I have the best job! Part of my professional portfolio is facilitating professional learning in mathematics. I work alongside amazing teachers who are willing to take pedagogical risks and try new approaches. These amazing educators are as concerned with ensuring that fundamental concepts are deeply learned as they are concerned that we are building mathematical … Continue reading
Our elementary school is at the end of a Pink Week and I have loved every second of it! On Wednesday Feb. 22, 2017 it was Pink Shirt Day in Canada. As an admin. team we decided to leverage Pink Shirt day to bring our Bullying Prevention and Intervention Policy to life and we knew the … Continue reading
For the past three days I have been camping on BC’s Sunshine Coast with 40 Grade 5 girls, 4 faculty and 6 Grade 10 student leaders. What a treat! We were led by sustainability educators from the Sea to Sky Outdoor School at the beautiful YMCA Camp Elphinstone. Yes, it rained for three days. Yes, we … Continue reading
The other day, I found myself talking about the “Sweet Spot of Learning” with some awesome grade six girls in math class. Close your eyes and recall, or imagine, a time when the learning all came together. What did it look like? What did it feel like? How did it change you? How can you find … Continue reading
On my nightstand right now, is this professional read: I consider myself to be a “Leader of Learning” which of course means that I am an active learner, not an expert, but rather one who holds a vision for a community of learners and guides the process with data, protocols, dissonance, action and reflection. Ah yes…dissonance. … Continue reading
If you have ever worked alongside of me, or sat in my class, you will know that my go-to word for a setback is “Stink!” Stink moments happen regularly in my day to day world. Let me give you a very common example: I love to entertain and I also love to cook. Every time … Continue reading
I was listening to Heidi Hayes Jacobs today describe the phases of curriculum mapping. The word curriculum stirs up different images for me: provincial guidebooks full of outcomes and expectations for students; a course syllabus at any given school; checklists of items that I am legally required to teach, to cover. I know first hand … Continue reading
In April, I have been selected to take part in an instructor’s training certification course through the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Beyond my own basic Mental Health First-Aid, I will be certified to teach Mental Health First-Aid for those who work with youth ages 12-24. I am pretty chuffed about this opportunity! To be … Continue reading
I am in a time of transition. For 21 years I have been a teacher – this includes teaching young ones in the classroom or on the soccer field, and old”ish” ones in staff meetings and professional development workshops. For 21 years I have been earning a wage doing what I love best – teaching! This … Continue reading
http://youtu.be/adXiWNuFKBg For the GDCI Spirit of Canada group, the learning continues. Shannon Thunderbird joined us on Monday. http://www.shannonthunderbird.com Shannon taught us to sing and drum the Lil’Wat Salish Women’s Warrior song to honour and remember the indigenous women who have gone missing or have been murdered. The song is still drumming in my heart. http://youtu.be/0ryTcemn3E4 Every time our … Continue reading
