Natalie Tsui

YRDSB Curriculum Consultant. High School Teacher. Amateur baker. Loves eating, travelling, Netflix.

Life is about finding people who are your kind of crazy.

[Natalie Tsui @NatalieeTsui]

1/2 @MHS_YRDSB learning & commemorating #RemembranceDay w/ school gallery walk ft. student made exhibits: Remembering Our Veterans, Non-combat Experiences, Forgotten & Unseen Truths, Reflecting on Impacts of Wars & Conflicts @YRDSB @HistoricaCanada @CanWarMuseum @Memory_Project

[Michael Chiles 🌍 @m_chiles]

Reflecting on 7 months of Headship

🧵

‘You don’t know what it’s like until you’re sat in the chair’

A few people told me this leading up to starting my first headship and it’s so true.

I read all the books, talked to experienced Heads and was completing the NPQH but nothing really prepares you for when you’re sat in the chair.

Jim Smith’s recent post on LinkedIn got my thinking about the importance of holding the line and my first 6 months as a Headteacher.

‘Leadership isn’t just about setting a vision, it’s about standing firm when it matters most.’

Laying the foundations for a culture shift in a school is only the beginning. You can have a really clear vision but without the buy in it becomes nothing more than words on paper.

I left school last night after another brilliant week and proud of what staff and students have achieved so far.

So, what have I done with the team to move beyond the paper?

/1

[Principal Project @PrincipalProj]

As #BlackHistoryMonth ends, consider these 5 suggestions for making Black history part of your year-round practice, via leader @Selmekki: https://t.co/ABBEOHq1X2

[Geographical Association @The_GA]

Climate breakdown and biodiversity collapse are the biggest issues of our time, and ones that today’s young people are going to face throughout their lives.

What can today’s geography teachers do to prepare them?

Find out more about the Geographers at the Sustainability Chalk Face event and watch the recording of a vital discussion about our role in safeguarding our young people, and the world they depend on.

Link: https://t.co/W4idM3wyfE

[Teacher2Teacher @teacher2teacher]

Ts, which ❄️ matches your mood today?

(Inspiration via @positivepresent, shared by educator @mrswendymturner)

[Med Kharbach, PhD @EducatorsTech]

With the rise of AI in education, a new language is emerging — and teachers need to be fluent in it.
As teachers, understanding terms like GPT, Prompt Engineering, and Machine Learning isn't just optional—it's essential. #edtech #AI #AIinEducation

[Tim Smyth @historycomics]

Curious how to use graphic novels in your classroom? Here are some of the guides my wife and I created for these powerful books and more. Always looking for more opportunities to work with publishers and creators… https://t.co/UAT5R81Dlu

[Educator @DrAnnLopez]

The way academia takes the work, knowledge and contributions of Black women and then erase them with no acknowledgement of their work, especially when their work influences system change is a problem that needs to be addressed.

[PJ Caposey @PJCaposey]

Remember when GRIT was all the rage in schools and dominated PD.

Now, all we hear about is self-care and no mention of grit and even some talk that seems to speak against it.

Here is my attempt in @edutopia to reconcile the two very worthy concepts - https://t.co/sZZM3B80LL

[Dr. Jorge Valenzuela @JorgeDoesPBL]

🚀 Boost Your Lesson Plans with Microsoft Copilot!
Check out my ✨NEW✨ article on @Edutopia and discover how to streamline your planning process. 🖥️📚
👉 Read here: https://t.co/f4ppPoSVwe

#EdTech #MicrosoftCopilot #JorgeDoesPBL #Edutopia #AI

[Teacher2Teacher @teacher2teacher]

Rock, paper, scissors ... reflect!

Check out this clever end-of-class resource from T @gret:

https://t.co/Ed825OvRG1

[edutopia @edutopia]

“Every time a student makes a mistake...they grow a synapse.” 🧠 By celebrating the role mistakes have in learning, teachers help students develop growth mindsets and perseverance.

[African Stream @african_stream]

NEW ZEALAND: POWERFUL HAKA AGAINST BILL

On 14 November, 22-year-old Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, New Zealand’s youngest member of Parliament, led a protest on the floor using the indigenous Maori people’s Haka, a ceremonial dance and chant, against a proposed bill that seeks to redefine New Zealand’s foundational agreement between the indigenous tribes and the British Crown. Other MPs joined Maipi-Clarke when she started chanting the ‘Ka Mate' Haka and tore up what appeared to be her copy of the controversial bill. The protest caused Parliament to suspend the vote.

The 1840 Treaty of Waitangi between the British Crown and 540 Maori chiefs was signed to guarantee the protection of Maori rights, sovereignty and recognition in exchange for handing over governance to the British.

The bill calls for equality for all people in New Zealand, representing a threat to the Maoris, who went from controlling all land before British colonisation to becoming a dispossessed people, now making up about 20 per cent of the population.

The Haka performed in this clip represents defiance and resistance to colonisation. Ngāti Toa chief Te Rauparaha (1768-1849) composed it to ‘stiffen the sinews, to summon up the blood,’ according to Timoti Karetu, considered a ‘godfather’ of the Maori Language Movement.

Video credit: Stuff on YouTube (@NZStuff on X)

[A Teacher’s Joys and Sorrows @TeachersJourney]

Robert John Meehan,a retired teacher and author, is known for his insightful quotes about teaching and education. Here are some of his most popular quotes:

On Collaboration and Growth
"The most valuable resource that all teachers have is each other. Without collaboration, our growth is limited to our own perspectives." This quote emphasizes the importance of teachers working together and learning from one another to expand their horizons and improve their craft.

On Empathy and Understanding
"The roots of all teaching lie in the soil of empathy for the Pupil."Meehan highlights the crucial role of empathy in effective teaching, suggesting that understanding and connecting with students is fundamental to the educational process.

On Perseverance and Effort
"A student's success in the classroom is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out."This quote underscores the importance of consistent effort and dedication in achieving academic success.

On Kindness and Human Nature
"Kindness is an integral component of our human nature, we must continually strive to return it to the forefront of our human experience." Meehan emphasizes the importance of kindness in education and life in general, encouraging educators to prioritize this essential human quality.

On Challenges and Perspective
"Just as the waves in the ocean come and go, no classroom challenge is lasting. We should enjoy the challenges just as we enjoy the waves." This quote offers a refreshing perspective on the difficulties teachers face, encouraging them to embrace challenges as temporary and potentially enriching experiences.

On Personal Growth and Aspiration
"Don't struggle to be a better teacher than everybody else. Simply be a better teacher than you ever thought you could be." Meehan encourages teachers to focus on personal growth and self-improvement rather than comparing themselves to others. These quotes reflect Meehan's philosophy on education, emphasizing collaboration, empathy, perseverance, kindness, and personal growth as key elements in the teaching profession.

[Yellowhead Institute @Yellowhead_]

Yellowhead is excited to announce the launch of The Treaty Map! Covering every Canadian treaty from 1763 to the present, The Treaty Map challenges the commonly held view of treaties as land surrenders and offers a comprehensive learning & teaching tool: https://t.co/eImjbdcoSB

[We Are Teachers @WeAreTeachers]

Learn about the history of Native Americans through their lenses. https://t.co/OXdvFPCdx7

[Connie Walker @connie_walker]

Tonight, I’m thinking about Justice Murray Sinclair and of the times that I was lucky enough to hear him speak about his work with the TRC. This moment stands out for me. It’s his answer when he was asked, “Why can’t you just get over it?”

[Historic Vids @historyinmemes]

Native American land loss in the United States of America from 1776-1930

[Principal Project @PrincipalProj]

Does your district's plan to recruit & retain educators of color include a culturally responsive mentorship program?

Explore this toolkit for offering effective support, via Aspiring to Educate.

https://t.co/N5os3ahEib

[Educator @DrAnnLopez]

We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.

- James Baldwin

[LiberatED @LiberatED_SEL]

How will you activate your “racial literacy” to build trust with your students & their families?

What can you do differently to strengthen your learning partnerships with them?

@Ready4rigor #ZarettaHammond #CRTandtheBrain #culturallyresponsiveteaching #LiberatEDSEL