Connecting Teachers Across Canada Canadian Teacher January/February 2013 MAGAZINE PM# 40010049 CanadianTeacherMagazine.com FREE SUBSCRIPTION to Canadian Schools 2 January/February 2013 CANADIAN TEACHER MAGAZINE lava ESSENTIALS crater FOR THE WELL EQUIPPED CLASSROOM Epson equips 21st century classrooms for engagement and collaboration. Standardize on Epson and make an investment in your Check out Epson’s full lineup of products, classrooms with products known for their value request a catalog, or contact your rep. and the service and savings available through the Epson Brighter Futures program. Visit Epson.ca/K12-CATeach DOCUMENT ACCESSORIES: CARTS, MOUNTS, CLASSROOM CAMERAS SOUND ENHANCEMENT PROJECTORS LARGE VENUE PROJECTORS SHORT-THROW PROJECTORS INTERACTIVE SOLUTIONS EPSON and PowerLite are registered trademarks, and EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. Brighter Futures and BrightLink are registered trademarks of Epson America, Inc. Copyright 2012 Epson America, Inc. Product specifications are subject to change without notice. CANADIAN TEACHER MAGAZINE January/February 2013 3 442-134_Epson_CA_CATeach_JanFeb13_FP_Ad_FNL.indd 1 12/20/12 12:19 PM CANADIAN TEACHER MAGAZINE what’s inside from the editor 4 From the Editor his issue of Canadian Teacher Magazine is another celebration of 5 Ghost and Goodbye the energy and passion of educators across our country. We are very ~ Michael Ernest Sweet happy to share with you the ideas and accomplishments of your Tcolleagues and to focus on the good stuff that is happening in Canadian reflections schools. This is a good time to thank our contributors who generously 6 Exit the Fast Lane take the time to write about what is on their minds, what they are learning, ~ Gu Zhenzhen successes in their classrooms, and the enthusiasm they feel for their features vocation. We also celebrate the talents of Canadians who contribute to the 8 Minor League Events Can Cause education of our children in other ways—the amazing authors and illustrators of Canadian children’s Major League Trauma literature who help to reflect and define what it means to be Canadian. ~ Scott Coleman Michael Sweet, one of our frequent contributors, leaves us because he needs to make time to pursue his 10 Can Write: iain Lawrence interest in photography, and Gu Zhenshen embraces the time she now has to spend with her family because ~ Margriet Ruurs work opportunities are fewer. This “taking care of yourself” concept is a great resolution to carry forward 12 Meeting Joe Fafard in 2013. I am reminded of one of my favourite quotes from Robert Louis Stevenson: There is no duty we ~ irv Osterer so much underrate as the duty to be happy. Note that Stevenson doesn’t mention a duty to be busy. I hope that as you plan for the rest of this school year, you will be sure to take care of yourself and make happiness a from the classroom priority. Sift through the many demands of modern life and choose to do what is important to you and what 14 The Clay Game brings you joy or satisfaction. ~ Agnieszka Chalas With warm wishes for a wonderful year ahead, 15 Creative Arts for High School Students ~ Terry Ann Carter 17 Goofy Groundhogs - Activity insert Canadian Teacher Magazine 19 Names Will Never Hurt Me - Activity insert Canadian Teacher Magazine is sent to all English speaking schools across Canada as a FREE 21 Happy Valentine’s Day, Planet Earth ~ Larraine Roulston subscription. If your school does not wish to receive a free copy of the magazine please contact us at: 22 Making Predictions with [email protected] Creative Non-fiction ~ Brenda Boreham We welcome your reaction to the ideas presented in Canadian Teacher Magazine and your 23 The Activity Shoe thoughts about education today. Share your ideas and class projects with your colleagues ~ Brent D. Bradford across Canada in the magazine. Visit our Submissions page on the CTM website. 25 book reviews retirement CanadianTeacherMagazine.com 28 Retirement information Today ~ Enise Olding and Carol Baird-Krul Want to be the first to see the latest issue of Canadian Teacher Magazine? healthy living Follow us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/#!/canteachmag 29 Maple Syrup travel 30 A Town Like Alice Subscribe to receive your own copy or multiple copies for your school! ~ Alan Boreham 1 Year Individual Subscription (5 issues): $20 (Outside Canada – $40) 32 news 2 Year Individual Subscription (10 issues): $35 (Outside Canada – $60) 34 events 10 Copy School Subscription (5 issues): $75 35 the bulletin board SUBSCRIBE ONLINE at CanadianTeacherMagazine.com CANADIAN TEACHER MAGAZINE Canadian Teacher Magazine is an independent publication, Jan/Feb 2013 Issue, Volume 9, Number 3, Copyright 2013 published by Pacific Edge Publishing Ltd. Postal Agreement #40010049 • Postage paid Vancouver, BC One free copy is sent to schools and universities in Canada. Editor Diana Mumford Printed in Canada on recycled paper using vegetable based inks. Publisher Ron Mumford Yearly iSSuES: Sept / Nov / Jan / Mar / May Contributing Editor Brenda Boreham Copy Editing Jenni Gehlbach CANADIAN TEACHER MAGAZINE Advertising Manager Cheryl Diels 1773 El Verano Drive, Gabriola, BC Cover: iStock photo Canada V0R 1X6 Writing not otherwise credited is by CTM staff. Email: [email protected] The opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the publishers. Website: CanadianTeacherMagazine.com 4 January/February 2013 CANADIAN TEACHER MAGAZINE Early Chapter Books At-level fi ction for ages 7 to 9 GHOST AND GOODBYE $6.95 each Eric Walters Illustrated by David Parkins When Christina and her family adopt Prince, a by Michael Ernest Sweet retired greyhound, they discover that Prince has a lot to learn about being ear Colleagues and Friends, Before I sign off one last time, I’d like to take part of a family. I write this, my last column, with a this opportunity to reach out to you, my colleagues. heavy heart. I am of two minds about my I’d like to encourage you to write for this maga- 9781459802001 Ddecision, but, alas, I know that the time is right for zine. Whether you write one essay or reflection, or me to leave. When I began writing for Canadian whether you become a regular, just do it—write. Sara Cassidy Illustrated by Amy Meissner Teacher Magazine a few years ago, I was in the midst It’s a wonderful experience and you will form many Leland just needs a little of expanding my career as an educator. I wanted new contacts, friends even, from coast to coast encouragement when it comes to his artistic gifts to offer workshops, speak at conferences, write for to coast. Share what works for you in your teach- so that he can fi nd the trade publications and reach out to other teachers ing practice or comment on what doesn’t. Both confi dence he needs to better communicate with to collaborate and grow. I did. It has been a fabulous are useful for others to experience through your his grade two teacher. few years. Canadian Teacher Magazine stands out insights. Teaching can be a very isolating career and among all these experiences as one of the very best. writing for CTM can help bring you out into the 9781554699919 But the time has come for me to admit to myself collegial world. Canada has thousands and thou- that I have too many fingers in too many pies. sands of teachers. Get to know some of them. Get Sigmund Brouwer Although I have been a photographer for most yourself out of your comfortable little shell and Illustrated by Dave of my life—I began clicking away around the age challenge yourself to pick up the quill or dust off Whamond of ten—it has become somewhat serious in the the typewriter. Or, if you must, use an iPad. Just get Justine and her pooper- scooper crew try to get past couple of years. With my hard work and ded- writing! I’m counting on you and so is CTM. their school librarian back where they need her— ication, success has followed. With success has in the library. come interviews, photo essays in magazines, travel, Michael Ernest Sweet is a Canadian *The third book in the series and even a book deal. In other words, photography award-winning educator, writer about the Queen of Green! is taking up all of my “out of the classroom” time. It and photographer. He is a recent recipient of the Prime Minister’s 9781554699315 is this passion to which I must now commit myself Award and the Queen Elizabeth wholeheartedly. As a result, I have decided to “retire” II Diamond Jubilee Medal for from all the peripheral educational activities that significant contributions to Canada. have dominated my life over the past decade. No View more of his photography at more conference talks, no more leading workshops michaelsweetphotography.com. and, more regrettably, no more CTM articles. I’ve always believed that life is but a book and all books Editor’s Note: Michael have chapters. As I close this chapter, another one understood exactly our aim when we launched Canadian Teacher is beginning to develop. That’s exciting. We all magazine—to link teachers throughout Canada with a publication need to grow and experience change and this is not that provides a venue in which you can speak to one another no matter what region of the country you are living and working in. He always easy to do. I’ve come to depend on my pages embraced that opportunity and wrote of his dreams, his projects, his here. They are a place for me to rant and rave, for me hopes for education in Canada. We will miss Michael’s enthusiasm to reach out.