My experience in volunteering with Girl Guides of Canada for the last 9 years and my experience working in a classroom setting for the previous 6 years, gives me the confidence to know that I have the skills and drive to become a great teacher. To me a successful teacher is someone who is patient and kind, but also compassionate and understanding. These qualities allow for a humble being that is willing to continue to grow their skills and knowledge. I have learned that through patience and kindness, a connection is built between a teacher and their student. It is through that connection that encourages educational and emotional growth. Through compassion and understanding, a student begins to grow confidence, and through confidence grows success.
2017- Present Certified Education Assistant
As a CEA, I have helped many students overcome challenges with their learning. I have had a student who hated reading succeed to 6 levels higher than where they started in september. I have used compassion and understanding when a student I was working with was struggling with their parent’s separation. Anxiety and anger came with them everyday to class. Having compassion and understanding, made him feel safe and heard, feeling that comfort is what kept him excited to come back to class, and engaged in his work. I have been fortunate to work with a teacher that not only encouraged me to follow my dream to become a teacher but gave me opportunities to teach her class for practice. I have led carpet time, taught letter sounds and recognition. I have had opportunities to teach guided reading and lead outdoor educational classes. During covid, when we had to adapt to online learning, I was given the responsibility to check in with various students and teach lessons provided by the teacher. I was able to successfully complete these tasks while communicating and working with 3 IEP students
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Playing in the slough. Burying our friends in the leaves. Puddle jumping in the rain. River sketches at Mac Park. Students with our tree in Mac Park (students created crafts and sold them at a craft sale to raise funds for the tree). View from a helicopter tour that we got to experience.
2014- Present Girl Guides of Canada
I have had many roles within Girl Guides over the last nine years. I began my guiding journey as a spark leader in 2014. I have since moved up with the unit to Pathfinders. I have gotten to take girls on their first overnight, their first camping trip, their first time seeing the ocean and their first time across Canada to Nova Scotia. I have also had many opportunities to teach the girl guides through cooking, shelter making and by being a positive influence. I have taught sales and money handling through door to door cookie sales and I have encouraged independence and team building through various unit activities. In 2022 my and my Co-Guider became Co-Commisioners for the Monarch District, in the Thompson Nicola Area, in BC. It has been nothing short of amazing watching these girls become comfortable with themselves and confident in their abilities. To know that I helped them find that, is something that is both bewildering and encouraging.
- Current Co-Commisioner of Monarch District
- Guider of a Pathfinder Unit
- Guider for Sparks, Embers and Guides
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Brownie Camp, this was many of the girls’ first time camping. Guides receiving the highest award the Lady Baden Powell Award. Guides helping at the food bank. Pathfinder’s enjoying the sunset. My Guiding Sisters Rebecca, Ang, Trudi, Darlene and Myself. Brownies at a week long camp: Camp Olave in Sechelt. My daughter as a spark, with myself and my mother in-law.
Photography
As a hobby I enjoy taking photos. I have a Nikon D610, which I use to capture memories for families, or sometimes just capture a scenery that I find captivating. I have been doing photography for about 14 years, and it is a hobby that I am continually practicing and learning different techniques. I have volunteered my time as a photographer to support different fundraisers. I have also used my photography as a tool as a CEA during wonder-walks (outdoor education program). Bringing photography into the classroom allowed me to capture moments for parents that they typically would not see. These moments were shared with parents through a shared google file. While having the camera out for walks, students began showing interest in photography so we were able to purchase ( 1 new from pac, 2 from marketplace) Nikon cool pix cameras (waterproof, freeze proof and drop safe) for the students to use while outdoors. This increased their inquiry into the wonder around them. These photos were from the students perspective and parents loved seeing the world from their eyes.
