Globally Connected Educators

TL;DR:

Globally connected educators use experiences outside of the classroom to inspire curiosity in the classroom.
The movement for global education starts with you sharing your experiences and point of views.
Next time you travel, take a journal, write down your memories, and document them via photographs.
I loved the green grassland with the natural landscape that was epic on this winter day in Ireland. The air was wet. The weather a little cool but perfect for a walking adventure!

Globally Connected Educators: Travel, Explore, Connect

Can an educator really go on vacation and not think of how to connect it to the curriculum they teach? Can we ever not collect samples of items to bring back to our classrooms to share with our students? My experiences are the inspiration for this blog and I want others to share the journey with me.

On this trip, I brought back so many amazing memories of kind-hearted people and beautiful green landscapes. I embraced this beautiful part of the world and its cultures.

The grounds of Dunlace Castle in Northern Ireland were scenic, peaceful, and had a beautiful green landscape.

The view of the ocean was steep and dangerous, just perfect for a castle to be situated on the edge of the cliff. The view was breathtakingly spectacular.

This beautiful historic Castle situated in a quaint quiet village in Ireland with kind people who offered me moments to reflect on as they told me the history of the area and the teachable moments I can reminisce upon.

The Castle itself has now fallen apart. The ruins that stand are telling their stories about the people that once occupied it in the 13th century. You can see the different rooms, the purpose of each room, and the grounds where the families who served the community lived and made homes.

I keep a piece of this experience in my heart to write this blog and share my experiences with your classrooms.

Next time you travel, take a journal, write down your memories, and document them via photographs. And share with me too. The movement for global education starts with you sharing your experiences and point of views.

Globally Connected Educators: Teaching and Learning Prompts

I wonder how life was in this historic civilization in Ireland, the dynamic between the villagers and the Kingdom/Vikings and the Irish.
What historical timeline can be developed for the settlers in Ireland and the civilizations that were built here?
Construct a virtual Jamboard with reflection questions to brainstorm about the location and the story it tells to introduce research skills.
Plan and construct a model of the replica structure of this Castle; explore how they were built to protect the citizens and the kingdom it served to tell its own narrative.

Yours in Education,

Nilmini

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About Nilmini Ratwatte-Henstridge

Nilmini Ratwatte-Henstridge teaches in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. She was born in Sri Lanka and immigrated to Canada with her family. As an Elementary School Teacher who is passionate about Equity, Social Justice, and Human Rights in education she enjoys teaching the younger generation to be global-minded citizens.

Discovering the world by connecting with others is an opportunity that we have today in our society today and she loves meeting new people! She is always learning while traveling to understand the inter-connectedness of this beautiful earth we live in! Nilmini LOVES Cooking great meals, Watching movies, and the latest fashion trends! Family and friends are close to her heart as she looks forward to balancing social media and navigating professional learning communities in education to network globally this year!