A Profound Shift: Seeing Children as Capable and Competent

“This is a profound shift to view the child as a capable, competent, rich in potential rights-bearing individual rather than as an empty vessel waiting to be filled.” Dr. Jean Clinton How do we shift our image of the learner? Recently I had the privilege to listen to Hailey Noseworthy, a Grade 12 student from […]

Where Truth Gets Eyeballs

We all know carbon dating has been disproven.  Homosexuality is a choice.  Climate change is a hoax. Hillary is a criminal. Everyone should carry a gun for protection. All of these statements have been treated as facts in the media over the past few weeks, in preparation for USA to go to the polls. And […]

Do You Have Time?

We all have time.  But how much? And how will we spend it? As an educator, I struggle with doing too much. As a teacher, I packaged content endlessly, provided feedback on everything, read tirelessy, reflected on everything.  It consumed me. It consumes many.  Balance, alignment, living a rich life away from school – all […]

Where is Your Blog?

If you are an educator, you need a blog. It’s 2015. Where are you creating your digital identity? Where do you share resources with other educators? Where do you reflect on your practice? Where are you having conversations about learning and teaching? Where do you model the learning we want to see in every classroom? […]

Thoughts: Labour Day 2014

I wanted to tell a funny story on this Labour Day. I will share this entertaining piece instead: Teachers Don’t Sleep on Labour Day by  @albertfong I have plenty of my own crazy tales, of course, having spent nearly 30 years of Labour Days ignoring my family in spite of it being my daughter’s birthday, our wedding anniversary, a […]

The Loneliness of the First Follower

It’s harder to follow than it is to lead.   Leaders have passion for what they do.  They have practiced sticking out their necks, taking risks, trying new things, and failing. For leaders, being the lone dancer in the crowd is their norm. Dancing to the music is the right thing to do, even if […]

Connecting f2f

Connecting f2f.

EdCampWR (part 2) – Everyone Has Something IMPORTANT to Share

This past week, I have been explaining the concept of “EdCamp” to a lot of people.  It’s on a Saturday, it’s free, it’s open to anyone wanting to learn, and “everyone has something to share”.  The program is driven by the learning needs of the people in attendance, and the smartest person in the room […]

Should Kids Hate School?

I don’t know anyone who would answer “yes” to this question.  So why is the myth that “kids hate school” so pervasive? Last week, buses were cancelled in Muskoka (yes, there is only one Muskoka!), and the television announcers made a huge deal out of how happy kids would be because they didn’t have to […]

Raleigh Falls

What Will You UnLearn Today?

What did you learn today? David Warlick often begins his talks with something new he has learned that day.  He frequently shares these learnings on his blog as well. Every day I try to follow his example and think carefully about all the new things I have learned. But sometimes we need to UNlearn before we can really […]