Category Archives: Social Emotional Learning

Back to School for Teachers:  Building Classroom Culture

I loved Back to School throughout my career as an educator.  I loved buying new school supplies.  Choosing new posters.  Back to school clothes shopping.  Fresh bulletin boards. Welcoming students to a new school year.  I was a big believer in tapping into student excitement to be back and involving them in creating an inclusive culture.  The concept of “inclusive classrooms”Continue reading “Back to School for Teachers:  Building Classroom Culture”

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”

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”

Social Emotional Learning Through Children’s Literature

Enthusiastic by nature, I became a school principal because of my steadfast belief that high quality instruction drives student success. I am a product of the school system I went through in Vancouver, British Columbia. My children are successful products of the school system in Coquitlam, British Columbia, a suburb of Vancouver. However personal experienceContinue reading “Social Emotional Learning Through Children’s Literature”

BC Literacy Council in Action

After many years of inactivity, the British Columbia Literacy Council of the International Literacy Association was reinvigorated with new energy and revitalization last fall. We took off running. The executive council organized and facilitated three successful events and had a lot of fun doing it. You can read more about it on our website readingbc.ca.Continue reading “BC Literacy Council in Action”

Maintaining Principal Communication with Kids During “School At Home”

 A smile.  “Good morning” at the door or the school.  “Hi” in the hallway.  Chatting on the playground.  Working together in the school garden.  Navigating through conflict.  Teaching calm down strategies, conflict resolution skills, and perhaps kindness. Supporting budding leaders in their ventures.  Visiting classrooms to talk with students about their learning.  These are someContinue reading “Maintaining Principal Communication with Kids During “School At Home””

Winning at Life

  Simon Sinek could define school as a finite game that you choose to play.  It has an agreed set of rules that must be followed to win.  Do the work.  Pass the test.  Win with good grades.  Graduate.  Gordon, Renee and I were taking the win as we traipsed across the stag.  However, LifeContinue reading “Winning at Life”

Weathering the Storm

This week Vancouver, British Columbia was smacked with a rarity – a snowstorm.  Not just the light dusting followed with the creation of muddy snowmen and snowballs filled with gravel.  A real snowstorm that went on for days.  A snowstorm that wreaked havoc with the roads and put heating systems into overdrive.  A snowstorm thatContinue reading “Weathering the Storm”

Exploring Educational Change with Educators in Vancouver, British Columbia

Educational change is an exciting topic with he promise of many pro-active, positive changes in educational systems around the world.  I am working with secondary teachers at Royal Bridge Education Group in Coquitlam today.  We will be engaging in learning about educational change and responding to the ideas using strategies and tools to engage learnersContinue reading “Exploring Educational Change with Educators in Vancouver, British Columbia”