This Week in Ontario Edublogs

Happy first day of holidays or happy last day of the school year or happy last half school day of the year. We really haven’t got our act completely together.

But, these Ontario Edubloggers do. I’d still like to add to this list. If you’re an Ontario blogger or you know of one, please let me know.

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Don’t Start Something New on the Last Week of School

• Diana Maliszewski – @mzmollytl
• https://mondaymollymusings.blogspot.com/2023/06/dont-start-something-new-on-last-week.html

They never gave me this great advice at the Faculty or at my school. My first year of teaching I vowed to teach right to the last moment so that kids got their educational dollar from me. In our staff meeting that month, our vice-principal told us all that we need to do it. It didn’t work well but I figured it was an anomaly so tried it the second year with no better success.

The reality is that class parties, students being called to the office by Student Services and other things was far more important. At the bottom of Diana’s post, she shares how she planned to fill the month of June. No surprise there and she wrote this wonderful post.

The really strong message thought is that the Minister of Education and the policy people dropped a new curriculum with no plan for professional learning or understanding and it will be implemented in the fall.

Diana is normally a very positive and cheerful blogger so her discussion about the issue is completely different than normal. I suspect that she’s speaking for so many across the province. And, it’s just not the cursive thing that so many are focused on – if you drop by the Ministry’s website, you’ll see that there have been curriculum drops in both the elementary and secondary panels.

I also thought that she was overly harsh on herself for the title of the post. I thought it was perfect.

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Resurrecting Twitter For PD: Will Others Join Me In #ONLang2023?

• Aviva Dunsiger – @avivaloca
• https://adunsiger.com/2023/06/24/resurrecting-twitter-for-pd-will-others-join-me-in-onlang2023/

On the other hand, we have Aviva trying to get the ball rolling.

There’s a lot of hate on for Twitter these days but she reminds us that so many of us joined because it was the platform for collaborative thinking and sharing as we learn. For me, it goes back to 2007 and has been so valuable.

Many things are not the same these days – many tools and integrations have been lost. I’ve shared with how it has impacted me. Sadly, something else that is missing is the network that was so active at one time. Can Aviva revive it this summer?

Reading the comments to her post, Lisa Noble and Elizabeth Lyons are in. That’s a pretty good start.

Check this hashtag – #onlang2023. The discussion has started.

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Wrapping Up the School Year Strong: A Proactive Teacher’s Guide to Success [Free Downloadable Checklist]

• Amy Bowker – @amyebowker
• https://amyebowker.com/end-of-the-year-checklist/

This is why you need to listen to This Week in Ontario Edublogs on voicEd Radio. You would have learned earlier about this free checklist from Amy about things to do as the end of the year approaches.

I use the word “approaches” because it never does. You just wake up one morning and BANG, it’s there and you have so much left to do and get ready.

I was never finished on the last day and did spend a great deal of summer doing things that could have been done earlier with some planning so I really see the value of this document.

Particularly a reminder of the things you need to take home.

• PLANTS
• EXPENSIVE ITEMS
• FOOD

What do you have to go in to pick up on Tuesday?

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Learning In The Loo: Google Classroom End of Year Cleanup

• Laura Wheeler – wheeler_laura
• https://mslwheeler.wordpress.com/2023/06/21/learning-in-the-loo-google-classroom-end-of-year-cleanup/

Cleaning up your Google Drive is so important as you move from one year to the next. Or whatever cloud system your district uses.

Laura takes an inforgraphic from Matt Miller and adds her own twist to things. There’s great advice.

I especially think these are important:

• Archive old classes
• Remove or unenroll students
• Make a folder for exemplary work

I’ll admit to being bad with organizing my Google space. I’m a whole lot better with my local hard drives. I wonder why mentally I see a big difference.

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Old Fellas New Music – Episode 48

• Paul McGuire – @msguirp
• https://paulmcguire1.com/2023/06/24/old-fellas-new-music-episode-48/

First up, something I forgot to mention on the show. Paul maintains a Spotify playlist of all that he and Bob have reviewed. I forgot to mention on the show. Sorry, Paul.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2rlY38n9kvK7MzuwzN6SdY

There were a couple interesting songs that got me thinking.

versus

I’ll go with Max Webster.

Then there was this.

In the post, there are a couple of links to thoughts about the use of Leonard Cohen and you’re invited to make your own opinion.

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Tech Ed Courses Offered Summer 2023

• Peter Beens – @pbeens
• https://www.beens.ca/tech-ed-courses-offered-summer-2023/

If you’re looking for professional learning in the technologies this summer, there are lots of options.

Peter has a whack of them covered in this post. Lots there for Grades 8 through 12.

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Funeral Songs for Dying Girls by Cherie Dimaline

• Alanna King – @banana29
• https://threadbarebeauty.com/2023/06/05/funeral-songs-for-dying-girls-by-cherie-dimaline/

We don’t talk about Alanna’s blog posts on the show as they’re typically book reviews and we don’t want to spoil it for people.

She devoted her blog to these reviews and ratings. So, if you want to see what she’s reading, head over to her blog.

If you want to see EVERYTHING she’s read, go to her GoodReads page.

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I hope that you can find time to click through and read all these great posts. Drop off a comment if you’re so inclided.

Then, follow them on Twitter.

• Diana Maliszewski – @mzmollytl
• Aviva Dunsiger – @avivaloca
• Amy Bowker – @amyebowker
• Laura Wheeler – wheeler_laura
• Paul McGuire – @msguirp
• Peter Beens – @pbeens
• Alanna King – @banana29

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This Week in Ontario Edublogs

Opening Song

Closing Song

Peace Playlist