Cael H, MA Somatic Studies

Reflective learning.  Although I quite enjoy writing, I have never been one to write consistently in a journal, or come to think of it... I don't do anything consistently. My sleep schedule is all over the map from going to bed between 9pm-2am, to waking up at 4-10am. It depends on the day. Some days I work 14 hours, some I work 1. Some days I eat 3 meals, some days I eat 2, and some I eat 5. Depends on the day. Some days I listen to soft jazz and lay on the ground, some days I blast techno and scream around the house.  The most consistent part of me is my inconsistency. I am a juggler of many jobs, a wearer of many hats, and a feeler of many emotions.  When it comes to learning...I am the same way. Some days I can listen and learn, other days what you say goes in one ear and immediately out the other. I am a note taker- but on paper, never digital. I learn by observation but some days I just have to feel it in my body. So when it comes to reflection of my learning I find...

Journal Writing Experience.  This is a blog that references back to the journal writing experience task outlined in the handbook. It's one that I did a few weeks back but just never posted as I wrote it out on paper instead. As I re-type it with a few weeks more knowledge, it's interesting to read back and see what I was thinking in those moments. I wrote this journal entry in point form, not necessarily worried about full sentences, and as a "Q and A" style to ensure I stayed on task as I can often drift.  Once I completed the first part of the task I used the viewpoint of my dancers. Description, what happened? Bold the main events:  woke up, did my usual routine, walked the puppy on the long route today listening to a podcast for my AOL. Screenshots of the timestamps so I can refer back.  drove to work, running late, coffee in my mug, spilt.  chatted to the owner, completed my work load I need to get done before my surgery- holiday market things are good to ...

Even in my own language, I have often felt misunderstood.  I have been thinking a lot about language as I move through my AOL's. My parents are English speaking as am I, my Mom is a writer from Toronto, my Dad is a mechanic from Glasgow. Growing up I used words that my friends didn't quite understand (as my Dad had some influence on our Canadian-Scottish verbiage); "Hen" wasn't just a bird, it's a "Bum Bag" never a fanny-pack, and my "Tea" was more than a cup of Tetley. I haven't ever reflected on this, it was always just something that my family did that was "different". I was always described as "full on", "too much", "extreme", "big personality", or a "strong young girl". I knew I was "a lot" and I ran with it. As a dancer I was too muscular, as a fitness trainer I wasn't muscular enough. As a dance teacher I am "too chill", as a yoga teacher I am ...

The "doing". I am an action oriented person, and upon reflection an action oriented learner. It is really difficult for me to stop the "doing" and sit in the reflection without taking action on the "doing better". As I begin to notice the common threads that weave together my "doing" I am able to see these as my learning. But every so often I slip back into focusing on the "doing" and I know this will be my biggest obstacle in writing my AOL's.  I am currently working on separating my ideas, literature, illustrations, and quotes into four main areas which will form my four AOL's. I wanted to start with the first draft as requested, but as I started to put together thoughts I started to notice an overlap and bridges from one to another; so to gain clarity I have decided to section out all four and then pick one to draft.  The working titles for my four areas of learning are:  A Holistic Approach To Curriculum In Dance Empowerment...

When choosing my AOL's I used the exercise provided in the handbook to determine what the areas were and also what learning has occurred within the framework of "doing". It's difficult to name everything you do in a day or to even recognize all of the tasks especially those that are done more seasonally or annually but here is a brief snapshot of what I do in my work and in my practice.  Exercise to apply when choosing your AOL's : Write a job description for your role, what functions and activities do you complete whether or not they are in the title, what courses or training were required or helpful in acquiring this position, where within the organization do you sit, what is the scale of your responsibility? (Page 21 in the RPL handbook). JOB ONE: DANCE EDUCATOR  Develop class goals and outlines of achievements that help to frame the learning that will occur within that season  Create safe and effective exercises and technical drills that follow dance lineage a...

 As I dive into the learning process literature, reflect and dissect my CV, and pop important dates into my calendar I have affirmed that the way in which I learn is how I teach and how I create. A variety of thoughts, patterns, ideas, make up my day to day life and how I present my ideas to the world. Here are some of my thoughts, and hopefully you can follow along ;)  I have never been a linear thinker or singular thought contemplator, rather I have always created in a way that follows my sporadic trains of thought, and has my busy mind occupied with many things all at once. I currently have...15 tabs open, two notebooks in front of me, am throwing the ball down the hall for my puppy, the music on, and my coffee is brewing. I can not do one thing at a time.  Looking back to being a young child I was always a dancer, but never focused on one style. I always did a blend of ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop, singing, musical theatre, and exam classes. It kept my cur...

Hello, thanks for stopping by, I'm Caleigh. If I were an ice cream flavor I would be Vegan Carrot Cake Ice Cream. I know what you're thinking...that's not a flavor, but in my neck of the woods on Vancouver Island there's a small little Creamery who makes this delectable treat and it is more tasty than you could imagine! The Carrot flavor is my grounded sense, my earth loving side, my ocean swimming soul, my rooted nature, and my calm in the storm way of handling problems. The Cake part...well I am loud, a fast thinker, an extrovert, have a laugh that could break mirrors, love life, and for some I am just a little too much.  I have always been obsessed with movement; I am a mover at heart. I started my movement journey as a young kid in many different sports, but quickly grew to love the dance floor. As a young adult I became a fitness and weights instructor and a group exercise instructor. I gained my Associates in Tap and Modern Dance Faculties from the ISTD and have b...