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LATEST ISSUE
Nov/Dec 2026

Sonja Karlson discusses how music class supports instruction across the curriculum by creating opportunities for students to apply skills that are relevant to a variety of subjects, including literacy, math, art, social studies, and more.

From fear to understanding

“When fear and anxiety dominate the conversation, meaningful learning can become difficult,” says Amy Liang in her article, which shares strategies for teaching climate change while supporting students’ social-emotional well-being.

International solidarity with Cuba

Learn more about the BCTF’s longstanding relationship and solidarity with teachers in Cuba.

You’ll also read teachers’ perspectives on the rise of public sector strikes in Canada, violence in the classroom, colleagues who inspire them, and much more!

FEATURED STORIES

Inspiring colleagues: Part two

We asked BCTF members to tell us about a colleague who inspires them for the September/October edition. We received so many submissions that we extended the feature into the November/December edition.

Great teaching has never been basic

"Even the way that we learn the alphabet is through a song," says teacher Janet Irvine, in conversation about the BCTF's Beyond the Basics campaign.

From fear to understanding: A social-emotional approach to teaching climate change

Climate change is one of the most significant and widely discussed issues facing today’s students. Having studied and researched climate change for nearly a decade, I understand it as a complex, long-term environmental process that has been significantly influenced by human activities.

International solidarity with Cuba

For the past 30 years, the BCTF has had an international solidarity partnership with SNTECD. Through this relationship, our union has had the opportunity to learn from the experiences of educators from across Cuba who are deeply committed to an inclusive and equitable education system for all children.

Highlighting our power: Focusing on labour in our union magazine

It has only been a little over three years since I began my involvement with the union. Since then, I’ve learned that union work is so much more than the bread and butter of negotiating salary.

The price of (relative) stability

We fought hard for what we have. The trouble is that “fine” has become its own kind of obstacle.

A story of dealing with violence in the classroom

I felt like I was at the pinnacle of my career, ready to prove to myself and everyone around me that I had mastered how to support a diverse, inclusive Kindergarten program. Instead, I was confronted with the hardest group I have ever taught.

More than meets the ear: Why music is not “just music”

As an elementary music teacher, I can tell you that my music class’s curriculum goes far beyond “just music.” As I watch cuts being made to music education across our province, it is clear that the people who make budget and timetable decisions do not fully understand the breadth of what music teachers do in our programs.

All languages belong here

Last year, my Grade 4 students taught their home languages to one another and to me. This is their story.

Learning to teach and learning to learn: Introducing teacher education in secondary schools

In a 2024 conversation with my co-author, we realized that upon completing our initial undergraduate degrees, a journey that began in Kindergarten and consisted of thousands of hours of schooling, neither of us could recall ever being asked to reflect on the purpose of education itself.

Beyond the classroom: How international exchange brings BC’s curriculum to life

When we think about the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care’s vision of developing thoughtful, engaged and global citizens, it can sometimes feel abstract.

What's in your TTOC bag?

A teacher teaching on call (TTOC) never quite knows what the day will bring. One morning might involve leading a Kindergarten class through story time and carpet games, while the afternoon could mean supporting a high school science lab or supervising a gym full of energetic students.

Bridging the generation gap: Supporting students in a rapidly evolving digital age

Recently, I attended a concert with my son, a member of Gen Z, and it truly opened my eyes. It was my first time seeing a Gen Z artist perform for a Gen Z audience. Most kids recorded the whole show, and the artist had it livestreamed.

President's message

This issue of Teacher brings together stories about the work we do as a union, the challenges facing members and public education, and teachers’ ideas and experiences in bringing the curriculum to life in their classrooms.

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LATEST ISSUE Nov/Dec 2026

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FEATURED STORIES

Inspiring colleagues: Part two

Great teaching has never been basic

From fear to understanding: A social-emotional approach to teaching climate change

International solidarity with Cuba

Highlighting our power: Focusing on labour in our union magazine

The price of (relative) stability

A story of dealing with violence in the classroom

More than meets the ear: Why music is not “just music”

All languages belong here

Learning to teach and learning to learn: Introducing teacher education in secondary schools

Beyond the classroom: How international exchange brings BC’s curriculum to life

What's in your TTOC bag?

Bridging the generation gap: Supporting students in a rapidly evolving digital age

President's message

LATEST ISSUE
Nov/Dec 2026