BY KYLEEN GRAY Literacy learning and vocabulary development are essential skills children must learn and master for success in school, work, and life. The equation is quite simple: literacy skills = school success = employment = physical, mental, and financial health. Traditionally, literacy was a family activity, but it today’s media-drowned world, finding time for…
BY KYLEEN GRAY August is upon us – eek! Just like that, summer zooms by and another school year is at our doorstep. Just yesterday, as I perused our local Walmart, the sales associates were transitioning their summer seasonal area into a full-fledged back to school shopping zone. But what do kids really need for…
BY KYLEEN GRAY Summer is near! But alas, so are the dangers of summer learning loss. Yes, this is a real thing’ Statistics point to summer learning loss as most problematic in the areas of literacy, mathematics and physical activity. How can you bridge the gap for your kids this summer? Read on for some…
BY KYLEEN GRAY As a parent and a teacher, I’m often asked about keys to success in education. Although there are many factors to discuss, including daily attendance, positive relationships with teachers and peers, being engaged in classroom activities, in reality, none of these matter if students don’t have basic literacy skills. In short, research…
BY KYLEEN GRAY To avoid controversy, one must divert discussions away from issues relating to politics and religion. This article will touch on both topics, so fair warning! There have recently been many debates about religion in Ontario public schools – especially focusing on the double standard of minority religions being given special privileges. I…
BY KYLEEN GRAY Like all professions, teaching has its trends: differentiated instruction, 21st-century classroom, streaming then de-streaming, etc. The current hot teaching trend finding its way into classrooms across Ontario is Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL). IBL is essentially a method of learning that is student-centred where teachers guide students through the process of questioning, researching, analyzing,…
