner au même groupe d’élève en English et en Français en 9e année (environ 10 élèves) et à un beau groupe de 25 élèves de 10e année en Histoire. En début d’année, je voulais trois choses: commencer sur le bon pied, bâtir une communauté d'apprentissage et un climat de classe de confiance. J’y beaucoup réfléchit à comment structuré mes cours et quelles activités accomplir afin de réaliser mes buts. En fin de compte, voici ce que j’ai accompli : j’ai créé un  Kahoot où les élèves devaient deviner des réponses à des questions aléatoires sur ma vie, ils ont rempli un Google Forms pour que j’aille leur profile d’apprenant, ils ont vécu le défi de spaghetti et marshmellow, nous avons eu une introduction sur le Sketchnote, ils se sont fixé des buts dans leur cours de français, ils ont créé Vision Board dans le cours d’English, ils ont été introduits à Flipgrid et autres… Je pense véritablement qu’avoir pris ces moments en début de l’année m’a permis d’avoir gagné leur confiance, où je prends des risques et m’ouvre à eux, donc ils sont plus susceptibles à leur faire pour moi. 

All things considered, emotions have been running high since August 27th. I have been living through the ups and downs of starting off my first year of teaching, however, I am glad to say that the big emotions I’ve been feeling is being excited to go to school, each and every day. This excitement exists in me, mostly because of the lovely community, supportive staff and kind students I work with. From the librarian to the hall monitors that I see every day, they all play such an important role. Nonetheless, I have been very conscious of how I have been feeling mentally and physically. I want to make sure that I am taking care of my body and my mind to be the best educator and mentor for my students as well as a supportive team member at school. It goes without saying that I like to take on a lot of things and have a hard time saying no to an opportunity (because I am so passionate about everything!!), but I am proud of the pace that I am working at. Now I just have to keep it up.
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À ce jour, je me sens bien par rapport à qui je suis en tant qu’enseignante. Toutefois, ce n’est pas évident essayer de trouver ton style, connaître les élèves, partager sur les réseaux sociaux, planifier tes cours, être social avec les autres, bien manger et j’en passe… C’est un processus qui va durer des années, mais petit à petit je construis ma philosophie et j’établis mon style. Cependant, je dois avouer que la pression d’être une « bonne » enseignante existe et je le sens. Je me sens comme si je veux tellement adéquatement faire pour le bien de mes élèves que je me mets beaucoup de pression. Cette pression m’aide parfois à briller, mais à un certain point je réalise que chacune de mes leçons ne doivent pas être 10/10 et WOW! en tout temps (et c’est correct!). C’est tout un apprentissage. 

Moving forward, I’ve always known the importance of mentorship. Thanks to my PLN, I have many mentors who are experts in difference areas. Their support has allowed me to grow exponentially as a teacher candidate (and now a 1st year teacher) as most of my professional development was very personalized. You also feel less alone and isolated thanks to mentors, you can bounce off ideas with them and feel like you’re more likely to succeed thanks to their advice and wisdom. (On an unrelated note: I believe that it is in most educator’s DNA to want to help new teachers and I am so thankful!) On top of all of the specialists and veteran educators I’ve connected with online, I have recently discovered the importance of have a mentor in your school. The best part about this mentorship is that the person helping you is easily accessible. You can open your classroom up to them, you can ask them all of your silly questions (and good ones too), you can also get insight on different students and how to approach them. Grâce à mon PIPNPE (programme d’insertion professionnelle pour le nouveau personnel enseignant) avec le conseil, je suis très chanceuse d’avoir un mentor innovateur qui prend des risques et qui cherche à faire autrement. J'ai tellement hâte de voir le cheminement que je vais faire avec lui aussi! Mathieu Glaude est leader pédagogique de l’école, il offre son appui dans plusieurs domaines dont il excelle, il veux toujours explorer des collaborations et il pense souvent à partager des documents en lien avec le PAÉ de l’école. Voici un document qu’il m’a partagé récemment qui évalue une classe centrée sur la performance VS une classe centrée sur l’apprentissage :

Bien sûr, nous aimerions passer de la colonne de droite à celui à gauche. Donc, où situez-vous sur cette pendule? Est-ce qu’il y a des aspects où tu es plus à gauche qu’à droit ou vice versa? Moi, je veux surtout continuer de m’axer sur – moins de connaissance, plus de compétences – moins de silence et plus de questions, collaboration et échanges. Je me sens à l’aise avec tout ce qui est dans la colonne à droite, mais je cherche encore à trouver des façons de mettre ceux-ci en action! ​

As September comes to an end this week, I look forward to finishing my month strong, reflecting on how it went and setting new goals for October. I am spending Thursday / Friday of this week in Moncton, New Brunswick presenting au congrès de l’ACELF with a focus on podcasting. I want to end with a something I have finished my blogs with in the past, and that is 2 GLOWS and 2 GROWS. A great strategy as well for how to frame feedback in the classroom. (Not my idea totally stole it from somewhere and someone).

GLOWS:

1. All of the positive vibes I have been giving and receiving so far this school year, that has allowed me to GLOW. 
2. Positive relationships I have started building with my students which will ultimately allow me to better connect and help support them in their learning throughout the semester.

GROWS:​

1. I didn't mention this in the space above but I am truly working on implementing the Historical Thinking concepts in my History class, as I work through the ins and outs of those concepts I look forward to becoming more confident in applying them. 
2. We have been talking about this a lot, online and in my school recently, but evaluating and assessing less and more efficient and effectively.