Category Archives: Education

Garden Librarians in Our Midst – Education

It was a breath of very fresh and very cool air on my visit to Homma Elementary School in Richmond, British Columbia.  I was welcomed to the School Garden and teaching space by the garden librarians, Megan Zeni and Sarah Regan, and two Grade 3 / 4 classes of students.   All of the kindergarten to Grade 7 students at HommaContinue reading “Garden Librarians in Our Midst – Education”

From Your President: BCLCILA

Happy 2022 from The British Columbia Literacy Council of the International Literacy Association – January 28, 2022 I hope very much that you are well.  Unfortunately we are not yet able to say Good Riddance to COVID.  Linda Klassen, leading the charge in membership, recently attended an online meeting with close to 40 Chapter leaders from the United States,Continue reading “From Your President: BCLCILA”

Giving Tuesday

A day devoted to giving on the heels of the rampant, American consumerism of Black Friday and it’s offshoot – Cyber Monday.  I like it.  I wonder how much traction it will gain.  It is generating a lot of traffic on social media and people are ripe to experience, and hear good stories of human kindness in the midst ofContinue reading “Giving Tuesday”

Tidal WAV Returns

Wild About Vancouver (WAV) Outdoor Education Festival is a free public outdoor education festival offering practical ways to get children (and adults) outdoors more regularly. WAV is open to the public and aims to unite and create long-term sustainable outdoor experiential learning networks for organizations, schools, youth programs, and the broader citizenry of Vancouver. WAV isContinue reading “Tidal WAV Returns”

Giant Sequoia Discovery in Vancouver

A new discovery this weekend!  We have giant sequoia trees in Vancouver.  Who knew!  I’d love to say I happened upon it myself, but I have to admit I had some help.  In a midst of a cleaning frenzy, I came across the book, 111 Places In Vancouver That You Must Not Miss by Dave Doroghy and Graeme Menzies.  My husband andContinue reading “Giant Sequoia Discovery in Vancouver”

The Thrill of New Discoveries

If you live or visit Vancouver, sighting a Pacific Blue Heron is as likely as seeing a seagull or a Canada Goose.  Usually, it is one large statuesque and graceful bird alone on the golf course or at the beach during low tide. New discovery today. The Great Blue Heron Rookery is part of myContinue reading “The Thrill of New Discoveries”

Creating School Community in Time of COVID-19

There has been a concerted effort in Canada to keep school open from Kindergarten to Grade 12 largely to address social-emotional needs for stability and predictability for students in their world. Other natural disasters have kept students from school with surprisingly little impact on their academic achievement. “When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita decimated Louisiana inContinue reading “Creating School Community in Time of COVID-19”

The Moral Imperative

The notion of a moral imperative to guide action is not a new concept. For German philosopher, Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804), human understanding of pure reason was the basis for a moral code defining subsequent action. Long before that, holy books from world religions were proposing a course of action focussed on the moralContinue reading “The Moral Imperative”

ZOOMing Out or ZOOMing In

The phone call, texting and FaceTime remain as permanent fixtures in the COVID-19 context.  Wait time for smart phone orders have substantially increased due to overwhelming demand.  At work and at home, the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated online platforms to replace face to face communication of small and large groups.  ZOOM took an early leadContinue reading “ZOOMing Out or ZOOMing In”