Tag Archives: Rankin

Professional Development, rankin

Knit witt

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It’s started to get dark earlier… I noticed it at the end of the day today. It’s likely the fault of daylight savings time, but when I googled rankin inlet sunset, it was true. Today the sun set at 3:36 pm. So what is the plan to wile away the hours in darkness? Knitting. Yes, as a new home economics teacher, I thought it would be important for me to learn how to knit. So off to you tube I went, learned the long tail cast on, and the knit stitch, and I was off to the races. Who knew www.knittinghelp.com/ would be so much help! It started as a pink tie,

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the ironic male knitting project, and somehow in the messy learning I added stitches. Don’t ask me how, it just happened. So I kept going, added fringes to disguise the “mistake” and made it a scarf for my daughter. I sewed / embroidered her name on the shorter side, and a polar bear on the other side. Don’t ask why the polar bear is brown… Brown and pink go so nicely together. I sent it off last Monday, so it should arrive next week sometime, maybe this week if we’re lucky.20121107-205830.jpg My next challenge was to learn to purl stitch. But my next project was a scarf for me! No knit one purl two for this manly scarf! I wanted it to be warm so my mom sent some wool she got in Scotland! Thanks again mom! I now realize how addictive this hobby can be.

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Today I was tempted by double ended needles, and managed to make a small tube with four needles. I think it will end up being a finger puppet, or driving finger mitt…So to you stitch and bitch groups, unravellers, knitery knights, knit witts, and yarn bombers, I now understand you a bit more. And I think I like it

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21st Century Education, Decompression of Ideas, Music, Professional Development, rankin

Pi week

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I love professional development. The idea that as part of my job is to better myself is amazing. I suppose some pd is more exciting than others, for example, learning to assemble Peruvian box drums has more pizazz than school effectiveness framework developing. So when I was told that here in Nunavut teachers get a week of self directed professional improvement, I just about fainted.

It was hard deciding what angle to follow in my pd spectrum. I thought about my peeps at plp, and all the fantastic work I did last year, but I’m working on implementing that in my daily routine. I thought about learning throat singing and Inuit drum making. Unfortunately making an Inuit drum is a very labour intensive project, and it’s not really the right time of year for it.

So my plan for this week is as follows:

  • cajon -Peruvian box drum
  • 18w tube amp header-
  • didgeridoo organ
I don’t have a specific order and I’m not sure that I need to.  I think I will get a better sense of the pace I need to have if I devote Monday morning to the amp, and the afternoon for the box drum.

The parts for the amp came in yesterday! I would like to thank Karen for checking my mail and lugging it back to the school for me, I was only expecting to have my pay stub there!
The nice wood is still en route, but my test of the good one side c grade from umingmak (local lumber store) is waiting to be made into a box drum. I also have to look into the PVC for my didge organ. I was a little worried about getting all of the materials, but things have come together. I’m tempted to get an early start this weekend on these fabulous projects.

I will be updating more than usual,this next week to keep an almost real time, more pics to follow!

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rankin

Settling in…

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Here’s the picture so far: second year being redundant, not recalled this year, but offered an LTO. Not content with one period each semester that changes every other day, I start applying to everything…. I mean everything! July 25th get a call from Jesse in rankin inlet Nunavut. Start the mad dash of interviews, paperwork, phone calls, then buying enough clothes and a $500 winter coat that will keep my rear from freezing, getting things ready, packed flying on the 13th of August. What a rush!

So here I am adjusting to things in the north, things work differently up here, and I realize I haven’t blogged yet. “welcome to the north” seems to be the mantra when things go wrong or are delayed, so I’m going to chalk it up to that.

Everyone here that I’ve met are really nice! All of the staff are fabulous and very helpful. So helpful that just driving up to their house two teachers from the high school call me in for coffee and to find me a bag for the pile of books I was carrying. Most helpful of all has been Jesse, who went far above and beyond when I lost my keys on day two… He is just fantastic and I love his accent, which reminds me of home and nanny & poppy. Some of the staff even live in my apartment building, including the vice principal! I love small towns, but this feels like a large family. Three of us even did a 5k awareness run for diabetes. Even though it took twice around the town to rack up 5km…

I’m really looking forward to tomorrow when school actually starts. Of course the first day will be bogged down with administrivia, but all ready things seem to be moving quickly, it’s hard to believe its almost been a week up here. I miss my wife and family, but with my new iPad things will be easier. Things always happen for a reason, so let’s embrace what we have and do the best that we can. I hope to update this blog as much as I can with personal and professional tidbits, so stay tuned.

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