One powerful way to engage in this process is through literature.

Books written by Canadian Indigenous authors provide valuable insights into the diverse cultures, histories, and lived experiences of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples.

In this blog post, we’ve curated a list of 12 must-read books, divided into two sections – picture books and chapter books – to help foster understanding on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

We’ve also included free printable “Every Child Matters” and “Chaque Enfant Compte (French)” shirt templates to use with students on Orange Shirt Day. Read to the end of this blog post for the download.

Picture Books:

	​“Shi-shi-etko” by Nicola I. Campbell This beautifully illustrated picture book follows a young girl’s experiences as she prepares to leave for residential school. It’s a poignant story that introduces young children to the concept of loss and the importance of holding on to one’s culture. (Available on Epic Books)
	​”When We Were Alone” by David A. Robertson A story about a grandmother and her granddaughter discussing their shared heritage. This book gently explores the impact of residential schools and the resilience of Indigenous people.
	​”You Hold Me Up” by Monique Gray Smith With its simple yet powerful message, this book shows children how small acts of kindness and empathy can make a big difference in building relationships and fostering reconciliation. (Available on Epic Books)
	​”Phyllis’s Orange Shirt” by Phyllis Webstad This book recounts Phyllis Webstad’s childhood experience of having her orange shirt taken away upon entering a residential school. It serves as a powerful reminder of the impact of these schools on Indigenous children.
	​”With Our Orange Hearts” by Phyllis Webstad Phyllis Webstad’s sequel to “Phyllis’s Orange Shirt,” this picture book continues the story of Phyllis as she discovers the significance of the orange heart symbol and its role in healing and reconciliation.
	​”Stolen Words” by Melanie Florence In this picture book, a young girl named Makwa discovers her grandfather’s lost language. The story beautifully captures the importance of preserving Indigenous languages and cultural heritage.
	​”When I Was Eight” by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton In this autobiographical story, Margaret Pokiak-Fenton shares her childhood memories of attending a residential school. This book offers a younger reader edition of the chapter book “Fatty Legs.” (Available on Epic Books)
	“The Secret Pocket” by Peggy Janicki The true story of how Indigenous girls at a Canadian residential school sewed secret pockets into their dresses to hide food and survive.

Chapter Books:

	“Fatty Legs” by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton This memoir details Margaret Pokiak-Fenton’s experiences at a residential school and her determination to learn how to read despite the challenges she faced. (Available on Epic Books)
	​”A Stranger at Home: A True Story” by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton This sequel to “Fatty Legs” continues the story of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton’s experiences in a residential school. It explores her return home and the challenges of reintegrating into her family and community. (Available on Epic Books)
	“​My Name Is Seepeetza” by Shirley Sterling Written as a diary, this novel offers a glimpse into the life of a young girl named Seepeetza as she attends a residential school. It provides a personal perspective on the challenges she faces and her enduring spirit.
	“Speaking Our Truth” by Monique Gray Smith Monique Gray Smith guides young readers on a journey of truth and reconciliation, providing an age-appropriate exploration of Canada’s history, residential schools, and the path toward healing and understanding.

Free Printable “Every Child Matters” Resource

These books foster empathy, understanding, and a commitment to reconciliation. On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, these stories serve as important tools to engage in the ongoing journey toward reconciliation in Canada.

Click below to download free printable “Every Child Matters” and “Chaque Enfant Compte (French)” shirt templates to use with students on Orange Shirt Day.

These templates have been crafted for quick prep and straightforward use. However, it is crucial to integrate them with books, videos, and lessons that amplify the voices of Indigenous People.

Please connect with your local school board’s Indigenous Education consultant prior to using these templates or books to ensure they are appropriate for your students and school community.

The post 12 Books for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation appeared first on Teacher Resource Cabin.

We have created six math workbooks and five math slide decks covering all Grade 9 Math units: Social-Emotional Learning Numbers, Algebra, Geometry and Measurement, Data, and Financial Literacy.

Here are some details about our MTH1W Workbooks:

The workbooks are packed with over 330 pages of student worksheets and come with answer keys. Each workbook (except Social-Emotional Learning) also includes a 4-page unit test, quizzes throughout, and a project with rubric. The Social-Emotional Learning workbook contains 28 pages and is focused on developing the emotional and social skills of students. This is the newest strand in the Ontario curriculum.

Here are some details about our MTH1W Slides:

The slide decks bundle covers a wide range of topics and together total up to 504 slides.

• The Algebra slide deck covers topics such as Introduction to Algebra, Solving Basic Equations, Algebraic Expressions, Graphing Equations, and more.
• The Data slide deck covers topics such as Introduction to Data, Population and Sample, Describing Data, Measures of Central Tendency, and more.
• The Financial Literacy slide deck covers topics such as Introduction to Financial Literacy, Budgeting, Appreciation and Depreciation, Down Payments, and Interest.
• The Geometry and Measurement slide deck covers topics such as Introduction to Geometry, Triangle and Angle Properties, Quadrilateral Properties, Circle Properties, Measurement Units, Pythagorean Theorem, Circumference, Area, and Volume.
• The Number slide deck covers topics such as Introduction to Numbers, Number Sets/Set-Builder Notation, Factoring, Simplifying Fractions, Ratios, Rates, and Powers.

We recently added Grade 9 Math Talks to our MTH1W Resource bank.

These MATH TALKS for Google Slides are perfect to help your Grade 9 students (MTH1W Ontario) develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Each slide asks an open-ended question or a question where students can explain their thinking and reasoning. This helps students to understand mathematical concepts at a deeper level and communicate their understanding with others. It also helps to create a positive classroom culture that values student thinking and promotes collaborative learning.

107 Slides are included in total. All slides are editable, so you can make additional slides of the same activity and switch up the numbers as needed, but the slides are ready to go as is.

We currently have our workbooks and math talks in French!

Overall, these bundles are an excellent resource for Grade 9 Math teachers in Ontario looking for comprehensive and customizable materials to teach the de-streamed Math course (MTH1W).

Shop This Post!

Grade 9 MTH1W MATH TALKS for Google Slides

C$10.40

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 9 MTH1W Workbook Bundle (Ontario Math)

C$67.60

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 9 Ontario MATH: MTH1W Google Slides Bundle

C$59.80

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 9 Ontario Math MTH1W FULL SEMESTER

C$131.30

More Info

The post Top MTH1W Teaching Resources for Educators and Students appeared first on Teacher Resource Cabin.

There are both printable PDF workbooks and digital teaching slides for Google Slides available. While they can be used independently, we believe that these resources complement each other exceptionally well as students can learn concepts through the slides and practice them using their workbooks.

In total, the workbooks include 258 pages of student worksheets! Interactive, hands-on activities are explained, with follow-up worksheets included. There is a variety of readings, long and short answer questions, and creative writing activities included to create a varied workbook suitable for many learning styles.

To support assessment practices, Ontario curriculum expectations (Strand A-E) are clearly identified on each page. A quiz is included at the end of each workbook. Each workbook includes a full ANSWER KEY.

Also included are report card comments for SNC1W. Comments are compatible with Google Docs and are fully editable for your convenience. Just copy and paste and replace “STUDENT” with your student’s name and “THEY/THEIR/THEM” with your student’s preferred pronouns.

All comments are provided in a rubric format (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4) so you can easily identify what comment is appropriate for your student. Comments are anecdotal and include Concrete Examples and Next Steps.

The slides bundle contains nearly 600 slides in total. Blank, editable slide templates are also included if you have additional content that you would like to add. Slides with content on them are not editable. There is also a “Teacher Tips” slide that includes a link to a recommended video playlist

Here is a breakdown of each of the SNC1W Science units:

The unit starts with an introduction to ecosystems, biotic and abiotic factors, atmospheric conditions, and the Earth’s systems. It then delves into investigations of biomes in Canada, sustainability, indigenous-led conservation, and ecological footprints.

The unit also covers energy flow, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, matter cycling, food chains and webs, biomass pyramids, species interactions, succession, carrying capacity, endangered and invasive species, and human impacts. Experiment #1 focuses on oil spill clean-up, and experiment #2 focuses on the greenhouse effect. The unit ends with a section on responding to climate change and a vocabulary section, followed by the unit test.

Shop This Post!

Sustainable Ecosystems and Climate Change Workbook (Grade 9 Science SNC1W)

C$14.50

More Info

This unit starts with an introduction to space and the history of space exploration. It then covers models of the universe, the solar system, origin theories of the universe, characteristics of the sun, and investigation #1 on sundials.

The unit also includes information on the planets, comets, meteors, and asteroids, moons, phases of the moon, eclipses, and the Earth’s seasonal changes. There is also a section on gravitational pull, light years, investigation #2 about the solar system, satellites, and the costs and benefits of space technology.

The unit ends with a section on the social, economic, and environmental impacts of space technology, an experiment on the Mars Rover, a vocabulary section, and the unit test.

Shop This Post!

Space Exploration Workbook (Grade 9 Ontario Science SNC1W)

C$14.50

More Info

The Nature of Matter unit covers topics related to matter, including its properties, composition, and behaviour. The unit covers topics such as particle theory, substance and mixtures, scientific discoveries, laws of matter, introduction to the periodic table of elements, physical and chemical properties of matter, and consumer products.

The workbook is filled with various activities, experiments, and investigations. The K-W-L chart and goal-setting sections are designed to help SNC1W students set objectives and assess their learning progress. Like the other units, the book includes a vocabulary section as well as a unit test.

Shop This Post!

The Nature of Matter Workbook (Grade 9 Ontario Science SNC1W)

C$14.50

More Info

This electricity unit is a comprehensive guide to understanding electricity and energy concepts. It begins by covering the basics of energy and its transformation, including an in-depth look at electricity and how it is generated.

This workbook also explores static and current electricity, conductors, resistors, and insulators, as well as series and parallel circuits, voltage and current, and Ohm’s law. Additionally, the book delves into renewable and non-renewable energy sources, the impacts of energy usage, and conservation of energy and resources.

The unit includes experiments and investigations to help readers better understand the concepts presented, as well as vocabulary lists and a unit test.

Shop This Post!

Electricity Workbook (Grade 9 Ontario Science SNC1W)

C$14.50

More Info

The post Grade 9 SNC1W Resources: A Comprehensive Summary appeared first on Teacher Resource Cabin.

1. Plan and Prioritize:

Before diving into report card writing, take some time to plan and prioritize your tasks. Create a schedule or timeline to allocate specific periods for each subject or class. By organizing your time effectively, you can ensure that you focus on one task at a time and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

We’ve made a FREE simple Report Card Progress Checklist template that you can use to keep yourself organized! Click here to make a copy for yourself or click the image below.

2. Utilize Templates and Tools

Take advantage of report card templates and digital tools to streamline the process.

We have created report card comment templates that will make completing your report cards so easy! Comments are compatible with Google Docs and are fully editable for your convenience. All comments are provided in a rubric format (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4) so you can easily identify what comment is appropriate for your student. Comments are anecdotal and include Concrete Examples and Next Steps.

3. Ignite Student Empowerment through Self-Assessment

Incorporate student self-assessment into the report card writing process. Provide students with self-reflection forms or questionnaires that prompt them to evaluate their progress, strengths, and areas for improvement. This allows students to take ownership of their learning and provide valuable insights about their own achievements.

By including student self-assessment in your report cards, you can save time on writing lengthy comments while also promoting student reflection and goal-setting. Simply summarize and highlight key points from their self-assessments in your comments, making the process more efficient without compromising meaningful feedback.

On our TPT page, we have a bundle that includes self-evaluation tools for students (distance and in-person learners).

Embrace planning, templates, and student empowerment, and watch your report cards become a breeze to write. Get ready to reclaim your time and create report cards that truly shine!

Shop This Post!

Grade 1 ONTARIO Report Card Comments (Use with Google Docs)

C$19.90

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 2 ONTARIO Report Card Comments (Use with Google Docs)

C$19.90

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 3 ONTARIO Report Card Comments (Use with Google Docs)

C$19.90

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 4 ONTARIO Report Card Comments (Use with Google Docs)

C$19.90

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 5 ONTARIO Report Card Comments (Use with Google Docs)

C$19.90

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 6 ONTARIO Report Card Comments (Use with Google Docs)

C$19.90

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 7 ONTARIO Report Card Comments (Use with Google Docs)

C$19.90

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 8 ONTARIO Report Card Comments (Use with Google Docs)

C$19.90

More Info

The post 3 Time-Saving Tips for Report Cards appeared first on Teacher Resource Cabin.

The Value of Storytelling

During my time teaching Bible school, one thing that I found to be particularly effective is capturing interest through creative storytelling. Children are creative and very receptive to religious narratives that connect with their imaginations.

One way to do this is by assigning roles and characters to students. By immersing students in the experience with creative lighting, props, and costumes, I found that students were more receptive to this form of teaching. It helped them understand how Biblical stories are relevant to their lives, as well as the morals and messages involved in the stories.

Open Dialogue

One thing that should be noted is the importance of creating a safe space where students feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their personal experiences.

Students can accomplish this through respectful debates and open dialogue in class discussions.

Cross Curricular Integration

Another effective way to enhance religious education programming is to find ways to integrate teachings with other subject areas. This makes religion lessons more relatable to students, as they can have religious education discussions in several different contexts. It can also be helpful for teachers who are struggling to find time to integrate religion lessons along with the demands of other subjects.

There are many ways that teachers can approach this. For example, teachers can explain the ethical implications of scientific advancements, or exploring social justice issues in history classes can highlight how Catholic teachings shape our understanding of these topics.

Teaching and Celebrating Sacraments and Holy Days

Teachers can easily capture their students’ interest and build excitement around Holy Days and Sacraments by using quality educational resources. Examples of great topics to cover include Christmas, Lent, Saint Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Advent.

We have built our religion programs using a combination of activities and lessons. We usually begin most of our Holy Day activities by explaining the history and religious significance of the day. We also include quizzes, reading comprehension activities, prayers, reflection journals, and other fun educational materials.

You can consider taking the time to create these materials yourself, but we understand that not all teachers have the time to do so.

Shop This Post!

Christmas Catholic Activities (Grade 1-3 Religious Education)

C$8.15

More Info

Shop This Post!

Christmas Catholic Activities (Grade 4-6 Religious Education)

C$8.15

More Info

Shop This Post!

Christmas Catholic Activities (Grade 7-8 Religious Education)

C$8.15

More Info

The post Catholic Schools: Religion Programming Ideas appeared first on Teacher Resource Cabin.

So, what IS a Math Talk?

How do I get started?

Here are some tips for implementing math talks in your classroom:

1. Start with a short problem or question: Choose a problem or question that is accessible to all students and can be solved using a variety of strategies.
2. Model your thinking: Before asking students to share their thinking, model your own thought process for solving the problem or answering the question.
3. Encourage participation: Create a safe and supportive environment where all students feel comfortable sharing their thinking, even if they are unsure or make mistakes.
4. Use open-ended questions: Ask open-ended questions that encourage students to think critically and deeply about the problem.
5. Allow for multiple strategies: Encourage students to use a variety of strategies to solve the problem, and be open to different approaches.
6. Provide wait time: Allow for a few seconds of wait time after asking a question to give students time to think and process.
7. Summarize and connect: After the math talk, summarize the key ideas and connect them to other concepts or problems.

Show me some examples!

Here’s an example from our Grade 2 Math Talk resource:

This prompt is open-ended, which presents an opportunity for rich discussion and allows students to present a variety of answers. For example, some students may say, “This graph shows people’s favourite sport.” Another student may suggest, “This graph shows the sports people want to play after school.” Someone else may say, “This graph shows the number of each ball stored in the gym supply room.”

Want to see what a math talk may look like a couple of grades later? Here’s an example from our Grade 4 Math Talk resource:

This prompt allows for multiple strategies. Students need to determine the largest possible square that can be cut out from the rectangle. It will have a side length equal to the length of the shorter side of the rectangle, which in this case is 8 units (8 x 8 = 64 square units). They will then also have to determine the area of the entire rectangle and subtract the largest square from the rectangle to determine the area of the remaining figure.

This area activity math talk is multi-step and encourages students to think critically and deeply about the problem.

So why not try a math talk today? Your students will thank you!

Implementing math talks into your daily routine can help transform your classroom during the math block. By creating a safe and supportive environment for student discourse, you can help your students develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts, build their confidence in problem-solving, and foster a positive math mindset.

We have ready-to-go, no-prep-required Math Talk resources for Grades 1-8. These resources are structured by math strands: Number, Algebra, Data, Spatial Sense, and Financial Literacy. Each strand includes 20 slides and a slide overview that makes it easy to jump to the slide you want. 107 Slides are included in each resource in total. All slides are editable, so you can make additional slides of the same activity and switch up the numbers as needed, but the slides are ready to go as is.

Shop This Post!

Grade 1 MATH TALKS for Google Slides

C$10.40

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 2 MATH TALKS for Google Slides

C$10.40

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 3 MATH TALKS for Google Slides

C$10.40

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 4 MATH TALKS for Google Slides

C$10.40

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 5 MATH TALKS for Google Slides

C$10.40

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 6 MATH TALKS for Google Slides

C$10.40

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 7 MATH TALKS for Google Slides

C$10.40

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 8 MATH TALKS for Google Slides

C$10.40

More Info

Shop This Post!

Grade 9 MTH1W MATH TALKS for Google Slides

C$10.40

More Info

The post What is a “Math Talk” – and Why Should I Use Them in My Math Lessons? appeared first on Teacher Resource Cabin.

In the early 20th century, there were a number of social movements to promote the empowerment of women.

In 1910, at an International Socialist Women’s Conference, German delegates Clara Zetkin, Käte Duncker, Paula Thiede, suggested an annual “Women’s Day.”

It was a strategy to promote equal rights.

On March 19, 1911, the first IWD was celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Women paraded the streets for the right to vote and carried banners honouring women.

On March 8, 1917, in Russia, women textile workers began a protest demanding “Bread and Peace”. This was a protest due food shortages and World War I.

However, it wasn’t until 1975 when the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day, which was called International Women’s Year.

When is International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day is celebrated every year, on March 8.

How can I integrate an International Women’s Day discussion or lesson into my classroom?

There are several ways to celebrate the accomplishments of women (while integrating curriculum content, too!). Some possible ideas include:

• Have students research and share the incredible achievements throughout history in areas of politics, business, activism, education, and entertainment.
• For media literacy, have students create a poster to promote IWD and share the accomplishments of a woman that they researched.
• You can integrate media literacy and oral communication by having students create a podcast to explain the history of IWD. You can also use this as an opportunity to share the accomplishments of a woman that students have researched.
• Students can write a blog post about significant women in their own lives. This could be a great activity to include when teaching descriptive writing, as students can integrate adjectives and other descriptive words to describe admirable women in their lives.
• Students can meet writing expectations by writing a biography about a well-known woman.

The New International Women’s Day resource by Teacher Resource Cabin

This International Women’s Day resource is perfect to teach students about the achievements of women and girls throughout history, and the origins of International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world every year on March 8.

Lesson Plans: A 4-day detailed lesson plan is included that describes how to use the Slides and workbook together, as well as anticipates some of the questions students may ask during the lesson and offers talking points for each Slide.

Slides: Slides are included to help you introduce the topic to students. Slide topics include – What is International Women’s Day, Origins of International Women’s Day, Celebrating Women, Biography Activity and Biography Example – Viola Desmond

Worksheets: Students will enjoy completing a scaffolded workbook that teaches important biography writing skills, including brainstorming, researching, and organizing ideas. The workbook also includes a Biography Example of Autumn Peltier. A rubric is included for the biography writing task.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY – Biography Activity (Grade 7/8 Language Arts)

We also have a French version of this resource available. For those teaching in French immersion or fully French classrooms!

Journée internationale des femme – devoir de biographie (Grade 7/8 FRENCH)

Shop This Post!

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY – Biography Activity (Grade 7/8 Language)

C$7.80

More Info

Shop This Post!

Journée internationale des femme – devoir de biographie (Grade 7/8 FRENCH)

C$7.80

More Info

The post Celebrating International Women’s Day in the Classroom appeared first on Teacher Resource Cabin.

Have you ever spent hours and hours watching YouTube videos for a lesson you’re doing with your class the next day? Or worse, have you been quickly clicking through videos on your prep, hoping something perfect would come along for your afternoon science lesson? I’ve been there! That’s why I started to make YouTube playlists of perfect videos for each unit in the Ontario science curriculum. These playlists narrow down the search and will help you save time.

These playlists are found on our YouTube channel, or you can follow the links below!

	Everyday Materials, Objects, and Structures Energy in Our Lives Daily and Seasonal Changes Needs and Characteristics of Living Things
​	Growth and Changes in Animals Properties of Solids and Liquids Simple Machines and Movement Air and Water in the Environment
	Strong and Stable Structures Forces and Motion Growth and Changes in Plants Soils in the Environment
	​Habitats and Communities Light and Sound Rocks, Minerals, and Geological Processes Machines and their Mechanisms
	​Forces Acting on Structures Conservation of Energy and Resources Properties of and Changes in Matter Human Health and Body Systems
	​Biodiversity Flight Space Electrical Phenomena, Energy, and Devices
	​Form, Function, and Design of Structures Heat in the Environment Pure Substances and Mixtures Interactions in the Environment
​	​Cells Fluids Systems in Action Water Systems

The post YouTube Playlists for Ontario Science Units appeared first on Teacher Resource Cabin.