Shawn L. Bird

Original poetry, commentary, and fiction. All copyrights reserved.

Mastering the art… April 30, 2013

Filed under: Teaching — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:27 pm
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Today I accepted placement in a Masters of Education program in Curriculum.  I am hoping to study the innovations in the Finnish system, and hope to take advantage of university exchanges in order to travel to Finland to observe their system in high school class rooms.  As I speak passable Finnish, have lived in Finland, and understand the Finnish culture, I imagine this will be easier for me than many North American educators curious about this system that is one of the few that ranks above Canada’s.  (Four  points above Canada, 22 points above the UK, and 25 points above the US in the 2009 PISA rankings).

I was offered placements at two institutions, so it was a bit of decision, but I am looking forward to studying in the intimate and flexible environment of Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops.

Studies won’t begin until September, which hopefully will provide opportunity to finish the editing of Grace Awakening Myth (book 3 in the series) and finish writing Grace Awakening Destiny (book 4) before I start.  I will be teaching (probably full-time) while I am studying, so I will definitely not have any time to be marketing either book with all my Saturdays in classes in Kamloops for the next couple of years!

Do you have a Masters?  Did you do it full time or part time?  How did you find the process?  Do you have any tips?

 

graduate school: it’s in the mail! February 24, 2013

Filed under: Teaching,Writing — Shawn L. Bird @ 3:48 pm
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I love learning. I like researching and writing papers. I like developing programs and evaluating them. I like coming up with innovative ways of doing things. I love the satisfaction of successfully meeting a challenge.  In short, I’m a nerd.

This also means, I probably should have applied for grad school years ago. It was first suggested to me by a teaching assistant in a Women’s History course I did back about 1989. At the time, in a one income household with a toddler and baby, it was just something to sigh about and say, “Some day…”

I did apply for an extremely competitive Creative Writing program at an eminent university two years running. They have very, very low acceptance rate, but I figured, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” As it happened, I received the second rejection the same day I got my first royalty cheque from Grace, and somehow that told me that it didn’t matter. Most people enter that program so they can get a royalty cheque. I was ahead without them. I will continue to develop those skills working with amazing authors, attending conferences, reading, and being challenged by my editor and friend, Vikki.

I still want to learn though, and I want the credential, because it will open other opportunities. Today I dropped two grad school applications in the mail. Ideally, I’m going explore the Finnish education system and how it can be adapted for use in B.C. I’ll focus on some sort of curriculum development, either in the traditional class room or via distance learning. Both options offer all sorts of exciting prospects, so I’m eager to see where I’ll end up.

Should I confess that my biggest fear is that if I end up in a program that requires weekend study, that it will impact the May 2014 weekend when Diana Gabaldon will come to be presenter at the Shuswap Association of Writers’ Word on the Lake Festival of Writers and Readers? The grad school will have to do without me that weekend, as I’ve already booked it off! My kids aren’t allowed to get married that weekend either. I have my priorities.

And how should I celebrate this new adventure? Some would raise a drink with friends, or take their honey out for dinner. I’m celebrating with new Vogs, culled from the collection of the ultimate Vogger, Rebecca in Winnipeg.

Welcome to the family Fluevog Second Miracle Cascades…   (See if you can find them in the group photo of Rebecca’s shoes, in the link above!)

FluevogSecondMiracleCascades

 

Finnish education February 17, 2013

Filed under: Teaching — Shawn L. Bird @ 6:31 pm
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There is now a benefit to my educational experience to speak Finnish! This is what I hope to focus on in my MEd.

 

standing up to bullies February 28, 2012

Filed under: Pondering,Teaching — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:57 am
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All around my school are posters advertising February 29th as the day students are to wear Pink Shirts as a way to take a stand against bullying.

We teach our kids that they need to stand up for themselves and for their friends when they are under attack.  We teach our kids that it is wrong to try to force ideas and opinions without reasoned discourse.  We teach our kids to show respect to those who are different from themselves, whether they agree with them or not.  We teach our kids how to negotiate a fair solution when they have a disagreement with their peers.

In light of this week’s anti-bullying message, watching the BC Provinicial government’s bullying tactics toward teachers is rather ironic.  This week they are trying to force teachers to accept an imposed contract, refusing to either negotiate or to have neutral mediator negotiate on their behalf.

It’s a  lesson in irony.

Teachers believe in equity.  We stand up to bullies.  We have to, in order to be role models for our students.  When we stand with our friends against bullying behavior, bullies back down.  Right?

My pink shirt this Wednesday, February 29th is going to have several layers of meaning, as I do what I can to stand up for those who are bullying me and my colleagues.

 

caricature or character January 30, 2012

Filed under: Pondering — Shawn L. Bird @ 10:34 pm
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Every uneducated person is a caricature of himself.

Friedrich Schlegel, 1798

What a profound thought.

Without education, you’re an outline with distorted features.  Your worst is accentuated without the tempering impact of learning other perspectives, exploring other values, or discovering alternative possibilities.

Growth of personality happens when you seek wisdom and knowledge.

 

 

finnish lessons December 16, 2011

Filed under: Commentary,Teaching — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:04 am
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As you’ll know if you’re a long time reader of this blog, I was an exchange student in Finland.  As a result, I speak passable Finnish (even now) and I have a house full of Finnish decor items.  These become particularly noticeable at Christmas, as my host families have tended to send special ornaments over the years.

A few years ago, I was at a teachers’ workshop and the speaker showed a graph of the national ratings of educational systems.  He was pointing to Canada’s number three placement when he asked, “Why do we tend to look at the US for innovative educational ideas, when they’re 23 places below us in these rankings?  Why aren’t we looking to the countries above us?”  That made sense to all of us in the room.  When I looked at the ratings and saw that Finland was number one, I thought perhaps that was an area of potential master’s studies.

One of my Finnish friends drew my attention to the book Finnish Lessons by Pasi Sahlberg today, and I have just ordered it.  Stay tuned for a review.

 

Why go to college? December 9, 2011

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:52 am
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I stumbled on this excellent essay today by professor Kip Wheeler, a Chaucer scholar who teaches in Tennessee at Carson-Newman College. What Professors Expect discusses the value of a liberal arts education, and explores the true purpose of going through the educational process.  Worth a read for students pondering their options and goals.

 

this letter is purple September 14, 2011

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 8:22 pm
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Every one of my students is special and unique.

I don’t care if they’re white, black, green or purple.
I don’t care if they are drama kids, jocks, or computer nerds.
I don’t care if they are tattoed, pierced, or sport virgin skin.
I don’t care if they are rich or poor.
I don’t care who they want to have sex with.

I don’t want any of my students to feel  hopeless and alone because of gender identity or sexual orientation .

I care that my students feel valued and safe.
I care that they can get information they need to live healthy and happy lives.
I care that they have role models who can show them how to behave respectfully, amid individual differences.
I care that they know their biology is not a crime or a sin.
I care that they know that they are worthy of acceptance and respect.

I care that they leave school and lead productive lives full of love and friendship.

I want each of them to choose life.

I support the purple letter campaign to adopt a provincial policy of inclusion and acceptance in our schools.

Our kids are worth it.

All of them.

.

PS.  I’m proud of my former student, Ryan Clayton.  He does amazing work to raise issues of sexuality in our province.  He makes a difference  for students who need the message of acceptance that  he brings to them.  For some, it is a matter of life and death.  Thanks, Ryan!