Category: Nelson

This year, we had the privilege of working with Nelson authors and teachers Greg and Coleen Birkett who sat down with Dr. Vibe on his show to discuss why it is crucial to include the Black experience and diverse perspectives in learning all year round, not just during Black History Month.

“We are trying to have it woven into every fabric of our curriculum so it isn’t just a special month or a special class. Right now, we do have a Grade 12 course that speaks about the Black Canadian experience. We both co-authored a textbook with Rosemary Sadlier which is being used in some school boards here in Ontario and Nova Scotia. What we want to do is to take a cross-curricula approach, from kindergarten, when children are most ready, open and willing to learn and make it age appropriate, all the way up to Grade 12. We don’t want it to be a special platform; we want it to be a natural, organic part of the curriculum. It is Canadian history, it’s not Black Canadian history being taught in February in a particular class for kids with vested interest. It needs to be woven into every subject, across disciplines and across curriculum from K-12.”

Watch: How to Include Black Experience and Diverse Perspectives in Learning

Read: Embracing Diversity in Education: Insights from Nelson Authors Coleen and Greg Birkett

As a century-old company, Nelson has historically been known as a text-book publisher. We worked with the Nelson team to raise awareness of the company’s transformation to an education content provider. Steve Brown, the company’s CEO, sat down with the Toronto Star to discuss his vision for the future of education.

Steve also spoke with 360 Magazine about how the digital learning platform he led Nelson to develop, called Edwin, has helped teachers save time in lesson planning: one hour per week or an equivalent of one prep period per week or one full week a year. He shared some lessons around customer experiences and how he helps audiences see the art of the possible.

Read the article in The Toronto Star

Read the article in 360 Magazine

For Linda Isaac, a citizen of Alderville First Nation and national director of education for reconciliation, equity, and inclusion at education content provider Nelson, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day to be worked toward and prepared for; while it may be tempting for employers to see this day as a checkbox to be ticked, she advocates for deeper, year-round commitments to learning and reconciliation within the workplace.

We arranged a discussion between Canadian HR Reporter and Nelson’s People and Engagement Operations Manager Samara Cazes and Linda Isaac about the importance of continuous education and reflection.

“All businesses, all organizations, need to know what the calls to action are, and what their place in it is. And this is a really good day to examine the calls to action and what it might mean for their company or organization,” says Isaac.

“Employers can explore direct initiatives such as working with Indigenous organizations or supporting Indigenous charities, as Nelson has done at various times throughout the year. [It’s about] those influences tightly woven into the fabric and the culture of Nelson and our workplace; there’s ongoing, different ways that we continue to educate our employees, and we continue to call them in instead of call them out, when it comes to all of our equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives,” says Cazes.

Read more: How to observe Orange Shirt Day respectfully

Representation in education empowers Indigenous youth: educators

Nelson recently launched a three-part series of Live Lessons: Learning from the Past, Navigating the Present, and Inspiring the Future for educators. These lessons are developed and presented by Indigenous educators.

Linda Isaac and Liz Halina, a member of Sagkeeng Anishinaabe Nation and an educator with Edwin, sat down with LiveWire Calgary to talk about the significance of these lessons for educators and students.

“Reconciliation is hope and we’re building hope in those live lessons and with the Indigenous content that we are putting out there so that Indigenous and non-Indigenous people better understand [Indigenous cultures] and we can fulfill one of those calls to action to build capacity for better understanding and mutual respect,” says Isaac.

Halina added, “We know about the past, so what are we doing about it right now? What can you do in the future? How can you, even as a Grade 6 student, have an impact?”

Read the article here: Calgary public school districts promise to empower Indigenous youth in their schools