Learning Bird Inc.

📣 We’re hiring a K–12 Curriculum Developer (Freelance). Learning Bird is seeking a curriculum specialist to support the design and development of community-based K–12 curricula in collaboration with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit partners. In this role, you will: 🌿 Co-develop curricula rooted in Indigenous knowledge, language, and land-based pedagogies 🌿 Work directly with educators, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers to gather knowledge and shape curriculum frameworks 🌿 Design developmentally appropriate, culturally grounded learning experiences 🌿 Support curriculum implementation through professional learning workshops This is a remote freelance contract (~1,000 hours over 10 months per project) with flexible hours and occasional travel to partner communities. We’re looking for someone with strong experience in K–12 curriculum design, a collaborative approach, and a deep understanding of culturally responsive and community-based education. 🔗 Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/eMVY6-_j #Hiring #CurriculumDevelopment #IndigenousEducation #K12Education #FreelanceOpportunity #LearningBird

🌿 Thank you, CASS! We had a wonderful time at the College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS) First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Education Gathering in Enoch, AB. We’re always grateful for the opportunity to discuss the many ways schools are working to support Indigenous education. We also enjoyed spending time with our friend and colleague, Wapastim, White Horse, Jason Bigcharles, who was the Cultural Lead for the event. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table to introduce yourselves, share your work, and learn more about what we do. We’re following up on our conversations and look forward to staying connected. And congratulations to the winner of our booth prize, Francine Bear Hat from Siksika Board of Education! Thank you again to the CASS organizers for hosting a great conference. We were glad we could be part of it. #CASSConference #EducationLeadership #IndigenousEducation #EducatorCommunity #LearningBird

🌎 International Mother Earth Day International Mother Earth Day is an opportunity to reflect on environmental responsibility and the role education plays in helping students understand their relationship with the land and the planet. This year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” highlights that environmental progress often comes from collective action, community leadership, education, and advocacy. Indigenous communities have long been leaders in understanding the relationships between people, land, water, and all living things. Teachings about stewardship, responsibility, and respect for the land continue to guide environmental learning and land care across generations. As educators, there are many ways to elevate Indigenous voices and perspectives to help learners understand their responsibility to care for the planet. Outdoor education, land-based learning, Indigenous pedagogies, and discussions about water stewardship and water justice are all meaningful entry points for classroom learning. If you’re looking for ideas, consider reading our blog posts about: 💧 World Water Day: Teaching About Water Justice in Canada 📚 6 Ways to Use Indigenous Pedagogies in Your Classroom 🌿 Outdoor Education and Land-Based Learning Find them all here: https://lnkd.in/eVYU3ahR #MotherEarthDay #IndigenousEducation #EnvironmentalEducation #LandBasedLearning #LearningBird

Engaging with Indigenous Communities in the Classroom: 5 Tips for Educators Engaging with Indigenous communities in meaningful ways is an important part of creating inclusive and culturally responsive classrooms. This work goes beyond curriculum content and involves relationship-building, ongoing learning, and respectful collaboration with community members. In this blog post, we share five practical tips for educators, including: 🔶 Learning about local Indigenous Nations and communities 🔶 Building genuine relationships with Indigenous students, families, and community members 🔶 Incorporating Indigenous knowledge across subject areas 🔶 Understanding and following cultural Protocols 🔶 Committing to ongoing learning and reflection This work is ongoing and grounded in respect, humility, and a willingness to learn. Small, consistent steps can make a meaningful difference in our classrooms and schools. 🔗 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/g2baR67P #IndigenousEducation #TruthAndReconciliation #CulturallyResponsiveTeaching #LearningBird

Teaching About Water, Responsibility, and Relationship For many Indigenous Nations, water is not simply a resource to be managed. It is sacred, living, and deeply connected to land, language, governance, and responsibility. Teaching about water from Indigenous perspectives can help students understand stewardship, relationships to land, and environmental responsibility in meaningful ways. This is a great time of year to bring these discussions into the classroom, as World Water Day in March and Mother Earth Day in April provide natural opportunities to explore these topics with students. Some classroom ideas: 💧 Learning about local waterways and their significance to local Indigenous Nations 💧 Discussing water stewardship and responsibility 💧 Exploring water justice issues in Canada 💧 Connecting environmental learning to Indigenous knowledge and perspectives We recently shared a blog post with ideas and resources for teaching about water justice and Indigenous perspectives on water. 🔗 Read the full post here: https://lnkd.in/eUr5ujmh #IndigenousEducation #EnvironmentalEducation #WaterIsLife #TruthAndReconciliation #Education #LearningBird

Explore meaningful ways to include Métis perspectives in early learning. Join Integrating Métis Connections into Early Learning, a virtual session grounded in reflection, discussion, and practical examples. June 10 | 9:30–11:30 a.m. EDT Register: https://ow.ly/O8G650YF7j4

In this month's newsletter, you will find a new blog post about engaging with Indigenous communities in the classroom, information about our upcoming free webinar "Tapping into Learning: Birch Trees, Science, and the Land", information about where to find Learning Bird at upcoming conferences, and details about how to book our team for Fall professional development workshops.

Free Webinar: Tapping into Learning – Birch Trees, Science, and the Land Land-based learning provides meaningful opportunities to connect curriculum with seasonal cycles, experiential learning, and the natural world. In this upcoming webinar, Wapastim (White Horse), Jason Bigcharles, and Learning Bird will explore how birch tree tapping can connect science learning with land-based education. Participants will learn how this activity connects to science topics such as life cycles, ecosystems, weather, and seasonal changes, and will leave with practical ideas for bringing experiential, place-based learning into the classroom. This webinar is ideal for educators seeking accessible, place-based activities, as well as for administrators looking for ways to support land-based learning in their schools and classrooms. We hope you can join us for this practical and engaging session. Register now: https://lnkd.in/eYsbPBZZ #LandBasedLearning #IndigenousEducation #ExperientialLearning #EducationWebinar #LearningBird

🌿 March 31 is National Indigenous Languages Day. Indigenous languages carry generations of knowledge about culture, identity, and relationships with land. Across the country, communities continue to lead important efforts to revitalize and strengthen these languages. For educators, this day offers an opportunity to explore how to introduce Indigenous languages respectfully and meaningfully. From learning about local languages to exploring Indigenous-created language resources, there are many ways to help students understand the importance of language revitalization. In our latest blog post, we share practical strategies and resources educators can use to support Indigenous language learning in the classroom. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e-a7ViTv #NationalIndigenousLanguagesDay #IndigenousLanguages #LanguageRevitalization #IndigenousEducation #LearningBird

If you're a grade 7/8 educator in a First Nations community looking to create more STEM opportunities for your students, check out the Good Roots - Kahtehrí:io - Mno Ojibiikaan program at Queen's University! Really nice to see opportunities like this for Indigenous youth in Ontario. Connecting students to STEM pathways and future careers is important work.