Category: Topics for Parents and Students

Tier 2 Vocabulary: The Secret Elixir of Success for Secondary and Post Secondary Education
Literacy · Teaching Reflections · Teaching Topics/Activities · Topics for Parents and Students

Tier 2 Vocabulary: The Secret Elixir of Success for Secondary and Post Secondary Education

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A couple years ago, as a Special Education Program Leader I attended a professional development session with our board speech pathologists about the importance of vocabulary and the challenges of acquisition for special education students, especially those with LD’s. I was all ears, and what I learned was (in my opinion) shocking. First of all,… Continue reading Tier 2 Vocabulary: The Secret Elixir of Success for Secondary and Post Secondary Education

Salt Sugar and Fat: Get them OUT of our Schools
Health and Wellness for Teachers · Teaching Reflections · Topics for Parents and Students

Salt Sugar and Fat: Get them OUT of our Schools

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My latest read is Micheal Moss’s bestseller, Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us.     It’s a shocking tale of the level of deception, food altering and chemical engineering the food industry in North America has invested in causing us (the consumer) to crave salt, sugar and fat.  Although I knew that these substances… Continue reading Salt Sugar and Fat: Get them OUT of our Schools

Hello January: 5 Easy, Engaging Activities to Teach Goal Setting
Teaching Reflections · Teaching Topics/Activities · Topics for Parents and Students

Hello January: 5 Easy, Engaging Activities to Teach Goal Setting

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Hello January! Just like that, a new year’s begun – full of potential and opportunity. It’s become a cultural tradition in North America to use this time of year for reflection, goal setting and planning for the upcoming year. To many of us, these activities come as second nature – especially A type teachers like… Continue reading Hello January: 5 Easy, Engaging Activities to Teach Goal Setting

Rant like Rick: teaching students to rant is both necessary and fun!
Literacy · Teaching Reflections · Teaching Topics/Activities · Topics for Parents and Students

Rant like Rick: teaching students to rant is both necessary and fun!

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While flipping through MacLean’s magazine a couple of years ago I came across the following article:  “Rick Mercer: Why I rant. And why you should too”.  I read it because I enjoyed Rick’s work – especially his rants, but I walked away thinking……hey I could teach this. So, I did. It started pretty simply. The first… Continue reading Rant like Rick: teaching students to rant is both necessary and fun!

Hot Teen Reads for Christmas Stockings!
Literacy · Topics for Parents and Students

Hot Teen Reads for Christmas Stockings!

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My mom had a saying at Christmas time when my brother and I sat down to make our lists for Santa. We were to include items in the following categories: “something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read”. She sticks to these same parameters today, as do I when buying for… Continue reading Hot Teen Reads for Christmas Stockings!

Want an extended family? Teach at or send your kids to a community school.
Teaching Reflections · Topics for Parents and Students

Want an extended family? Teach at or send your kids to a community school.

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Today was a sad day at my small, rural community school. We were brought together to mourn the tragic and premature passing of a parent who was very involved in the lives of her children, both the elementary and secondary community schools and the community at large. Such a crowd had gathered for the funeral… Continue reading Want an extended family? Teach at or send your kids to a community school.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Parent Teacher Interviews (for both parties)
Topics for Parents and Students

The Do’s and Don’ts of Parent Teacher Interviews (for both parties)

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Parent-teacher interviews can be a bit like playing poker. You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, when to fold ’em, when to walk away and when to run.  These 5 minute bites of time can either form a fantastic working relationship between parents and teachers or unfortunately destroy any possibility of a partnership. I’ve… Continue reading The Do’s and Don’ts of Parent Teacher Interviews (for both parties)