TakingITGlobal

Classroom Engagement Having taught in schools in cities and urban areas, I've seen firsthand the impact of field trips and guest speakers on student learning. Students enjoy learning because they are more engaged. The Connected North program provides an extraordinary list of possibilities for teachers in remote and isolated locations to share these experiences with our students virtually. Guest speakers and field trips are now possible! I am a massive fan of being able to work with so many Indigenous providers who support my ability to connect student learning to First People's Principles of learning, including history, culture, and traditions, while also providing examples of successful Indigenous people to serve as examples and role models for Indigenous youth. My first sessions with the Connected North program were with Priscilla Boulay, teaching my grade 8 textiles class how to create soapstone carvings. I'm not strong in textiles, but I wanted to give my students unique opportunities to expose them to other Indigenous cultures while teaching valuable and relevant skills. I decided upon these sessions with her to engage students in a course many feel they don't have strengths or skills in. These sessions allowed me to introduce students to new materials, namely while allowing them to practice carving, an art form traditionally used in Heiltsuk culture with cedar. I deliberately selected the black bear shape for our carving sessions so that students could connect to this animal native to their territory. 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 Jennifer Hafenbrack- Connected North in Our Classroom 63

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