When I was 19 I was going to go into education to teach French and Physical Education, however friends were going into Human Ecology and I wanted to do fashion design. Completing my degree 23 years age, I am now combining areas I have an affinity for. I have a passion for food, and growth, to its preparation, to its sharing and aesthetics. As well, you will discover my my passion for art and design.
In Human Ecology, my mentor and professor was an interior designer. I did a minor in housing courses she offered.To continue my path as a life-long learner, I did a professional degree in Landscape Architecture. It build on a holistic philosophy similar to my previous degree in Human Ecology based on community building, sustainability, public consultation, combined with artistic aesthetics and practical skills working in groups, as well as in drafting, sketching and colour rendering. Landscape architecture also developed my conceptual thinking skills, thinking in 3-D, and problem solving. My degrees in Human Ecology and Landscape Architecture complemented each other like fine wine does a gourmet meal.
When I was working with Evergreen Foundation, I worked in a number of schools in Vancouver, Burnaby and Langley. Working alongside teachers, and students with PAC associations sparked my imagination. Friends had encouraged me to pursue education over the years. Working with KidSafe, I created programs focused on arts, healthy eating and gardening initiatives and food security.While looking back at the work I have done with KidSafe, I realized what I enjoyed most was working with young people rather than drafting on a computer screen. In 2008, I began to pursue my dream to become an educator. let me take you to the present.
In my practicum I have worked with a variety of grade levels developing original material, implementing and following up with assessment and evaluation methods. I have been using a variety of new technologies and see how these tools greatly expand learning opportunities.
I have been preparing two subject areas, one the Clothing and Textiles class which acted like a studio environment, an unstructured classroom. Contrast that with the applying classroom management skills in the Foods classroom, and acting as a project manager, while there are numerous demands occurring at the same time.
As a new teacher, what I learned from my practice was the need to be flexible, and adapt to the needs of students. From working in the Foods class, I learned more about balancing the theory component of the classes with the hands-on learning. One of the biggest challenges was to engage the students beyond rote learning and filling in worksheets. I developed my questioning skills, and employed a variety of media including Power Point presentations, video clips with answer sheets, computer research labs combined with oral presentations, and had students engage in some thought provoking debate.
My other passions include travel. While in France, I explored gardens in the Loire, galleries in Paris, Nice and St. Paul de Vence, markets of Nice, restaurants galore, architecture and so much more. I savoured every moment drinking in the experience so I could share this later in big or small ways! The Chagall painting is a symbol of the marriage of my two degrees and the celebration of my new vocation as an educator.
