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Incredible TED talk on the power of connection in education
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFnMTHhKdkw[/youtube] Rita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, “They don’t pay me to like the kids.” Her response: “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.’” A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.
Pierson describes simple gestures like apologizing to students when you’ve made a mistake, focusing on their positives attributes and self esteem building. The funniest example of this attitude in action is illustrated when Pierson describes a student who got 18 questions wrong on a twenty question test. Pierson wrote “+2” and a smiley face on the top of the page explaining, “minus 18 sucks all the life out of you. Plus 2 says I ain’t all bad”
The take home message here: Every child deserves a champion and through the power of connection, learning is possible. Well worth watching.
BC school Wi-Fi debate resurfacing
From the Vancouver Sun Article:
Parents fear health effects, despite lack of hard evidence of medical risks
The debate about whether wireless technology in schools poses a health hazard is gaining steam, says the president of the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils (BCCPAC).
Health Canada insists there is no convincing evidence that exposure to low-level radio frequency energy from Wi-Fi poses a health hazard,
Celebrate Canadian Children’s Book Week, May 4-11
From bookweek.ca:
Join us in celebrating TD Canadian Children’s Book Week and bring the magic of books and reading to children all across Canada!
TD Canadian Children’s Book Week is the single most important national event celebrating Canadian children’s books and the importance of reading. Close to 35,000 children, teens and adults participate in activities held in every province and territory across the country. Hundreds of schools, public libraries, bookstores and community centres host events as part of this major literary festival.
Attend one of the public Book Week 2013 events in your area: http://events.bookcentre.ca/book-week
Chinese Canadian Stories Project — for Students and Teachers
May 4, 2013, 10.00AM-2.00PM at Richmond Public Library