Welcome back!

We have returned to school rested and refreshed. Ahh! The spelling list is new! The writing booklets are back! It's good to see friends! The math game is great! You know that wonderful honeymoon day back from vacation? That was Tuesday.

Monday was the first day back, but was spent with teacher training workshops. The keynote speaker was Jon Joseph, a teacher and researcher who has written, among other books, Learning in the Emotional Rooms: How to Create Classrooms that are uplifting for the Spirit. He has done lots of research on learning and the brain. He talks about the different student personalities that we encounter, really only four basic ones, and how we can help shift those from the lower side of the spectrum to the higher side.

The first breakout I chose was a session with the SMART Board. I use one in Oregon, but I don't have one here. The more SMART Board I'm talked through, the better for me! Interestingly enough, this session was more basic than even I needed, yet it talked about the maintenance of the board, which I'd never learned!

The second session for me was about Aboriginal Education in our schools. I was fascinated since, of course, it is all completely new to me. I sat with a peer from my school, so she was able to translate acronyms and concepts foreign to me. The presenter asked how many of us know what the Acknowledgement to Country is. I raised my hand. I know this is when someone makes a statement acknowledging the elders of the indigeonous people, past and present, as well as future elders. I have heard this said at trainings and meetings in the area.

Then he asked how many of us have said one. Two people raised their hands. He said, "All of you should be doing this. You need to offer to make this statement at the next opportunity." Laurel looked at me, and I looked at her, and we both smiled. Guess what my homework is? Wish me luck!