Chey Cheney is a middle school teacher with 20 years of experience, originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He currently teaches Grade 8 in Toronto, Ontario and engages in coaching and leadership work with students in the school beyond instructional time. Passionate about ELA, Chey’s teaching philosophy centers around student agency, student voice and a strong commitment to social justice. Chey … Read More
Lessons Learned From a Northern Town
TL;DR: Respect the history of your stakeholders by being curious about how to improve interactions. There are many experiences, not things, to be grateful for. When you know better, you do better. Be willing and open to learn. The people you work with support you and are your family. Lean on each other. As you move on to new opportunities, … Read More
5 Tips to Reimagine School as a Verb
TL;DR: Reimagine school as a verb with these five tips. Start with defining the problem. We need to focus on more than preparing students for the next grade; we need to focus on the necessary human skills of success. Reflection: The pandemic has forced us to relook at the whole learner through a metacognitive lens. Establish a growth mindset to … Read More
Still Learning…Even Though I’m the Principal
TL;DR: Even when you hold a leadership position, you still learn new things every day. Make sure your reasons for asking staff to produce something are clear and be sure to communicate the “why.” Even though I’m the principal, and have been doing this for a long time, doesn’t mean I don’t occasionally learn a lesson! I have a very … Read More
The Art of Reflection
TL;DR: Reflection informs our thinking and supports continuous growth. Reflect on your priorities, core values, personal and professional goals, and determine your next steps. Tools for reflection include journaling, meditating, walking/hiking, art, sticky notes, exercise, blogging, and more. Fifteen weekly reflection questions for educators are shared. When teachers and students transitioned to remote learning, social distancing, and working from home, … Read More
