Pier West by Bosa in New Westminster

Pier West is a landmark project that will bring vibrant design and refined living to the most significant waterfront property in Metro Vancouver. Located on 750 Quayside Drive, the groundbreaking development includes two residential towers – a 43 and a 53 storey highrise – including the tallest building on Metro Vancouver’s waterfront, plus a variety of services that add to the community.

Pier West will include a 40-space child care facility in the commercial space; two acres of park and public open space, including an extension to Westminster Pier Park, a public plaza and esplanade space; and new pedestrian connections between Westminster Pier Park, Fraser River Discovery Centre and River Market.

 

The post Pier West by Bosa in New Westminster appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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What are the expectations for your classroom?

I saw this visual from Amy Fast, being shared all over social media:

Now I might challenge the term “rules” because this is more of a compelling vision of a classroom, which I think is so much more powerful and inspiring for our students.  For “rules”, simply using the idea of respecting yourself, others, and our environment, kind of covers everything in my opinion.

But this image shared by Amy is not only inspiring, but it puts the onus on the “learner” in the room; not just the student but the teacher as well.  It is compelling yet challenging. And it focuses on the learner, not necessarily the teacher (although the teacher is a learner as well).

I just wanted to share this because it is not something that I normally have seen in classrooms, but hope variations of this start to happen.  This image reminds me that school should be both a challenging and inspiring place to be, which is often how the best learning happens.

• April 11, 2015 3 Things That Have Slowed the Change Process Down in Education (And What We Can Do About It)
• April 9, 2015 8 Things to Look for in Today’s Professional Learning (Part 2)
• July 2, 2017 Preparing Learners For Anything #EmpowerBook
• January 8, 2013 8 Things to Look For in Today’s Classroom
• July 5, 2010 Personal Learning Environment; Your Thoughts

Source: George Couros

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What are the expectations for your classroom?

I saw this visual from Amy Fast, being shared all over social media:

Now I might challenge the term “rules” because this is more of a compelling vision of a classroom, which I think is so much more powerful and inspiring for our students.  For “rules”, simply using the idea of respecting yourself, others, and our environment, kind of covers everything in my opinion.

But this image shared by Amy is not only inspiring, but it puts the onus on the “learner” in the room; not just the student but the teacher as well.  It is compelling yet challenging. And it focuses on the learner, not necessarily the teacher (although the teacher is a learner as well).

I just wanted to share this because it is not something that I normally have seen in classrooms, but hope variations of this start to happen.  This image reminds me that school should be both a challenging and inspiring place to be, which is often how the best learning happens.

• April 11, 2015 3 Things That Have Slowed the Change Process Down in Education (And What We Can Do About It)
• April 9, 2015 8 Things to Look for in Today’s Professional Learning (Part 2)
• July 2, 2017 Preparing Learners For Anything #EmpowerBook
• January 8, 2013 8 Things to Look For in Today’s Classroom
• July 5, 2010 Personal Learning Environment; Your Thoughts

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Lies She Told by Cate Holahan

Lies She Told is a novel that blurs reality and fiction and adds in two unreliable narrators.  What you get is a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting for the curtain to whoosh open, revealing the truth.  

Liza Cole is an author who's had a respectable run publishing novels, but now she's stuck, and under a deadline to produce another novel in quick time, or she will probably lose her contract.  She's struggling with infertility; taking hormones and trying desperately to engage her husband in this latest round of treatments.  He's grown distant, and it's no wonder:  his best friend and law partner Nick is missing, and no one has a clue what's happened to him.  

Liza's novel begins to take shape in the form of Beth, a new mother who is also riding the hormone train, and feeling a bit insecure regarding her husband's affections.  As a reader, it took me awhile to get it in my head that Beth was the creation of Liza, and not another character living in Liza's New York reality.  I guess that means Liza has a possible hit novel on her hands, if only she can stick with it! 

 Blurred lines play a big part in the storyline:  headaches, hormones, shady memories--or no memories at all.  Liza's experimental hormone therapy has some seriously bad side effects but she's unwilling to give up what may be her last chance to conceive. She also likes to drink, and that just adds to the uncertainty of Liza's view of the world.  

Beth and Liza's worlds are similar, and as you read you realize they're not only similar, but may be more horribly connected than you thought.  You get bits and pieces of Liza's past colliding with the present, and you can feel her desperation to gain her husband's attention not only through her thoughts, but as reflected in Beth's story.  It's the best writing Liza's done in years, but how far is it from reality?  

I don't want to give anything away, but holy cow even if you figure it out, you just haven't really figured it out.  There's a big twist at the end, and it will keep you thinking about this book long after you're finished.  You'll want to discuss it with others, so make sure you either read it in a book group, or have a friend or two read it.   I haven't read Cate Holahan's first novel, The Widower's Wife, but I'm certainly adding it to my list.  

A big thank you to Crooked Lane for a review copy of this novel.  I would have passed it by in the library or bookstore, but now I've got a great book to recommend.  

Rating:  5/6 for a twisty plot that blurs reality and fiction.  Marital relationships, that "perfect couple", those secrets that sometimes lie down deep, just waiting to pounce.  A thriller folks will gulp down. 

Available in hardcover September 12 in the U.S. Also will be available as an e-book and audio book.  

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Finding the Good in the Bad

I remember one student I worked with who was quite a handful for teachers. He was very quick on his feet, and if he noticed that he got on your nerves, he would double down on what he was doing.  Although I was bothered by his behaviour, I did see that his ability to read people was quite amazing and he had some genius in him. I worked with him quite a bit to focus on how to use his abilities to raise people up, not tear them down, and as he grew into an adult, he became very successful using those abilities to serve people.  I wouldn’t say that I was the reason he was successful, but I do know that trying to find the “good” in the negative, was something that helped him move forward, as it does with many students.

As I always say, some of your brightest students are terrible at school, but do we find the genius in them?

In this post, “5 Weird Signs You’re More Creative Than Average“, Jessica Stillman shares 5 signs of creativity that we would not always consider:

1. You’re sarcastic

2. You’re easily distractible.

3. You’re grouchy.

4. You’re an emotional roller coaster.

5. You argue with people you disagree with

As I thought about this post, would the above characteristics be something that we would be comfortable with in schools? This quote from the article struck me:

While the fruits of creativity are lucrative, glamorous, and easy to crave, a growing body of science testifies to the fact that living breathing creative talents are sometimes harder to love.

What I am NOT trying to say in this post is that it is totally fine for students (or adults) to be disrespectful, because that would make them creative.  What I hope people see is that sometimes there are strengths in our students where we sometimes see weakness. Looking for good is the first step to finding it.

• March 9, 2011 Success for all?
• September 17, 2012 You Should Read (September 17, 2012)
• February 19, 2012 You Should Read… (February 19, 2012)
• February 27, 2014 I Learn, I Dream
• November 27, 2013 4 (Digital) Habits That Will Make You More Creative

Source: George Couros

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Finding the Good in the Bad

I remember one student I worked with who was quite a handful for teachers. He was very quick on his feet, and if he noticed that he got on your nerves, he would double down on what he was doing.  Although I was bothered by his behaviour, I did see that his ability to read people was quite amazing and he had some genius in him. I worked with him quite a bit to focus on how to use his abilities to raise people up, not tear them down, and as he grew into an adult, he became very successful using those abilities to serve people.  I wouldn’t say that I was the reason he was successful, but I do know that trying to find the “good” in the negative, was something that helped him move forward, as it does with many students.

As I always say, some of your brightest students are terrible at school, but do we find the genius in them?

In this post, “5 Weird Signs You’re More Creative Than Average“, Jessica Stillman shares 5 signs of creativity that we would not always consider:

1. You’re sarcastic

2. You’re easily distractible.

3. You’re grouchy.

4. You’re an emotional roller coaster.

5. You argue with people you disagree with

As I thought about this post, would the above characteristics be something that we would be comfortable with in schools? This quote from the article struck me:

While the fruits of creativity are lucrative, glamorous, and easy to crave, a growing body of science testifies to the fact that living breathing creative talents are sometimes harder to love.

What I am NOT trying to say in this post is that it is totally fine for students (or adults) to be disrespectful, because that would make them creative.  What I hope people see is that sometimes there are strengths in our students where we sometimes see weakness. Looking for good is the first step to finding it.

• March 9, 2011 Success for all?
• September 17, 2012 You Should Read (September 17, 2012)
• February 19, 2012 You Should Read… (February 19, 2012)
• February 27, 2014 I Learn, I Dream
• November 27, 2013 4 (Digital) Habits That Will Make You More Creative

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An Encouraging Word Can Last a Lifetime

As a high school principal in a small town, even getting fast food can be a unique experience. Of course, many of our students are the ones working at these restaurants. Sometimes, when I place an order at the drive through, the voice on the other end will say, "Hello Dr. G!"

This past week a student asked if I'd been to Sonic a day earlier. I replied that I had, and the student said, "Yeah I thought I recognized your voice."

We all have a voice. Every educator speaks hundreds of words every day. Sometimes at school and sometimes outside of school. How we use our voice is so important. It's important to use it in ways that make an impact.

Your words matter and might make a lasting difference far beyond what you expect.

I remember two instances of encouragement I received as a student that had a profound impact on me. Both were during times of transition in my life. The words of support were significant. They were at the right time and in the right moment. And as a result, I have never forgotten those words.

The first instance was shortly after my family moved to a new town, and I was in a new school. Not only was I in a new school, I was also entering high school as a freshmen. I went out for the basketball team, wanting badly to make the team. But in pre-season conditioning I was far behind the other boys. They blew me away, and quite frankly I was embarrassed and wanted to quit. But the head varsity coach approached me and said these words, "Don't give up. You can do it. Just keep working at it each day. I want to see you make this team."

I have never forgotten those words. Later that school year my family moved again. A couple of years after that, I played in a game against my old school and scored 18 points in a varsity game against Coach Radford, the same coach who encouraged me as a struggling freshmen. He created a monster.

The second instance was as a freshmen in college. My first semester didn't go so well because I was not focused academically. I knew I let my parents down, and I wasn't happy with myself either. But in my second semester, I was fully committed to getting good grades. I was studying and staying on top of everything. Psychology was a fun class but the professor was known for really tough tests. I had made a huge stack of note cards to study. I remember I was sitting near the front, and he noticed my stack of note cards. He looked at them and said, "You're working really hard at this aren't you."

It almost seems silly to me now that I still remember that comment so vividly. But it made a big impression on me. I looked up to the professor, and I was proud he noticed my effort.

Both of these examples were not extraordinary circumstances. They were caring educators who probably made a habit of lifting up students and encouraging them to do their best. But for me, the words were extraordinary. Your efforts to encourage can last a lifetime. You never know how your words may create a lasting influence.

What will students remember when they think of your voice?

Can you think of a time you were encouraged by someone in your life? How can you bring that to your work as an educator now? Who will you lift up? I want to hear from you. Leave a comment below or respond on Facebook or Twitter.

        

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