Last night on CHEX Daily I chatted with hosts Teresa Kaszuba and Mike Judson about using children’s books to explore social and world issues with kids. The titles I brought tackle subjects like bullying, learning disabilities, race, homelessness, natural resources, poverty, war and education. In the second segment, we’re joined by one of my PVNC […] Read more…
Out of the September Haze
It’s October 15th, and I think I’m finally coming out of the September haze. (I’m blaming the delay on the late Labour Day.) The start of the school year always takes its toll on me. While I thrive on routine, getting both a household and a classroom back on board isn’t always easy (I’ll spare […] Read more…
Home/School Communication Tips – My CHEX Daily Segment
Last night on CHEX Daily I chatted with hosts Teresa Kazuba and Mike Judson (who always does a great job keeping the mood light!) about ways to establish strong home/school communication – and why it’s so important! Something I didn’t mention: don’t forget to keep the school/teacher informed about changes in your child’s life (medications, […] Read more…
How Much Should You Help With Homework?
For the “Touchy Subject” in the latest Parents Canada magazine, I answer this question with: “not very much”. See my reasons why (as well as a counterargument) here: http://www.parentscanada.com/school/touchy-subject-is-it-ever-ok-to-take-over-your-kids-homework P.S. As a primary teacher, I don’t believe in assigning very much homework at all, nor have either of my daughters ever brought home an unreasonable […] Read more…
My Appearance on The Social
Yesterday a dream came true. I was invited to be a guest on CTV’s The Social (kicking off Season 3 this past week), to chat about ways parents can help their kids succeed in school. It was an amazing experience, from start to finish. While I won’t give away the inner workings of the show, […] Read more…
Alan Carter and Farah Nasser: Part 2 Behind-the-Scenes with the Global News Hour Toronto Team
I recently went behind the scenes at Global News Hour Toronto with the new anchor team of Alan Carter and Farah Nasser, and I had such a great chat with them that I couldn’t even fit it all in one blog post! Here, the anchors get personal about parenting, social media negativity, and if they […] Read more…
Niagara Fun Day 3: Lunch Cruise with Niagara Sunset Cruises
On the third and final day of our Niagara adventure, we enjoyed a beautiful half hour drive from our Niagara Falls hotel to Niagara-on-the-Lake, where we hopped on a lunch cruise on the Niagara Belle (from Niagara Sunset Cruises). We boarded at the Navy Hall, right near Fort George National Historic Site, and set sail. […] Read more…
Behind-the-Scenes with Alan Carter and Farah Nasser: The New Global News Hour Duo
Soon after Global named Alan Carter and Farah Nasser as the new anchor duo for their Toronto News Hour (replacing Leslie Roberts, who had been solo on the desk), I received an email inviting me to come and visit the show. My readers know that as a broadcast journalism junkie I couldn’t possibly say no […] Read more…
Spring Cleaning – Teach Kids To Declutter! My CHEX Daily Segment
Last night on CHEX Daily, I chatted with hosts Teresa Kaszuba and Mike Judson about what kids can learn from spring cleaning (responsibility, organization, social justice/generosity, etc.) I share what chores my girls do, and how I am teaching them to declutter their own belongings. I even managed to work in a reference to The […] Read more…
Family Fun at Medieval Times
I know you’ve heard about Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament, where guests journey back in time, enjoying a four-course medieval feast (eaten only with the hands, of course) while taking in games of skill, falcon and Andalusian stallion performances and the main event: the jousting knights! This week, we visited the Toronto Castle (the only […] Read more…