The Canada field experience with Fulbright would have not been the same success without these wonderful people. It was truly a transformational experience - because of the participants and the rich program that Fulbright put together for us. Back: Jorge, Ahlam, Whitney, Heather, Shari, Olivia, Kerri, Stephanie, Lincoln, Anastazia, and guest Middle: Matt, Terresa, Miho, Tündi and guest Front: Rey, Marissa, Becky, Jessica, Samara, Edith, Becks, Katherine and guest Not featured: Amy, Marietta,Natalie Eat: Literally, I gained 5 lbs during these 10 days. Best food with the best company ever! Pray: We talked and talked and talked about teaching, religion, culture, life, love, and deepest secrets. Love: I feel I have gained Eat-Pray-Love sisters. I so hope we keep in touch! It's been a pleasure. Thank you, All.
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Inclusion is presence in Canada. June is Pride Month, and literally everywhere one can find Pride flags and symbols. But Canada goes even beyond that. Take a look at these photos to see how else inclusion - languages, religions, origins, and cultures - is being everywhere in Canada. What's like to be a teacher in Canada? "Teachers are treated well nationally and can not only expect to earn very attractive salaries but great work benefits too. Most teachers in Canada, according to Payscale, earn an average salary of $68,321 per year but can earn up to $96,000 depending on work experience, qualification, and level of your profession." Source: https://canadianvisa.org/ 8 Reasons to Immigrate to Canada
Source: https://www.careercanadaimmigration.com/blogs/reasons-to-immigrate-to-canada/ In case you want to know about Canada's immigration policy, click here.
My guiding question: What are ways to involve minority students and their families in school life? How schools can attract parents who do not speak the language of the school to be involved? My focus is on immigrant students and their families who are still learning English (French?). Reflection: I will admit that before I left for Canada, I was - well - miffed. I did not want to go to Canada with Fulbright! I had been to Canada twice and besides, Canada was practically the continuation of the US, right? Why would I go there with my Fulbright scholarship? I wanted to go to a country where I could show how to teach and where local teachers could learn from me. It did not even occur to me that I I was the one who should have learned. Until Canada. I am humbled by the experience that I have gained during this trip to Canada. I returned from Canada with ideas that I wish to implement in my school. Inclusion and diversity were o omnipresent in a scale that I had never experienced before. Teachers were appreciated not only by the community at large but financially as well. "Today, nearly 90% of Canadians between the ages of 20 and 24 have a high school diploma." (https://uwaterloo.ca/) In the US, only 8 states show similar statistics (https://nces.ed.gov/). Thus, while my guiding question not necessarily has been answered, I have gained so many other answers. Toronto/Ontario: The curriculum in Ontario embraced and acknowledged the indigenous people whose land have been used by settlers for centuries. As for English language learners, "every public school board [in Ontario] does offer optional learning opportunities for students to learn and develop their home language through the provincially-funded International Languages Program" (https://www.colorincolorado.org/article/english-language-learners-policy-and-school-support-ontario-canada). English learners spend a school year focusing on English learning before they start taking academic classes. The school we visited had multiple languages on campus and - talking with students - all were welcomed. Saskatoon/Saskatchewan: Although I did not meet English learners in Saskatoon, I did with minority students. Visiting St. Frances proved how one community - along with the willingness of the officials - could make a difference in many minority families. All in all, I am extremely happy and satisfied with my Fulbright trip to Canada. Despite my own (wrong) assumptions, Canada does have many ideas to offer in education. When it comes to educating minority students and involving their parents, we in the US have much to learn from Canada.
From Rob Norris, we learned about the history of education in Canada, and "the structure and initiates of the largest school division in Saskatchewan." In the afternoon, we hae a chance to explore Remai Modern, a public art museum that was established by a Hungarian. Of course. :-) Catholic schools are publicly funded in Canada. We visited St. Frances, which is the home of the Cree bilingual education. The story of the school is remarkable! Talking about parent involvement! The entire existence of this bilingual school is based on parental initiation. While the school is based on Catholic faith, they also embrace indigenous beliefs. St. Frances:
Visiting St. Frances was the highlight of my trip to Canada. The parents' enthusiasm, the teachers' dedication, and the students' presence were contiguous. I wish all the best to them on their new building!
What can I learn about Saskatoon ASAP???
Wanuskewin Heritage Park "Wanuskewin Heritage Park sits above the Opimihaw Creek and the South Saskatchewan River near Saskatoon – a window into a part of Canada’s history that remains largely undiscovered, and a link to our past unlike any other National Historic Site in Canada. Wanuskewin’s uniqueness is not just the fact that there exists evidence of ancient peoples, but rather the composition of many different aspects of habitation, hunting and gathering, and spirituality – all in one place." https://wanuskewin.com/our-story/ Our guide is Candace Wasacase-Lafferty, First Nation Cree member. From her, I have learned that
BISON Bison meant life to First Nations: literally, a significant resource for food and spiritually, a symbol of their existence. The extinction of bison also symbolizes the declination of First Nations just like the return the bison to Wanuskewin does the reclamation of their heritage. On a very personal note: Tonight was my first ever karaoke experience.
Whitehorse, here we come! - so I thought this morning. But things have changed overnight: This is a COVID test tube. Unfortunately, one of our members tested positive, so instead of going to the remote area of Whitehorse, our group is diverted to Saskatoon. Weeks of getting ready for Whitehorse, reading about it, exploring its beauty, I'm diverted to Saskatoon. This is when a traveler keeps an open mind and embraces the situation. Saskatoon, here I come! Little did I know how much the diversion to Saskatoon would change my life. As Ahlam said, " those who had to be in Saskatoon ended up in Saskatoon." And she was write.
"If there is a door in your classroom, then there should be outdoor education as well" - I loosely paraphrase the basis of outdoor education in Ontario. And you know you are in Canada when the pretension begins with the land Acknowledgement. "One of nine outdoor education centres within the Toronto District School Board, Forest Valley is designated to provide safe, active, and enriching learning experiences by immersing participants in the environment and enabling them to practice personal responsibility and develop respect for themself, for others, and for their world." From Mr. David Hawker-Budlovsky, Centrally Assigned Principal (this is his title, really), I have learned that
Musee Royal De L'Ontario/Royal Ontario MuseumIchthyosaurs from Nevada! The beer named after this dino is equally precious! :-) |