I watched a powerful Ted Talk this evening that got me really thinking. WHY? What is your why? Why do you get up out of bed in the morning? Why are you a teacher? What do you believe your purpose as a teacher is? Why are you teaching the content you teach? Why are you teaching it the way you are?   WHY?    Simon... [Read more of this post]

Our school theme this year is all about STORY – and I have just found it incredibly COMPELLING. To hinge each lesson, each concept we learn and issue we discuss as being a part of my student’s larger story, and my students as being a part of God’s big story. You see, for me the theme... [Read more of this post]

In part two of their series “Failing Boys”, the Globe and Mail tackles head on “The Endangered Male Teacher.”  It discusses the dangers facing male teachers, but also the dangers for boys when they do not see males at the front of the classroom. “It is now possible for a child in Canada to... [Read more of this post]

The puzzling difference between the achievement of boys vs girls in schools, serves as the intriguing topic for a six part series in the Globe and Mail. In this first article, theories are outlined in their attempts to explain the emerging and growing gender gap in education. “Theories abound to explain... [Read more of this post]

Today was one of THOSE days… when kids are engaged, the learning is deep, and the impact I hope is long lasting. It started a few days ago however, quite backwards. Quite the opposite of today’s feelings of success and meaning. Instead, it was feelings of failure, obligation and “covering... [Read more of this post]

“All students can learn, in their own ways and in their own time.” Our school has been engaged in a fantastic AISI project on assessment. I am learning how to assess less, give feedback more and hopefully to motivate my students in a way that encourages them to take more ownership of their learning. I... [Read more of this post]

“If my private world is in order, it will be because I am convinced that the inner world of the spiritual must govern the outer world of activity” – Gordon Macdonald  - Ordering Your Private World   I’ve been doing a lot of rich, deep reading lately. A lot of soul-searching,... [Read more of this post]

The third reason for the complexities of teaching, an often overlooked factor is the fact that: we teach who we are. “Teaching emerges from one’s inwardness. As I teach, I project the condition of my soul onto my students, my subject and our day together.” Parker Palmer Days when I... [Read more of this post]

“The students we teach are larger than life and even more complex. To see them clearly and see them whole, and respond to them wisely in the moment, requires a fusion of Freud and Solomon that few of us achieve.” Daunting tasks, so it seems. Caring for kids is synonymous with being a teacher.... [Read more of this post]

The first complexity that leads to the roller coaster of highest highs and the plummets of the lowest lows is the fact that our subject matters are incredibly difficult to get a handle on. For most teachers, they are required to be a generalist – something pretty hard to accomplish, as it is difficult... [Read more of this post]