Vanessa Vakharia

Every learning experience begins with teachers who are willing to keep learning. In this session, our educators explored literacy and numeracy strategies to support students in the classroom. Because education is a continuous journey.

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Mentoring future teachers is both rewarding and demanding. In this episode of How We Teach This, guest host Dr. Ann Addison leads a conversation with secondary mentor teachers who share practical strategies for setting expectations, building rapport, and providing meaningful feedback to interns. Their insights offer valuable guidance for educators preparing to take on a mentoring role or refining their approach to coaching future teachers. 🎧 Listen to the episode: https://linktr.ee/hwtt #HowWeTeachThis #podcast #MentorTeachers

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Why Feedback Matters and How to Do It Well in the Classroom Research continues to confirm what effective educators know. Feedback is one of the most powerful influences on student learning when it is intentional, actionable, and focused on improvement. High quality feedback improves clarity around learning goals, guides students toward next steps, and builds student ownership of learning. What the Research Says 1.Feedback must move learning forward Feedback is most effective when it helps students understand where they are in relation to the learning goal and what to do next. Grades alone do not improve learning. Specific guidance tied to success criteria does. 2.Students must know how to use feedback Recent research emphasizes feedback literacy. Students need to be taught how to interpret feedback, reflect on it, and apply it. Feedback only works when students act on it. 3.The most effective feedback is clear and reflective Blending directive feedback, what to fix or improve, with metacognitive prompts, why it matters and how to approach it next time, leads to deeper learning and stronger revisions. How to Do Feedback Well in the Classroom • Share learning targets and success criteria before students begin work • Be specific and actionable, focused on the task and next steps • Give feedback during learning, not just after grading • Build time for students to respond to feedback and revise their work • Use a mix of teacher, peer, and self feedback • Focus feedback on effort, strategy, and improvement rather than compliance What the Experts Say “Feedback is not the view from the rear view mirror. It should help the learner decide what to do next.” Dylan Wiliam (@DylanWiliam) “Feedback can be one of the most powerful influences on learning and achievement, but this impact can be either positive or negative.” John Hattie (@John_Hattie) Great teaching is not just about what we teach. It is about how well we respond to learning as it is happening and how clearly we guide students forward.

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🌱 Leading with Purpose: Building Thinkers with Values 🌱 As an educator and school leader, I have always believed that meaningful learning extends far beyond textbooks and tests. At New Horizon Canadian International School, our goal is to help students not only learn what to think - but how to think, why to act, and when to choose kindness. One of our recent classroom activities beautifully reflected this philosophy. Our students explored the idea of good and bad choices, colouring their interpretations in green and red, a simple yet powerful exercise that encouraged reflection, conversation, and ownership of thought. What I value most about such moments is how they nurture student agency. Children begin to see themselves as capable decision-makers, understanding that their voices matter and their choices have meaning. This is where academic learning meets moral development, and where true education begins. As a leader, I strive to create spaces where teachers innovate, students take initiative, and values are lived, not just taught. Because schools must be more than centres of instruction; they must be communities of character. 💚 At New Horizon, our vision of Inspiring Futures and Opening New Horizons begins right here — in classrooms where minds and morals grow together. #LeadershipInEducation #HolisticLearning #StudentAgency #MoralDevelopment #ValuesEducation #EducationalLeadership #CharacterBuilding #InspiringFutures #OpeningNewHorizons #NewHorizonCanadianInternationalSchool

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I am thrilled to be heading to Ontario. I’m honored to present at the International Dyslexia Association Ontario Branch and work alongside passionate secondary educators committed to strengthening literacy outcomes for every student. Session Title: Dynamic Comprehension: What Every Secondary Teacher Needs to Know Supporting students in comprehending complex text does not happen by chance. It requires intentional planning and targeted instruction. In this session, we will explore how students construct and extract meaning by focusing on background knowledge, vocabulary, verbal reasoning, and language structures. Participants will use the Reading Rope model to build a Mental Model of comprehension and walk away with a practical lesson planning framework and actionable strategies that can be implemented immediately in any content area. If you teach grades 6–12 and want to make comprehension instruction more precise, purposeful, and powerful, this session is for you. I cannot wait to share my lesson-planning guide for intentional comprehension instruction and to connect with educators who believe every student can rise. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gM4f75W3 #SecondaryLiteracy #ScienceOfReading #Comprehension #LiteracyLeadership #IDAOntario

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🎙️ From Precarity to Purpose: Building a Sustainable Teaching Career Too many teachers feel stuck, passionate about education but trapped in unstable contracts or underpaid roles. In my latest Eduvation episode, Andrew Woodbury (co-founder of Learn Your English and Impact Canada) shared a simple but powerful truth 👇 “You don’t need to change who you are to build something sustainable, you just need to repackage what you already do best.” That hit me. 💡 Because most teachers already have what it takes to run a meaningful, income-generating business - clarity, empathy, and the ability to help people learn. What’s often missing is the courage to try. The challenge is: 🎯 In the next 30 days, take one thing you teach and offer it independently to three people. No huge plan. No website. Just start. You might be surprised how many “yes” responses you get when you finally put yourself out there. Listen to the full conversation on Eduvation podcast where education meets innovation and start imagining your next chapter. 🎧 http://bit.ly/4q2gg3G #EdTech #TeacherEntrepreneur #LearningDesign #EducationInnovation #TeacherCareer

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The day I realized principals need an entrepreneurial mindset. We don’t like to say it out loud in education, but it’s true: Being a principal requires thinking like a business owner. Not in a profit-driven way, but in a purpose-driven, strategy-anchored, customer-focused way. An entrepreneur must: • Understand their audience deeply • Build systems instead of relying on luck • Innovate continuously • Design a high-quality product people believe in • Invest in branding, marketing, relationships, and reputation All of these principles apply directly to schools. School leaders want their “product”, learning, to be excellent, relevant, and personalized. They want strong relationships with their “customers”, students and families. They need systems that are stable, scalable, and adaptive. They need to create experiences worth choosing. And yes… they need to innovate or they fall behind. Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Schools that thrive are led like world-class organizations. Not because education is a business, but because excellent leadership is excellent leadership. Both business owners and school leaders need to: • Think proactively, not reactively • Design intentionally, not “hope for the best” • Build networks, not carry the load alone • Serve people deeply • Constantly refine the experience they deliver If you’re a school leader, here’s my challenge: If your school were a startup, would your systems attract people or confuse them? Would your culture retain people or exhaust them? Would your leadership inspire innovation or limit it? This mindset shift changed everything for me. And it’s why I’m so passionate about helping school leaders build clarity, capacity, social capital, and sustainable systems that feel good to run. If you’re a school leader wanting to bring an entrepreneurial mindset, sustainably and with support into your school… Send me a message. I’d love to walk it with you. #EducationalLeadership #EntrepreneurMindset #PrincipalLife #SchoolCulture #InnovationInEducation #ElevateAndFlourish #ComplexityLeadership #SocialCapital #CarryTheLoadTogether

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Over the course of this year, our Math Learning Partners (MLPs) have had the incredible opportunity to learn with Dr. Ruth Beatty through a series of sessions focused on deepening mathematical understanding. In a recent session, Dr. Beatty guided us through powerful learning on interpreting intersecting trend lines through rich story problems—a meaningful approach that invites students to explore mathematics through context, relationships, and narrative. Her work challenges us to move beyond procedural fluency and toward relational understanding, where math becomes a tool for storytelling, comparison, and community connection. This professional learning has not only enriched our MLPs' capacity to lead math instruction in their schools—it has also directly informed our system-wide professional learning on algebraic reasoning. We’re embedding these ideas into how we support educators in fostering confident, curious, and capable math learners. Thank you to Dr. Beatty for her continued partnership and generosity in sharing her knowledge with our team. #MathEducation #RuthBeatty #RelationalMathematics #AlgebraicReasoning #InstructionalLeadership #ProfessionalLearning #TDSB

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Ann Kagarise will deliver a keynote address in Ontario, focusing on neurodiversity and strategies educators can employ to support students. Understanding neurodiversity is crucial for creating inclusive learning environments. Educators equipped with the right tools and knowledge can significantly impact students' academic and personal growth. Kagarise's speech aims to bridge that gap, offering practical insights and fostering a deeper understanding of neurodivergent learners. #Neurodiversity #Education #Inclusion #EdChat, #Neurodiversity #Education #Inclusion #KeynoteSpeaker #Ontario, #realtalktinaann, #annkagarise, #rjformanek, #flyingwithbrokenwings, #redshoesrock, #fasd, #makingadifference, #fetalalcoholspectrumdisorder, #neurodivergence, #disabilities, #autism, #indigenouschiefs, #inclusivelearning, #mentalhealth, #podcast, #mentalhealthpodcast, #mentalhealthmatters

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When standards are unpacked, teaching becomes more intentional, and feedback becomes more powerful. CSGs help educators explicitly teach essential writing skills, target feedback, and support student growth—without adding more noise. 🎥 Learn why this work matters. https://hubs.ly/Q046RdrG0

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Leadership change in education is where culture is either strengthened… or quietly unravelled. Too often, we focus on structures, timelines, and quick wins and forget the human system sitting underneath it all. Clarity. Trust. Listening. They’re not “soft skills” they’re the difference between sustainable improvement and resistance in disguise. This is the reminder I keep coming back to: Change with people, not to them. #EducationLeadership #SchoolConsultant #EducationConsultant #SchoolImprovement #ChangeManagement #Inclusion #Leadership #SEND

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Building a Culture of Focus and Respect in Classrooms is an art that needs to be perfected over time! Effective classroom management isn’t about silencing students, but about creating an environment where learning and collaboration can flourish. Clear expectations, structured routines, and non-verbal cues set the tone, while positive reinforcement and planned “talk time” empower students to take ownership of their behavior. When teachers model calmness and follow through consistently, students not only learn self-regulation but also contribute to a respectful, engaged learning community. Noise control, done right, becomes less about discipline and more about fostering a culture of focus. https://lnkd.in/diJBh73c

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🎓 Teacher = Leader = Developer 🚀 Whether you're leading a classroom or a team, your true mission is the same: developing people. Over time, I’ve realized: 👉 Great teachers are powerful leaders. 👉 Great leaders are intentional educators. They both assign roles, clarify goals, evaluate transparently, and give feedback that moves people forward. 📌 Teaching is Leading. Leading is Teaching. That’s how we build a learning culture and unlock human potential. #Leadership #LearningCulture #PeopleDevelopment #ProjectBasedLearning #EducationLeadership #Feedforward #KPI #OKR

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How can we make sure that EVERY learner in our building feels a sense of belonging? ICYMI, here's a sketchnote that summarizes last week's conversation with Texas principal Josh Tovar on the Teachers on Fire podcast.

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I have been wondering how South-African schools can successfully adapt to the AI-wave. Simply ignoring that learners are using it, will not cut it. Canada approaches it through three different models. I wonder what would work best in SA? Personally, I think integration into different subjects might be the better option, but would require proper training of educators. Source: The Conversation https://lnkd.in/eCsB3Yrb

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Geoff Edwards Shares how #AI is currently impacting classrooms from curriculum design to daily teaching practices. #AI tools or platforms that are game changers for educators and students. Bit.ly/3IDhYY4 #ocsb #criticalthinking Ottawa Catholic School Board The Mentoree

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7 STEPS TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE CLASSROOM As teachers, our biggest impact comes from consistent small actions, not grand gestures. Review these 7 steps daily: 1️⃣ Build Relationships: Learn your students’ names, interests and strengths. This 30-second investment builds connection and belonging. 2️⃣ Two-Minute Rule: Spend just two minutes after each lesson reflecting on what worked and what didn't. Small adjustments compound into major improvements over time. 3️⃣ Ask Better Questions: Shift from “Did you understand?” to “What part was confusing?” 4️⃣ Set clear, achievable goals: Break learning objectives into manageable milestones for steady progress. 5️⃣ Create Micro-Celebrations: Celebrate small wins daily - a student asking a question, helping a peer or showing effort. These moments build momentum and motivation. 6️⃣ Incorporate active learning: Use interactive activities to engage diverse learning styles. 7️⃣ Reflect and adapt: Continuously assess your teaching methods and adapt to your students’ evolving needs. Great teaching is not about heroic moments. It is about consistent, thoughtful steps, one lesson at a time. #Education #Teaching #ClassroomManagement #StudentSuccess #EducationLeadership #TeacherLife #PositiveImpact

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