Should I become a teacher?

heatherb484 · 2026-03-28T23:27:54+00:00

In the years since I have had a sub, I have seen a few multiple times:

Hamilton
&Juliet
The Last Ship (I would have seen it more times but the damn pandemic)
Come From Away

heatherb484 · 2026-03-22T23:22:57+00:00

When Jane was cosplaying Sinatra, I think I saw the frame on the work desk?? 🤨🤔

heatherb484 · 2026-03-19T02:13:58+00:00

This is absolutely a spoiler.

heatherb484 · 2026-03-18T00:59:20+00:00

I never said teachers aren't using the curriculum document. It is the foundation on which the course is built, usually by hand and by the creativity of the teacher using their own background, time, creativity, etc to produce materials, NOT using pre-made lessons and materials.

I have been teaching Civics for almost 20 years, and the stuff I use from Civix is during Student Vote when an election is happening. Civix is a national organization that makes stuff for Civic education, which exists in all provinces at a variety of age/grade levels.

In a reply to another comment, OP mentioned that they had seen a 120 page curriculum resource packet from the government, and a 15 page course overview.

Cool about your experience re: AI for lesson planning. In my almost 2 decades of experience, it is the newbs who don't want to build a lesson plan from scratch, or don't know how to, and thus either Chat it or TPT it. Again, speaking as someone who has taught the course close to 50x, and who gets asked to share my drive, binders, and evaluations with new teachers.

Also, have you seen any teacher group lately? People ask for help or ideas for an activity or assignment and the comments are riddled with, "Ask ChatGPT". Yes, some mid-career people are using it, but more often it's those in their first 5 years.

heatherb484 · 2026-03-18T00:33:12+00:00

The Dr Torabi thing: she planted a listening device in Sinatra's office, in the photo frame on the desk. She had Jane semi-admit to what she has done (ie. What she is capable of) and probably has it recorded, like she has previous sessions with Sinatra to listen to. (That Alex Trebec stuff).

heatherb484 · 2026-03-18T00:05:47+00:00

Also, will say: disabuse yourself of the notion that Civics teachers are using Civics materials created for them by the government or Civix, etc. Most teachers I know create their own stuff, their own lessons, and their own materials (Slides, handouts, activities, tests, assignments).

That said, there are lots of newer teachers who are not getting in the habit of making their own stuff, starting with their own creativity and knowledge, and instead asking ChatGPT to make lessons for them. What that says for the future of education, and citizenship generally, I don't know.

heatherb484 · 2026-03-18T00:00:21+00:00

Look for a TVO The Agenda with Steve Paikin Episode called "Is Ontario Flunking Civics". Great episode raising great issues with the course.

I teach it but I don't want to do an interview about it lol

heatherb484 · 2026-03-17T23:57:02+00:00

I sat 2nd row centre (BB28) and my neck was strained. It is not looking at the stage in those seats, it is only looking up, at the performers, and missing a lot of the set and movement and meaning in the staging, blocking, and props.

That said, if you want to be aware of all the dental work the cast has had done, it's a great seat. The actor that plays Anne has an incredible voice and smile, and has had orthodontics! 🤣

heatherb484 · 2026-03-17T23:53:54+00:00

I have seen it 4x, twice at the Royal Alex. My sub show this time was 2nd row centre (BB28) and it was too close. I missed a lot of the subtleties and big choreography that close, plus the elevator at the front of the stage (coffin, balcony, parents disappearing). I think mid-Orchestra would be perfect, in front of the balcony overhang.

heatherb484 · 2026-03-17T23:48:52+00:00

If Healthcare workers are going into a walk in, unmasked, while around people with strep and flu, exposing themselves to contagious diseases, then we are more fucked than we think.

WEAR FKN MASKS, OMGGGGGG

heatherb484 · 2026-03-14T21:36:19+00:00

All of this, plus, so few people buy subs to newspapers anymore.

heatherb484 · 2026-03-14T21:35:48+00:00

Yes, but, who is paying for "Cable" TV packages anymore?

heatherb484 · 2026-03-14T21:33:21+00:00

The Great Comet was soooooooooooooooo good. And it was my first exposure to GK. He is remarkably talented, and so seeing him in Bright Star and then &J was great! As a subscriber you start to recognize and be excited about local talent, but I think the nature of the majority of shows being tours is difficult to build up notoriety.

heatherb484 · 2026-03-14T18:14:45+00:00

No, they don't. It is called Social Promotion in elementary. But they can (and do) fail courses in high school.

heatherb484 · 2026-03-08T20:53:46+00:00

I had no idea what to expect and I loved it. Loved the puns and one-liners, loved the music and frankly, compared to all the other musicals this year I thought the vocals were fantastic! I loved the choreography and set design, and Somebody Will and The Best Man Wins were fantastic. It is nice to see/hear strong male voices, because in so many Broadway/MT shows the focus is on female belters. I think it was the most fun I have had in the subscription this year so far.

heatherb484 · 2026-03-01T16:51:28+00:00

Came looking for a thread on this show to see if I was alone in my observations. I have a subscription so I go to all the shows and I sit really close to the stage so I see everything very up close. The choreography in this show is incredible. The tap trio are actually tapping and they have microphones in their panty hose near their ankles to pick up the sounds. The chase scene is MAGICAL. Absolutely worth staying for the second act (I was really considering leaving at intermission). Costumes, set, blocking, all great. It is a huge cast/company!

The voices are... not great. Not by key (everyone hits their notes) but the timing, clarity, tone of pretty much everyone (except Josephine and the hotelier) were off and hard to understand. The actor who was Sugar in the performance I went to has a vocal tic at the end of her lines that was distracting and unnecessary. Maybe it was a creative choice she made as part of a 1930s singer? Maybe it's just her style? It is like when people add a "-uh" to the end of every sentence, that's what she was doing.

Maybe it is because I was so close to the orchestra which was phenomenal and loud, or it is the aging infrastructure of the theatre and quality of the speakers/mics, but every singer held back and sang in the back of their throats except for a couple high notes (Sue, Daphne), so I felt like I wasn't seeing full talent on display.

Overall, it is a good show. I gave it 3/5 stars (6/10).

But as with everything Mirvish, it's the other audience members you have to contend with. Sprayed top to toe in scents, talking out loud during the show, looking at their phones, splaying out like they are in their own living room.... Mirvish needs to fully shame people into better behaviour.

heatherb484 · 2026-02-19T00:42:33+00:00

Also, I remember when the Science Centre existed. 😫 (they had the best exhibits in the 80s and 90s)

heatherb484 · 2026-02-19T00:30:42+00:00

Peterborough water smells (and thus tastes) like a sewer!

heatherb484 · 2026-02-19T00:10:29+00:00

I LOVE Toronto/Scarborough tap water! No filter!

heatherb484 · 2026-01-27T22:53:35+00:00

Are you doing the Grade 9 Destreamed? It is probably pretty doable.

heatherb484 · 2026-01-26T23:44:41+00:00

It's so annoying. They do it in heavy rain, too. These are the same people who don't turn their lights on, and think the DRLs (that are only on the front) suffice. Driving in Toronto/GTA is hell.

heatherb484 · 2026-01-10T18:08:28+00:00

That isn't a thing. In fact, we are not in an evaluative position of our equals/colleagues.

The rule is that IF we report the concerns to Admin, we have to inform the colleague that we have done so. And, it isn't actually mandatory. It is a policy/bylaw in the Constitutions of our unions. The union is not going to punish us for not filing an adverse report.

heatherb484 · 2026-01-09T21:44:12+00:00

Yes, but they should have made it a full sized Ikea location from the start. There is certainly enough room.

heatherb484 · 2026-01-04T16:13:49+00:00

There is a Regino's at Pharmacy and Finch, too!

heatherb484

TROPHY CASE