You Cannot Not Model
Click, clack……click, clack……click, clack……click, clack, I could hear the unmistakable sound of the scooter approaching from behind. The sound of the wheels on the sidewalk interrupted my morning conversation with the sparrows, finches, and myriad of other Saskatchewan songbirds that chatter away to me on my morning walk. I...
The Scent or the Thorns?
At the end of the day, when you are reflecting on your impact, which interactions resonate the loudest with you? The countless positive interactions or the few frustrating ones? I’m not sure how many interactions I would have during a ‘typical’ teaching day when I was in the classroom....
Sowing the Seeds of Learning
It is amazing how much we can learn about our students if we pay attention. Listening to playground conversations or eavesdropping on conversations in class can open a window into what our learners are interested in. But these seeds of information are just gifts in their packets. You are...
Hidden Treasures
Pre-COVID, actually, pre-children, something my wife loved to do was pop into antique shops to browse around and check out the wares. Pre-COVID is obvious and if you have young kids, you understand why a lot of antique shop browsing isn’t ideal with toddlers or ‘clumsy’ pre-teens. Regardless, we...
I’m the Dumb Kid. Rethinking Our Roles.
“I’m the dumb kid that cracks jokes from the back of the room”. That was the response after some serious wait time following the question, “what has your role been in math classes in the past?” I asked this to a group of 10th graders I taught math to...
Is Your Setting Predictable and Safe? Does it Matter?
It’s been a long time, and I mean, a really long time, since I’ve gone to visit my mom. This pandemic has us taking every possible precaution to keep everyone safe, her, me, my wife, my kids, my co-workers and my students. I know that, in time, I will...
Our Students are Telling Us A Lot!
If you have watched any cable news or TV interviews since the pandemic changed what we consider ‘normal’, you’ve likely noticed the importance of backdrops, particularly, bookshelves. It’s not so much the shelves themselves, it’s the titles of the books and the artifacts on display that intrigue me. These...
What Is Your Unintended Impact?
I used to think being a ‘reader’ meant you always had your nose in a book. When asked, I’d always reply that I wasn’t a reader. That’s just how I viewed myself. Now, as I think back to my childhood, I realize I was actually quite an avid reader,...
Tough Letters Yield Higher Scores
“Oh no! I got a Q and an X dad.” Last week my daughter Eva and I were playing Scrabble on a quiet Thursday night. She’s fascinated with the game, and loves the challenge of mixing and matching her tiles to make the ‘just right’ word. Playing Scrabble with...
Why It’s Important to Know Every Student as a Learner.
My wife is an incredible cook, but I do recall her first attempt at one of my all-time favorite meals; roast beef with mashed potatoes and Yorkshire pudding. It was very early in our marriage, and she had asked what I’d like for my birthday supper. I had always...