About Myself

Alison Finlay McMullin

Educator. Outdoor Adventurer. Artist.

This website focuses on my work as a teacher. To see my paintings and ceramics, click HERE.

Teaching and Learning

My work with the Toronto District School board includes work as an Outdoor Education Specialist, and as a supply teacher, work as a visiting artist, and workshops in exploring literacy through movement and dance. I have given private instruction in ceramics and wheel throwing, printmaking and paper-making. In summers, I share my love and knowledge of canoe camping by teaching skills to children and adults and leading wilderness camping trips. My love of working with children and youth has also led me to teaching dance, coaching robotics, and to a brief stint as a leader of Pathfinder girls.

I'm always improving my skills or learning something new. A few years ago, I returned to university to study education at York, where I completed my degree in April of 2017. My first Additional Qualification course was in teaching mathematics. I've also studied French at Alliance Francaise, Edible and medicinal plants with Survivial in the Bush, read many books by First Nations authors, educators, and artists, and I've begun to study the history of First Nations people in North America/Turtle Island. Last summer I earned a bronze cross and I have finally learned to roll a whitewater kayak. I graduated from the Ontario College of Art in 1994 with extensive knowledge of drawing and painting and printmaking and returned to study ceramics from 2002-2005. I'm learning to play the ukulele with the help of the clever and generous people of the internet.

Robotics

I am the proud coach of Lego robotics teams including provincial award winning teams: Happy Carrot (from Broadacres Junior School), The Spirit of Friendly Conquer-Chickens, and Rainbow GARSCLAVYJ (from John G. Althouse Middle School). And I was delighted to coach two community teams, Blackout who distinguished themselves at the Canadian international Open, earning an award for their research presentation, and Team 2766 is LOST who represented Canada at the Razorback Open international tournament in Arkansas, where they won the award for robot programming.