Sometimes the smallest change can make a huge difference, especially in education. Things such as greeting students individually upon arrival at school can set the tone for the entire day. Small changes in habitual behaviours can improve communication and relationships with students. Over the last few months I’ve been reading the work of Michael Bungay […]
Coding in Kindergarten
I have taught every grade from K-8 in some way, shape or form. I can say that without a doubt or apology I have more respect for Kindergarten teachers than any other grade level. Hands down. I have loved every grade I taught while I was teaching it. I was young and without children when […]
Holiday Break Assumptions
December is stressful for so many reasons. Seasonal concerts and plays, crafts and the general hustle and bustle around this time of year. While teachers attempt to make things fun and engaging for the last few weeks before the holiday, there are a few things to consider about assumptions that as educators we might make […]
Triggers and Habits in Teaching Part One
Dreaded Seating Arrangements Almost every teacher I talk to says, “I have a really difficult class this year.” The difficulties identified are most often tied to “behaviour” issues. In my experience effective classroom “management” can be connected to dynamic programming and developing solid relationships with students. Many of us go to things like Class Dojo […]
Daring Classrooms
I state the obvious when I say that teaching is a demanding job. If you are reading this, you are most likely a teacher and this is not news to you. I’d like to highlight a resource that feeds the soul of a teacher (and quite frankly a human being) while also providing some strategies […]
Breakout EDU
Breakout EDU is like an Escape Room in a box. The players use teamwork and critical thinking to solve a series of challenging puzzles in order to open a locked box. The first time I experienced Breakout EDU with my students I was not the designer of the game. Another teacher had designed the Breakouts […]
Artificial Intelligence
Have you ever been looking at something on Amazon and then see advertisements for that exact product on your Facebook feed? Do you ever think about how “suggestions for you” on your Kindle or Netflix make it incredibly easy to click on the next book or t.v. series? These are little ways in which artificial […]
The Power of Collaborative Inquiry
As I come to the end of my first year as an Innovations Consultant and New Teacher Induction Program Coordinator I am doing some reflection about the past year. Feedback has come in and the Collaborative Inquiry that NTIP teachers and mentors took part in this year was deemed as one of the most meaningful […]
Don’t Judge a Teacher By The Bulletin Board
I remember going to the Reading for the Love of It Conference in Toronto for the first time as a fairly new teacher. I heard Mary Bigler speak in a motivational keynote address. She told a story that has stuck through me through the years. It was about a brand new teacher who was full of […]
The Gender Gap in Technology
According to a recent report* by ICTC (the Information and Technology Information Council) Canadian women represent about 50% of the overall workforce but represent only 25% of the technology industry workforce. Of the 100 major tech companies in Canada only 5 have female CEOs and 1 Co-CEO. 26% of the tech companies have no women in senior leadership at […]