Learn Create Inspire
Sharing successes and challenges through teaching while becoming a (hopefully) published author.
Social Justice Symposium: Intersectionality in Literature
Intersectionality is an important topic to explore when talking about social justice. It is complex, but breaking it down and modelling intersectionality can help kids understand our complex world. I modelled intersectionality with two texts: One Plastic Bag and a nonfiction piece about Red Dress Day (May 5th) in Canada before setting the students out to explore the concepts in literature. It was powerful for kids to discover the patterns of oppression.
Storytelling Part 5: Storytelling Festival and Assessment
In Part 5 of the Storytelling Series, I talk about the storytelling festival and assessment.
Found Poetry: Success for All
April is National Poetry Month, what will you do? Here is an example of found poetry created with student generated language from the last six chapter of Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. This post also includes tips for painting in a portable without water and ideas for why this lesson was successful.
Storytelling Part 3: Teaching Kids How to Understand Their Stories
In Part Three of the storytelling series, you will learn how my kids started to unpack their stories and recognize the five anchor points they would use to tell their stories.
Informal PJ Day…We needed it!
I blinked and the term was almost done. I feel like I am behind on everything and bone weary. So are my kids…I bet you are as well. So today, my class paused curriculum and focussed on joy, as well as the Core Competencies. We had a PJ Day and you might need one as well. We are all so tired and this year is so hard, I hope this post inspired you to find some joy-even for just a day.
Exploring Storytelling: Accidentally Creating Comics (Part 1?)
We are exploring different ways of telling stories in my classroom. This blog post outlines how making creatures with playdough ended up becoming a comic using Book Creator….and being woven into our storytelling unit. It was a powerful way to combine tactile learning, storytelling, and technology. This activity was filled with student voice and voice, as well as having an authentic audience. The engagement was high and I had fun!
Mrs. Salter’s Arcade: Hands-On Cross Curricular Fun
Readers Request: Mrs. Salter’s Arcade. A brief overview of the 2.5 weeks that I use to turn my classroom into a cardboard arcade and the learning that occurs. I have provided BC curriculum links as well as a sample package to use and possible assessment. Be inspired. Get messy. Have fun! This is a great project to start the new year with. You could tell kids about it before they go on break and they will come back with so many ideas!
The Class Novel: Designing engaging activities linked to class books (Part 1..maybe?)
Reading a class novel can be a powerful way to model language and to design mini lessons. This post explores how I choose books, start to design lessons, and it also provides a sample lesson for the book Out of My Mind. This might be the start of a series—if people are interested.
Finding Joy in Covid Teaching
Teaching double duty this week with six kids in class and twenty something online. It has been a month of dealing with covid in my class. I am working hard to find joy this week through reducing my workload and focusing on my favourites: writing stories and doing art!
Picture Book Study: Exploring the Alternate Experiences of War
As we approach Remembrance Day and Veterans Day, explore the alternate experiences of war through five powerful pictures books. Help teach reading comprehension skills, compassion, and history in a powerful way that every child can participate in. This activity has built in structures to support all students.
A Case for Real Data: Where Math, Language Arts, and Science Collide
Use real data in your class to create cross curricular hands on lessons with high engagement! This post explores two activities that link science, language arts, and math that I have done in my classroom in the last two weeks as a way to inspire YOU to collect your own data with kids!