Tag: Education

What I Learned About ‘Online Learning’ in British Columbia

The most effective, successful professionals are constantly learning, they take the time to apply what they have learned, and they continually work to improve themselves. Joel Gardner, digital learning technologist As I continue my transition from the classroom of the brick and mortar school towards the burgeoning dominion of online or virtual learning , I … Continue reading What I Learned About ‘Online Learning’ in British Columbia →

Beauty (& Humility) of Mentorship

Colleagues are a wonderful thing - but mentors, that's where the real work gets done. Junot Diaz I recently became involved in our local teacher association's mentorship program. What an empowering and humbling experience! After nearly twenty-six years in education, it was time. Time to offer my colleagues something that I acknowledged was missing during … Continue reading Beauty (& Humility) of Mentorship →

Fostering My Knowingness

Intuition is a spiritual faculty and does not explain, but simply points the way. Florence Scovel Shinn It's rarely wrong. It usually speaks to my integrity. It knows right from wrong. Its voice can be a loud banging or a subtle nuance. And its often ignored at the peril of the individual. Intuition. I think … Continue reading Fostering My Knowingness →

A Shift: A Personal Mission Statement That I Didn’t Think I Had

Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up.James Belasco & Ralph Stayer I am here. Here I am. Here is a point in my professional life when, where, and how I decide to move it forward. A transitional, … Continue reading A Shift: A Personal Mission Statement That I Didn’t Think I Had →

A True ‘Honouring’ Tradition

Don't take life too seriously; no one makes it out alive.Elbert Hubbard Our first child graduated yesterday. It was a big moment for many reasons, one being that it was a year we doubted whether him graduating was even a possibility. But, despite mental health, ADHD, and an addiction, he made it. Hell, I'm proud. … Continue reading A True ‘Honouring’ Tradition →

Core Practice #4: Nourishment

When a flower doesn't bloom you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.Alexander den Heijer The fourth core practice of our school is that of nourishment. This has been the most difficult (so far) in that nourishment is often viewed as a one-way lens. From one perspective, nourishment is seen easily defined … Continue reading Core Practice #4: Nourishment →

Cubism and The Risk of Vulnerability: Part 2

Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.Brene Brown In a previous post, I shared my deep dive into professional risk-taking when I decided to introduce visual art into the classroom for the first time in twenty-four years as an educator. This is part of the transformation personal awakening … Continue reading Cubism and The Risk of Vulnerability: Part 2 →

#Brainstorm: Understanding How Our Adolescent Brains Grow

When you are in your teenage years you are consciously experiencing everything for the first time, so adolescent stories are all beginnings. There are never any endings.Aidan Chambers Ah, yes, middle school. The thought of teaching this group of truly unique learners often strikes fear into the hearts of many a talented educator. Often friends … Continue reading #Brainstorm: Understanding How Our Adolescent Brains Grow →

Giraffe Language: Our Giving and Receiving Nature

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 →