Eastern Desert

Replace or fix?

collinsd — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:01:24 +0000

As long as I’ve been a teacher and as long as I’ve been in administration I find myself defending the profession. There are the usual attacks on teachers as public employees and all the benefits we receive that are costing the tax payer exorbitant amounts of money. What I find more difficult to deal with are the demands that the system has to change because the union does nothing to get rid of bad teachers. As a result, more tax money is wasted, and students are suffering.

Effective Teaching Workshop

collinsd — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:31:00 +0000

Recently attended a two-day workshop on what constitutes effective teaching and how we, as administrators, can identify it, encourage it, and improve toward a better environment for our students. Overall, I feel refreshed when I come out of a workshop like this because I can see many of the things we do at Vermilion Outreach being affirmed by the research.

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Moving with Purpose

collinsd — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 02:40:50 +0000

I want to thank Kelly from Boston Pizza for a statement she made a few days ago. I hope you don’t mind, Kelly, but the statement has stuck with me and I just have to bring it up in this article. Kelly and I were meeting and discussing helping students be successful in the work place. She said, “It is important that we all learn to move with purpose.”

Who Attends Vermilion Outreach

collinsd — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 03:12:59 +0000

: casual group of casual students smiling from Crestock Stock Images

This article appeared in the Vermilion Standard and Vermilion Voice.

The Vermilion Outreach School is a choice for high school students who have not had success in a regular school. This simple description of our school does not reflect the variety of reasons that people would choose to attend VOS. Outreach schools were formed in the province over ten years ago in order to provide a way for students who have left the school system to complete their high school requirements. During a recent conference, many Outreach teachers have commented how our student population has changed.

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Intro to Coyote’s Guide

collinsd — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:49:51 +0000

: Coyote from Crestock Stock Images

Right away I should mention that Coyote’s Guide is not written specifically for classroom teachers and administrators. The full title is “Coyote’s Guide to Connection with Nature“. The authors hope to bring children back to a relationship with nature. “No child left inside” and “cure for nature deficit disorder” are common statements with this book.

Read more on Intro to Coyote’s Guide…

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Coyote’s Guide

collinsd — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 02:20:08 +0000

Coyote’s Guide may not appear to be a book for educators. It does contain many ideas, rituals, and tools that are applicable. I’ve read the book several times. I think it is time to read it again. And this time I want to share how I see it fitting into my work as an educator and an administrator.

Teaching: Art or Science

collinsd — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:26:56 +0000

A colleague of mine uses the following question during interviews when hiring a new teacher, “Do you view teaching as an art or a science? Where do you place yourself on that scale?”

Read more on Teaching: Art or Science…

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What I did this summer

collinsd — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 01:42:26 +0000

As a high school science teacher I never assigned the standard “What did you do this summer?” essay. It made good conversation in the halls as I wandered around looking for the coffee mugs I misplaced the year before.

Possibilities of change

collinsd — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 22:15:42 +0000

I’m finishing up a part day at the school . . . one weekend and then it’s back to all full time. This school year is beginning a bit different for me in that I’m in the position to hire some one. I’ve been involved before but this is MY first. The first time where the decision is mine. As is the situation most of the time, the person who is leaving cannot be replaced. She added a lot to our school and community and she will be missed.

Back to the 7 Habits

collinsd — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 02:49:55 +0000

I was intoduced to Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People about 26 years ago. My copy of the book is well worn but I haven’t returned to it in over ten years. This week I’ve come across a seven week program left by predissesor at the school. After a quick glance I have been re-hooked.