November 1, 2026 – A Practice Reflection

What I am trying to do this year is to reflect (aka., make a blog post) when I ask my students this term to reflect on different learning activities and experiences. Last week on Monday, October 26, 2026, we went to Cottonwood Island Park. I’ve been bringing teacher candidates here for about 5-years to introduce BC’s Curriculum and using PLACE as the inspiration. I felt super lucky that we came on a day that was not snowing. It was a bit chilly, but snow did not fall until the next day. Normally, I’d try to get the class out earlier in the term, but having my class now on Mondays, the pace and rhythm has changed. I find that facinating. All the little factors that go into planning. Also, I learned that day that another instructor was using one of the resources I refer to as required reading, another instructor just took this cohort out to Cottonwood Island Park last week, and another instructor has planning for some groups to come here at the end of the week. These factors also tap into how a lesson is designed and facilitated.

The message I sent out to the Teacher Candidates was, let me know if there is any overlap in our courses… I am happy to pivot and adapt. Although there was some overlap, the use of PLACE and readings were dealt with differently. That said, it can be perceived as “the same” curriculum, which can be frustrating for students when they are going to different classes within the program. There is no question, in lots of ways, teacher work in silos. Ironic in many ways because I like to teach my class that the collaborative and co-constructed. Nonetheless, I was grateful that the class enjoyed going outside even though it was the second time of possibly three over a span of a week or so. Some groups handed in their adapted lesson plan, while others could take the week to complete the task. I was taken by the responses in our closing circle. Lesson planning is structured, rigorous, and time consuming. This is time invested to understand that planning for teaching does take time and INTENTION to create a lesson that is cohesive.

That is the primary purpose of the role of a teacher… teach the curriculum… but in doing so, you need to know the students, the subject matter, and yourself to create a lesson that is innovative, engaging, and thought provoking. Getting out on the land and being in place was to provide the context of the lesson planning assignment, which was not clear at first. Thank goodness for the connection of technology and one student sent a message on Discord to let everyone know. For me, I am realizing that I need to tweak this aspect of my course syllabus. There is nothing wrong with change. It’s either I initiate the change or someone else will. I used to do the Fire Circle for the last handful of years just before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in September. Another colleague wanted to do it, and well, the person who was central to that learning passed away. It seemed almost serendipitous, but I learned that students did not do it anyway. Last year, I had to adapt that day, and this year was also a scramble.

In the end, I was super grateful to get outside. I love introducing curriculum on th land, and I feel that where a class goes is exactly where it needs to be. No need to overthink or feel apologetic. You just have to do the best that you can with what you know and what you have. That’s all you can do. PS. I love teaching!!