I worked in Canada’s far North for six years in the 1980s, first as a teacher in a fly-in village in Cree territory, then as a teacher and curriculum developer in Algonquin territory in northern Quebec. During this time, the First Nations were slowly and surely taking back control of their education systems from the
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So, you’re learning a new language. You’re highly motivated at first but soon realize it isn’t as easy as you thought it would be. Slowly, you stop opening your language app, and the words you’ve learned in your target language begin to fade. Why does it have to be so difficult?! Good news: although learning
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The summer is over. Long carefree days of sun, beaches, and vacations are coming to a close. It’s not just a changing of the season. This time of year, as children head back to school, there is often a changing of mindset as well. This shifting mindset can bring some anxious moments for many children.
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Recess. The word itself brings back memories of primary school and those dreaded middle school days. Canadian young adults are likely reminded of hours spent climbing over the snow piles left by the plows, pretending to be astronauts or huskies or famous explorers. Alas, the snow would melt, and kids would move on to games
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Birthdays, holidays, end of year parties… With so many occasions, it’s difficult to buy creative, useful gifts for the child that has everything! Trying to find something enjoyable yet educational, engrossing yet evergreen, well, it takes a lot of thought. But gift-shopping doesn’t have to be all that difficult! Our books, games, and music will
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Everybody knows the great writers whose renown transcends generations: Shakespeare, Vernes, García Lorca, Tolstoy… How could a kid like me ever write something that compares to their literary masterpieces? Why can’t I be the next J.K. Rowling? If you’ve ever felt this way, you aren’t alone; it can be intimidating to reflect on the piles
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