Shall we rethink Speeches?
Recently, I organized a successful EDTech day for teachers at my Board and instead of a Keynote, I took a chance and facilitated IGNITE presentations by our own teachers. I […]
Reflections on a Successful EDTech Day for Teachers
Yesterday, we hosted an EDTech day for Educators at the York Catholic District School Board which was an overwhelming success. Here are a few reasons why. Skip the Keynote Rather
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Google Art Project, Critical Thinking, and the OSSLT
I know what you’re thinking–what in heavens name does the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) have to do with Critical Thinking or the Google Art Project? One of the
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RAN (Reading and Analysing Non-Fiction)
Recently, two of my colleagues (Michael Ball and Gina Micomonaco) reminded me about The RAN Chart–Reading and Analyzing Non-fiction. Based on the work by Tony Stead, a RAN chart is
Setting kids up for success
Many of us are two weeks into a new school year and with that comes the opportunity to think reflectively about what has worked and what hasn’t. Here are a
There’s something about ISTE
I am constantly in a line (for food, for a session, for the bathroom), and the Wifi is quite frankly worse than it is at home, and yet the experience
It’s time we try something different in English class
On Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, I had the privilege of listening to Will Richardson speak about bold classrooms and what they could look like. He told over 500 teachers
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Using Garageband in the Classroom: Working, Saving, and Sharing
So now that I’m actually in the classroom, co-teaching with a fabulous English teacher and using Garageband with students, there are a few things we’ve learned that may be useful
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A fresh look at Assessment
Just before the holiday weekend, I had the honour of participating in a workshop led by Sandra Herbst on Assessement. The first thing she did impressed me the most. She introduced
Let’s get our kids talking!!
Reading and Writing float on a sea of talk. –James Britton More and more research is suggesting that academic conversations are foundational for other literacy skills. Read this excerpt from a