Learn Create Inspire
Sharing successes and challenges through teaching while becoming a (hopefully) published author.
Graceful Tree Problems and Assessment: My 1st In Person Pro-D in TWO Years
Feeling grateful for in person pro-d! This post shares an easy number sense routine and non curricular task you can do in your class. Routine: What is the answer? Task: The Graceful Tree Conjecture. I am also working on how to infuse ideas from Building a Thinking Classroom in Mathematics as well.
A Dragon, a Goat, and Lettuce need to cross a river: Non Curricular Math Tasks
I am excited to build a thinking classroom in mathematics once again this year by implementing ideas from Peter Liljedahl’s book. This post also provides a sample non curricular task that you can download and use! Have fun playing with math!
Catastrophic Tech Failure AND a Wonderful Day!
When technology fails…PSA Executives solve the problem and still provide powerful professional development. My thoughts on the catastrophic technology failure yesterday and my gratitude for the PSAs.
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!
Reader Request: Exploring the First Peoples Principles of Learning
This is a lesson that helped my kids unpack the First Peoples Principles of Learning. We unpacked the language and then used these as a lens through which to view literature. This could also be done at a staff meeting or pro-D to help adults unpack the principles as well. I did make a mistake and have corrected it within this blog post. We are all still learning and when we know better…we do better!
Picture Books Part 7: Activities Inspired by Anchor Texts
Do you like to use picture books to explore identity/core Competencies? This post will give you two activities you can use after reading Count of Me by Migeul Tanco or I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes. Both activities are hands-on and one involves loose parts/creating a class book using Book Creator.
Science Experiment: Simple Gravity Experiment
Experiments do not have to be complex to be effective. In fact, simple fun experiments that can be repeated can created the biggest learning/have a huge impact. This is a science experiment that can be used k-12 to explore concepts of gravity, air resistance, and forces. It involved dropping items…yup…you just need some objects to drop. It is engaging and can help students understand how to make/record powerful observations. And did I mention, it is fun!
Picture Books Part 6: 2 Engaging Reading Strategies
Two strategies to use to help kids with summarizing and connecting. Both strategies have been used in my classroom and repeated multiple times throughout the year with new books.
New Book Idea: Less is More…a guide to building meaningful hands-on cross curricular lessons
Are you enjoying my hands-on cross curricular lessons? So are many other people and it has inspired me! Here is the initial concept for a book I am working on. Less is More: A guide to building meaningful hands-on cross curricular lessons. Feedback and questions are welcome…Would this be a book you would want to read?
Reader Request: Hands-On Forestry Stations AND a Few Extra Activities… (Cross Curricular)
How do you make resources more hands-on? Run stations! Here is an outline of forestry stations I ran in my grade 5/6 class as well as a framework for designing your own stations. I also include a few additional forestry activities. Get messy! Play! Have fun!
Are you assessing ideas or printing? Decriminalize supports!
Are you wanting to assess ideas but kids in your class have trouble sharing their thinking in writing? This post will give you a few low-tech supports for kids and walk through using voice-to-text to support your students in expressing their ideas more clearly with confidence. We need to decriminalize supports in the classroom to support all learners.
Hands-On Residential School Truth & Reconciliation Day Lesson
This is a hands-on simulation lesson that explores the intergenerational trauma of residential schools and the impacts on communities left without children. It is designed to support teachers talking to kids about The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Picture Books Part 5: Pre-Reading Strategies
Three pre-reading strategies to try. Examples are all books that could be used for exploring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th.
Picture Books Part 4: How to Read Out Loud to kids
Reading out loud well isn’t magic…but it does take practice! Here are a few strategies to up your read aloud game!
Reader Request: Class Survey + Graphing = Understanding Built With Your Class (Cross Curricular Activity)
Turning a class survey into deep understanding. This hands-on cross-curricular activity can help you learn about your class and make powerful class goals.
Picture Books Part 3: How to Choose the Right Book…
How do you choose the perfect picture book? This post will give you strategies to find books to use as anchor texts for lessons.
Refugee Crisis + Math Lesson = Compassion and Understanding
This outlines a cross curricular refugee crisis math/social studies lesson I did today. It includes graphing, counting collections, and the refugee crisis. It is hands-on and each class I worked with loved it. It is our job to help kids unpack and make sense of hard topics.
Picture Books Part 2: 3 Books to Start the Year
3 picture books to start the year. Could be used in the intermediate or the primary classroom. A call for the importance of diverse books so that kids can see themselves reflected in literature.
Picture Books in Intermediate Part 1: Why Picture Books?
Part 1 of a series teaching how to use picture books in the intermediate classroom. This first blog post is an introduction to the series as well as my personal ‘Why’ behind my use of picture books in the classroom.
Unit Planning 101 & Navigating Curriculum Websites
This blogpost is all about Unit Planning 101. If the BC Curriculum Website is daunting…I hope this helps! Right now it is all about connection before curriculum, but I know many teacher are doing their best to start planning engaging units. I hope this helps.