drvan
218 Followers
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
About the store
I have over 20 years teaching experience in high schools, adult ed, university and private tutoring. I have also taught at learning centres for middle school and high school-aged students.
My background is in English Language Arts and Art History, incorporating cultural studies and literary theory. Like many English teachers, I teach short stories, novels, Shakespeare, poetry, grammar, essay writing, media studies, and career preparation and planning.
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Student(s) of the Month - Quick and Easy Online Form for Nominations
Most schools have a Student of the Month recognition system to honour and acclaim those students who represent the qualities that their schools hold dear. This resource makes doing so much easier, in all its facets: Requesting nominations of staff;Easily have staff submit students for nomination;Organize, review and analyze the nominations in one place, easy to view, organize and edit.Present the selected Students of the Month to the larger school community.NOMINATIONS:I have created a form (b
Classroom Community, For All Subjects, School Counseling
Welcome to Grade 8 - How to Prepare & What to Expect from High School
This is a 26-slide Google Slides Presentation and one-page Accompanying Handout on "How to Be Successful in High School." The presentation template is fully editable, allowing you to tailor it to your school and include photos and information as desired. The presentation provides a useful format to guide the structure of your presentation, whether you go into Grade 7 elementary classrooms at the end of the year (as I do), or when you welcome in the new batch of Grade 8s in September. In my
7th - 8th
School Counseling
Know Your Country: Map of Canada Assignment (& Accompanying Quiz)
This resource is now a Google Doc and therefore editable, should you need to, to meet your specific teaching needs!This four-page mapping activity is one I use for all my junior Social Studies classes. With this mini-project, students become more familiar with the geographic boundaries of Canada, its provinces and territories, and significant bodies of water within and around our country. Students also learn the capital cities and where they are located. Finally, in completing this project, s
5th - 10th
Canadian History, Geography, Social Studies
DBT for Schools (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) using A.C.C.E.P.T.S. & T.I.P.P.
For students who struggle with anxiety, depression, or suicidal ideation Dialectical Behaviour Therapy has proven useful and effective. DBT was originally developed to treat BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder), and developed out of CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy), yet it has been similarly effective with generalized anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Presented here is an easy-to-use, one-page handout that proves effective with children. Designed for in-school use, this DBT handout work
4th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
School Counseling, School Psychology
Plagiarism Reflection Assignment Sheet
It is disheartening when a student plagiarizes, but we know it happens. When it does, I would prefer my students learn from it, rather than be punished by it. After all, everyone makes mistakes. This resource turns the plagiarism into a learning experience, which what it should be, really. The student takes responsibility for the act of plagiarism and makes it right, ensuring they master the original assignment's learning outcomes, but also the negative impact of plagiarism on them, their
8th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
English Language Arts
Lateral Thinking: Thinking Outside the Box in Visual Rebus Puzzles
This is a fun Google Drive presentation to show your students and get them practicing lateral thinking skills. In a series of eight different Rebus-like images, student have to work out what the doctored (photoshopped) photos represent. The Answers: An iPodGatoradeA NightmareA Pool TableA Card SharkA Light Beer (Perhaps not the most school appropriate, but I leave that to your good judgement.)Whole MilkTap DancersIf you like this product, you may also enjoy two other resources which focus on la
8th - 12th
Close Reading, English Language Arts
Also included in: Lateral Thinking Skills Bundle - 3-in-1 - Save 25%
How Much Is One Billion?: A Math Lesson In Scale
This is a lesson I devised in conjunction with an Eighth Grade Math Teacher. I was teaching Humanities (English/Socials) and I were were looking at world population. The students were, understandable, having difficulty trying to grasp what 7.8 billion people actually looks like, especially here in Canada where we don't have population density like that in New York, Tokyo, or Manilla. So, in true cross-disciplinary team teaching style, we collaborated and came up with this lesson. How do y
6th - 9th
Applied Math, Math, Social Studies
Safety Plan (Two editable versions w/ possible inclusion ideas) for Counsellors
Herein you will find TWO VERSIONS of SAFETY PLANS for your students, to be filled out by a trained professional who has the proper educational training ( e.g., school counsellor or school psychologist). These Safety Plans are GOOGLE DOCUMENTS and, therefore, fully editable, should you need to make any changes ( i.e., local area resources or crisis lines). T Of the two versions, one is a one-pager (which I like for that reason) and the other is a two-pager, and goes into more detail. Also
5th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
School Counseling, School Psychology
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe: Five Vocabulary Activities for Chapters 1-4
Beginning to read a novel can be quite exciting for some students, pure drudgery for others, and an overwhelming prospect for still others. I find that a mixture of activities, of course, is beneficial to build up exciting and anticipation for the story, engaging readers and increasing their desire to read and find out more. The block of new vocabulary when opening a new novel can often put students off, so for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe I created this 15-page resource with five di
3rd - 7th
English Language Arts, Vocabulary
Winter Holiday / Christmas Reading Log
This is a Reading Log for the Winter Holiday Break ( a.k.a. Christmas Vacation). I designed it to encourage my students to read — especially the reluctant readers — by keeping up the momentum we established in the regular school year. This is a fully editable Google Document, so that you can tailor it to suit your own purposes and taste. I use a similar one over the Spring Break / Spring Vacation, as well. What I have included on this reading log is... a place for them to put their name
4th - 7th
English Language Arts, Reading
Also included in: Bundle: Spring Break & Winter Break Reading Logs - SAVE 15%
Prepositions (Grammar Exercise) — Interactive (ELL, Intermediate, & Junior High)
This a GRAMMAR resources that looks at the use and function of PREPOSITIONS. It is created in Google Slides, and can be student-interactive as they fill-in the worksheet on their computer, tablet, or SmartBoard, in lieu of filling out a paper worksheet. I have used it for individual student-work, or in pairs, or as a class activity where the teacher makes use of the interactive/manipulative element. (That said, this document is printable for traditional paper-and-pencil work, if you or your
5th - 9th
English Language Arts, Grammar
Life Interview: Oral Interview Assignment & Self-Reflection
Here is a wonderful assignment for your students to find out more about themselves, but doing so through the eyes of another. It will have them practice their planning skills, oral presentation skills, interview skills, ability to self-reflect, and expository writing skills. Students will select a person who has known them well and long.Students will craft questions in advance of the interview.Students will sit down in a self-formal manner and conduct the interview, and record responses.Stude
8th - 12th
English Language Arts, Speaking & Listening, Writing-Expository
Graphic Organizer - Graduation Checklist (British Columbia, Canada)
This resource is a nice one-pager that teachers, counsellors, career facilitators, and administrators can all use when course planning and/or explaining BC graduation requirements to students and parents/guardians alike. In order to earn a Dogwood Graduation Diploma in a BC Secondary School various credits in specific domains must be achieved. This checklist sheet simplifies those requirements, and provides an effective visual to show students and parents/guardians the pathway to graduation. I
8th - 12th
School Counseling
Christmas Trivia Quiz with Extension Activity
Here is a fun and engaging 26-question Christmas trivia quiz. Topics include the history of Christmas, popular Christmas films, and some truly popular culture Christmas trivia. Your students will love going through the quiz, either individually or as a class, and seeing who gets the most correct answers. Offered here are both a Google Doc version (suitable for printing and giving to the students), as well as a Google Slides version (with illustrations, suitable for overhead slide projecti
8th - 12th
For All Subjects
English Midterm Self-Assessment: Oral / Aural, Reading, Writing Skills
In this seven-page Google Document (fully editable), you will find a student self-assessment tool for their English Language Skills: Speaking / Listening (Oral / Aural) Skills;Reading Skills; andWriting Skills.I use this as a midterm assessment so students can reflect on where they are, where they've come from, and what they will need to do in order to get where they want to go. It is a collaborative assignment that allows students to take ownership over their own learning and feel empowered tha
7th - 12th
English Language Arts, Reading, Writing
Coping with COVID: A Counsellors' Handout to Parents & Students
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED RESOURCE WITH COVID19 IN MIND & DISTANCE LEARNINGAs school counsellors, it is difficult to not be there face-to-face to support our students as they are used to. In reaction their current social-emotional needs during this pandemic, I have developed this handout for students and parents that do the following: Let both students and parents know that they are not alone and that the school (counsellors, teachers, and admin) are still there to support them.Provide them with ef
5th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
School Counseling, School Psychology
Les parties du corp humain: Five Activities to Learn & Practice 31 Body Parts
Here is a collection of five activity sheets all using (and reusing) vocabulary of the human body. Students will practice 31 body parts in French, practising their spelling; translating the terms back and forth from English; and knowing the gender/number of each term (which terms are masculine, feminine, or plural). The activities can be done individually, in pairs, groups, or the class as a whole. Answer Keys are provided for each activity, as well as a one-pager of all the vocabulary (
4th - 10th
French
Introductory Junior French Activities — First few days of class
This "Introductory Junior French Activities" resource is a resource designed for educators teaching Intro French (for students in Grades 7, 8, or 9). This five-page, fully editable, Google Document resource includes a complete lesson plan for the first day of Junior French class, along with activities like a getting-to-know-you "Classmate Bingo" and a school supplies translation "Word Search." The activities are intended to help students get to know each other, start communicating in French, and
7th - 9th
French, World Languages
Name that Movie! (Emoji-Description Style) Volume Two: Children's Films (1of2)
As part of my ongoing series of Lateral Thinking Resources, I've taken the Internet activity of using emojis to alternatively describe films and placed them into a fun and engaging class lesson where students can work together to do the same. In this group activity, students will look at the popular culture of emoji-text and then have to determine what popular movie it is describing. For example: + describe's 2019's Oscar-award winning biopic: Rocketman. This resource is VOLUME TWO of a serie
5th - 12th
English Language Arts
Name that Movie! (Emoji-Description Style) Volume One: Action & Science Fiction
As part of my ongoing series of Lateral Thinking Resources, I've taken the Internet activity of using emojis to alternatively describe films and placed them into a fun and engaging class lesson where students can work together to do the same. In this group activity, students will look at the popular culture of emoji-text and then have to determine what popular movie it is describing. For example: + describe's 2019's Oscar-award winning biopic: Rocketman. This resource is VOLUME ONE of a se
6th - 12th
English Language Arts
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About the store
Experience
I have over 20 years teaching experience in high schools, adult ed, university and private tutoring. I have also taught at learning centres for middle school and high school-aged students.
My background is in English Language Arts and Art History, incorporating cultural studies and literary theory. Like many English teachers, I teach short stories, novels, Shakespeare, poetry, grammar, essay writing, media studies, and career preparation and planning.
Teaching style
My philosophy of education centres on interdisciplinary studies and the development of critical reasoning skills. I believe that as modern life becomes increasingly complex and interconnected the need to teach how all subject areas interact is ever more important. As such, I habitually infuse my lessons with visual and popular culture, demonstrating how the material is relevant to students’ lives and thereby making it more accessible. Similarly, I contextualize the source material to its socio-political milieu to facilitate learning while students uncover how a text’s meaning changes over time.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Outstanding Teaching Practicum Award
My own education history
B.Ed., B.A., and M.Ed in School Counselling.
Additional biographical information
I'm a nineteenth-century boy, stuck in a twenty-first-century body.
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