Earlier this year we donated our storytelling table to a new classroom in the school which really needed more furniture. But we  missed our storytelling table and (sigh) really yearned for it's return and some of the children would wish regularly that it would pop back into the room. I really thought that I would be able to make a platform to replace it but life is too busy.  Then voila!! Something happened. We were walking back from the seashore when we looked up and noticed a Shaw truck was parked across the street with large wooden spools. We stopped and greeted the workman and yes he had nineteen children and two adults calling "Hello". He looked to the left and to the right and then pointed to himself. We shouted yes and he walked across the street to chat. We asked for a spool to create a new storytelling table. He returned to work, sorted through the yard filled with empty spools and showed up in our classroom an hour later with four spools. Two fo...

www .strongnations.com https://www.amazon.ca/Outside-Our-Window-developing-primary/dp/1771741953 Nature based classrooms are powerful programs that seamlessly merge early childhood and env ironmental education to develop a lifelong connection with the natural world.  This book is for preschool and K-4 primary educators who are thinking about adding a nature component to their current program and for those who have started to take their students outside and are looking for more information to run a successful and safe outdoor program. This user-friendly book provides guidance on how to organize, manage and resource a nature early learning program. Available through www.strongnations.com and amazon.ca and amazon.com ...

The kindness tree is on display outside of our classroom for the school community to enjoy. The children have resumed their Kindness Inquiry and have been busy noticing when kindness happens. It is now embedded in our classroom culture. Children are offering to help each other throughout the day and noticing kindness. I have been eavesdropping on their conversations and posting them on their hallway mural. Here are a few examples just from yesterday: "I can help you carry that"  "Do you want me to zip that up for you"  "Let me put that into your backpack for you"  "Do you want me to go with you to get the ladder"  "We can share these"  "I'm sorry that happened, let me get you some ice"  "Watch out for that worm, he is right on the path"  "Let's do it together, then it will be fair" "He is playing alone, can I change centres and play with him" "...

I recently returned from the International Work Study in Reggio, Italy. I was immersed in the Reggio pedagogy for early learning ages 0-7. This approach to learning is unique to Italy, indeed they were very clear that you would not want to transplant it as one of the key components is that it reflects the interests and needs of their community, culture and government. Yet this approach yields many elements that can be generalized to educators world wide and that I believe can be adapted to public school.  Because children begin formal schooling at age 7 their approach is generally for ages 0 - 7. However, they have recently opened a Reggio elementary school for ages 7 - 11 where the approach is being applied successfully. This teacher framed, child led approach to learning is very appealing to many teachers in BC and we have a growing number of classrooms which offer Reggio inspired programs. It complements the First Nations principles of learning as well as outdoor ...

Well it feels like it took forever but the books have arrived and are available through Amazon.ca and Strong Nations Bookstore!!!!! https://www.amazon.ca/Outside-Our-Window-developing-primary/dp/1771741953/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492872692&sr=8-1&keywords=outside+our+window ...