Hidden Literacy and Numeracy Learning in Christmas Traditions
Want to sneak in literacy and numeracy learning into your family or classroom holiday activities? Read on for some inspiration!
Category: Topics for Parents and Students
5 Reasons Why Note Taking Rocks!
Before I became a teacher, I volunteered at my alma mater elementary school with a seasoned primary teacher who banned handouts in her grade 2 classroom. Although it was a rough start, it was amazing to see the growth in her students’ penmanship and literacy skills as the year progressed. That experience stuck with me,… Continue reading 5 Reasons Why Note Taking Rocks!
Dear Lisa Thompson…
Yesterday was a disappointing day for Ontario’s teachers, parents and students. On a day when we reached out to begin good-faith consultations with Ontario’s Ford government, we instead heard you blame teachers and unions for a student walkout at schools across the province, when in reality it was your government’s policies that sparked this action.
Why are ‘veteran’ teachers inherently more valuable to the education system? A serious question to consider in the wake of Ford’s planned decimation of young teachers in Ontario…
Why are young/less experienced teachers losing their jobs when there are veteran teachers that exist who are performing poorly or complacently, making more money, and don’t have to worry about a pink slip? It’s just not fair…
5 easy ways to teach ‘inferencing’
Inferencing is much more than a reading skill; essentially, it is the process of training the brain to think metaphorically rather than literally. Many students have already acquired this skill as it has been modelled at home in the context of both reading materials and experiences, but for many of our students it is something completely foreign to them that needs to be explicitly taught.
Why (as a teacher and parent) I Value Standardized Testing
As both a teacher and parent I value standardized testing – read on to learn why!
Is Group Work Overrated?
Is group work overrated? What benefits and drawbacks does it have for students and how can teachers make the most of it?
Why Educators Must Be Trained to Deal with Families in High Conflict Custody Disputes
This is a touchy subject, as it involves divorce and child custody issues. These topics rarely bring out the best in people, and quite usually very strong opinions and emotions. Everybody knows somebody who has experienced a messy divorce where children have been used as pawns; it’s not pretty to watch and much worse to… Continue reading Why Educators Must Be Trained to Deal with Families in High Conflict Custody Disputes
Social Issues in Ontario will always have a home in English Class!
Over the past couple weeks, Ontario teachers have been up in arms in arms about the repealing then, re-structuring of the sex ed curriculum. As an observer, I’ve kind of shrugged my shoulders about this because as an English teacher I know that many of us tackle these topics in our classrooms regularly – regardless… Continue reading Social Issues in Ontario will always have a home in English Class!
5 Practical Ideas for Back to School Goal Setting (for Teachers and Students)
Did you know that if people take the time to sit and write out their goals that they are 50% more likely to accomplish them? Crazy, right? I have to say that I’m a big proponent of goal setting, and I have two thanks for that: my parents and Olympia Sports Camp. My parents are… Continue reading 5 Practical Ideas for Back to School Goal Setting (for Teachers and Students)
