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Take the Lids Off Kids… and Watch ’em Shine!

As I walk in and out of classrooms this week (the first week for our students with their 2015-16 teacher), I love seeing the “about me” activities. There is never an easier time to strike up conversations with kids than… Continue Reading

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Let’s Rethink “Kindergarten Readiness”

Considering it is kindergarten registration at our school next week, I wanted to share my personal thoughts. I have never taught kindergarten nor have I ever run a preschool program.  I have been an elementary educator for 8 years and… Continue Reading

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10 Ways to Start With Strengths in Schools

I sometimes struggle with the volume of posts that give lists of  “5 ways…” or “10 reasons…” but I have recently been asked a few times how schools could get started using a strength-based model with students.  This list is… Continue Reading

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Start With Strengths: Change the Lens. Change the Story.

How many of our students have strengths that either go unnoticed or unacknowledged in school?  When we discuss students, do we focus on their strengths and all they CAN do or their deficits and all they CANNOT do?  What are… Continue Reading

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10 Belief Statements About Student Discipline

As I continue my journey in the first 4 months at James Hill elementary, I wanted to share my beliefs around student discipline with the staff.  Although my views continue to evolve and grow through formal and informal learning and… Continue Reading

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How Does School Choice Impact Our Neighbourhood Schools?

As an educator and a parent of three year-olds, I often get asked the question, “where are you going to send your kids to school?”.  This still tends to catch me by surprise and my response is always… “the one… Continue Reading