TL;DR: Never give up. This post shares a story of what can happen when you believe in yourself. There are days that we laugh and days that we cry. There are days that we challenge ourselves and days that we let it all slip away. This is the point where failure begins to take over. Once we choose to let … Read More
The Gift of Leadership
TL;DR: There are five aspects to the gift of leadership. We need to see potential, believe in others, nurture the skill, teach leadership explicitly, and then we must provide opportunities to empower them to lead. Leadership is a skill that needs to be developed. Just like all teachers are leaders, all students are leaders too. Notice, name, and nurture. Show … Read More
Kids Can Be Sociolinguists, Too!
TL;DR: A little metalinguistic awareness can go a long way towards creating a safe space for bilingual children in the classroom. Sociolinguistic awareness, coupled with the gumption to tackle these issues with children, will go a long way towards the larger enterprise of designing pedagogy that is culturally (and linguistically) focused. Consider designing curricula that builds sociolinguistic awareness. This post … Read More
Episode #119: Tim Stephenson
Tim has been a high school teacher for over 25 years and for most of that time, he’s been the only astronomy teacher in the Langley School District in BC, Canada. Space is his passion, his hobby and his pastime. And for years, he’s had parents of students and other adult friends say that they would love to come to … Read More
Reconsider Your Expectations
TL;DR: Believing in students and setting high expectations for them can help them be successful. Find ways to get your students interested. Make sure the lessons and activities you are teaching are relevant. Know what your end goal is and makes sure it is clear to your students, too. Provide opportunities for your students to reflect on their own work. … Read More