#mo365 Day 14: Thanks Justin!

I don’t always know what kind of teacher I am. Today was a day that told me. This term, I have the immense privilege of teaching with the love of my life once a day. It’s an incredible experience, and one that I’m constantly and immeasurably grateful for. I also get the benefit of being able to call in talented and successful people I know to enrich classes and bring the subject to life. This term, my students got to meet an old school friend of mine, the talented filmmaker…

#mo365 Day 13

Although, frankly, there aren’t many times I wouldn’t rather be paddling. The book is The Wood and Canvas Canoe: A Complete Guide to its History, Construction, Restoration, and Maintenance, by Jerry Steelmok and Rollin Thurlow. With names like that, you KNOW they’re authorities. On ANY subject. And hey, if Amazon’s listing is to be believed, it’s something of a pricey item, or a rarity at this point. It really is spectacular. I got it while clearing out part of my late grandfather’s office. I imagine this is what taught him…

#mo365 Day 12

I’ve been on my own with the kids a lot lately. Particularly this weekend, while my director girlfriend has been off being a director. Now, that’s not a bad thing. A lot of the time I cherish my one-on-one time with the kids. It’s a privelege and a gift to be able to spend quality time on my own with them as someone who came into their lives at a relatively late stage in the game. Still, something about today has been particularly rough. Something in the air. Maybe the…

#mo365 Day 10

I came down to the classroom I teach in period 3 to find this new addition waiting for me, next to Marker Liam Neeson. The only thing better than coming up with an idea for a lesson that sticks is seeing that idea resonate with students in other classes. Not only that, but seeing students who I taught last term remembering inside jokes from the beginning of last term and riffing on the inside jokes with my new classes… It’s funny, how little families form. As always, paddle your own canoe, folks. -Trevor

#mo365 Day 9

There’s something wonderful about teaching, and it’s this: I get to go to my job and play. Fundamentally, I know that if I’m not having fun, my students won’t be having fun. I have no illusions about the fact that, with the kind of students I have, I need to be equal parts educator and entertainer. It would be awfully easy to put the onus on them to pay attention. Some days, I do. It’s their responsibility to be engaged. But it’s my responsibility to do my part to grab their…

#mo365 Day 8

I’ve mentioned the Note 3 before, but the main thing I love about this phone — and the reason why it makes it into so many of my drawings — is that it totally enables me to doodle wherever and whenever I want. I always have a great drawing tool in my pocket. Man, though, I am zonked. I really did teach my ass off today. Constant motion, constant dialogue, and a healthy dose of reigning in a pile of grade 9 and 10 students. I love teaching. Love love…

#mo365 Day 7

I’m not going to lie — teaching the OSSLC isn’t the easiest thing I’ve ever done. It’s easy enough when it comes to getting to know my student’s needs and wants. I have the benefit of teaching it as a private course, so establishing a repore is a snap. It’s a little less easy to build a course out of that curriculum, and the one-on-one format means that the teacher needs to do a lot more of the talking, much more heavy lifting. Still, every once in a while you…