Pulling it all Together

 I'll just touch briefly on a few things that happened last week at school, that all fit under the theme of "pulling it all together". It'd be nice if all of these projects were wrapped up by the end of the calendar year - I'll give a status report at the end of each paragraph on how close we are to "wrapping it up".

Claymation Movies

One of the collaborative teaching times I'm involved with this term involves Matthew Malisani's Grade 4-5 class. The students are filming claymation, stop-motion mini-films. Matthew did a lot of the heavy lifting related to this project; my contributions came with teaching about script-writing and providing a bigger space and an extra pair of eyes to support students as they completed their work.

It takes so long to complete! The goal is to have them finished by the end of this week. STATUS: Half finished

ESL Non-Fiction Books

The Junior Division ESL students were looking at features of information books, with the goal of writing their own simple non-fiction book in Book Creator. For my group, it appears as if they aren't quite grasping the concept. Most won't be done by December. STATUS: Not finished

Winter Concert

The Winter Concert was held on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Although I did not have any groups (except for choir) performing in this year's concert, I was still involved in the preparation. Our final number of the concert was a huge extravaganza. Brenda Kim's Grade 5-6 class worked in conjunction with The Wushu Project and performed an intricate Dragon Dance that involved almost every member of the class. There were times when we worried that it wasn't going to all come together in time for the show, but somehow it coalesced into a wonderful spectacle. STATUS: Finished (and much appreciated!)

STEM Pigloos

The Primary Division classes have been working on designing cage enclosures for our school pet skinny pigs. Their plans had to demonstrate aspects of Science (knowing about skinny pig behaviour and preferences), Technology / Engineering (showing how to connect the cardboard without glue or tape that could harm the animals), and Math (measurements). This week, I introduced them to the concept of nets, so that they could reduce the number of connections they'd need to make to assemble their mini-habitats. Some groups have finally started cutting their cardboard. STATUS: Not finished

Grade 7 Coding

One of my other collaborative teaching units involves coding with Farah Wadia's Grade 7-8 class. Farah is coding with Python with the Grades 8s, while I am coding with Scratch with the Grade 7s. My very kind son has been supporting me with this project. He designed a short quiz to review some of the required vocabulary. These are the expectations:

C3.1 

solve problems and create computational representations of mathematical situations by writing and executing efficient code, including code that involves events influenced by a defined count and/or subprogram and other control structures

C3.2 

read and alter existing code, including code that involves events influenced by a defined count and/or subprogram and other control structures, and describe how changes to the code affect the outcomes and the efficiency of the code

Unfortunately, the students did not do as well as we had hoped. We will have to reteach the vocabulary, redesign the quiz, and provided another opportunity to demonstrate they understand what a control structure is so that they will be able to read it and alter it. STATUS: Not finished 

Even though it feels great to have projects completed at the end of a certain period, I just need to remind myself that we have time. This week will be full of sick students and extra activities, so I need to be flexible and adjust my expectations. 

 

Sweet and Bittersweet

 It's the last month of the calendar year, and keeping students focused on learning when there are all sorts of distractions around can be difficult. Today's blog focuses on a recent successful series of lessons with our MLLs (multilingual learners) in our ESL classes, as well as our recent 2025 First Lego League Qualifier / Regional Competition.

Spicing Up Lessons on Comparative/Superlative Adjectives and Noun/Verb Agreement

It was less about spice and more about sweets for this lesson! The activity served multiple purposes. The theme emerged after I asked students to make a list about things they'd like to get from me as a present. We learned about the qualities of a list (written in a column, sentences not required) and in their lists, I noticed that a lot of them requested candy. There are lots of different kinds of candy, so I decided to purchase a few different kinds of candy so that we could have a taste test. It was important for me to discover which kind of candies they liked the best, so that I didn't waste money on buying treats that they would not want to eat.

I actually conducted this lesson twice and improved it the second time. The first time I taught it, I wrote the names of the candies for them. This led to a bit of a backlog. The second time I taught it, we were able to review how to write adjectives and how to determine if we should use "IS" or "ARE" as the verb in our sentences, based on if the noun was singular or plural. Plus, with little cards with the names of the specific candies on them, I could shuffle and rotate the cards among the students, meaning there was less wait time between them writing, sampling, and then evaluating.

I really liked how I was able to differentiate this lesson. I conducted it with both my primary division ESL students and my junior division ESL students. For the STEP 1 primary division ESL students, we focused on the words good and bad. For the STEP 2 primary division ESL students, we added more words, such as best. For the STEP 3 and 4 junior division ESL students, they had to use other adjectives that I introduced on the first day, such as soft (softer / softest), sweet (sweeter / sweetest), and tasty (tastier / tastiest). Below is a sample of the "easiest" version of the task.

For my junior division STEP 1 and 2 ESL students, we added another oral component to the activity. We went to the office and asked our wonderful office administrator, Ms. Williams, to try some of the candy and tell us what she thought. 

I'll write about Ms. Deliah Williams at length some time in the future. Let me just say here that she is such an important part of my ESL program. She isn't a trained educator, but she knows exactly what to ask my ESL students and what to say to them to encourage them to talk in English to her. I didn't tell her the lesson objectives beforehand, but she a) listened intently as each child asked her to try a candy, b) acknowledged their efforts by trying every candy she was offered, c) used the vocabulary we were working on to describe what she personally thought of the candy, and d) asked the students which candy they liked the best, and rephrased it to ask which was their favourite type.

The data, based on their written responses, will help me select which candies to buy for their gifts. Having the sweets was an extremely motivating task and I had students who are usually reluctant writers quickly complete their sentences so that they could have more snacks. What I really loved seeing was how some of the students helped the others who were struggling. My fellow ESL teacher said she was so pleased with the results that she is considering doing the same task with the intermediate division ESL students.

York Mills C.I. Qualifying Tournament for First Lego League

On Saturday, December 6, 2025, Matthew Malisani and I took eight students to York Mills Collegiate Institute to participate in a major competition. We have been working since the first week of school to prepare for this First Lego League event. 

The students were super-excited and super-nervous. 5/8 of the team had done this last year, and for 3/8 of them, this was their first time. 

Matthew began the day on a sweet note by providing loot bags filled with treats and toys for each competitor.

Our school principal came by to see the students in action. He generously financed our AMPS Robotics t-shirts, which included the Unearthed design created by one of the team members. (Even the coaches got shirts.)

We were really well prepared, and started out quite strong. Points are earned during Robot Game challenges, as part of the Innovation Project presentation, and for Robot Design. At one point during the day, we were in first place for points on the leaderboard. (We have photographic evidence to prove it!)

Last year was our first year competing. We didn't expect to rank, but we were surprised and delighted when we earned the Rising All-Star prize. This year, we had high hopes. Our robot was built better than last year. Our presentation was well-rehearsed and hit all of the required elements within the allotted time. During our rehearsed practice matches, we earned more points and completed more missions than we had the year before. In 2024 we were in the top 40%, placing 17th out of 43 teams. This year, we were in the top 55%, placing 6th (I believe) out of 11 teams. It was a little bittersweet, knowing that we had improved as a team but not enough to earn a place at the provincial competition. 

The students still had a wonderful time, both during the official portions of the day, and during their "off times". They played games like Buildzi, Spot It, Ring and Ding Ding, and Tenzi, ate McDonalds for lunch, and were rewarded with snacks and 3D printed fidget clickers (sold by the York Mills C.I. Robotics Team as a fundraiser).

Big thanks to the students on our team (J, J, J, E, E, A, L, S) as well as L and E's family members, who also came to see their children compete. Even though the end result wasn't what we were hoping for, it was a great learning experience. 

Talk Shop

 I mentioned in my blog post from last week describing the ETFO ICT Conference and the OTF Fall Curriculum Forum that in the same week, I had also attended the Level Up Skilled Trades Fair. I expressed hope that I'd be able to describe the experience at some point. Well, this is the post, but first, a preamble.

Background - Taking Shop in the Past

Back when I was in Grade 7 and 8, we used to take "Home Ec" and "Shop". Once a week, the intermediate division students from my school would board a bus and go to Charles Gordon P.S. so that we could have instruction in four areas: sewing, cooking, woodwork and metal. 

I've written about my initial experience with sewing and how my mother's expertise unintentionally discouraged me from pursuing it until I was an adult in my 40s. 

My cooking skills are not particularly impressive; thank goodness my husband is an excellent chef. I can prepare breakfast and bake a few things (although I vividly recall a cookie exchange I participated in during my first few years of teaching that lives in infamy). 

Interestingly enough, my forays into woodworking and metal work were more successful. I made a little Pinocchio figure out of wood that still hangs in my parents' basement. My metal project was grander but had a sadder ending. I designed a mobile with stars hanging from a cloud, but someone stole it before I could take it home. 

I am sorry that these experiences are no longer offered as part of the regular learning for intermediate division students. We try our best to replicate the experience with our STEM lab, but it's not quite the same.

TDSB Guidance Professional Learning

On November 25, I attended a board-wide workshop geared towards elementary and secondary school educators with guidance in their portfolio. It was actually very informative. 

In the morning, we heard from Matt Bradley from OYAP encouraging us to promote the skilled trades. He shared some statistics, such as only 10% of 25 year-olds are still pursuing the same career they wanted at age 15. 

One of the sessions in the afternoon was the opportunity to partake in some hands-on learning, supported by Central Tech students. One group had a Plumbing activity where they built a mini soccer goal out of pipes. Our group had an Electricity activity. We learned how to wire a light bulb to a switch. My colleague and friend Kim Davidson worked together and we got it to work.

Level Up Skilled Trades Career Fair - Oshawa

On Tuesday, November 18, all of the Grade 7s and 8s in my school went all the way to Oshawa to attend the Level Up Skilled Trades Career Fair. This was a great opportunity to explore all the different jobs related to the trades. There were a lot of interactive activities for the students to explore, from using miniatures to mimic landscaping plans, to building their own hula hoops with PVC pipes, from changing tires to making metal tool boxes.

I chatted with a few of the representatives there. They explained about how, as a young person entering the profession, they are well compensated and the business also provides benefits and decent pensions, two things that often aren't considered seriously until people get older. Many of the people we met make way more money than I do as a teacher with 29 years of experience and the same employer for decades. 

I was so delighted with what I learned at the Oshawa Level Up Skilled Trades Career Fair that I arranged to take my son to the same event when it was held later in November in Mississauga. 

Level Up Skilled Trades Career Fair - Mississauga

On November 26, my husband, son and I drove out (after an already busy day shopping at the GTA Resource Fair) to The International Centre for some specific exploration. This version of the fair was even more impressive than the one we saw in Oshawa! My son had the opportunity to try out many different occupations on display, from masonry to auto body painting, from virtual welding to metal work. I may have gone a wee bit overboard with all the photo taking, but I was keen to document all the things Peter saw and did so that he could have artifacts to help him with his post-fair reflection. (I also included his scores on the welding and painting, in case anyone is impressed with my son's untrained talent and wants to take him on as an apprentice right away ;>).

I even had the chance to try out some pipe fitting. Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks! I need to work on my grip strength, though. 

This experience demonstrated to me that we really need to expose our young people to the skilled trades as often as possible. In school, students are surrounded by educators who selected a particular career path (teaching) that does not always provide enough alternative examples of possibilities. We aren't deliberating omitting options, but we need to make a concentrated effort to promote this avenue of work and employment.

Bonus Content - GTA Resource Fair

I mentioned that on November 26, prior to going to the Career Fair, I was at the GTA Resource Fair. This year was a bit more challenging to get to the fair, between missed trains and extra-rigorous interrogations about our reasons for attending. 

My students never fail to impress me. This year, the Library Helper co-presidents declared that it was unjust to only take into consideration the viewpoints of the library helpers on the trip; they insisted on capturing what the entire student body wanted in terms of books for the library. Therefore, they took it upon themselves to create a Google Form survey to ask students about the books they wanted to be purchased. The co-presidents also visited each of the primary division classes to talk to them in person and collect information on the types of books they wanted. Then, they compiled the results into lists for the library helper shoppers to consult as they browsed.

This group proved that it is worth the extra effort to give students leadership and opportunity to make these decisions. It was a different kind of "shop" that they were at, but the real-world financial literacy and collaboration lessons were still instructive and useful.