Family Literacy Week in Vancouver

This is a picture of my friend, Ginny and her granddaughter, Emma, reading together. Emma isn't two yet but obviously enjoys her books.
Every year we celebrate Family Literacy in Vancouver, and LOMCIRA co-sponsors Write On with the Vancouver Public Library and Literacy BC, a popular event for families. This year on Saturday, January 24, we will have popular children's authors, Bob Heidbreder and Margriet Ruurs reading from their books and autographing as well as fun literacy stations for children and parents. Refreshments are served and it's always a wonderful day for all. To find out more about Family Literacy week and to register for this event, please visit Literacy BC's website. If you as teachers, are interested in having Bob or Margriet work with students at your school, please feel free to contact me for contact information!

Why do we teach?

Okay. You know I am an Obama fan and this is an excerpt from a letter to his children published in Parade Magazine and I found on Huffington Post.
"When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me--about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation."

Naked Scientists

Now that I have your attention. I have been working on building reading strategies grade eight science unit on Optical Systems using Mirrors and Lenses. Now doing this without a teacher's guide took me back to my first year of teaching when I had to teach science and had definite anxiety attacks. Fortunately in high school I was a whiz at multiple choice exams because I managed to spend a year and a half of science labs in chemistry without lighting a buntzen burner (I didn't like matches). I have taught science but looking at the grade eight science text definitely gave me anxiety.
At the end of the unit there was a question about why a window would reflect at night but not in the daytime. Now I knew I should know the answer but I wasn't sure so what did I do?
I googled and what did I find? A very neat website called-you guessed it- Naked Scientists. In the section Kitchen Science, I found the answer and I understood it.
According to the website, "The Naked Scientists are a media-savvy group of physicians and researchers from Cambridge University who use radio, live lectures, and the Internet to strip science down to its bare essentials, and promote it to the general public. Their award winning BBC weekly radio programme, The Naked Scientists, reaches a potential audience of 6 million listeners across the east of England, and also has an international following on the web."
Too fun, and great for students and educators.