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I spent the break reading through the materials you provided at the conference. They are excellent! Our geography textbook is over ten years old so your sources are much appreciated. Our study of Canada will be infinitely enriched because of the NCSS presentation. I am so grateful!
H. Kizer (Phoenix, AZ)
Fabulous site! I'm an American-born children's writer here in Canada and visiting schools here for the past twenty years--always as an American/Canadian "ambassador" for better understanding. The materials you supply for teachers are fantastic. Thank you for your work.
L. Granfield (Toronto, Ontario)
Thanks for your continued support. I use the materials, maps, video, etc. that your program has offered.... a workshop would complete my curriculum for teaching Canada. I have a Masters in Ed. and hadn't a clue about Canada until I discovered your program. It's sad but true. As an educator, it's my responsibility to help correct this "weak link" in U.S. education.
Teddy Perry (Hannibal, MO)
You folks do provide great resources. They made a huge difference this year in putting together my lessons. The Canadian study went quite well for a first go. I'm excited to add to it next year. Someday I hope we cross paths to swap ideas.
Jane Hesslein (Seattle, WA)
I would like to take a minute to thank you for including Canadian books on your site. Rockbound was excellent reading, and without your site, I would have been unaware that it existed...[it] brought a new insight into my lessons about the hardships of the fishing communities....Thanks again for titles of well written literature...and for a great resource...your website.
Jeanie Jones (Warrensburg, MO)
STUDY CANADA Summer Institute
"I have participated in many professional development programs, both in the U.S. and around the world, and this is by far the best program! I enjoyed STUDY CANADA every single day and learned more than I could have imagined. Not only did I fall in love with Canada but I have also been inspired to teach it extensively in my classes. My students (and colleagues) will no longer have ignorance when it comes to our northern neighbor - they will come to value and appreciate Canada just as I have!"
John Baldridge (OK) - SCSI 2012
"Once again the STUDY CANADA Summer Institute was a phenomenal experience! The content lectures were extremely informative, the guest presentations were enlightening and the special events were extraordinary. I am inspired to share the experience with colleagues to promote the teaching of Canada throughout the state. You have planned and organized a wonderful institute! Thank you!"
JoAnn Trygestad (MN) - SCSI 2012 and SCSI 2005
"STUDY CANADA is an enriching professional development program. I think it is more meaningful to have a staff development in the topic country than staying at home. Being immersed in a foreign culture is the best way to learn and understand it."
Hope Bentley (GA) - SCSI 2012
"The whole week of activities, class lectures, and trip to Montreal, provided great experiences and information or future classes on Canada. I really liked meeting all the professors and the Ambassador to Canada from the United States. All in all, it was a very fun and welcoming study tour. I hope to tell others about this great experience."
Diana Mackiewicz (MA) - SCSI 2012
"The STUDY CANADA experience is an enlightening educational adventure that emphasizes the importance of the United States and Canada relationship. STUDY CANADA also provides a myriad of valuable educational information from a variety of perspectives that makes teaching Canada so much more engaging and exciting for students."
Kathleen O’Hagan (NY) - SCSI 2012
"What a great experience! I came away with not just knowledge and new viewpoints but a feeling for Canada I did not have before attending the STUDY CANADA Summer Institute."
Theresa Weickum (CO): - SCSI 2012
I have participated in numerous intensive professional development programs throughout my career but none can compare to the STUDY CANADA Summer Institutes that I attended in 2010 ("Experience B.C. From the 5 Themes of Geography to the 2010 Olympics" in Vancouver and Whistler, BC) and in 2011 ("A Capital View of Canada: Nations within a Nation" in Ottawa, ON and Montréal, QC). The training offered was simply outstanding! The program broadened my perspectives of Canada (and the Canada-US relationship) and provided me with opportunities to not only learn from experts, educators, and politicians but also to experience Canadian culture, appreciate the diversity of Canadian peoples and network with others from across the U.S. who teach Canada. This program is an educational gem and I treasure the knowledge gained. Given STUDY CANADA's longevity and success, I know that the program has impacted an exponentially huge number of American students and, in its own way, STUDY CANADA has contributed to improved Canada-US relations as much as any politicians' efforts.
Anastasia Sunday (CO), SCSI 2011
This has been a phenomenal experience - The content overall will enrich my lessons. Just seeing one small section of Canada and experiencing it firsthand will help add excitement to my teaching style and lessons. . . Your efforts shine through in the smooth and stress-free flow of classes and scheduled events.
Jeanie Jones (MO), SCSI 2006
Thank you so much for the planning that went into this experience. The speakers were highly qualified and added credibility to this program. . . We are all so fortunate to have heard these speakers.Thank you for the memories and the new knowledge.
Jody Brown, SCSI 2006
The logistics and organization of this tour were wonderful. The location was fun and there were plenty of activities to keep people busy after classes. . . You've done a superb job of organizing and I have enjoyed the entire week. I'm very glad to be included in the group.
Nelda Brangwin, SCSI 2006
I would like to again thank you for the fabulous job you and your team did last week at the institute. I was so impressed with the wealth of information and the cross-section of speakers and topics you provided . I definitely came away with a better sense of all things Canadian!
J. Caton (Denver, CO) SCSI 2006
I just wanted to take a moment and let you know. . . I learned so much last year and my class is so much better because I was there!
L. Smith (Richland, NC)
Thanks for the totally amazing and wonderful week with you! I learned so much and wanted more! Thank you for all the resources I can use in my History of Canada Class!
J. Hammer (Milton-Freewater, OR)
The Resource Valise
We have been using the red K-12 STUDY CANADA Resource Valise in every class in some way. These
kids have not got a clue about Canada at all. Hard to figure when we are only 3 hours away. Why
is Canada so invisible?
As an art teacher (K-12) I have a wide range of ages. With my high school classes, we watched
the Postcards from Canada and Group of Seven videos, the Totem Poles DVD, the map, read Group of
Seven books, etc. They have each made a totem pole out of clay and are now doing their own
interpretation of a landscape in the tradition of the Group of Seven...using acrylic. Frankly I
have taught for 25 years and had never heard of the Group of Seven until this year.
My eighth graders will be doing Inuit Clay animals from the artic north. Using the simple style
and smooth lines of the Inuit stone carvings. My 6th graders have seen the Postcards video, the
map, the Group of Seven video and will begin big tempera landscape paintings today. I also want
to read "The Cremation of Sam McGee" to them and really study his [illustrator's] artwork, color
schemes and do a vibrant painting or marker picture in his style.
I asked the 6th graders what they knew or thought of about Canada. They said: "hockey", "Lake of
the Woods" (fishing), "ice", "moose", and "diamonds". They didn't know if it was bigger or smaller
than us, if they had more people than us or not, and really knew not much about our close neighbor
to the north. When I asked what other language they spoke, they guessed Russian.
I liked the short book about Emily Carr and the Artroom. The illustrations were again very good.
I will use that with my smaller students.
I am so glad for the red suitcase. I plan on ordering some of the books too, to have in our
library. There is one boy in the class who has family in Canada and is so proud of the topic.
He has worn his 2 hockey shirts the last 2 days. I'll be curious about what he has today.
Thank you. We have really enjoyed the K-12 STUDY CANADA Resource Valise.
C. Schultz, Ashby Public School, Art Department (Ashby, MN)
We found the valise to contain much useful, helpful information. Whoever put it all together
really did a fantastic, thorough job! We saved a lot of ideas for next year, and copied the
resource pages in the 3 ring binder!
What we did was set up an empty classroom and named it "Canada." Then, we set up stations for
kids in small groups for rotation. Each station had a task based upon what we wanted kids to
know. For example, one station was called "The Underground Railroad." One of the units had a
poster; we found a book to accompany it called The Bear Claw Quilt. We had the kids explain
what the Underground Railroad was and how it affected settlement in Canada. Then, they used
a 5x7 card to create their own quilt pattern and its code was written out on the back.
Anyway, that's just one of the things we did. Some of the others included a book center, famous
Canadians w/ internet searches, and a sports center. There are many ways to use the materials.
Thanks so much for the opportunity and the fabulous resource for our students.
Without a textbook, we are challenged to provide hands-on experiences for our students as we
are constantly interpreting material we have to find on our own!
L. Granfield (Toronto, Ontario)
Thanks for your continued support. I use the materials, maps, video, etc. that your program has offered.... a workshop would complete my curriculum for teaching Canada. I have a Masters in Ed. and hadn't a clue about Canada until I discovered your program. It's sad but true. As an educator, it's my responsibility to help correct this "weak link" in U.S. education.
Teddy Perry (Hannibal, MO)
You folks do provide great resources. They made a huge difference this year in putting together my lessons. The Canadian study went quite well for a first go. I'm excited to add to it next year. Someday I hope we cross paths to swap ideas.
Jane Hesslein (Seattle, WA)
I would like to take a minute to thank you for including Canadian books on your site. Rockbound was excellent reading, and without your site, I would have been unaware that it existed...[it] brought a new insight into my lessons about the hardships of the fishing communities....Thanks again for titles of well written literature...and for a great resource...your website.
Jeanie Jones (Warrensburg, MO)
Man, This set is awesome! I am so excited to start using the items.... This is going to be great!
M. Whelton (Frankenmuth, MI)
Student Novel Collection
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Canada: Northern Neighbor
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K-12 Teaching Modules
I am writing to you to say, "Thank you," for your time and effort in writing about the Black Canadian History. May the Lord who created us all richly bless you!
T. C. Gibson (Boston, MA)
In the article Village of Widows, you offered the curriculum guide and possibly the lending of the video.... It was a powerful article and I have shared the piece with my friend in chemistry. I teach world geography and AP human geography.
M. Shaw Chernosky (Corinth, ME)
K-12 Lesson Plans
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K-12 Resource Flier
I really enjoy your newsletter. I have used many of the materials you have shared and will improve the unit next year!
T. Perry (Hannibal, MO)
Tina and Nadine--I love the K-12 STUDY CANADA mini-magazine! Nice work. I read the Acadia piece to my 13 year old son and we both learned something. This is super. I just wanted you to know.
A. Hall
K-12 Resource Notice
Thank you for your informative newsletters. I have used many of the things you've sent me over the years, especially the information on "free" maps, products, etc. I have also passed on your newsletters to others in my district that are teaching Canada.
A.M. Tomczyk (Huron Valley, MI)
I have learned a great deal from your updates and have used many of the educational resources that have been available.
M. Erthal (Milton, DE)
Thanks for the information.... This is all very useful and additional to our textbooks. Appreciative of all your work and keeping us better informed.
Victoria Russell (Hanford HS, Richland, WA)
It's not often there is such incredible news available! But your newsletter has the super news of Canadian Fulbright summer seminars! Plus, the many links to the provinces' resources. Thank you so much! I'm sending my colleagues the info on the summer seminars.
S. Redd (Mt. Vernon, WA)
I wanted to tell you what a superb job you have done on the newsletter. You are on top of what is going on and I know you spend a great deal of time at your work.
Sue Finsrud (Fairbanks, AK)