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BYE BYE 2009, originalement un genre d’ALEXANDRIN, ensuite modifié vu certains événements… § 1. Papi est bien parti ; il a quitté sa vie. § 2. La Antoinette Philomène BIKOBO BISSÉ me ARNAQUE… § 3. Maman perdit un oeil, par la faute d’un con ! § 4. Maman bientôt, un de ces jours, partira… § 6. Pour Noël, Soeurette me roule dans la bouette. § 7. Pour L’An Nouveau, La Antoinette MENT, VOLE, MENACE, FAIT DU CHANTAGE et ARNAQUE… § 8. 55, 55, quand donc arrives-tu ? § 9. À mes gentils élèves, je dois dire Adieu. § 10. La ch@sse est refermée, la dulcinée, JPPP, trouvée. § 11. C’est 20 10, 2k10 ; chocolat dans mes bras. § 12. 2 000 9 est parti et ainsi va la vie. |
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¡Adios Québec City! Wachiya Mistissini! § 1. Finally, I got myself a job worth calling it ‘a job’; 10 days from now, I likely will be in Mistissini, QC; I’ll be teaching secondary one students with James Bay’s Cree School Board. Thursday morning, 2008sep11, I spoke to the Voyageur Memorial School’s principal, Ms. Francine Roy. who announced me that the selection committee, with whom I had an interview last Friday, 2008sep05, chose me and recommended me to the executive committee, who will therefore hire me to teach there… § 2. I phoned Ms. Roy from my parents’ house in MTL; I slept there overnight and on Thursday celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with them; to phone up Ms. Roy, I used my magicJack and my WiMax Nomad connexion, for free, indeed. Wednesday afternoon, I went to a CSDM, Montreal School Board, hiring session; technically, I was hired as a substitute teacher and remitted all paperwork requested; I was also told about a half task at the school I went to in secondary IV; however, when I phoned up early Thusrsday morning, the task was already gone; a few minutes later though, I phoned up Ms. Roy who greeted me with the excellent news that as soon the executive committee approves, the school board will phone me and arrange and pay for my move to Mistissini and also that I could start packing up my gear! § 3. Since I owe $50,000 for student loans, I hope to pay that up within two years; if I paid within 20 years, I’d give Desjardins, yet another $50,000: no way! If I live up there two years, I might as well spend a third one; by then, I’ll have ten years to teach at the most; if things go well up north, maybe, I’ll just stay there until the end of my career; we’ll see! § 4. All what Quebec school board de la Capitale had to offer me this fall was substitute teaching; as a matter of fact, this morning I was offered two hours a week on Tuesday evenings; indeed I refused, explaining that I was just hired to work full-time up north… § 5. As for the working conditions they are excellent; Le loyer est en fonction du nombre de chambres à coucher : 6. Yes, this will be a big move in my life, but I believe I’m ready for it and the Crees seem to think so too; we’ll all see if we were right. I guess that soon I’ll have to change the subtitle of this blog from 2.2.2 WordPress Blog of an ESL or Spanish Substitute Teacher in Qc QC since 2007sep21 to: 2.2.2 WordPress Blog of a Sec. I, Generalist Teacher, in Mistissini, QC, since 2008sep21 7. As for learning Cree, this Web p@ge could start you up… |
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Critics and Critiques § 1. Voici, coquilles en moins, ce que Lisabuzz.com, une gentille critique robotique, raconte de ce blogue : « Sans tambour ni trompette, Joseph Deneault, Djeault, DjO propose ici une contribution ambitieuse à l’histoire du Web. En effet, le Blogue de Joseph Deneault, Djeault, DjO est un régal de bonne humeur, de bons mots, et d’informations passionnantes. » § 2. Here’s my translation: ‘With neither drum, nor trumpet, Joseph Deneault, Djeault, DjO here adds an ambitious contribution to the Web’s history. Indeed, Joseph Deneault, Djeault, DjO’s Blog is a delight of good mood, good words, and enthralling information.’ § 3. I discovered that Robotic Blog CritiC here in Sylvain’s blog; Sylvain is a Music teacher. Then, I discovered that this blog, Catherine is an Art teacher, also got the exact same critique as mine: thus, I wonder how many critique versions there are, although the Critic robot likely can pick up key literary words to instantaneously create a few critique variants… § 4. That being said, after eight months working for De La Capitale School Board, they finally sent me a sealed attestation of my scolarity; it’s nice to know that by the end of this first school year working for them, the school board now knows at what rate they’re paying me. However, there are a couple of problems with the Attestation |
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Served with Pedagogical Renewal Sauce In his @rticle, François, who teaches ESL at the high school level, recalls us that the Reform of Education isn’t a new phenomena, but rather was already ongoing 90 years ago; then, Sylvain St-Jean, who teaches at the elementary level, built on François’ this other @rticle: he wonders why after 15 years of formations, many teachers still don’t follow a technoRo@d or pedagogically improve their teaching manners… This list of past QC Ministers of Education suggests there might be a lack of continuity on top, throughout that never ending, always ongoing Reform of education… Then, to summarise the Reform, at the Central Québec School Board, they believe that: Learning is a lifelong process There is richness in diversity All individuals have potential to improve and have the right to develop their potential in a safe, caring and inclusive environment Students must always be placed as the priority
I here wonder about the fact that teachers also are the priority. April fools’ day 2008, I got myself a laptop with the money I saved from my earnings doing replacements this winter; at first, I continued claiming that every QC teacher should have one and also that she or he should be able to deduct it from her, his income; today, I wonder if it isn’t all QC students who should have such a versatile tool. |
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Teaching Sciences Rather Than ESL § 1. Today, Friday, even though I’m actually an ESL teacher, I’m replacing a science teacher at the first cycle; the first group are secondary II, mise à niveau students. We will be building parachutes; all went fine and the students got quite seriously into the activity… I’m now during lunch time waiting for periods 3 and 4 to start… § 2. As for my two periods this afternoon, in science again, the students will be watching the Movie The Island, starring Scarlett Johansson and Ewan McGregor. The movie relates to clones and cloning, an aspect of science, which raises many ethical questions… § 3. At the general sector of the school, there are (only) three videos; last Monday, there was only one remote control device for all three videos, but today Friday, it has disappeared, likely borrowed by a student, some teachers say… I should mention that the said remote control had no more cover for the batteries: the first time I used it, masking tape held the batteries in; another time, the batteries went dead and a student offered two of his calculator’s batteries… § 4. If I had to start the video at the beginning, at both periods, it wouldn’t be a problem; however, at the first period, I must start it somewhere in the middle since they started watching it yesterday: the problem is that one cannot forward the DVD, without the remote control! So, finally, since there was no remote control yesterday either, they had to listen to the first part in English; therefore, the students convinced me to restart the movie at the beginning because yesterday, they didn’t quite understand anything… § 5. In order to solve the problem and since I heard someone mention there was two new videos with two new remote controls at the school’s supplies store, I went and got one, but I had to promise to bring it back after class… Needless to say, I’m keeping a jealous eye on the remote control. Indeed, it seems they might have to throw out the videos left without remote control; nevertheless, a video now cost only $40; at that price, I’d say the school should buy a dozen; shouldn’t they? |
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As Mobile As Can Be § 1. Here I am in the school Cardinal-Roy, for the first time. It’s also the first time I go anywhere with my WiMax modem and my laptop. So here I am waiting for the first group of students: class will be starting in half hour or so. And, here I am, also able to write in this blog, or n@vigate on the Web, or check my em@il. § 2. If had to or wanted to, I could even phone the secretariat, with the Skype program installed on my computer: I actually entered the number, just in case and for the fun of it… As for the Internet connection, it is entering at 100%, since the five lights are on. Well, students are starting to come in… What’s nice with secondary IV students, as these actual ones, is that they quickly calm down and settle to work… § 3. This group has a nice 23 students and the following one, 22 ; it seems that not all schools pile up students, to save money, not to say that some schools would actually do that… All of them are working quite seriously… § 4. Bonifacio fortifications are in Corsica, did I just find out in Wikipedia; the text they’re reading and working on mentions those fortifications; having @ccess to the Web enabled me to quickly find out that they are in Corsica; I must admit that I hadn’t really registered in my brain, that the French word « Corse » is translated by Corsica… 10 more minutes or so to this class… What’s interesting at this school is that some of the students have three classes in the morning. They start at 8h20 and finish at 12h30; in the afternoon, they go and practice their sport: some play baseball, others, judo, soccer, hockey, even kayak… Well, the first group has gone; here comes the next one… |
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And The Show Must Go On § 1. Last Wednesday, 200mar19, St-Joseph’s Feast Day, was my 50th day at Jean-De-Brébeuf high school, but it was also the end of my last three weeks replacement, with Fred’s secondary IV students; however, it’s only today, Friday 2008mar28, that I handed in the two exams I corrected for him and his students: oral and written comprehension exams, for a hundred and sixty seven some students, that is. § 2. I entered the 333 some results, into the lists I made on 8½ x 14” sheets, for a more generous writing space: those six class lists are into their 8½ x 14”, black folder, on the right hand, whereas on the left, are the 8½ x 14” class plans, with student’s color photos, each underlined by the student’s first name: that allows for efficient, personalised interventions: I’m quite proud of that useful tool, especially so, for a substitute teacher like myself; I left a similar binder to Sabrina, whom I replaced for over a month with her secondary III students. § 3. Moreover, most, if not all, of those 300 students, with whom I spent 50 days, love being named by their very first names; if you know their first names, you may create quite unique relationships with each student: first names are great ‘links’; they’re deeply personal, whereas a family name, delivered to the far end of the classroom, thus at high volume, has a more, let’s say, formal effect on a student: use with parcimony, if at all! § 4. Those 50 days, teaching full time, at Jean-De-Brébeuf High Scool, were a great look into that school, the best in town, they say, and also into my teaching practice; I spent most of my time, either in the classrooms, teaching as such, or else, at the ESL headquarters, on the third floor of the school. Since I don’t have a car, except for Communauto, I indeed stayed at school during my free periods. § 5. I thus had ample opportunity to enjoy babbling about teaching tricks or realities, with the well experienced and volubile Guy, who teaches mostly to secondary V students; the secondary III teacher Patrick also shared a couple of tricks, related to classroom dicipline and ‘orderliness’. At times, I also had the opportunity to practice my Spanish with a security guard from Columbia: he actually was doing a training within in CEGEP Program, as a youth intervenant; all that, not to speak of the refreshing conversations I sometimes held with students, other teachers or employees, and the direction people, like Lucie and Brigitte, whom I thank for their support. § 6. Nonetheless, during this now ended four-day week, I only corrected and rested, for the night Jesus was turned into the Romans, a week ago, I shared with him a fragment of the excruciating pain he ought to have suffered, when a Roman soldier pierced his Holy Heart on Easter Friday: I myself suffered an acute stomach ulcer, for ±40 hours, due to stress and worries and what nots… That quite Christian thought helped me through my ordeal; I feel much better a week later: since I ate well and slowly, chewed toroughly my food and slept a lot, thus, I suppose I will be in top shape for next week’s upcoming replacements: so far, I have two lined up, on Thursday and Friday mornings. § 7. Nevertheless, I now have to face the day to day substitute teacher reality, until another contract comes up, even though I do have a week long one, lined up, starting on April 11. So, in order to offer my services, I thus had to get back into creating a business card, problem which I hadn’t solved until now. Indeed, my 50 days at Jean-De-Brébeuf kind of inspired me into creating this: |
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. § 8. On the back of that pinky, I printed a résumé of my résumé and my contact info. Needless to say, I never wear a necktie: I just can’t wear around my neck something, which somedy could strangle me with and thus drive me unconscious, within 30 seconds… No, thanks! § 9. As for this 100th ‘@rticle’, in this blog, I’ll mention that this week, I turned this blog’s colorful rainbow backgroung into a black one; I personally can absorb a lot of color, but I do realise many people can’t. Moreover, I see little of the background, in my 800 x 600 resolution, but many people, in higher resolutions than mine, thus see a lot of the, now black, background. § 10. A 100th @rticle needs a 10th paragraph, or ‘§’. I ought to thank WordPress 2.2.2, for their blog m@trice: I’m a highly satisfied costumer, just like Mario Tout de Go Asselin writes here, in his blog. Also, I’m happy I stayed within the edition ethics, I fenced myself in, by mostly writing in English, even though I don’t only write on ‘my life as a substitute teacher’… I’d s@y I succeeded at keeping a fair writing pace with my 100 @rticles in six months: that’s 16 a month, or one every other day; finally, I’m satistified that I neither created polemics nor scratched (with) anyone; I thus may write that I stayed in line wiith myself. § 11. Even though an eleventh § leads directly to the Holy Dozen, l’ll use it to mention the Moyen Moineault I ‘inst@lled’, on the top right corner of the blog, in the header’s background. For the least, my personal signature shows that I can do some graphic design, an inherent branch of Web Writing. § 12. Since a conclusion may invite into new paths, I’ll end by mentionning the Wiki I installed for Jean-De-Brébeuf’s secondary IV students, @t http://brebeuf.djo.ca :: Although it was a lot of organization, in fact, most of my Christmas vacations, that Wiki shows (me) the type of Web 2.0 pedagogy, I’ll be using, so as to get students to write, when I finally will get a true ESL teaching contract, with my very own students: a delightful thought. § 13. As a Baker’s Dozen, I wish Peace and Love to All! |
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HuckleBerry JIM § 1. Winter Break starts later, on this Friday, 2008fev22. § 2. Wednesday, 2008fev20, Jean-De-Brébeuf High School held its Snow Fest; amongst the activities, horse riding was shared by a dozen of students and three teachers. We were shown how to pass behind a horse: if the horse knows you’re there, you may go right behind the horse, or else, you walk 10 feet behind the horse, who will only kick, if it’s surprised: horses are nervous animals; they like routine. Getting nearly 20 horses out one morning implies getting them out everyday, for 2-3-4 days, before the actual visit of the group. § 3. My horse, please, pronounce horsY, is called JIM. Jim is a 6-year old, Belgian draught gelding; tall and powerfiul, he also was saved from the Slaughterhouse’s buyers: the Ranch des pionniers got some of their horses there; others were born on the Ranch. Some of us had 30 years old horsies, whereas I was granted JIM. In Mark Twain’s historical novel Adventures of HuckleBerry Finn, first published in 1884, the protagonist’s companion is a tall, strong, young, black slave, who escaped from abusive masters, just like JIM, the 6-year old, adolescent horse with a creamy coffee, skin color and a whitish golden mane. § 4. I got to ride JIM, because he’s energic and nervous; at 6, he’s still a playful adolescent. JIM and I were second in our file. Twice, he let me know he’d love to take the lead and have a playful run, but I held him back, for the sake of the group: indeed if one horse runs, the others too will likely want to run… Horses sure can run and make you bounce through the air. However, the path we took was on top of 4-5-6 feet deep snow; thus, a running horse’s leg could easily sink into the snow, make the horse slip or fall and send its rider flying, hopefully into the snow. I do remember two of those fligths: one, off a running Shetland mare, on my way to work, and the other, off a running donkey, in Mexico, at the end of a long work day: we were running back the donkeys to their pasture. Horses, donkeys, poneys or mules can abruptly stop while running: that can send you flying, legs up and head down; if so, you must roll in the air and land on your feet: it’s a risky, though kinesthesic business! § 5. Some other horses were smaller, gentle, safe, mature and older, some being 30 years old: a teacher said horses live 40 years; I thus suggest that a horse’s age x 2 = ± human age: thus, Jim was like a 12-14 years old, but nearly a fully grown force of nature. After the ride, back in its paddock, I thanked him again; throughout the whole ride, I gently spoke to him, Jim, and congratulated him for behaving so nicely, sometimes scratching it. |
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Thank God It’s Friday § 1. Can we tell a student ‘to shut up’? Pouvons-nous dire à un étudiant : « ferme-la » ? Some people pretend that telling someone to shut up is the equivalent of the Joual expression « Farme ta yeule » ou en bon français : « Ferme ta gueule » ! For those who wouldn’t know, a « gueule » is an animal’s mouth: thus, telling someone to shut up just isn’t équivalent to the French « Farme ta yeule »; my Collins Cobuild English dictionary further supports me .. § 2. Indeed, here what CC says; shut up: …you CAN say ‘SHUT UP’ to someone to tell them to stop talking… There is NO mention that ’shut up’ would be rude, familiar or informal, whereas the English expressions ’shut your mouth’ or ’shut your face’ ARE supreme English insults, both equivalents to the French « Farme ta yeule »; here, CC says that those two informal English expressions are rude ways to tell someone to stop talking. § 3. On top of that, you could even say ‘please, shut up’ to smoothen the impact of that expression, which some people believe rude: they’re wrong; even Collins Cobuild say so. That being said, the most turbulent group, three weeks ago showed for the last two periods that they can listen, take notes, work and stay silent when it’s time to. Indeed, my class plans with the students’ photos, first names and first letters of their family names, made a huge difference, I’m convinced! § 4. As for my Working statistics, here they are: at the end of this week # 19, I have worked 49 days on the last 64, thus better than 3 days / 4. Since hired, I thus have worked 51 days on 88. Furthermore, my actual four weeks replacement started the counting of the 180 days needed to reach a precarious status, which precedes a permanent one, one of those days… |
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