The life force for humankind is, perhaps, nothing more or less than the passionate energy to connect express, and communicate.Rosamund Zander A significant chunk of my professional self-reflection this summer has circled around rediscovering my giving and receiving nature as a teacher. During my reading of The Compassion Classroom: Relationship Based Teaching and Learning by … Continue reading Giraffe Language: Our Giving and Receiving Nature
Category: Relationships
COVID19, Learner Vulnerability & Our Return to In-School Learning (maybe)
Change is the end result of all true learning.Leo Buscaglia We are witnessing the massive influence that disruptions from work and employment are having on our families, friends, and neighbours. But recent global research is showing that long-term school closures due to COVID-19 are (and continue to have) a massive impact on our kids that … Continue reading COVID19, Learner Vulnerability & Our Return to In-School Learning (maybe)
Rethinking the Teaching of Tolerance In the Era of #BlackLivesMatter
Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.G.K. Chesterton Truth be told, I have always held the opinion that it is never too early to initiate formulations for the upcoming school year. Given the Black Lives Matter international movement, growing self-reflections and focus on anti-racism, and deafening call for global equity for all people … Continue reading Rethinking the Teaching of Tolerance In the Era of #BlackLivesMatter
[A Pause]: An #Ode to Living On #Earth
Visual artist (and a favourite kids book author in our house), Oliver Jeffers, delivers his second TEDTalk in over a decade with this beautiful letter to his newborn son. I rarely view anything three times (let alone twice!) on the Internet, but the mesmerizing combination of Jeffers' lilting rhythm, magnificent poetic delivery, and use of … Continue reading [A Pause]: An #Ode to Living On #Earth
‘Ways to Be Home’
The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned. ~Maya Angelou As I often do, I give immense credit to my brilliant, deep-thinking, and reflective teaching colleague, Barbara Hargreaves, for her inspiration for this post. In anticipation of our current home … Continue reading ‘Ways to Be Home’
Emergent Strategy: Never a Better Time Than Now
We are socialized to see what is wrong, missing, off, to tear down the ideas of others and uplift our own. To a certain degree, our entire future may depend on learning to listen, listen without assumptions or defenses. ~ Adrienne Maree Brown With a desire to rethink and reinvision the true purpose of public … Continue reading Emergent Strategy: Never a Better Time Than Now
Finding Equanimity: It’s Not Just For Yogis Anymore
You always own the option of having no opinion. There is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can't control. These things are not asking to be judged by you. Leave them alone. ~Marcus Aurelius Lately, I have, for lack of a better phrase, worked on not … Continue reading Finding Equanimity: It’s Not Just For Yogis Anymore
Teaching (and Learning) Science Through Two-Eyes
This we know. The Earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the Earth. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected. … Continue reading Teaching (and Learning) Science Through Two-Eyes
Circle It Up: All in the Name of Community
It's not foreign for me to be talking about my problems in circles. ~Matthew Perry As a part of our re-visioning for a newly expanded middle years program (grades 7-9), we made it essential that we could have a designated space for a twice-a-day circle to fit 49 students, five staff members, and room for … Continue reading Circle It Up: All in the Name of Community
Hi…Remember Me?
I don't have any sentimental notion about how people are going to remember me. ~Billy Corgan, musician/songwriter Summertime. A time for rest and rejuvenation. A time to be out and about in our small, three-degrees-of-separation community. More time spent in local shops. More time visiting our local nature haunts, camping nooks, and hiking spots. More … Continue reading Hi…Remember Me?
GETTING CURIOUS 