Gratitude and the Positive Teacher: How to See the Silver Lining on a Tough Day

Regular readers of this blog will know that I often talk about "being positive" and that teachers who move to London to teach and keep that positive attitude strong do exceptionally well in our schools.  They love inner city teaching and can see every silver lining presented to them.

So what am I on about?

Today, Siobhan Curious over at Classroom as Microcosm sheds some light on gratitude and the positive thinking teacher.  She points out all the reasons she's grateful today, even though she could have woken up to think, "I have a nasty cold. I'm too busy. This one student is driving me nuts!"  Instead, she looks to all the reasons she's grateful and switches that Monday Morning Blues to a "YES! I CAN!" attitude.  This is the sign of a great teacher.

What I really appreciate about Siobhan's post is that she brings up the issue of that one naughty student.  One student can feel like the whole class if you don't keep it in perspective. I know, I've been there and done that many times in my own teaching in London schools.

In fact, I still do it with Classroom Canada.  This week, I asked for feedback from our teachers in London about how our Professional Development Week went. I wanted their honest feedback, and I got it. 

95% of the teachers who replied absolutely loved the week.  The teachers that attended every session, even though they were tired from teaching during the days, said they loved it.  They loved the Run with Richard, the PD workshops with Sophie Walker, the Bloggers Bash and the Scavenger Hunt.  Those that could only attend one session loved it and regretted not attending the others.

But then there's that one person who says "Well, I didn't like it at all!"

And who do I turn my attention to?  That one person. Of course I do!

So, I did some reflecting. I did some research. I looked inside my heart of hearts, and realized...negative feedback is a good thing.  I need it, I asked for it, and I can make changes because of it.  But it is just one person's opinion, and each opinion deserves to be heard including the others who loved it.  So am I listening? 

Are you?  When you look out at a classroom of students, do you see the students who are doing exactly what you asked?  Do you see the students desperate to learn? To listen? To engage?  Or do you just see the one that's driving you nuts?  Or the two?  Or three...

If you would like to become one of our outstanding teachers or teaching assistants in London, just apply through our website. Also, be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians. Sign up for our newsletters and help spread the word to your friends and colleagues.

Why Are Classroom Canada Teachers & Teaching Assistants so Outstanding?

I'm back in our Canadian office after a couple of weeks in London with our teachers and teaching assistants.  It was a whirlwind tour to say the least, but I loved every minute of it. 

I heard a lot of feedback from schools, my colleagues and Sophie Walker (a workshop leader) about the Classroom Canada teachers & teaching assistants.

Here's what they had to say:

• The Canadian teachers and teaching assistants in London this year are much more prepared than any other group, including the Australians, South Africans and New Zealanders.
• Our teachers are more adaptable, more flexible and more easy-going than any other group.  Less work in secondary schools? Not a problem! Our teachers can teach primary, secondary and special educational needs. They adapt. They learn. They just "get on with it."
• Teachers who arrived in London with other agencies are desperately trying to join Classroom Canada.  They say the others promised "guaranteed work" and they still haven't worked yet, nor are they getting paid.  I have taken a few bright sparks under my wing, but to be fair, I have to prioritize the teachers that have been with us for months.
• The teachers and teaching assistants who read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians are doing exceptionally well in our schools as they use the UK terminology and have the basic understanding they need to excel in London schools. 
• Our teachers and teaching assistants have an instant community with each other, as most live in our accommodations in Central London.  This means that they aren't in a panic to meet others in the same boat.  If anything, they seek out other friends besides Canadians!  Some join Rugby or Football teams, some swing dance, some jog in groups, some join London book clubs. Whatever they do, they get out there and enjoy their new lives in London.
• The one common theme is that our teachers are ridiculously positive people.  They see the cup as half-full, take every "challenge" as an opportunity, and realize how amazing their adventure in teaching in London really is.  This attitude spreads to their teaching and their students.  Head Teachers (aka principals) pick up on it instantly and request our teachers back day after day.  Or they offer them full-time teaching contracts on the spot.  They make room for our teachers.  Oftsed even gave one of our teachers an "oustanding" review just a couple of weeks ago, and this teacher had only been in the UK for a few weeks.  Now, that's what I'm talking about.

So, this brings me to next year's group of teachers. I'm already receiving applications from teachers wishing to work in London in September 2010.  I'm also interviewing teachers for May 2010, and I must say, the CV's I've received have been very impressive.

Here's what I'm looking for in teacher applications:

1. Cover letters that state why the teacher wants to work in London and why they want to work with Classroom Canada.  Put that in there and you're sure to get a phone call from me offering an interview.  It really is that simple!  Trust me, most people don't bother to write a good cover letter, and the whole "to whom it may concern" or "dear timeplan" thing gets a little tiresome.  Read this blog post to learn more.
2. Experience abroad in some capacity is a definite asset.  International development, volunteer work, teaching ESL, teaching abroad, even just traveling abroad is better than nothing.
3. Show me more than your teaching life.  I want to see your excurricular involvement and your life outside of teaching.  Play sports? Tell me about it.  Swing dance?  Hip-hop-belly dance?  Tell me about it.  Active member of your book club?  What are you reading now? I want to see the whole person, not just the teacher.  The best teachers love learning!  What are you learning about right now?
4. Inner city teaching experience.  Classroom Canada recruits teachers to work in inner city London schools.  Not rural.  Not the outskirts.  Inner city London schools. That's what we do.  So, what does that mean? Diverse, multicultural, some rich, some poor, intense inner city schools.  If you have experience (or even just did your teaching practicums) in inner city schools, then tell me about it. Toronto? Montreal? Vancouver? Ottawa? New York? LA? Chicago?  Tell me about it.  Why do you love it?
5. How did you hear about us? I used to advertise in all the typical places, apply to teach (now called "applytoeducation"), facebook, google. But now I don't.  In fact, I haven't advertised in about 8 months.  Why not? Because the vast majority of our teachers come from word of mouth, and to me, that means more than anything else.  The feedback about our teachers has never been so positive, so obviously it's working.  So, if you know someone with Classroom Canada, tell me!  If you don't, but you read this blog, tell me!  How did you stumble across this little teaching agency that could?

That's about it folks.  If you would like to become one of our outstanding teachers or teaching assistants in London, just apply through our website.  Also, be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians.  Sign up for our newsletters and help spread the word to your friends and colleagues.

Questions? Comments?  Please share your thoughts below.

Other posts you might enjoy:
Teacher photos for CVs/Resumes
Do's and Don'ts of Teacher Career Fairs
Typical Interview Questions for Teaching Abroad
How to Write a Resume/CV for Teaching in London

Armistice Day aka Veterans Day aka Remembrance Day

It's a holiday here in British Columbia for Remembrance Day, but I think the rest of Canada is still hard at work.  The UK calls the 11th of November "Armistice Day", and I believe the USA still calls it "Veterans Day."  Regardless of what we call it, we all take our moment of silence, wear poppies and remember.

I'm also hard at work, going through 467 emails (!) from new applicants trying to work with Classroom Canada as teachers or teaching assistants in London.  Wow.

For my grandfather - I love you and will always remember your courage and strength.  Thank you.

Photos from the 2nd Annual Classroom Canada London Scavenger Hunt

Wow.  The Classroom Canada PD week has come and gone. It all happened so quickly!

Here are some photos from Friday night's London Scavenger Hunt - my favourite event that takes our teachers and teaching assistants to the streets of London.  Silly times were had by all!

 

Photos from Classroom Canada's PD Workshops, November 2009

Classroom Canada held 2 professional development workshops this week for our new arrivals in London: Primary & Secondary Teaching on Wednesday night and SEN Teaching on Thursday night.

We had even more teachers arrive than we expected, and were jam-packed into the Classroom boardroom with at least 27 teachers and teaching assistants at each event.  Outstanding!

The feedback from our workshop leader, Sophie Walker, is that this group is the most dedicated, loyal, flexible, adaptable and "switched on"  that she's ever seen.  Sophie's been doing these workshops for years, with teachers from around the world, so this is really BIG. 

Every day I hear positive feedback from my colleagues about the Canadian teachers and TA's in our London schools.  Well done everyone!

Tonight we have the Classroom Canada Scavenger Hunt, our most popular social event with silliness, drinks and laughter starting at the Maple Leaf Pub in Covent Garden. I'm excited!

To become part of the Classroom Canada team, sign up for our newsletters & apply through our website. Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians to help you understand everything you need to know about teaching in London.

Photos From Classroom Canada's Run With Richard & The Blogger's Bash

How amazing our the Classroom Canada teachers & teaching assistants in London?  Absolutely outstanding!

On Monday, we had our Run with Richard, a 5km jogging tour of our local area around Central London, including the London Eye, the Ritz Hotel, Green Park, Bond Street, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Leicester Square, Soho and the Thames River.  I am very impressed! 

Last night, some of our blogging teachers and teaching assistants got together at the Maple Leaf Pub, our only Canadian bar in London and home to poutine and Sleeman's beer.  We shared many laughs, blogging stories & advice and much praise all around for the amazing stories and reflections that our teachers have shared through their blogs.  Some even called each other the "famous bloggers", as they've followed their adventures from being in Canada to finally arriving in London and now their teaching stories.  Finally, they got to meet in person and away from their computers. 

Tonight, we have a Professional Development Workshop with Sophie Walker for Primary & Secondary Teachers, and tomorrow we have another workshop for Special Educational Needs teaching.  Then, on Friday we take over the streets of London with the famous and fantastic Classroom Canada Scavenger Hunt.  Not only are the teachers actually teaching in London schools, they also know how to go out, make new friends and have a great time living in central London. 

Here are some photos to show you the Run and the Maple Leaf event, in no particular order:

To become part of the Classroom Canada team, sign up for our newsletters & apply through our website. Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians to help you understand everything you need to know about teaching in London.

Who's Feeling Nostalgic?

I'm sitting here in the London office, gazing out the window at a sunny sky and thinking of the incredible people I've met through Classroom Canada.  I am the luckiest woman on earth!  Our teachers and teaching assistants are amazing people - keen, eager, positive and taking on the world through their teaching and travels.

This is our kick-off week for the new arrivals.  We start the week with our 5km Run with Richard - a jogging tour of our local area around Oxford Circus.  Richard's already done a run this morning.  What a trooper.  He told me we will see Buckingam Palace on the way, and I can't believe I never knew how close it is to our office.  5 years on and I'm still learning my way around this city.

To become part of the Classroom Canada team, sign up for our newsletters & apply through our website. Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians to help you understand everything you need to know about teaching in London.