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