Another week has gone by! Spending the entire week with Outward Bound has really allowed me to better understand the connection between this organization and education.

As a new teacher, I have been exposed to a variety of opportunities someone like myself can make use of to provide students the most enriching educational experience possible. For example, I sat in on a meeting to discuss collaboration of Outward Bound with educators from the North Vancouver district and these educators run a program called “Choices.” This program helps those students who are experiencing either social/emotional or behavioral issues. This program works in a variety of ways, catering to the needs of individual students. Students could be enrolled in one whole period where they work with Choices teachers or they could even just drop by whenever they feel need. For me, this was again an example of a successful program, which reinforces the concept of individualized learning. More specifically, it really helped me realize that supporting students through difficult times through individualized programs is possible and in fact successful. I have to say it was a very motivating meeting for me, I was really able to appreciate the difference dedicated educators can make for students not just academically but also in the bigger picture of life.

Really, I think the word that would encompass my entire experience this week is “motivating.” Because the motivation really did not stop at the first meeting this week. Later on in the week, I sat in on another meeting discussing a teacher development program to be made available to teachers for a professional development day option. This meeting included Outward Bound, education professionals and Metro Vancouver. In this program, teachers are going to be given the opportunity to immerse themselves in outdoor education such that they can really understand what the experience is like. As a result, I thought someone like me – a beginning teacher who may fear outdoor education – can actually grasp what they benefits are and understand that it can be a gradual process, not just a one time “all or nothing” thing. Being a part of this meeting, I was able to recognize that a lot of the time when seemingly “new” concepts – like outdoor education – are introduced, they are not in fact completely brand new. The point that was made at this meeting was a lot of teachers are already incorporating outdoor education into their classes, but do not just label it as “outdoor education.” So, the point of this teacher development is to help teachers recognize what they are already doing and how they can build on this.

Then there was the topic of the “new” curriculum being established. I learned that it might not even be as new as I or other teachers may fear it to be. One of the members in our meeting was an individual who is involved in writing the new curriculum. It was explained to us again that many teachers are already teaching in line with the new curriculum – but they might just not know they are doing so. When I reflected on this meeting later on, I thought of the word “change.” Being a part of these forward-looking meetings, I realized the importance of positive mentors and continued development as a teacher. Being around all these people who are looking to impact both teachers and students was simply very inspiring. Second, I always think of continued development as a teacher from the perspective of being a good role model. That is, if I, as a teacher, continue to learn and grow myself, then I can help my students understand the importance of the same. By demonstrating to them, that I am able to change – for example, with the new curriculum or outdoor education – I am framing change positively and I hope I can motivate them to be open to change as well. In the end, I consider myself to be very fortunate to have the chance to be around these positive mentors so early in my career. I feel the realizations I have made in just this week will really help shape my outlook on teaching and education in general.