How are we Salmon? (Teachers as Learners)

We take inspiration from the Syilx Peoples’ definition of a learner which states: “One who is engaged, resilient and seeks to understand”. As teachers, it is equally as important to keep this in mind each day in order to best model these characteristics to our students.

Abby, one of our current Grade 6 students, said this about the Salmon Chief in one of our knowledge building circles last year: “It would be good to be salmon because this group can be helpful to others.” What Abby touches on here is central to our collaborative teaching model.

In so many scenarios we, the teachers, have had to become a support network during life altering events. Not only would it have been impossible to sustain a stable classroom environment for our students after these events, but our mental state as humans would have unraveled without each other’s professional support. As we build personal resilience together and seek to understand each other we recognize that we are teachers as learners.

“Learning requires exploration of one’s identity”