TakingITGlobal

In 2022, I decided that I needed more authentic ways for my students to connect with the material and to see themselves and their culture represented in their learning. In October of 2022, I started with Connected North. Since then, I have participated in over 30 sessions, primarily focused on Science, Health and Wellness, and Visual Arts and here is what I have noticed. Connected North sessions are cross-curricular and can be connected to curriculum outcomes at any grade level. When planning my year, I use Connected North to make connections to the curriculum and seasonal wheel. As educators we need to be adaptable and responsive to the needs of our students, which means that unit timing is highly variable. Connected North allows you to remain flexible. Curriculum Planning: Connected North sessions are about co-teaching, leading, and learning alongside your students. For students, Connected North is the bridge between two worlds. Connected North has created an easy-to-use platform that allows users to quickly find content and book providers. Not only can you tailor your searches, but you can create a "wishlist" or "favourites" for future reference. This makes it easy to plan your units. For your first session, I recommend visual arts. There are plenty of excellent providers to choose from. Next, select a day of the week that has more flexibility in your schedule. I believe it is important and powerful to end the week by having the students participate in a hands-on and engaging activity; therefore I prefer Friday afternoons. When was the last time you or your staff were truly engaged in meaningful Professional Development - Professional Development that you could see consistently implementing in the classroom? Another way to get started with Connected North is to incorporate it into an upcoming Professional Development day. Getting Started: C o n n e c t e d N o r t h i n O u r C l a s s r o o m Brendan Morphet - Connected North in Our Classroom 51

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