NOW READING: The Bird Way - A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, And Think. by Jennifer Ackerman
National Geographic
Living Bird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
ALWAYS READING: The Sibley Guide to Birds
I am a graduate of York University where I studied education, focusing on Primary and Junior students.
I come to teaching with a very strong background in language and the arts, especially visual arts, and a recreational interest in natural sciences and engineering skills for primary and junior students.
First Nations histories and knowledge
I was born in Canada into a family that came here from England, and I grew up in a school system that did not acknowledge the pre colonial history of Turtle Island. My university electives have helped to develop my understanding and awareness of First Nations histories and knowledge. Jennifer Wemigwams teaches a fabulous course Called Learning From the Land, which has had a huge impact on my thinking about teaching and learning in the natural world. I'm also fortunate to work with Mike Izzo, who regularly shares his knowledge with me and my colleagues who work in outdoor education. Much of the reading that I have been doing recently is fiction and non-fiction written about First Nations perspectives and experiences.
1491- New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, by Charles C. Mann
The Inconvenient Indian, by Thomas King
The Gift is in the Making: Anishinaabeg Stories, retold by Leanne Simpson
Birdie, by Tracey Lindberg
The Orenda and Wenjak, by Joseph Boyden
Blasphemy and The Absolutely True diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices, edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale
Son of a Trickster, by Eden Robinson
Indians on Vacation, by Thomas King
Children's books: A Coyote Columbus Story, by Thomas King and William Kent Monkman, The Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws, by Chad Solomon and Christopher Meyer, Nala's Magical Mystical Mitsiaq, by Jennifer Noah and Qin Leng, Seven Sacred Teachings (Niizhwaaswi gagiikwewin), by David Bouchard and Dr. Joseph Martin and Pisim Finds her Miskanow, by William Dumas)
I have completed the OISE modules for educators who want to learn about Indigenous perspectives and education. (You can find them at https://www.oise.utoronto.ca/abed101/)
I enjoyed the presentation of video work by First Nations youth, and the lecture at York University entitled Nishnabek- Telling Our Truths.
Special needs
My family life and teaching experiences have lead me to investigate the current knowledge of some special needs that children and adults face through the following books:
The Complete Guide to Asberger's Syndrome, by Tony Atwood
The Minds of Boys- Saving Our Sons from Falling Behind in School and Life, by Michael Gurian
The Energetic Brain: Understanding and Managing ADHD, by Cecil Reynolds, Kimberly Vannest and Judith Harrison
Kids are Worth It, by Barbara Coloroso
Raising Your Spirited Child, by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
The Woman Who Changed her Brain, by Barbara Arrowsmith-Young
Change Your Brain, Change Your Life- The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety Depression, Obsessiveness, Anger, and Impulsiveness, by Daniel G. Amen, M.D.
Angry Children, Worried Parents, by Sam Goldstein, Ph.D, Robert Brooks, Ph.D., and Sharon K. Weiss, M.Ed
English Language Learners
I've also read some excellent work about teaching English Language Learners as part of a course at York.
Scaffolding Language, Scaffolding Learning, by Pauline Gibbons
Multilingual Education in Practice, Using Diversity as a Resource, by Sandra R. Schecter and Jim Cummins
Teaching for Everyone
For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood...and the Rest of Y'all Too, by Christopher Emdin
Technical Skills
I'm working on my technical skills in the following ways:
Building a website to use as a tool to connect to students and their families and others who want to learn a little about me.
Using various pieces of software to find, make and modify teaching materials and becoming familiar with on-line resources.
Practicing with photo and art-making software to develop my capacity to work in digital image making.
Smartboard workshop- September 2016
Favourite Podcasts
The History of English