There has been a great response to my blog post ‘Upper Elementary Book Recommendations; Recommended by Students for Students’ that I wrote as a Grade 4 teacher a few years ago. Now, as a PYP coordinator I enjoy reading as much as I did as a Homeroom teacher, and still value the conversations I have with students of all ages about the books that they … Continue reading More Book Recommendations for Grades 4-6; Recommended by Students for Students

Wow, what a year (and then some) it has been. For everyone. My last blog post was dated August 11, 2019, and it’s been absolutely crazy. We have all been struggling to stay mentally, physically and emotionally well during Covid.  On top of that, I started my very first leadership job as a PYP coordinator in August of 2020. And on top of all of … Continue reading Return to Blogging

The Love of Reading in Upper Elementary  Books and stories are a powerful tool in connecting people of all ages.  They are a vital part of any curriculum and can evoke different emotions and lessons based upon the author’s message, or the reader’s interpretation. My literacy professor in teacher’s college David Hornsby (a well respected educator in Australia that promotes the whole language approach) believed … Continue reading Upper Elementary Book Recommendations; Recommended by Students for Students

A Prior Idea + Collaboration = Innovation  Innovation has recently been a key buzzword in education. Some schools and administrators use it as a synonym for the advancement of technology and some schools often attach the word innovation with robotics, 1-1 laptops or Ipads for students, VR simulation or other engagements. However, I believe innovation can be an adaptation of a prior idea or an … Continue reading An Alternative Way to Innovate

Transitioning from the Early Years to Grade 4 The end of the school year is a great time to reflect upon the last ten months and celebrate the accomplishments, challenges and changes. This year has been a different sense of reflection because after 11 years teaching in the Early Years I transitioned to teaching and leading a Grade 4 class. It was a year of … Continue reading Take the Jump!

Yesterday was the very last day of the 2018-2019 school year and with mixed emotions of relief, disappointment, sadness and elation I said good-bye to my wonderful students, cleaned my classroom and turned off my email notifications. I have 8 weeks of summer to now focus on myself. Some of my plans include reading non-education books, drinking lots of coffee, sitting out in the sun, … Continue reading Could I have done more?