Self-doubt crept into my brain as I heard our talented staff offering everything from Theatre, Canadian soldiers, Programming, Yoga, Zentanglers, Animation to Minecraft! as a passion for our option program. Ideas just kept flowing.
 
Meanwhile, my mind was racing. Hobbies, technology, art, craft. What could I parlay into an option. Over the years my peers have entreated me to join many creative pastimes, from sip-and-paint sessions to making your own pottery. My response has always been the same: “Not my thing.” Could I create an option for children that would compete with Fashion Design or Minecraft? Why do we, as fallible humans, feel like these expert-based learning opportunities—from maker stations to idea labs—are proof that we are not talented enough? Faced with opportunities to create, we ask: Can I, jack-of-all-trades, offer expert experiences?
 
As we navigated through a report on student outcomes a spark began to kindle. Data in the report showed that some of our female students were concerned about bullying. I pondered the challenges that face young women as they enter junior high.
 
Could I prepare girls to demonstrate empathy, feel confidence, solve conflicts, and meet the difficult challenge of liking themselves to the fullest?

What did I learn today?

Collaboration is my favourite part of teaching & learning… I moved to a new school this year, after 13 years (nearly my entire career as a teacher) and changed teaching assignments to Foods as well as Math & Science. Having never taught foods before, one of the first things I did was to build my community of practice. I continue to connect with like minds at school, specialists in the board, and experts in the community. I know that I work best when I’m able to share ideas with others, collectively work on task design and assessments, and, well… SHARE!!!

I bring this to my teaching practice in Math, Science & Foods every day. I ask students to work collaboratively - check their progress with a partner, share with someone how they came to a solution, or what they observed during an experiment and what they think that it means. For both myself and students, I celebrate taking risks and being vulnerable, because to be vulnerable is to open yourself up to what it possible. To show empathy for others as we all learn together is to create a space where we are all learners. Ultimately, I want students to know that there’s a difference between making a mistake and being wrong.

Being wrong is an ending.

Making a mistake is a beginning!

I have built my own network of support and invite students to do the same. Together we are better.

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Margaret Matheson (@Maggie820) is a Math/Science/Foods teacher at Ernest Morrow. Beginner, learner and expert; #failingforward.

Today we celebrate 100 Days of School! Our CBE’s students from all over the city are celebrating this big milestone by doing different activities. Also, in my grade two Spanish Bilingual class we will be having special activities to celebrate our 100 Days of Learning. However, this school year we did something different… we have celebrated every single day of our learning in the classroom.

We learned from our First Nation and Aboriginal People that we need to acknowledge every day of our lives as a gift. Therefore, we started sharing our feelings, difficulties, and successes every day through our Circle of Courage. ​