Our Program
More Than Academics
More Than Academics
Yes, we will be learning the prescribed Ontario curriculum, but that is more than just academics. It is so important to foster the skills needed to be successful in today's fast paced world; innovation, creativity, self-awareness, self-advocacy, risk-taking, collaboration. Yet, it is imperative that we also remember to ground ourselves in what's right at our fingertips - our environment, our peers, our community. We can not become informed global citizens without a deep understanding of our everyday surroundings.
Yes, we will be learning the prescribed Ontario curriculum, but that is more than just academics. It is so important to foster the skills needed to be successful in today's fast paced world; innovation, creativity, self-awareness, self-advocacy, risk-taking, collaboration. Yet, it is imperative that we also remember to ground ourselves in what's right at our fingertips - our environment, our peers, our community. We can not become informed global citizens without a deep understanding of our everyday surroundings.
I find that having a daily theme helps build familiarity and routine.
I find that having a daily theme helps build familiarity and routine.
Mystery Monday - students will build critical thinking skills as they ask questions and apply information in order to guess a mystery item related to our learning.
Mystery Monday - students will build critical thinking skills as they ask questions and apply information in order to guess a mystery item related to our learning.
Talking Tech Tuesday - friends share what they already know about a specific topic, share with one another, pose new questions, and build connections.
Talking Tech Tuesday - friends share what they already know about a specific topic, share with one another, pose new questions, and build connections.
Wonder-Full Wednesday - brainstorm questions do we have about various topic, new topics, etc. We prime our brains with questions, our brain wants to find the answers - so it stays alert to do so, without us even realizing it.
Wonder-Full Wednesday - brainstorm questions do we have about various topic, new topics, etc. We prime our brains with questions, our brain wants to find the answers - so it stays alert to do so, without us even realizing it.
Thinking Thursday - Problem solving, often around building self-awareness and social skills (e.g., collaboration, conflict resolution, compromise, etc.).
Thinking Thursday - Problem solving, often around building self-awareness and social skills (e.g., collaboration, conflict resolution, compromise, etc.).
Fun Friday - Games!! Playing a variety of games works to build social skills, critical thinking, sportsmanship, perseverance, and self-advocacy; which we don't even realize because we are too busy having fun.
Fun Friday - Games!! Playing a variety of games works to build social skills, critical thinking, sportsmanship, perseverance, and self-advocacy; which we don't even realize because we are too busy having fun.
Outdoor School - I will also be striving to teach outdoors. It can be so difficult to get outside after school as our learners and their grown ups often have very busy schedules. Fostering relationships with nature increases engagement in the learning process, while also grounding friends emotionally. While in 'ouside school' friends are making inferences, generating hypotheses, question, reasearching, etc.
Outdoor School - I will also be striving to teach outdoors. It can be so difficult to get outside after school as our learners and their grown ups often have very busy schedules. Fostering relationships with nature increases engagement in the learning process, while also grounding friends emotionally. While in 'ouside school' friends are making inferences, generating hypotheses, question, reasearching, etc.
I understand that a split grade may have a few of you feeling uneasy - but I promise you we will be learning a ton. Of curriculum, but also independence, confidence, resilience, and collaboration. I also promise - to care for them, to build them up, to help them grow. We are going to have a fantastic year - hold on tight, because the Baxter Bunch is going to blow you away!
I understand that a split grade may have a few of you feeling uneasy - but I promise you we will be learning a ton. Of curriculum, but also independence, confidence, resilience, and collaboration. I also promise - to care for them, to build them up, to help them grow. We are going to have a fantastic year - hold on tight, because the Baxter Bunch is going to blow you away!