All of this yearB次元官网网址檚 Black Press/Staples School Tools Great Teachers nominees have at least one thing in common: they have all had an impact on young minds.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always wanted to be a teacher,B次元官网网址� said View Royal elementary Kindergarten teacher Terra Pickwick. In fact, it is the only thing she remembers wanting to do. Growing up she would make her brother play B次元官网网址渟chool,B次元官网网址� with her always being the teacher and him being the student.

B次元官网网址淢y granny was a teacher; she had such a love for learning,B次元官网网址� she said. That was something she said rubbed off on her. B次元官网网址淚 love my job and I love teaching. I couldnB次元官网网址檛 think of a better job to have.B次元官网网址�

Pickwick has been teaching for a decade, with seven of those years spent in a kindergarten classroom.

B次元官网网址淚 really believe that Kindergarten is where I belong,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 just love how excited they are about learning and how much pride they have in themselves.B次元官网网址�

But sometimes those younger minds can be a challenge to connect with and keep engaged.

When creating her learning plan, Pickwick collaborates with another of our Great Teacher nominees, Corrie Ballard. B次元官网网址淲e develop our programs together,B次元官网网址� Pickwick said. The pair spend countless hours bouncing ideas off each other and discussing their students. Most of that conversation is centred on where the students are and what direction the teachers would like to lead them in. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important to believe in the children and their abilities,B次元官网网址� Pickwick said.

B次元官网网址淚 like to follow where their interests are B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 pretty amazing what those five year olds can do when given the opportunity.B次元官网网址�

An example of that is the work the students at View Royal elementary are doing in the school garden. B次元官网网址淲e have lots of inquiries around worms and slugs,B次元官网网址� Pickwick said with a laugh. Watching the studentsB次元官网网址� faces light up with pride when they pick the vegetables they have grown is very rewarding, she added.

B次元官网网址淭he things theyB次元官网网址檒l eat that theyB次元官网网址檇 never eat at home is pretty neat.B次元官网网址�

That engagement also creates a transfer from the classroom to home that Pickwick loves hearing about.

She noted how proud she feels when students tell her about the gardens they have created in their own yards, or when a parent calls to tell her about all the words a student picked out of a storybook.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the amazing kids and parents that I get to work with each and every day that makes my job so amazing.B次元官网网址�

The staff at View Royal elementary also go a long way in making her days so enjoyable, she added.

Marc Burgess has also been teaching for roughly a decade but unlike Pickwick, this wasnB次元官网网址檛 his first career choice.

B次元官网网址淚 got into teaching late, this is my fourth career,B次元官网网址� he said. After selling his business and taking a year off, Burgess spent a lot of time with some friends of his that were teachers. They are the ones that inspired him to go back to school to get his teaching certifications. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just what I wanted to do,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 have the best job in the world.B次元官网网址�

While he admits he hasnB次元官网网址檛 spent a lot of his professional career teaching, he noted he does have a lot of life experience that helps him connect with his students.

B次元官网网址淚 like working one on one with kids and thatB次元官网网址檚 what learning support is,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f you have a good relationship you can definitely make good things happen.B次元官网网址�

katie@goldstreamgazette.com