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mondaysmadeeasy

Canadian Curriculum Designer and Education Blogger

I listened to an interesting podcast episode from

I listened to an interesting podcast episode from @amrpodcast about feminism from an Indigenous perspective. It had never occurred to me that many Indigenous women were excluded from many feminist movements. To be honest, it wasn't until recently that the intricate relationship between patriarchy and colonialism had even crossed my mind.

Matika Wilbur explains that "if feminism is the fight for equality between men and women, then I would not say that was an issue at all until colonialism arrived here. For me, as a Potlatch person, as a Longhouse person, we had very distinct and important and prominent roles: decision-making roles and power-holding roles... I wouldn't go so far to say we were a matriarchal society, but rather that we were a balanced society. And so if I'm fighting for any type of right, it's the right to restore that balance."

My challenge with myself this month is to redefine my understanding of women's history to include gender justice and transnational experiences.

Who is your favorite womxn in history? I'm here to learn.

Image via @chicksforclimate

This Figurative Language freebie is now available

Wearing pink today in solidarity with those taking

Wearing pink today in solidarity with those taking a stand against bullying ✊🏼⠀
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Today is Anti-Bullying Day, a movement with humble roots in the Maritime province of Nova Scotia, Canada. After witnessing a ninth-grader being bullied for wearing a pink shirt, two students went out of their way to paint the whole school pink. ⠀
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Today is a great occasion to get your students talking about the impact of lifting others up, as well as why others might try to bring them down. Ask your kids what bullying looks like, and challenge them to imagine what standing up to a bully feels like. ⠀
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It's also never been more important to educate kids about how to protect themselves against cyberbullying. ⠀
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Visit pinkshirtday.ca for resources to support targets of bullying and prevent bullying in your school.⠀

A few tips to improve your students' thesis statem

A few tips to improve your students' thesis statements 💓 read more on the blog!

I didn't pay much attention to the lunar cycle unt

I didn't pay much attention to the lunar cycle until I started teaching.⠀
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During my first placement I had a few tough days with my classes, but was fortunate to have a super supportive mentor teacher. "It's a full moon tomorrow," she reminded me. I thought it was a cute notion but I still took my classroom behaviors personally.⠀
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Then I started to check the lunar calendar whenever my day would unexpectedly go a bit wonky. This habit turned into noting the full moon in my classroom planner, just to be safe. ⠀
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I think it goes without saying where my thoughts now lie on this theory 😅 ⠀
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Even if you don't buy into the woo-woo surrounding lunar cycles, it can still be really nice to build a moon ritual into your routine. Full moons are a great opportunity to let something go, and new moons - like today - mark the perfect occasion to start something new. I've started writing down these intentions in my journal because they offer me the ability to reflect back on my plans and keep myself accountable.⠀
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What are your thoughts on lunar cycles?⠀

Here's a fun little way to scaffold the close read

Here's a fun little way to scaffold the close reading process and reinforce figurative language terminology:⠀
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Get students to collaborate on creating a poetic device flashcard deck. This activity leaves you with a set of flip cards that your students can have on hand while you explore your poetry unit.⠀
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Just added these templates to my shop 💫 and it's HALF OFF for the first 24 hours! ⠀

I wanted to end this little series with a few ment

I wanted to end this little series with a few mental health resources and tips for teachers like you:

🤍 Redefine Self-Care: You deserve to be pampered, to spend your hard-earned money on yourself, to take time for little luxuries like massages, baths, and movie marathons. The self-care movement recognizes that sometimes we don't allow ourselves this level of care, knowing that at the root of this is our self-esteem and self-worth. But self-care also involves the efforts that are not so luxurious: setting boundaries, exploring therapy, committing to our treatment plans, saying "no," and having those hard conversations that we avoid when we put ourselves last.

🤍 Consider a Support Group: Does your staff have a wellness committee? If you're feeling lackluster or burnt-out, chances are you're not the only one. Explore the option of meeting on a regular basis with staff to focus on well-being through sharing resources, practicing mindfulness, facilitating a book club, or inviting professionals to speak on the topic of mental health. Support groups are also great for accountability, ensuring that you have someone to check in on your progress and remind you that you're an awesome teacher (even when you're not always a productive one.)

🤍 Utilize Web-Based Resources: We live in the age of information and are surrounded by creative organizations that are truly invested in well-being. A few of my favorites: "Insight Timer" is a free meditation app (check out their "Tonglen" meditation if you are prone to absorbing your students' emotions). "Sanvello" and "TruReach" are CBT-based apps that offer short lessons and exercises to manage stress, anxiety, and depression. "I Am - Positive Affirmations" is a paid app that delivers customizable affirmations based on areas you are focused on improving.

Thank you to those of you who offered your two-cents this week with regards to this subject. If you're curious about any of these resources or just want to chat more, feel free to take this conversation to my DMs - I'm in your corner always.

Have a restful weekend and just feel good about yourself. 💕

Image via @cloudy_thurstag

Here are a few mental health book suggestions to a

Here are a few mental health book suggestions to add to your reading list 📚⠀
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Reading is therapeutic, regardless of the subject. It gives us an opportunity to momentarily step out of our own heads.⠀
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Books about mental health are one of the easiest, most accessible, and convenient ways to improve our well-being, as well as to support the well-being of others. Get a fresh perspective on your thoughts or some professional advice to advocate and hold space for your students, family, and friends.⠀
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Thank you for all of your suggestions to make this list magical 💫 I haven't read them all but I'm excited to add a few of them to my self-care regimen.⠀
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Are any of these books on your list?⠀
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#mindfulnessforkids⠀⠀⠀
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#teachershare

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