News & Announcements
Catch up on news, events and trending topics at Oak Learners.
Squash Exploration
Comparing and contrasting food is a great way to ask exploratory open-ended questions about how a food engages our senses and later transition to questions on taste. Encourage curiosity and critical thinking by listing observations and making predictions about the squash varieties before you start cooking. Here are some examples from our recent Urban Farming & Cooking Class:
Personalized Guacamole
The key to promoting open-mindedness and excitement over trying new foods with kids is providing them as much control and decision-making power as possible. Trust is reciprocal, and as your child feels trusted with decisions and contributing to the cooking process, they’ll feel like they can trust the space to openly assess how they taste something
Baked Zoodle Cups
Zoodles are an accessible way to put your child in charge of the meal’s main event, while making something visually interesting and with a firmer texture then sliced or chopped options. Engage in some sensory exploration by challenging them to make and find the longest zoodle they can, and count the rings remaining on the end of a spiralized zucchini. This recipe is as great for exploring tastes as it is for enhancing fine and gross motor skills!
Snowflake Cooking Coleslaw
The versatility of cabbage when cooking with kids cannot be emphasized enough. Whether you’re lightly roasting or sautéing the leaves to introduce some oil and salt tastes, searing cabbage-steaks to absorb some Dijon and maple flavours, or munching on it raw in this egg-free coleslaw recipe, kids have ample opportunities to focus on the many ways it can be prepared and their reaction to the variations, rather than deciding the foods merit based on one flavour profile.
2022-23 Diversity Unit: Snorkeling in the Bahamas
Through watching a mini documentary on the Bahamas, our students grew interested in the world’s oceans! We asked as series of questions to guide their learning and launch us into a cross-curriuclar study.
Oak Learners Classroom Teacher Interview #2 – Emma van der Jagt
The concept of teaching and learning matching is that it impacts learning in a way that encourages students to respond more positively to instructional methods while informing faculty about effective teaching practices. This encourages collaboration between the teacher and student which in turn reduces classroom management issues.
Recent research has shown that it is not as effective for a teacher to change their teaching preferences to suit the students in their classroom because they may not be as comfortable teaching in that manner.
Music Lessons – Oak Learners Class Showcase
Oak Learners is dedicated to inspiring minds through Arts Education and our Love of Music! We offer a supportive learning atmosphere, working with your child’s unique learning style to inspire their strengths and interests.
Private music lessons are available to learners of all ages from young to old in a variety of disciplines, including Piano, Guitar, Voice, Ukulele, Drums, Percussion, and Composition.
Oak Learners Classroom Teacher Interview – Maggie Robertson
At the heart of Oak Learners are the teachers that work with students every day to create an environment for the learners to excel with every project, task, and endeavor they complete. We wanted to interview some of our teachers to see their perspectives on their teaching field, get to know them better, and see what inspired them to become a teacher. The first interview we did is with Maggie Robertson, a teacher at Oak Learners wanting to share her experiences! Enjoy!
Oak Learners Before & After-Care Showcase
Oak Learners offers a before and after-care program that has all kinds of exciting activities for your children to be a part of! Before-care starts inside the Oak Learners school between 7 AM-9 AM. After-care starts inside the Oak Learners school between 3 PM-6 PM.
Importance of Matching Students with the Right Teacher
The concept of teaching and learning matching is that it impacts learning in a way that encourages students to respond more positively to instructional methods while informing faculty about effective teaching practices. This encourages collaboration between the teacher and student which in turn reduces classroom management issues.
Recent research has shown that it is not as effective for a teacher to change their teaching preferences to suit the students in their classroom because they may not be as comfortable teaching in that manner.
Partner Showcase: Humber College
Oak Learners has teamed up with Humber College and various other colleges to gather talented students across Canada to work inside the school. We interviewed one intern student from Humber College that joined the Oak Learners team, Joshua, to speak more on what they have learned whilst working with Oak Learners, how their experience went, how Humber College saw the experience, and what takeaways they have from the internship with Oak Learners.
Exploring colourful salads in Urban Farming & Cooking Class
Exploring watermelon radish, colourful carrots and red kale,How many of your favourite colours can you see in this meal?! We loved making this...
Resources & Activities
Learn at home with ideas, activities and helpful content from Oak Learners.
Benefits of Meditation
The world is an unfamiliar place right now causing stress and anxiety to rise in everyone, including our children. Finding time and ways to reduce these is imperative to our children mental health. Meditation has many benefits to improve overall health and well-being.
Incorporating Physical Activity During Online Learning
Have you ever noticed that after a long day at work, staring at a computer all physical activity day you feel cranky, sometimes your body feels stiff, or you have a headache? Well, the same thing happens with our children but it usually doesn’t require a full day of screen time to cause these negative effects.
Effects of Covid-19 on Children’s Social Connections
Covid-19 is wreaking havoc all over the world, this virus is deadly in more ways than one. Being a mother of four, the death I am referring to is the death of my children’s social connections with family and friends.
The Forgotten Senses
We all know about the 5 senses, touch, taste, smell, sound, sight, but did you know there are actually 2 more very important forgotten senses? These...
Arts & Crafts: Paper Plate Dinosaurs
ROARR! Dinosaurs are so popular amongst children, and who can blame them! They may like them so much that they become so knowledgeable about dinosaurs that many adults may not be aware of. With their fascination with dinosaurs, what is better than being able to make their own by simply using recyclable items such as a paper plate and cardboard toilet paper rolls?! The great thing about this activity is you can make any dinosaur your child prefers, but today, we will be making the Brontosaurus!
Arts & Crafts: Catapult!
CATAAPUULTT! Did you know you can make a simple catapult out of popsicle sticks? This is an awesome STEM craft project for children of all ages. This fun crafty project focuses on math, physics and engineering. The force, distance, accuracy can all be challenged with the catapult.
3 Reasons Why Children Combine Languages When They Speak
Have you ever spoken with someone and just couldn’t find the right words to express yourself? You searched and searched your brain for the right word, but just couldn’t think of anything? If you’re multilingual, you probably know what I’m talking about.
Language Learning: Expanding Vocabulary With Games
Continuing on the Language Learning series, here are four games that can help your older children expand their vocabulary in their target language!
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness Made Simple
You may be asking what cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is? Well put simply, cognitive behavioural therapy is a short-term therapy that focuses on one particular problem with set goals in place. You will learn techniques and strategies in order to reach your goals. With mental health on a decline due to Covid19 you may not be able to seek treatment from a professional so here are some tools that you can do with the children at school or in the home. These tools are beneficial for everyone to work on strengthening their mental health and mindfulness.
Arts & Crafts: Tape Resist Art
The beauty of art is that there are no limits. It unleashes our imagination and creativity!
Art is used in many ways, such as for therapy, to express ourselves or our thoughts.
Tape Resist art challenges children to use different colours and create their designs with the tape. The best part is seeing what it looks like once they remove the tape!
The Importance of Local Libraries in Building Literacy
Etobicoke Lake Shore Press - March 2021 Learning to love reading can be one of the most important gifts we give to our children. Yet, all too often,...
Language Learning: Engaging Older Children With Games
Here are some common games that require minimal materials and can be played while learning any language. These games are typically for older children but can be modified based on a child’s understanding and level of competency. They can also be easily adapted for children to play online.