With so many toys available, how can you choose a toy that will provide good play value? Here are some tips: Choosing Toys to Grow With Your Preschooler Good Toys for Young Children by Age and Stage Tips for Choosing Toys for Toddlers Toy Buying Tips for Babies & Young Children: AAP Report Explained What… Read more
Dyslexia in the Classroom: What Every Teacher Needs to Know is a concise introduction produced by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA). It is designed to provide teachers with basic information about dyslexia, dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding it, and increase teacher capacity. This is only one of many resources available on the IDA website. Here… Read more
The Manitoba Adult Literacy Learner Assessment Guide (MALLA Guide) for adult literacy practitioners was written for practitioners who have knowledge of adult learning theory and some experience in conducting assessment interviews with learners registering in an adult literacy program. It describes a comprehensive approach to assessment that includes three phases: Initial Assessment, Ongoing Assessment and… Read more
Digital Storytelling: Understanding Social Media and Visual Storytelling Tools for Nonprofits is a resource from Tech Soup Canada that explores how nonprofits can use social media platforms for digital storytelling. A webinar recording, slide deck, and additional resources are included. The webinar covers: How to tailor content and visuals to your organization’s social media platforms… Read more
Today is Human Rights Day and this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The following infographic is a simplified version of the 30 articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Preschoolers can learn early coding skills through hands-on, screen-free activities that are fun. The T in STEM: Creating Play-Based Experiences That Support Children’s Learning of Coding and Higher Order Thinking is an introduction to the foundational skills that help young children understand coding. Here are some sample activities to try: 7 Super Easy Ways to… Read more
Want to learn more about resources and strategies for facilitating coding and computational thinking activities? Libraries Ready to Code, an initiative of the American Library Association sponsored by Google, is a good place to look. The Ready to Code Collection was created with the collaboration of staff from 30 libraries that curated resources, developed content… Read more
Have you noticed the QR codes in The Westcoast Reader? This is a tool you can use to share resources, and you can make your own QR codes. Here are three short video tutorials by Richard Byrne of Free Technology for Teachers: How to Make a QR Code for Just About Anything How to Use… Read more
The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify “code”, to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. It’s now a world-wide event that takes place each year during Computer Science Education Week (this week!). You’re invited to organize… Read more
The December issue of The Westcoast Reader newspaper is available now. You can find the Teachers’ Notes for this issue online. For subscription information, or to find out if your group qualifies to receive the newspaper for free, click here.