How Pearl teaches fractions

How does Pearl teach fractions? Well, it is a struggle. Anyone who knowes me is well aware of my limits with in the mathematics circle. I could teach it from a book but no one would get it let alone love it. As a teacher I want them to love eveything we do... with that comes some hope that they will remember it. I have to come at things with a hands on approach. When it comes to math I want to work it, not read it. It is not a natural passion of mine so I know how soon a person can tune out and start to day dream. I do not come to the subject with any natural flair like I bring to Parlamentary studies. I once had a class watching the State opening of Parliament for two hours and loving it. I love it and they loved it. If any of my senior high students ever walk in the Centre Block of the Parliament buildings they will feel so much at home and will think:''Ahh this is what she was talking about.'

So I had to think of fractions in some way that was a natural for Pearl. That had to be cooking. I made huge chocolate cookies... I mean huge. I will divide them in halves, thirds ,quarters, sixths and eighths. Trust me, the ones who get eighths will always remember that is is bloody small and a half of anything is the best, if it has to be divided. God, I hope this goes the way I want it to. if not we will have cookies and milk. I will have to come up with something else if they don't get it.
Not that the subject of fractions is that difficult but the lack of my having any flare in the subject and having to teach it to second language learners makes the simpliest subjects difficult. I don't thik my high school math teacher ever baked cookies. I just don't see Miss Herkes in a kitchen at 10 pm baking cookies. At a reunion a number of years ago a group of talked about her always saying to me: "you'll never get it...never get it." My kids are going to get it and love doing it.

Today has to be the coldest day yet. The wind is bitter. I have outside duty twice today. God help me. I will get into my penguin mode and stand as they do at the south pole.
The community is very sick.. a nasty cold is going the rounds. Several teachers are out sick and the students who are in school are coughing something terrible.

I have had great news from England concerning my student Jajie who is visiting his Granny. He is in a small school in the north. He is doing very well in school, has not needed any extra help in English , nor in math. I was afraid he would be far behind. The students here do not start English until Gr. 3. He does not like the barnyard smells of rural England. He and Jasmine are in swimming lessons as well as school activities.

The Dad, Mark loves going out to the pub each evening. That would be a new thing for him and the regular patrons of the pub. Johanna, the mother, has been in Salluit for 11 years and this is her first long trip back home. The Granny was over last spring when baby Hannah was born. We had great visits up and down the hill.

I hope that Boston Legal is not cancelled to-night because of George Bush's speech. I do look forward to that show. I know it is silly, not the cure for cancer but it is funny. .

I hope you ahve something to laugh about on this last day of Janurary.

P

I better stop my vitamins

Oh my we are busy in Salluit. I am taking a new course of vitamins and I have too much energy. I am like that ever ready bunny.. but ready for what! I have had several of the girls from my class home with me after school most days this week. We have been cooking and sewing up a storm ( well, not the storm I have been praying for .. I thought I needed a rest).

Yesterday I was reading to the class a story of Elsie who loves corn bread. No one knew what corn bread was, so fool that I am, I said I'd make some. I took Miss P and Lissie home with me and they did it. What fun we had. I also needed to make a birthday cake for a student so they helped with that and a lemon pie for a teacher who was so kind to me this week. The girls love getting into the house. They will clean up the dishes and vacuum for me too. I love that perk.

The girls know where I keep the hot chocolate and cups. They are in the door, filling the kettle, setting out the cups and filling the cookie plate in very short order. They love choosing the napkins we will use . I do like things set up pretty.... yes deep down I am shallow. Yesterday they were using the ones Sue and Gaj sent that say "Good girls don't make history".

Today was girls' lunch at school so we can sew up our scarves. I met this fantastic lady at Tim Horton's who gave me bins and bins of material. There is enough for us all to make scarves and fleece vests. School was cancelled for the afternoon but the girls stayed with me. They are really no trouble ... I must be crazy to spend so much time with these girls. These new vitamins must be dope or something. I am so mellow it is weird.

There have been several violent incidents in the schools the past few days. That is why we are closed this afternoon. Although I can feel it in the air and my students have been a bit more troublesome this week, it really does not seem to come into our classroom. This morning Trudy and Aloupa got up to sharpen their pencils while I was still giving directions. That is not allowed and they sure found out about it. Honestly that is the extent of problems that I have to do deal with... and yet other classes are a zoo.

I do not take all the credit for such a class. They had Gladys for two years. She did a fine job teaching them English, teaching them to respect learning and teaching them a classroom can be a fun , wonderful and exciting place. All I have had to do is keep up with her incredible pace.

With the help of my classroom aide we keep the kids busy.. really busy. With Lissie helping me we can give the slower kids extra help. No kid left behind is the slogan used these days. That really helps because so many kids get frustrated when they can't do the work. Frustration leads to anger and anger leads to violence. I am also so lucky with all the things people send my class that we can stop to sample corn bread and molasses... have a fun break from the hard learning. I received a lovely packet from Sara yesterday full of Valentine stuff from the dollar store. When she buys for her class she buys for mine. It makes a big difference in our classroom.

The girls are all excited about the arrival of Feb and Valentine's day. It is not such a big day for the boys. Last year Gladys and I had a dance at noon for both classes then a big lunch and games. I made the girls great hairbands and the boys bow ties. (the lady in Tim Horton's strikes again) They loved themselves. We taught them how to jive and waltz. This year we are going to show them the movie "Grease" before the big day. Perhaps I can be Olivia Newton-John... with white hair not blonde. I hope you all realize that white hair, as the Boomers mature, is the new blonde. I can't wait to hear someone yell out at me:"Hello Blondie!'.

Hope you have some fun moments this weekend. think blonde and you will.
Pearl

Northern Paradise

As Mr. Rogers used to say: "It's a lovely day in the neigbourhood." The sun is up over the hills and we are getting sunshine in the village. We have had several days of sun for the past week. Some days it was very windy, others are calm like today. Very cold but when the wind is not blowing it is pleasant to walk a short distance... like the 300 steps to my home. Last night I was out to see the northern lights. They were fantastic. They were a brilliant green flashing acoss the sky. This morning I grabbed ahand painted silk scarf to wear that Dawn MacNutt had given me. The colours are so like the northern lights: purples, greens and blues with flashes of gold. Nothing like being in style in Salluit.

My kids are asking for an afternoon on the hills to play with sleds, tubes and pieces of cardboard. I am going to delay that as long as possible but it would be nice to get out of the classroom to enjoy some fresh air. But it is too bloody cold right now.

The students have been working so hard the past few days. Tasks that took 45 minutes are being completed with in 20 minutes. And their writing has improved. They are so more comfortable writing these days. The writing is helped by all the reading they are doing. They have matured and learned so much since August. When they are well behaved and working I give out coloured sticks. On Friday I open a little store for them to pruchase treats with these sticks. They have seen all the parcels that have arrived from my parents in Florida so they know the store is well stocked.

But it is not just the treats that have them working. Most of them are in a sweet spot.. they have worked and learned. They like that feeling. There is more freedom now that they don't have to work so much with me. They can read what they want to read. If they finish the math for the day they can read the magazines I have for them. The boys love Hockey News and Sports Illustrated For Kids. The girls die for any recent news of Hillary Duff. I just won't let them know that they are learning as they read more and more.

The girls and I stay for lunch at least once a week and sew together. That is so much fun. I am not getting my sewing done at home as I have to stay a project ahead of them. I honestly was never a fan of pre-teen girls before. But they are so much fun, kind and generous. The boys are like young pups... always play fighting. They roll around outside all the time. I must be getting old and soft as I love the time I spend with most of them.


They are not perfect but they are trying to be. They are so successful now that they try to do the work. And it is not just in school. Abigail ( who is 10) has been asked to play on the women's hockey team. She is big for her age but she is also a hard worker. So disciplined MOST of the time. Luc is playing golaie on his team. He has a terrible brusie on his chin these days. Most of the boys and a few girls are playing hockey. Their journals are full of their accomplishments. And just when I think everything is just about perfect they start a farting contest. The children here could make farting an Olympic event and would win the gold with very little real effort.

On Tuesday I had outside duty. Putting all the necessary layers of clothing on plus the boots takes so much energy. And to go through that so many times in one day is a pain in the arse. Once out , this week, it was fun. Some duty times I stand like those penguins in the recent movie. The principal organized the kids for races.... going backwards, hopping on one foot ect. Then as a joke Annie, Julie and I raced. I can only imagine what that must have looked liked.. but it did put some colour in my cheeks and I did not have to be medi-vaced out.

So with the light back in this part of the north and the students learning something had to go wrong. Of course our school board had to reward us for working so hard. This week's paypacket contained all the bad news concerning how much they chose to dock us for flying home for Christmas before Dec. 23rd. Flying on the 23rd would have put me in NS on the 24th, weather permitting. As it was we were delayed because of the storm in Montreal but, had we left on the 23rd. it would have been more dependable to fly with Santa as he is never delayed. The staff room is not a plesant place to be today. Perhaps I should take the kids out for the afternoon on the hills.

Other than that all is well here. Once there is more light we all cheer up. I hope there is some sunlight in you r day.

Salluit is not like Digby

Election day has come and gone in the north, like in the rest of Canada. Some things are very much the same and others are very different. One similarity if the walk to the poll but the walk is about the only thing that is the same.

I have always enjoyed the walk in Halifax to the polls as it was less than five minutes from our home. during some elections I worked in the polling station. Here there was only one poll and the walk was about 10 minutes in weather that was not condusive to a long walk. Here I knew so few people as I walked to the poll. In Halifax or Digby I knew so many people.

When I have voted in southern Canada I always knew who the candidates were. I always knew who I was going to vote for. When I walked in the polling station in Salluit I had never seen the candidates names b efore. It is understandable that we were not visited by any candidate but I was surprised that no candidate, nor the head offices of the major parties, did not send information to the community. Nothing. Not one piece of paper came into the viallage about the election. What a shock to see the names on the ballot with no idea of the character of any person running. All I could go by was the party.

That is not a position that I am comfortable in. I like to examine party platforms and the statements of the leaders but I also want to know about the individual who is representing me in Ottawa.

I was also uncomfortable voting in the village. My vote could impact on the lives of the people who live here. I am not much more than a guest here in Salluit. I am here at the pleasure of the community. If the Inuit do not want me here I would have to go. One of the big hurdles all teachers have to go thru is being recommended by the local school council. If they do not think we fit in we are gone. It has nothing to do with our teaching abilities but our ability to fit in.

One thing I should I have done was spend time on the internet finding out about the candidates. It was not like in Digby where I knew the candidates and often the extended family. Once or twice I voted for my father. I was in Halifax for 20 years where I also had built up a bank of knowledge. I wish I had thougth to look up more info on the computer. my lack of information is my fault.

Election night was spent on the phone. Dad, from Florida, was calling Clyne in Digby who told him all the important numbers. Then he would call me. On the national CBC I could not get info about the Nova Scotia ridings I was interested in.

I must run as I have to meet with parents but I wanted to get somethig down about the election. What an interesting political future we a re going to have.

Big storm in Salluit

The air is full of snow today. We are getting the storm that hit Montreal yesterday. No wind and it is warm out. Really very pleasant. About 6 to 8 inches of snow fell overnight and I would think that much has fallen since I came to school this morning. The flakes are small and there are so many of them that it looks like a white curtain. If the wind does not come up it will be a great weekend to go fishing ( thur 12 feet of ice) and be out on the land.

When we go fishing we travel in a convoy of several ski-doos. Each vechile is totally equipped with what we would need if we are separated. The Inuit put we white folks in the middle of the convoy so we won't cause them problems... like get lost. When we get to the lake, the stoves are lit, the kettle is put on to boil and we start making holes with a gas powered auger. The fishing is very simple... you just put a line down the hole.. it is like a giant apple juice can and you jig it up and down. We use metal lures ( spelling?) Once the holes are are dug ( seems like the wrong term) the men ususally go hunting. Rifles are left with the women in case wolves or bears show up. Needless to say I am not allowed to even look at a rifle, let alone shoot one. I'd injure myself or some poor person but not the bear or wolf.

The rides out of the village to a fishing spot can be several hours. I do enjoy the ride out. We stop every 30 minutes or so to run around to get the blood flowing again. Some people exchange mittens. The Inuit are good about checking we white folk for facial frost bite. But the ride back on the ski-doo is not so much fun. By that time I am tired and cold. Often I am put in the sled with the babies. Now I cheerfully go there. Being an "elder" gives me an excuse and they cannot make fun of me... well they do, but as long as I am warm I don't care.

Yesterday was a very exciting day. I did not check the grammar etc on my blog as there was a gentle knock on my door so I hit send. A dear friend that I did not even know was in the north was flying thru Salluit. What a great surprise. The other news is that my parents, in Florida, purchased and installed a camera on their computer. I have one as well so we were able to see and talk with one another.

My students loved "meeting ' my parents and talking with them. They also saw Elias, Leslie, Jacques and my niece Georgia. Those of you who know me well will wonder how the hell I am managing all this technology. The answer to that is my student Abigail. She is only 10 years old but she is a computer whiz. The air rings with me, rather excitedly saying: "What do I do now?" Often it is easier for her to do it herself as I seldom understand her directions. My teacher's helper, Lissie, is a great computer person too... and she programmed my VCR as well. I often call her Shirley as she always knows where things are that I have misplaced.. just like my Mum.

I hope all is well in your little part of the world.

P

How to make a teacher laugh!!!!

One of the best things the students do each day is a journal entry. We do the first paragraph together on the board. That consists of the date and what is going on that day in school. It is a fun paragraph. I write things like poor, poor Pearl has duty outside Twice today. After we conpose the paragraph, then I read it aloud, the kids then read it together and then I pick on 2 or 3 to say it alone.

After that the kids must write about the weather, how they feel, what they did yesterday and what they will do today. Each topic must be in a paragraph of it's own and the Gr 5's must have at least 3 sentences and the 6's must have 5. Some do so much more.

It is a great way to find out what the kids are thinking, what is imp to them and if they have problems they want to share. Some are so funny. Aloupa is my little gossip. he is in Gr 5 and a great kid. His Mum ,Susie, is a great friend. Today he wrote:
' Yesterday I went to the arena. Today I am going to the arena. Tomorrow I will go to the arena. I was farting. Today I feel tired." He must have been tired to write so little and not in the usual style. But he gets good marks for making me laugh.

The days are so much longer . I am enjoying walking to school in the light. Tho this am the light was so blue that I could not see to walk easily. With the light so weak there are no shadows so the space in front of me is all white with a bluish tinge. I could not tell there were snow drifts in front of me until my foot hit them. If it is like that when I am out on the land, I have no buildings, trees or rocks to guide me I find it difficult to tell up from down. There is no horizon line. The sky and the land are the same whiteness. I lose my depth perception and it makes me dizzy .

The wind has been howling for days. Of course all the teachers are pryaing for a storm day. It is too cold to snow. The schools in Montreal are closed today. Poor Montreal has had worse weather than we have had this year... so far. The 8 snowmobilers lost in Labrador were found. We were all listening to the news here in Salluit as a great many people have family in that area.

The NHL retired hockey players were a big hit in Salluit. They were here almost a week holding clinics each day. My former student, Nulukie Kaitak, had written asking if players could come north. There are several girls' teams in Salluit now. Our senior women's team has won several tournaments.
Gotta go
P

Two big boxes in one week

The arrival of parcels has begun again. I like to say that no one who loves mail ( males.. just a joke) the way I do but really it is a family thing. Like so many weird things about my family, it started with my Dad. He remembers receving mail when he was overseas during the war and what it meant to him. Also with Dad if he is not talking , he is writing. Some might say the same of me. He has bought most of my postage since I left home in 1970. He regularly calls Canada Post in Antigonish to ask them to send me stamps of every denomination. In fact I often send some stamps on to friends who I know would love certain designs.

The parcels that my parents send are decorated with stamps. He does not settle for a piece of paper a machine spits out with the amount of postage due. No, he stands there and licks $40.00 or $50.00 worth of stamps so that my students can study the different designs. At one time it was more expensive to mail parcels to the north so Dad would shop the post offices from Digby to Yarmouth trying to find a post office without a computer so he could say that the parcels could be trucked to Salluit. Then he would not have to pay air postage.

Dad has a bit of a heart condition so he cannot carry these heavy parcels from the car to the office. He loiters outside waiting for some young strapping youth ( male or female) to help him. I fear some day he will be arrested. For him it is part of the game.

My dear sainted mother has to pack these parcels up and keep an inventory in her head so that she can answer the question:" Shirley, what parcel had Pearl's cough drops?" She has magical hands as the parcles arrive with little or no damage. Although dad is the one who shops for the deal on tomato soup, chocolate bars, trail mix, peach liqueur, down coats, baby clothes and school supplies, my dear sainted mother sends treats like bottles of scotch, rum and rye. Her visit up here made her well acquainted with my friends' tastes and she has been an angel remembering. What a mother! It was the bottle of dark rum that got us thru Dec.

Frenchie's has been a great place for them both to shop for clothes for this community. One of the teachers told me that she was looking for clothes of a particular size for a girl in her class. Within a month that girl had a full wardrobe. The down filled jackets are well received here. I am lucky to have parents who have the time and money to help out.

My great friend Roxanne tells several parcel stories. I always share up the loot. One time Mum had told me she was sending a bottle of Port. One day we were opening up a box and I felt a bottle... but it could have been cooking oil so I said to Roxanne: "Start Praying!" . She prayed: "Dear Lord , let it be what Pearl wants it to be so I can have half."

But they are not the only ones sending parcels. One day I received an entire Canada Post bag full of letters and parcels. I suppose I should not mention this as people will stop sending things . Don't do that as it is one of my life lines to the south. One of Aran's friends sent me cards one year that were rather risque. I decorated the bathroom with them. I love e-mail but I really love mail I can hold in my hand. I have lined the inside of my kitchen cupboards with address labels from packages. Aran sent one addressed to: Momma Pearl, Salluit ect. Sara sent one with photos all over the box, as did Leslie. Sue drew a Santa on a box she sent. It is one of the few things that is normal here, if being here is normal.

Most of the time I feel part of this community but other days I wonder what the hell I am thinking. I am a people person and yet I have few real friends here. Luckily I do have some friends here and I also have friends who are able to fly in and out. It is a rare month that someone doesn't pop in. I am luckier than most.

I am missing political chats and reading newpaper articles about the election. ( I do read them on line). I hope someone will be here the night of the 23rd so I can watch and talk the election returns. We teachers just found out we cannot vote in Salluit. This is a major disappointment. Had I known I would have registered to vote down south. I thought since I have been here over 3 years that I would be able to vote here. Everything is always so difficult here.

I hope that this Friday the 13th was a good luck day for you all.
Pearl

brignt red nail polish

So what is a girl to do when the English debate is 2 hours long? The debate was long enough but then I realized I would have to discuss it for at least two hours with Dad in Flroida.

I can listen for only so long ... can eat for only so long so I decided to paint my fingernails. Not something one does a great deal in the north. Face washing and hair combing are about all the grooming one feels obligated to do. The hat and hood destroys all hairdos so no sense in fooling around with curlers and hairspray. The only ones who noticed my attempt at glamour were the students when I was writing the daily notices on the board.

The debate. I miss being able to discuss what is going on with family and friends. Talking to dad each night does not count as he seems to still hold views that are unique. I like mainstream thoughts. I find it difficult to see Harper as PM.... I don't want to revisit the same sex marriage issue or abortion. Cutting the Gst may stimulate the economy but so much of our social net is paid for by the money the GST brings in. I am concerned that a conservative gov't might not support the medcial system that ordinary Canadians need. But the Liberals have been in so long and there have been so many scandals. I do like the Liberal proposal on day care. Mr Layton seems like a reasonable person. I would find it easier to vote for him than any of the others if I thought the NDP could form a majority. If it is time for a real change in this country then perhaps it is time to think NDP. I don't think I will be voting for the Block.

I have no idea who the individual candidates are in this riding. I wonder how many people do know their names in the North? There are only 8,000 votes up here so no one will visit us... no literature will come to the door and no telemarketers will call during supper. The upside of living in the north.

The students are settling in to school routine. There are a fewl retired NHL players in town to help with the hockey here. There are several girls teams in Salluit. My student Abigail is most excited about the coaching lessons. When I was teaching in the high school my students sent letters to Geoff Regan, the MP for Bedford. Geoff was kind enough to personally reply to my students. Nulukie had written that the NHL should send former pros to the north to speak to the students' concerns about violence and drugs. Geoff forwarded Nulukie's letter to the Commissioner but we never did hear from him. He must have been busy with the lock-out last year.
Nulukie is now in a fed facility for the accidental firing of a gun that killed his baby sister Rose. He discharged the gun in the home, not realizing the bullet could go thru the ceiling , which it did and it killed Baby Rose. If that was not enough, a second daughter in the family accidently died with in a year. The northern villages suffer. As a teacher I do become close to my students and the sorrow can be overwhelming. What I feel is nothing compared to the families. Nulukie calls me , collect, from prison evey two week or so. Perhaps the commissioner could write him there.

Leslie, with her sons, is off to Florida this week. My parents are looking forward to that arrival. Elias is a great talker... don't know where he gets it from .. and he plays golf. All Jacques has to do is sit and look cute... that he gets from his Tante Pearl.

That is it for today.
P

A cold dark world

I am back in my northern nest.. freezing my butt off. I forget each time how cold it is. The cold hits you POW! each time you step out the door. The wind is up so there are some cool spots ,both in the classroom and the house. And it does not help that it is dark most of the day. I don't bother to open my blinds in the morning as it is dark outside and will be dark when I return at 4. Hopefully on Sat and Sun I will see a bit of daylight.

The community is still celebrating New Year's with games each day and night. This morning I only had 5 of 17 students in class and they were moving pretty slow. Yesterday I had two boys asleep by 10 am. I have gym mats in the classroom for them to sleep on. The games will go on until this weekend. By Tuesday or Wednesday things will be back to normal. Is there a normal up here?

I had a lovely Christmas in the south. I had so many opportunities to catch up with family and friends. I had not driven for several months so the driving was a novelty until the trip back from the Valley, after dark, in freezing rain. It is very different to hit the mall at Christmas time. Going to a store is such a treat but at Christmas I find I do get overwhelmed. The first night Sara and I went out I was like a small child in a candy store: the colours, the people, the noise, all that stuff. Where to look next, what to buy next, what credit card to use next?

The first store Sara and I went to was Shopper's Drug mart. I had an entire page in my book of things I needed there. I also had to buy for Christmas. The retail space in that one store is bigger than all the retail space we have in Salluit. I have to say I was disciplined . Then we went to the Dollar store next door. That was a bit of a challenge to stay disciplined as I want so much for my classroom. Then we went to Walmart. At that point I was putting anything I could carry in the cart. I saw it. I bought it. Did I need it? Did not matter... I saw it, I bought it.

Sara had the house looking so beautiful .. even my bedroom was outfitted in red and white bed linens. The windows were full of lights and all the special decorations that we have collected over the years were out. She worked so hard to have the house perfect for Aran and I.
Aran arrived late on the 23rd., having driven from Toronto.

Leslie and Jon's boys have really grown. Elias was hopping up and own when I drove in the yard. Jacques is too young to remember me but we certainly had a good time together. I spent New Year's Eve with the boys so that the young 'uns could go party. The neighbours set off fireworks at midnight. I was up rocking Jacques back to sleep, the best way to see the new year in.

Now I am back in Salluit. It is cold and dark and yet this does feel like a home to me. I am anxious to get back to work in the classroom. These two days are really only babysitting. Most of my students are keen to learn and to be in the classroom. We have a good time. It honestly does not seem like work at times. Now dealing with the school board is real work. Trying to get the proper supplies I need to do my job is bloody well a pain in the arse. It is difficult to keep my Woolaver mouth shut.

Next week we have specialists coming in to evaluate the children who have problems learning. The cost of their trip up here is sky high. They will only see 12 children and their reports are confidential. Teachers cannot see the reports. If what I said about that does not get me fired then what I said about the lack of pencils and erasers will.

I have great plans to sew and paint the month of January away. In Feb. a terrible band of friends will arrive to lift my spirits. You talk about cowboys! Then in March we have our big break... and sometime after that my brother George will arrive in Salluit. Before I know it I'll be back in Walmart.

All the best to all of you in 2006.