2. Chris Searles, the student-teacher from Seneca College who did his practicum with us in February 2012, has kindly indicated his availability for private English lessons. Please contact him by email at 2012chrislsearles@gmail.com (delete "2012").
Based on last Thursday's workshop and your own experience, what are some of your chief considerations when planning activities for your kids? What are some do's and don'ts?
Should kids or parents decide where to go?
Who decides what to do, and when to do it?
What makes a "good activity"?
How much should the budget be?
How much time should be devoted for kid-centred activities (rather than adult-centred ones)?
Blog your ideas and opinions today, and discuss them with your classmates!
There are many universities on the Internet that provide free videos of their classroom lectures.
Some of these include the University of California at Berkeley, M.I.T., and Princeton University. Try taking notes on any of these or others of your choice, and post them on your blog:
All ready to begin the long journey ... Jie, Innocent, Phily, Zumurod, Sharon, Tracy, Lilian, Leo, and Patty.
After a brief snack at the fire station, a hike through the Frisbee golf course, and a march down the boardwalk, we finally arrived at Centre Island.
Time for more snacks, a washroom break, and seagull feeding, with Zumurod-sponsored popcorn!
Then it's over to Chelsea Beach and sand play, more photo ops, and a caster boarding lesson.
And, with the allure of Hanlan's Point's optional-clothing beach beckoning, the last and possibly most gruelling leg of our tour began.
Just beyond Gibraltar Point Beach was TDSB's summer camp site, which brought back memories for some folk.
And then a silly ghost story or two at the lighthouse, before finally getting to see some "naturists" in all their glory. We'll have to await proper pictures from those who went onto the sand to investigate (or gather leaves).
Ah, so we finally got the point ... Hanlan's Point.
The final survivors of what must be our record longest field trip ...
Getting on the 4 p.m. ferry to the mainland ...
It sure feels like a smaller ferry than the one we took in the morning.
How fortunate for us to be able to head over to Toronto Islands this Friday, the Thirteenth!
Let's meet outside the Mainland Ferry Docks ticket office at 10:30 a.m.
According to the Toronto City Schedule, the return fares are $6.50 for adults and $3 for kids under 14. Those below 2 can go for free. You may wish to arrange with your classmates to get there from Don Mills or Sheppard Yonge TTC stations (I hear some are leaving the platform at Don Mills at 9:30 a.m.).
Bring an umbrella, sun block, sunglasses, comfortable shoes, a camera, water, snacks, in-line/roller skates, bicycles, skateboards, or caster boards (if you have any), ferry fare, and a great sense of adventure!
Our dear Cuban former classmate, Frank, became a certified Automotive Service Technician last month.
Frank was a submarine engineer before and had to start all over again when he landed in Toronto last year with his family. Working nights and attending LINC class by day, he slogged to keep his family together and to find a new line of work. One time, our coffee maker broke down--some genius had poured coffee grind into the water compartment--and Frank very kindly took the machine home, took it apart, and cleaned it up! So we continued to stay awake the rest of the term.
"Perhaps," writes Frank, his achievement "will serve to encourage other students to know that, with hard work anything is possible."
I think it will. Congratulations, Frank! You're quite an inspiration to the rest of us.
(If anyone would like to contact Frank, call (416) 273-8855 and mention him by name!)
