This month has been a lot. Teachers have been on strike now for three full weeks. We have lost time with our students so we will have to work doubly hard to make up. We have learned that the government never had any intention of negotiating a fair deal, and we have lost thousands of dollars in salary and pension. I have said time and again this isn’t about money; it’s about classroom conditions.I’m holding true to that because if it were about money, I would have voted yes to return weeks ago.

I have been sitting here this week reflecting a lot on teaching. There is uncertainty at the moment about what this year will look like. Alberta teachers are in the midst of a contract dispute, and the chances of job action are increasing every day. The government does not seem keen on negotiating, and teachers have authorized their professional organization leadership to strike if necessary. I think about the last few years and the time I am required to put in outside of my contracted hours, a

Years ago, I was told about a PD that was happening around a book called Notice and Note; the authors, Bob Probst and Kylene Beers, were in the area, and it came recommended. I had not heard of them or their work before this, but I figured I should give it a shot. I know it is probably cliché to say. Still, that session and the friendship that I later developed with them both have changed me as an educator, and their impact on my classroom will very likely continue in some form or another until

The words we write for ourselves are always so much better than the words we write for others. -William Forrester The other day, we were watching Finding Forrester in my 30-2 English class. William's words above made me think about writing instruction and our work. I started writing this post a few days ago with the idea that I would mostly drag the standardized writing exam my students have to do this year, but with a few days between now and then, I am shifting my focus. I want to celebrate m

YouTube video by Kate & Maggie Literacy Consultants

"Create space for genius, and genius will emerge." I lost a little faith that the genius would emerge this term. Students proved me wrong.