Encourage your child to do the “Three Good Things” exercise for two weeks

To help your child become an autonomous and resilient learner:

Encourage him to do the “Three Good Things” exercise for two weeks.

In his book, entitled Flourish, positive psychology expert Martin E. P. Seligman explains that taking the time to reflect on the things that make us happy actually increases our overall happiness and well-being.

Think of it this way: if you don’t take the time to recognize the things that make you happy or give you satisfaction, then you start to forget about them and become blasé. On the other hand, if you make an effort to feel appreciation for them, you will feel more grateful and fulfilled.

So, to help increase your child’s well-being, encourage him to do the “Three Good Things” exercise, which has been scientifically proven to increase happiness: Every day, for two weeks, write down three things that went well or that you enjoyed, as well as their causes. It’s as simple as that!

An Interview with Centennial Academy Teacher Samantha Fiori

Introduce yourself and the courses you teach. What, in your opinion, is the best thing about being a teacher at Centennial Academy?

Ms. Fiori Head of the Mathematics department, teach grade 10 Math Science option and grade 11 Math CST option. The best thing about working at Centennial is the learning experience. We use many different strategies and are encouraged to try to different things to see what works. Also, the collaboration between teachers. We work as a unit across all subjects.[/row]

What are the top 3 things that you think make Centennial Academy unique?

  1. The way we break down the material so the students have a model to follow.
  2. The different UDL strategies that we use in class.
  3. A study hall period to allow students the opportunity to complete their homework during the school day and seek out teacher support.

Tell me about one of your favorite teaching memories/story?

One of my favorite memories is the grade 11 New York trip. It was great to see how the students interact outside of the classroom. The students really enjoyed the Broadway shows that we saw and ended up doing karaoke on the bus.

Students always seem hesitant at the beginning of the trip, but by the end of the trip they are grateful that they went on the trip.

What do you think your students like the most about you?

I think what the students like most about me is that I am willing to help them at lunch, afterschool or whenever they may need to provide extra support.

Describe a typical classroom experience or a typical day at Centennial?

A typical classroom experience would be the students come in there is some sort of warm up activity on their desks to get them started for the day. We then fill in the notes and I explain the concepts that we are learning for the day. I “cold call” on students to give their input and answer any questions I may have. Students ask questions on things that are unclear or confusing. Once the notes portion of the lesson is complete, the students work on individual work with a model shown at the front of the class. There are times where students can work in groups. When the lesson is complete, the students pack up their math material and get ready for their next class.

Describe in your own words the Centennial Academy Approach and how UDL really works.

At Centennial we do not try to fit the students into a box. We provide strategies in the classroom that would benefit all learners. For example, in math, we break down the procedure on how to answer a problem which is very helpful for those that struggle with knowing the correct steps and for those that are stronger it ensures they are on the right path. We use online tools so students can view and review notes and PowerPoints at a pace that works for them.

 

Be sure not to over-program his afternoons and weekends

To help your child become an autonomous and resilient learner:

Be sure not to over-program his afternoons and weekends.

 It is very important for your child to get involved in extra-curricular activities that help him develop hobbies and remain physically active. However, it is just as important to leave some down-time in his weekly schedule for relaxation and socializing.

In their book entitled Simplicity Parenting, Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross explain how over-programming a child’s life can actually decrease his sense of motivation and limit his creativity.

It’s all about striking a healthy balance. Allowing your child to have some down-time – without looking at a screen! – will give him an opportunity to reflect, to use his mind creatively, and to make choices. Activities that exercise the brain, boost creativity, strengthen social connections or foster mindfulness are all good options. So, consider incorporating things like reading, playing cards or board games, listening to music, or hanging out with friends into your child’s daily routine.

An Interview with Centennial Academy Teacher Mary Byron

Introduce yourself and the courses you teach. What, in your opinion, is the best thing about being a teacher at Centennial Academy?

My name is Mary Byron and I teach grade 7 and 8 English Language Arts.

In my opinion, the best thing about being a teacher at Centennial Academy is getting to work with our students every day.[/row]

What are the top 3 things that you think make Centennial Academy unique?

One thing that makes Centennial Academy unique is our teaching approach. We recognize and know that every student learns differently and we provide them with many different pathways to learning in order for them to succeed.

Another thing that makes Centennial Academy unique is how we teach students to do things that other schools expect students to do naturally. Other schools expect students to be autonomous and to be able to advocate for themselves as learners. At Centennial we recognize that these skills don’t come naturally to everyone, so we provide students with many opportunities to learn and practice these skills.

Lastly, another thing that makes Centennial Academy unique is our approach with essays in English Language Arts. At other schools, essays are introduced and produced all at once. At Centennial we break the essays down into manageable chunks. We work on one paragraph per class with highlighted models. We scaffold the process so that students are supported in their learning. This allows them to not only learn the content but acquire learning strategies along the way.

Tell me about one of your favorite teaching memories/story?

My favourite teaching memory at Centennial is when I used an audiobook in the classroom for the first time back in 2015. I was reading “A Long Walk to Water” by Linda Sue Park with my grade 7 class. I played an audio reading of the chapter instead of reading it out loud. They immediately lit up and were so engaged because they loved the reader’s voice. She had a New York accent and they thought it was the greatest thing in the world. I will never forget the smiles on all of their faces.

What do you think your students like the most about you?

I think they like that I’m patient and helpful. They can come to me if they don’t understand the way I taught something and I’ll find another way to teach it to them until they understand it.

Describe a typical classroom experience or a typical day at Centennial?

A typical classroom experience at Centennial is all about routine and predictability.

A classroom starts with a routine and is followed by minimal teacher instruction, usually no more than 10 minutes. The bulk of our time in the classroom is spent doing an activity or assignment where the students can practice their newly acquired knowledge or demonstrate their understanding of it. Then at the end, we clean up our materials and prepare for the next class.

Describe in your own words the Centennial Academy Approach and how UDL really works.

As I said earlier, we provide our students with many different pathways to learning because we recognize that every student learns differently. We provide our students with various ways of learning and acquiring information as well as demonstrating their understanding of a given concept. By using the UDL approach, we reach and engage all of our students. We remove barriers to learning with our tools like graphic organizers, Word Q, reading strategies, course pack, and more.  We make learning accessible to all of our students.

 

Filter her exposure to unnecessarily stressful parts of the adult world

To help your child become an autonomous and resilient learner:

Filter her exposure to unnecessarily stressful parts of the adult world.

We are continually bombarded by news from around the world on our TVs, radios, phones and computers. Unfortunately, much of what we hear is unnecessarily stressful to young people, who already have enough stress to deal with in their daily life.

In their book entitled Simplicity Parenting, Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross explain how parents can help limit the amount of pressure and worry their children experience by limiting their exposure to distressing aspects of the adult world. This means filtering-out information that can cause more harm than good, including disturbing news items or unpleasant family matters.

Children should not live in a bubble. However, limiting what they see and hear to what is age- and personality- appropriate can help them feel more calm and secure and put them in a better frame of mind for learning.

An Interview with Centennial Academy Teacher Rezkia Robai

Introduce yourself and the courses you teach. What, in your opinion, is the best thing about being a teacher at Centennial Academy?

My name is Rezkia Robai and I teach French language classes.

As far as I can remember, my dream of helping students with learning difficulties has been very important to me. Now that I have the opportunity to work at Centennial Academy, I feel that my dream is becoming a reality. Having the privilege of making a significant difference in my students’ success is an extremely gratifying and fulfilling feeling.[/row]

What are the top 3 things that you think make Centennial Academy unique?

In my opinion the top 3 things that make Centennial Academy unique are:

  1. Our concern for the well-being of all our students
  2. The emphasis on staff collaboration in coaching the students
  3. The diversity of all those who help our students learn

Tell me about one of your favorite teaching memories/story?

One of the most significant moments I experienced as a new teacher was when a student, who almost never communicated verbally, raised his hand in class to answer a question. It was very rewarding.

What do you think your students like the most about you?

I think they appreciate the fact that

  • I am patient
  • I make efforts to understand their needs
  • I am attentive

Describe a typical classroom experience or a typical day at Centennial?

The day often begins with supervision. Before I’m scheduled to teach, I make sure to get everything ready for my class.

After welcoming my students, I begin by explaining the lesson’s content. We start with a routine to validate previous knowledge or with questions as a way to introduce new concepts.

I then present the concept itself with a Power Point presentation or a video. I ask a lot of questions and make sure that the students find the answers themselves while guiding them to formulate the correct one. During this activity, there’s a lot of interaction with students.

Then there is a learning activity where students practice what they’ve just learned by using group / class and individual exercises. The exercises are then corrected.

At the end of the day the students are often asked to give examples of the concepts they’ve just learned or to use interactive educational computer games in a way that relates to the content.

When my classes are finished, I take a moment to rest while I’m eating, then I complete my lesson plans, and I correct or plan my next classes.

Describe in your own words the Centennial Academy Approach and how UDL really works.

The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a very inclusive approach that allows each student to have the same opportunity to succeed as anyone else. At Centennial, we’re honestly committed to doing this and I believe that everything we do really makes a difference in our students’ lives. Teachers put a lot of time and energy in making sure that our teaching methods and strategies are inclusive and give everyone the opportunity to thrive.

Create a predictable and reassuring rhythm in your home

To help your child become an autonomous and resilient learner:

Create a predictable and reassuring rhythm in your home.

 People of all ages feel more reassured when they know what to expect in their everyday lives. This is especially true for children and teens.

In their book entitled Simplicity Parenting, Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross explain the importance of establishing rhythms and routines in your home that make your child feel calm, safe and secure and that help build a stronger sense of connection between family members.

Creating a predictable and reassuring rhythm in your home will give your child a strong sense of security and will make her feel safer and less stressed in this busy and complicated world.

Slow down and simplify your home environment

To help your child become an autonomous and resilient learner:

Slow down and simplify your home environment.

Our lives today are very busy and very programmed. And, on top of  everything we have going on in our own lives, we face a constant barrage of information about the world from the internet and media.

In their book entitled Simplicity Parenting, Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross explain how creating a calm home environment with predictable routines helps children learn and flourish.

You can start by pairing back the number of extra-curricular activities your child does, helping him establish a predictable schedule and routine, and limiting unnecessary stimulation around the house, like television, radio and internet. This will help your child be relaxed and focused and will put him in a better frame of mind  for learning.

 

An Interview with Centennial Academy Teacher Laura Grimaud

Introduce yourself and the courses you teach. What, in your opinion, is the best thing about being a teacher at Centennial Academy?

My name is Laura Grimaud and I’ve been teaching 9th grade High School French since the beginning of the 2018 school year. Being used to working in a private institution taught by nuns, I really appreciate the structured approach at Centennial Academy and the emphasis on using all our resources to help our students reach their full potential. [/row]

What are the top 3 things that you think make Centennial Academy unique?

In my opinion the top 3 things that make Centennial Academy unique are:

  1. The concentrated efforts of everyone at Centennial (administration, specialists and teachers) to work together to achieve a common goal.
  2. The support and consistency with which we implement our teaching methods.
  3. The technology that is available to help us make our classes more interesting.

Tell me about one of your favorite teaching memories/story?

One of my favourite teaching memories is a student is able to move from point A to point B and significantly manages to increase his or her average by the end of a school year. The joy and self-esteem he or she experiences go a long way in emphasizing the essential role that teachers play in the school. We can’t save the world, but we can improve some students’ worlds through by supporting him or her in school.

What do you think your students like the most about you?

My desire to help them succeed, as well as my maternal involvement.

Describe a typical classroom experience or a typical day at Centennial?

When students are motivated by their routine and it leads them to a better understanding of more complex notions with openness and a desire to learn.

Describe in your own words the Centennial Academy Approach and how UDL really works.

A commitment to quality education that is first and foremost aligned with the sustainable goals and changes recommended by UNESCO. The principles of UDL are part of a framework in which students have a commitment and act in a manner that’s consistent with their commitment, making it possible for them to excel and understand the goal behind education.

Encourage her to make her bed every morning

To help your child become an autonomous and resilient learner:

Encourage her to make her bed every morning.

In his book entitled “Make Your Bed,” former U.S. Navy Seal William H. McRaven explains ten important life lessons that he learned during his rigorous training. Lesson #1 is: “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” In other words, you need to learn how to do the little things in life right if you want to learn how to do the bigger things in life right.

Beginning your day by making your bed helps you establish a routine. It can be considered the first task in your daily schedule and is quick to do and tick-off your list. It therefore helps students build autonomy and can give them a small sense of accomplishment at the very start of their day.

What’s more, as McRaven points-out, even if the rest of your day goes badly, you at least have a welcoming bed to come back to!