u/Short_Concentrate365

Hello,

I’m a 35 year old woman teaching in BC I’m in the process of moving schools with in my district and am really stuck on what to wear to work. My last school was fairly formal think skirts, dresses or dress pants with jeans being reserved for Fridays or field trips then only with a school shirt or sweatshirt. My new school is supposed to be more casual but I’m stuck. My current wardrobe is either classroom friendly skirts and dresses or “at home” jeans, tshirts, hoodies and leggings. I’m really stuck and Pinterest / instagram isn’t helping. I’m plus size (16/18) and like colour, pattern and even a bit of whimsy and don’t look good in beige or brown. What are teachers wearing in your more casual schools?

Canadian teachers, librarians, and book lovers: What are your favourite books about your community?

I’m working on a “Reading Across Canada” picture book road trip for Grades 3–7 (ages 8–12) using ArcGIS Story Maps. The goal is to help students explore Canada through literature while learning about geography, culture, history, and the incredible diversity of communities across the country.

I’ve started with many of the titles recommended in Powerful Understanding by Adrienne Gear, but I’d love to expand beyond those lists and include a broader range of stories, voices, and perspectives.

I’m especially looking for:

• Picture books and short illustrated nonfiction suitable for Grades 3–7 (ages 8–12)
• Books connected to your city, town, region, or province
• Stories that capture a strong sense of place
• Books from smaller or rural communities that might not be widely known
• Indigenous-authored and Indigenous-illustrated books that reflect local Nations, languages, histories, and contemporary experiences
• Books that help children understand what makes your community unique

I’m not necessarily looking for books set in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, or other major centres (though those are welcome too). I’d particularly love recommendations from places that don’t often appear in national book lists.

If you recommend a title, it would be incredibly helpful if you could also share:
• The community/region it represents
• Why you think it captures that place well
• The approximate grade level or age range
• Whether it’s commonly used in local schools or libraries

Bonus points if there is a publicly accessible video read-aloud, author reading, publisher video, or other online resource that students could access alongside the book.

My hope is to create a literary map of Canada that allows students to travel from community to community through stories and encounter a wide range of Canadian experiences. Once the project is complete, I’d be happy to share the finished Story Map and book list back with the community for anyone who might find it useful.

Thank you for helping me make this project more representative of the many places and peoples that make up Canada!

Canadian teachers, librarians, and book lovers: What are your favourite books about your community?

I’m working on a “Reading Across Canada” picture book road trip for Grades 3–7 (ages 8–12) using ArcGIS Story Maps. The goal is to help students explore Canada through literature while learning about geography, culture, history, and the incredible diversity of communities across the country.

I’ve started with many of the titles recommended in Powerful Understanding by Adrienne Gear, but I’d love to expand beyond those lists and include a broader range of stories, voices, and perspectives.

I’m especially looking for:

• Picture books and short illustrated nonfiction suitable for Grades 3–7 (ages 8–12)
• Books connected to your city, town, region, or province
• Stories that capture a strong sense of place
• Books from smaller or rural communities that might not be widely known
• Indigenous-authored and Indigenous-illustrated books that reflect local Nations, languages, histories, and contemporary experiences
• Books that help children understand what makes your community unique

I’m not necessarily looking for books set in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, or other major centres (though those are welcome too). I’d particularly love recommendations from places that don’t often appear in national book lists.

If you recommend a title, it would be incredibly helpful if you could also share:
• The community/region it represents
• Why you think it captures that place well
• The approximate grade level or age range
• Whether it’s commonly used in local schools or libraries

Bonus points if there is a publicly accessible video read-aloud, author reading, publisher video, or other online resource that students could access alongside the book.

My hope is to create a literary map of Canada that allows students to travel from community to community through stories and encounter a wide range of Canadian experiences. Once the project is complete, I’d be happy to share the finished Story Map and book list back with the community for anyone who might find it useful.

Thank you for helping me make this project more representative of the many places and peoples that make up Canada!

Canadian teachers, librarians, and book lovers: What are your favourite books about your community?

I’m working on a “Reading Across Canada” picture book road trip for Grades 3–7 (ages 8–12) using ArcGIS Story Maps. The goal is to help students explore Canada through literature while learning about geography, culture, history, and the incredible diversity of communities across the country.

I’ve started with many of the titles recommended in Powerful Understanding by Adrienne Gear, but I’d love to expand beyond those lists and include a broader range of stories, voices, and perspectives.

I’m especially looking for:

• Picture books and short illustrated nonfiction suitable for Grades 3–7 (ages 8–12)
• Books connected to your city, town, region, or province
• Stories that capture a strong sense of place
• Books from smaller or rural communities that might not be widely known
• Indigenous-authored and Indigenous-illustrated books that reflect local Nations, languages, histories, and contemporary experiences
• Books that help children understand what makes your community unique

I’m not necessarily looking for books set in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, or other major centres (though those are welcome too). I’d particularly love recommendations from places that don’t often appear in national book lists.

If you recommend a title, it would be incredibly helpful if you could also share:
• The community/region it represents
• Why you think it captures that place well
• The approximate grade level or age range
• Whether it’s commonly used in local schools or libraries

Bonus points if there is a publicly accessible video read-aloud, author reading, publisher video, or other online resource that students could access alongside the book.

My hope is to create a literary map of Canada that allows students to travel from community to community through stories and encounter a wide range of Canadian experiences. Once the project is complete, I’d be happy to share the finished Story Map and book list back with the community for anyone who might find it useful.

Thank you for helping me make this project more representative of the many places and peoples that make up Canada!

Canadian teachers, librarians, and book lovers: What are your favourite books about your community?

I’m working on a “Reading Across Canada” picture book road trip for Grades 3–7 (ages 8–12) using ArcGIS Story Maps. The goal is to help students explore Canada through literature while learning about geography, culture, history, and the incredible diversity of communities across the country.

I’ve started with many of the titles recommended in Powerful Understanding by Adrienne Gear, but I’d love to expand beyond those lists and include a broader range of stories, voices, and perspectives.

I’m especially looking for:

• Picture books and short illustrated nonfiction suitable for Grades 3–7 (ages 8–12)
• Books connected to your city, town, region, or province
• Stories that capture a strong sense of place
• Books from smaller or rural communities that might not be widely known
• Indigenous-authored and Indigenous-illustrated books that reflect local Nations, languages, histories, and contemporary experiences
• Books that help children understand what makes your community unique

I’m not necessarily looking for books set in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, or other major centres (though those are welcome too). I’d particularly love recommendations from places that don’t often appear in national book lists.

If you recommend a title, it would be incredibly helpful if you could also share:
• The community/region it represents
• Why you think it captures that place well
• The approximate grade level or age range
• Whether it’s commonly used in local schools or libraries

Bonus points if there is a publicly accessible video read-aloud, author reading, publisher video, or other online resource that students could access alongside the book.

My hope is to create a literary map of Canada that allows students to travel from community to community through stories and encounter a wide range of Canadian experiences. Once the project is complete, I’d be happy to share the finished Story Map and book list back with the community for anyone who might find it useful.

Thank you for helping me make this project more representative of the many places and peoples that make up Canada!

Canadian teachers, librarians, and book lovers: What are your favourite books about your community?

I’m working on a “Reading Across Canada” picture book road trip for Grades 3–7 (ages 8–12) using ArcGIS Story Maps. The goal is to help students explore Canada through literature while learning about geography, culture, history, and the incredible diversity of communities across the country.

I’ve started with many of the titles recommended in Powerful Understanding by Adrienne Gear, but I’d love to expand beyond those lists and include a broader range of stories, voices, and perspectives.

I’m especially looking for:

• Picture books and short illustrated nonfiction suitable for Grades 3–7 (ages 8–12)
• Books connected to your city, town, region, or province
• Stories that capture a strong sense of place
• Books from smaller or rural communities that might not be widely known
• Indigenous-authored and Indigenous-illustrated books that reflect local Nations, languages, histories, and contemporary experiences
• Books that help children understand what makes your community unique

I’m not necessarily looking for books set in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, or other major centres (though those are welcome too). I’d particularly love recommendations from places that don’t often appear in national book lists.

If you recommend a title, it would be incredibly helpful if you could also share:
• The community/region it represents
• Why you think it captures that place well
• The approximate grade level or age range
• Whether it’s commonly used in local schools or libraries

Bonus points if there is a publicly accessible video read-aloud, author reading, publisher video, or other online resource that students could access alongside the book.

My hope is to create a literary map of Canada that allows students to travel from community to community through stories and encounter a wide range of Canadian experiences. Once the project is complete, I’d be happy to share the finished Story Map and book list back with the community for anyone who might find it useful.

Thank you for helping me make this project more representative of the many places and peoples that make up Canada!

Canadian teachers, librarians, and book lovers: What are your favourite books about your community?

I’m working on a “Reading Across Canada” picture book road trip for Grades 3–7 (ages 8–12) using ArcGIS Story Maps. The goal is to help students explore Canada through literature while learning about geography, culture, history, and the incredible diversity of communities across the country.

I’ve started with many of the titles recommended in Powerful Understanding by Adrienne Gear, but I’d love to expand beyond those lists and include a broader range of stories, voices, and perspectives.

I’m especially looking for:

• Picture books and short illustrated nonfiction suitable for Grades 3–7 (ages 8–12)
• Books connected to your city, town, region, or province
• Stories that capture a strong sense of place
• Books from smaller or rural communities that might not be widely known
• Indigenous-authored and Indigenous-illustrated books that reflect local Nations, languages, histories, and contemporary experiences
• Books that help children understand what makes your community unique

I’m not necessarily looking for books set in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, or other major centres (though those are welcome too). I’d particularly love recommendations from places that don’t often appear in national book lists.

If you recommend a title, it would be incredibly helpful if you could also share:
• The community/region it represents
• Why you think it captures that place well
• The approximate grade level or age range
• Whether it’s commonly used in local schools or libraries

Bonus points if there is a publicly accessible video read-aloud, author reading, publisher video, or other online resource that students could access alongside the book.

My hope is to create a literary map of Canada that allows students to travel from community to community through stories and encounter a wide range of Canadian experiences. Once the project is complete, I’d be happy to share the finished Story Map and book list back with the community for anyone who might find it useful.

Thank you for helping me make this project more representative of the many places and peoples that make up Canada!

Canadian teachers, librarians, and book lovers: What are your favourite books about your community?

I’m working on a “Reading Across Canada” picture book road trip for Grades 3–7 (ages 8–12) using ArcGIS Story Maps. The goal is to help students explore Canada through literature while learning about geography, culture, history, and the incredible diversity of communities across the country.

I’ve started with many of the titles recommended in Powerful Understanding by Adrienne Gear, but I’d love to expand beyond those lists and include a broader range of stories, voices, and perspectives.

I’m especially looking for:

• Picture books and short illustrated nonfiction suitable for Grades 3–7 (ages 8–12)
• Books connected to your city, town, region, or province
• Stories that capture a strong sense of place
• Books from smaller or rural communities that might not be widely known
• Indigenous-authored and Indigenous-illustrated books that reflect local Nations, languages, histories, and contemporary experiences
• Books that help children understand what makes your community unique

I’m not necessarily looking for books set in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, or other major centres (though those are welcome too). I’d particularly love recommendations from places that don’t often appear in national book lists.

If you recommend a title, it would be incredibly helpful if you could also share:
• The community/region it represents
• Why you think it captures that place well
• The approximate grade level or age range
• Whether it’s commonly used in local schools or libraries

Bonus points if there is a publicly accessible video read-aloud, author reading, publisher video, or other online resource that students could access alongside the book.

My hope is to create a literary map of Canada that allows students to travel from community to community through stories and encounter a wide range of Canadian experiences. Once the project is complete, I’d be happy to share the finished Story Map and book list back with the community for anyone who might find it useful.

Thank you for helping me make this project more representative of the many places and peoples that make up Canada!

Canadian teachers, librarians, and book lovers: What are your favourite picture books about your community?

I’m working on a “Reading Across Canada” picture book road trip for Grades 3–5 using ArcGIS Story Maps. The goal is to help students explore Canada through literature while learning about geography, culture, history, and the incredible diversity of communities across the country.

I’ve started with many of the titles recommended in Powerful Understanding by Adrienne Gear, but I’d love to expand beyond those lists and include a broader range of stories, voices, and perspectives.

I’m especially looking for:

• Picture books connected to your city, town, region, or province
• Stories that capture a strong sense of place
• Books from smaller or rural communities that might not be widely known
• Indigenous-authored and Indigenous-illustrated books that reflect local Nations, languages, histories, and contemporary experiences
• Books that help children understand what makes your community unique

I’m not necessarily looking for books set in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, or other major centres (though those are welcome too). I’d particularly love recommendations from places that don’t often appear in national book lists.

If you recommend a title, it would be incredibly helpful if you could also share:
• The community/region it represents
• Why you think it captures that place well
• Whether it’s commonly used in local schools or libraries

Bonus points if there is a publicly accessible video read-aloud, author reading, publisher video, or other online resource that students could access alongside the book.

My hope is to create a literary map of Canada that allows students to travel from community to community through stories and encounter a wide range of Canadian experiences. Once the project is complete, I’d be happy to share the finished Story Map and book list back with the community for anyone who might find it useful.

Thank you for helping me make this project more representative of the many places and peoples that make up Canada!

Currently sitting through the weekly mandatory torture dinner with my in-laws.

Tonight's topic: apparently I've "never had a real job" because I'm a teacher.

For context, before teaching I taught dance at multiple studios, taught recreation programs, and ran summer camps for inner-city kids. But according to them, none of that counts because it involved children. I now teach 4-6 depending on the year and needs of my school always grade 5 mixed with something, I love my splits and being able to loop with kids when I can.

The other criticism tonight is that I job-share and work 4 days a week. Apparently that's "entitled" and "bad for kids." The reality is that I have a special-needs preschooler and use that day to take him to appointments, therapy, and physio. The class is taught on the fifth day by a retired teacher who is an absolute master of the craft. My students are getting an experienced teacher, and I'm getting the chance to continue learning from her.

Apparently I'm also stupid because if I were any good at what my degree is in, I'd be doing it professionally. My degrees are in geography and math. The plan was always to teach—I chose those subjects because I genuinely love them and find them fascinating, not because I intended to become a geographer or mathematician. Somehow that distinction is lost on them.

To make up for the day I'm not in the classroom, I also do asynchronous online adjunct work through a university, teaching math curriculum and pedagogy—my absolute passion area—to pre-service and new teachers, as well as in an upgrading program for practicing teachers. I do that work after my child is in bed. In reality, I have two bachelor's degrees and a master's degree, but apparently I'm still stupid and lazy and will remain that way until I either get a "real job" or open a business that requires more than an 8:30–2:30 schedule. Meanwhile, I work 60–70 hour weeks.

The conversation then moved on to how teachers are apparently stupid, lazy, "leeches" on society, a burden on taxpayers, and somehow actively trying to hurt parents and kids. According to them, teachers don't work enough, have too much time off, and are one of the biggest problems with the education system.

What makes it especially frustrating is that my in-laws didn't even know me before I became a teacher. They never saw me teaching dance classes after school, running camps all summer, working evenings and weekends, or putting myself through university. Yet they've somehow decided I've never worked a real day in my life.

I'm honestly at the point where I don't know whether to laugh or be offended. I spend my days teaching, planning, assessing, communicating with families, adapting for diverse learners, and then spend my one weekday off driving my preschooler to appointments and physio.

Teachers: what's the most outrageous thing someone has said to you about teaching that made it clear they had absolutely no idea what the job actually involves?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some insight into working in the Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows School District (SD42), especially coming from another Lower Mainland district.

I saw on Make a Future that TTOCs are expected to work around 90 days per year, which makes me a bit hesitant — I have a family and can’t really take on something unpredictable long-term.

A bit about me:

• 10 years teaching experience (since Fall 2015), mostly upper elementary
• Master’s degree in Math Education
• Currently teaching and course writing in the Queen’s Continuing Teacher Education program (Math for BC Elementary Teachers)

I’m wondering:

• Are there many intermediate (Grades 4–7) openings in SD42 right now?
• Are full-year temporary or continuing contracts posted externally, or is it generally expected to TTOC first?
• For those who did TTOC, how long did it take to get a term or continuing position?
• With experience and a math background, is it realistic to minimize or skip the TTOC phase?
• What is the district actually looking for in new hires right now (instructional approach, specialties, etc.)?

I’m trying to get a realistic picture before making a move especially balancing job stability with commute and quality of life.

Really appreciate any insight from those who’ve made the switch.

Thanks!