Picture This!

A learning eco-system where the fluidity of where student thinking occurs is based upon the needs of the child and is framed to encourage critical thought, creativity and collaboration with a diverse group of peers. The world is ever changing and the “institution of school” is evolving with it. For those of us who want […]

Being a Farmer

This week I presented at Discovery Education’s Ignite Vancouver. This is my 5 minute presentation. Please excuse the run-on sentences and poor punctuation. It is written like I spoke it – fast. Last year a researcher travelling the globe studying education systems around the world asked me this question. This is a great question because […]

Engaging the Third Teacher

This year we have been exploring Learning Spaces as part of our Dare to go Further journey with student learning. As a school that has implemented the IDEC model, we have transformed the way students think through their experience with inquiry-based learning. Our students know how to ask critical questions to delve deeper into their understanding […]

Our Approach to BYOD

At the end of June last year we sent a letter home to all of our grade 5-7 parents notifying them that Ridgeview Elementary was initiating a Bring Your Own Device program and that all students in these grades were expected to have a personal device to start the school year. Within the first week […]

10 Thoughts

I always enjoy Elliotte Friedman’s 30 Thoughts opinion piece on CBC Sports so I thought I would try my own version as I reflect back on the first three months of the school year. 1. Inquiry continues to deepen its roots throughout the classrooms at Ridgeview. Our foundations of time, collaboration, and trust have allowed […]

Reflecting on our Innovation

Yesterday educators in the West Vancouver School District came together at Sentinel Secondary to share the process and results of their inquiries from throughout the year. The innovation grants provided by the district allowed teachers and administrators the opportunity to innovate in their classrooms and schools. Our innovation grant at Ridgeview Elementary was around providing […]

My TED Journey – A Personal Passion Project

If you are doing something you love, an hour feels like 5 minutes. Sir Ken Robinson Our committee has spent many “5 minute blocks” over the past few months organizing TEDxWestVancouverED and it has been the ultimate Passion Project. Where did TEDxWestVancouverED come from? Over my years spent in Japan, I became quite a fan of […]