Kindergarten Rocks

In British Columbia, we have just started using a brand new curriculum, called the BC-Ed plan. For the most part, I like it. There are still some kinks being worked out, as there always is when a new program is introduced. Something I like about it is that it gives educators freedom to teach the big ideas through the vehicle, or unit of study, of their choosing. For instance, if it says I need to teach about plants and animals, I can choose how to go about this. In Kindergarten, we touch on plants in our Harvest unit, as well as in our farm unit. Likewise, we learn about animals both in our Farm unit and our Africa unit. Embedded throughout our entire curriculum is conversation and teaching about the First Peoples of Canada, and when possible or accessible, specific education on the Indigenous People of our southern BC region - the Sto:lo Nation. I have the honour of serving on the Indigenous Education Support Team at my school and we are learning more each time we meet. Our focus ...

Over the past two days I've been at our annual teachers/educators convention. It was wonderful to be with almost 1800 other educators - teachers, SEAs, support staff and admin from many schools throughout BC and Washington state.  I learned so much! I am still processing it and will continue to process over the next few weeks.  There was a weather workshop where we were taught some great hands-on activities to do in our weather units. I'm looking forward to trying those out this school year.  I attended a class on boundaries. That was interesting, and will be useful information for school, home and every part of life with other people! I felt a bit like I was attending a marriage conference without my husband, though, so it was a bit different than I was expecting.  The final workshop that I attended (besides the 3 that I led) was called Maker Space Ed. In my classroom this year I have set up a "Maker Space" and this is what I was anticipating the class to be...