Meet the Teacher

Hi! My name is Lyndsay James. I am a active Grade 4/5 teacher and also a Graduate Student working on my Masters Degree in Human Development, Learning and Culture with a concentration in Self Regulated Learning at the University of British Columbia. 


In August 2014 I completed my Bachelor of Education with a focus on Social Emotional Learning from the University of British Columbia. I did my long practicum in the primary grades. I loved every minute and all of the amazing learning opportunities I had a chance to experience. During PDP at UBC I completed a Community Field Experience Practicum in Tahsis BC in 2014. It was a privilege and rewarding opportunity to travel and experience education in different settings and facing different challenges. 



Fast forward from PDP, I spent a year as a Teacher Teaching on Call working in various grades. Then one amazing day I received my first contract at a wonderful school in Surrey B.C. teaching grade 4/5. It was privilege to work along side amazing colleagues and be part of a team teaching environment. It is such a gift to plan and work with others to develop lessons, units and ideas. This is now my third year teaching and loving Grade 4/5. I absolutely love this grade. Together my students and I have had a fabulous and rewarding experience learning in a strong classroom community anchored Social Emotional Learning Self Regulated Learning and Inquiry.


I use Freshgrade to communicate my students learning, I love to teach in a hands on and engaging manner, my classroom has flexible seating and is a really comfortable and safe place to be. I love to integrate technology into my teaching, and this year my students and I have had a blast exploring robotics and learning together new ways to use the robots to show our learning and integrate them into other subjects and activities in the classroom.

teaching metaphor
Teaching Philosophy
My teaching philosophy is to educate the heart and mind. My positive classroom environment  includes Social Emotional Learning and incorporates and implementes teaching through the five areas of Social Emotional Learning. The five competencies include:
Self-Management
Self-Awareness
Responsible Decision Making
Relationship Skills and
Social Awareness
My teaching philosophy includes the following:
  • Social Emotional Learning/ Teaching
  • Encouraging and fostering self-regulation and self-regulated learning
  • Reflection
  • Practicing critical thinking
  • Using a variety of assessment strategies- (I use FreshGrade in my classroom)
  • Developing meaningful relationships with students
  • Engage students learning styles and inquiry
  • Creating supportive relationships and open communication with students, parents and staff.
  • Supporting curiosity, deep thinking, questioning, and student engagement
  • STEAM, Inquiry, and collaborative learning
  • Giving the students space and time to enjoy learning
Educate the Heart and Mind Video short video from the Dalai Lama Center (narrated by my favourite poet Shane Koyczan)

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Exciting Opportunities I have had a chance to be apart of:
What Matters video about CSL and Core Competencies ~ https://vimeo.com/219338254
Core Competencies Learning Group SD36
Presenter about Freshgrade and Learning Stories SD36
BCEdchat Co-Moderator April 23 2017- A New Teachers Perspective
Visit from the BC Education Minister- Dec 2017
BCEdchat Co-Moderator January 14 2018- Documenting Student Learning- https://storify.com/bcedchat/bcedchat-162-documenting-student-learning
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My Personal Interests:
Education
Social Emotional Learning
Self Regulated Learning
Self-Regulation
Inquiry
Hands on Learning
Experiential Education
Education Technology
STEAM
Student Ownership in Learning
Documenting Student Learning
Communicating Student Learning
Freshgrade

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