In this section, we want to open up discussion of great programs that are working in regular mainstreamed classrooms. We know there are programs with real intellectual substance and creative capacity out there working effectively with students from a wide range of backgrounds. There are two important underlying assumptions of these programs, backed by a thorough body of research. The first is that the vast majority of our students are capable of substantial intellectual and creative work. The fact that poor and racialized children often do badly in school, says nothing about their capacity to do well and a lot about the failure of the school system to provide engaging and purposeful programs for them. The second assumption is that children who do badly in bottom streams do much better in the regular classroom, while those who are doing well in the regular classroom continue to do well when joined there by bottom-streamed kids. Let us know about great programs for all kids that you’ve experienced or taught.

Histories of Racism and Globalization: The WHORM and HOG games

WHORM (World History of Racism in Minutes) and HOG (History of Globalization) are large-group interactive awareness-raising activities in anti-racism and neo-liberal globalization respectively.

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An Integrated, Response-Based Approach to Teaching English in Grades 6-10

Children learn “skills” – cognitive and affective – by participating in activities that are linguistically rich and by carrying out entire processes prompted by them. They do not read, write, speak and listen in compartmentalized procedures designed to evoke miniscule, measurable “outcomes”. When children read a novel, they bring to bear a number of integrated skills that constitute interpretation and response

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Birds in the City: An Environmental Education Program for the GTA

Though wild caribou and polar bears are species at risk that most Toronto residents will never see for themselves, wild birds pour into cities during migration. Boreal forest birds that breed hundreds or thousands of kilometers to the north make Toronto their home, even if only for a day or two. Birds provide a simple and meaningful direct connection to biodiversity loss, ecosystem services and climate change.

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The JUMP Math Program

JUMP Math believes that all children can be led to think mathematically, and that with even a modest amount of attention every child will flourish. By demonstrating that even children who are failing math or are labelled as slow learners can excel at math, we hope to dispel the myths that currently prevail. It offers educators and parents complete and balanced materials as well as training to help them reach all students.

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