Pedagogy is the science and art of education. Here is a collection of some of my personal highlights over the past two years at our school. I am so pleased to be back at our school again in the fall :)!
Social Responsibility
Light It Up Blue
April is Autism Awareness Month!
This year our school is recognizing April as a special opportunity to educate the public about autism. Our class has enjoyed several lessons presented by Mrs. Pakenham from the We CAN (Canucks Autism Network) Be Friends program.
On April 2, World Autism Awareness Day, our school wore blue and went on a walk to support Autism Awareness.
Bugsme & Sir Helpsalot
This week during Mrs. Pakenham’s visit we finished reading My Brother Is Autistic and then we were introduced to two new friends of Pinkus:
Meet Bugsme and Sir Helpsalot.
Mrs. Pakenham would like us to discuss:
- 1 or 2 things that bug you
- 2 or 3 things you could do to solve your problems
One Day
Today is Pink Shirt Day and what an amazing day it was!
Students in our school brainstormed words that represented Pink Shirt Day to them, and then we were able to create these tshirts with their words!
We surprised everyone at our assembly with our performance to the song, “One Day”.
Next, we snuck down to the middle school in town to show them our flashmob to celebrate Pink Shirt Day.
In class we have been reading the story, “Mr. Peabody’s Apples” by Madonna.
Today we made our own pillows by sewing fleece.
Next, we regretfully took a pair of scissors and cut a hole in our beautiful pillows.
Although we were sorry, we could not take back what we did.
We could, however, stitch them up as best we could.
How does the story of “Mr. Peabody’s Apples” relate to Pink Shirt Day?
What was your favourite part about Pink Shirt Day this year?
愛
Today we had a very special guest come to our class…Yuko, Tsuyoshi’s mom. Together, the two of them taught us how to write love in Japanese.
After that, they taught us how to say I love you in Japanese.
Speaking of love…I’m really looking forward to our Pink Shirt Day assembly on Wednesday, February 26!
How was it writing in Japanese? Hard? Easy?
How are Japanese books and writing different than we have in English?
Pinkus
Our friend, Pinkus, and Mrs. Pakenham visited our class again today and this time we got to try out some fun stations to help us understand how the senses are different in people with autism.
Feel the Difference
Optical Illusions
Refine Your Writing
Listen Up
All Thumbs
What Stinks?
What did you find challenging about each activity?
How did these activities change your feelings towards Pinkus and other people with autism?
We CAN Be Friends
Today we had a special visit from Mrs. Pakenham to talk about We CAN Be Friends. She will be coming into our classroom over the next few weeks to talk about friendship and empathy in preparation for Autism Awareness Month in April.
What does the CAN stand for in “We CAN Be Friends”?
What are the five senses? How are the senses different in people with autism?
What special super sense did your superhero have?
Kindness Boomerang
Since the beginning of the school year we have talked about Respect. We have had discussions in our classroom and with our school counsellor, Mrs. Neil, read stories like “Hey Little Ant”, created artwork, and watched videos like the Kindness Boomerang:
And now, in February, we will once again be celebrating Pink Shirt Day. Check back soon to see how we will be inspired this year ;).
What is the kindness boomerang about?
Why should we celebrate Pink Shirt Day?
How does respect relate to Pink Shirt Day?
When I Was Eight
Last week we read this book with our Aboriginal coordinator, Mrs. Keiver. It is about a young Inuit girl, Olemaun (OO-lee-mawn), from Banks Island who really wants to learn to read. She travels by boat to Aklavik in the Northwest Territories to a residential school.
Why do you think Olemaun wants to learn to read?
Why is it important to learn to read?
Do you think you are lucky to be able to go to a school?
Feathers and Fools
Our class, along with Mrs. Taggart’s grade 2 class, recently explored a learning sequence on the book Feathers and Fools.
Throughout this sequence, we focused on powerful questioning and predicting. The final task involved writing in role as the baby swan or peacock to show what life was like for them on the first day they were born. Mrs. Taggart and I were so impressed with our students’ participation in these activities. Here are a few samples of some of the activities we did:
“I hatched out of my egg and felt the breeze of the soft wind coming to my wet feathers and I tried to make my way to the peacock…”
(Parker)
“I pecked my way out. It was a hot day on the day I was born. It was quiet, a little too quiet. I was curious why there wasn’t any more of me. And then I saw it. There was something over there. Could it be? Another swan? I waddled over there as fast as my little legs could carry me…”
(Eden)
Why did Mrs. Taggart and I pick this story to read to you?
What is the important message in this story?