The Classroom

A few years back I heard a shocking stat at an in service. Less then 40% of teachers read for fun. I wish I could remember the exact number (and a quick Google search didn’t pull up the information either). This pains me as both a teacher and a parent. Today my one year old ASKED for a book. She does that quite often- her fourth word was book – but today it was a specific book. “Mermays…. Mermays….” My one year old was asking for her book on Mermaids. I’m floored. A one year old who says Mermaid. That would never have happened if not for books. Read the rest of this entry »

I know I keep referring to my first principal, Bill Drake, in a lot of my writings. The man had a profound effect on me. His motto of “Teach as you would like to have been taught” is the foundation for most of my educational beliefs. It’s a concept I had already subscribed too long before I met Bill, but to hear him say it and reinforce that belief was what I needed at the time.

So how did I like to be taught? How did you like to be taught? How do we know? The answer is simple. Think of your favourite teacher – and what made them so. It’s what I did. I’ve based my entire teaching practices upon what I can remember of my grade 5 teacher, Mr. Glance. Read the rest of this entry »