I have often been asked about the differences between teaching in the United States and Canada. That's often a difficult question to answer because I now consider both countries "home" and doing so often elicits a predictable follow-up question of which educational system is better. This post is not an attempt to rank one over the other, as educational systems between countries will have to be different to meet the needs of their given communities.
However, no matter where we are located in the world, we see in our own classrooms the practice of compare and contrast. Doing this work with our students can elicit powerful reflections about complex ideas. Having had the experience of being a teacher in both settings and most recently an administrator in Canada, reflecting on both the similarities and differences between the two countries has provided me with a more comprehensive picture of what can work well in education.
Whole Child Work as a Common Practice Around the World
Without a doubt, there are many schools and districts in both the United States and Canada that are already practicing or moving toward implementing the Whole Child Tenets (PDF) of each child being healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. However, the whole child movement would not be necessary if these tenets were in fact integrated in all schools around the world.
Much has been discussed in education circles about Carol Dweck's growth and fixed mindsets. In fact, a whole child approach to education requires an adoption of a mindset that prioritizes individual growth and well-being, a lens that educators around the world must consistently look through and apply in their day-to-day