Every Square Centimetre

In episode 18, Laura Rand welcomes us into her grade 1 classroom where students are excited to play their important part as “Rangers,” caring for the earth and doing important tasks in God’s world. Join the ESC “Raft” as we learn: - that Darren bought a lot of Smartie McFlurries for love in high school - that Pacific Christian School takes territory acknowledgment seriously by including it directl...

In episode 17, Darren hosts another Every Square Centimetre “campfire” conversation. Inspired by our participation in Converge and the Christian Deeper Learning Conference in San Diego, Darren asks why Christian Deeper Learning is important and wonders about the value of being part of a professional learning network. Once again, we included a fun “crossfire” segment, responding to listener message...

In episode 16, Sherry TenHove welcomes us into her kindergarten classroom where the students ask “How can we live God’s dream?” Join the ESC “Coterie” as we learn: - that Justin and Darren have farm memories that they can’t unsee or unsmell - the rare occurrence of harvesting in the snow is a small price to pay for living under the big beautiful prairie skies - some educational recommendations for...

In episode 15, ESC goes global with its first international square centimetre! Fiona Partridge from Adelaide, Australia, introduces us to a CSC sister organization–Christian Education National (CEN)–and shares a kingdom vision of all life and all things participating in worship. Join the ESC “Wisdom” as we learn: - Some pretty impressive Aussie idioms - That “emu bobbing” could replace the Through...

In episode 14, Janice MacDonald at Surrey Christian School in Surrey, BC, invites us into her Vocation 12 classroom where students discover their vocational identity in God’s kingdom. Join the ESC “Run” as we learn: - Sometimes the pain of our own schooling experience becomes the catalyst for God’s redemptive work in our own lives. - The word “wholeness” is missional at Surrey Christian School in...

In episode 13, Loretta Anderson at Immanuel Christian School in Charlottetown, PEI, invites us into her grade 1 classroom where students are invited to create beautiful work in learning about their neighbours, the farm, and more. Join the ESC “Troop” as we learn: - biking can be good for relationships… whether that be completing an over 300km trek with your husband (as in Loretta’s case) or just g...

In episode 12, Darren hosts the second Every Square Centimetre “campfire” conversation. Inspired by our chat with Matt Klassen from Calvin Christian Collegiate (episode 10), Darren asks how we can double down on prioritizing experience in educational design, and the conversation quickly led to evaluating the impact of grading and post-secondary school admissions on learning. Once again, we include...

In episode 11, our first “Big Boss” episode, the Executive Director of the Prairie Centre for Christian Education, Gayle Monsma, leads us through the Canadian Prairies and schools us in some women’s leadership truths. Join the ESC “Glittering” as we learn: we need a geography teacher to teach us a few things about continents; how staff can have some good, clean fun when administration is out of th...

In episode 10, Matt Klassen at Calvin Christian Collegiate in Winnipeg, Manitoba, takes us out of the classroom to find God in outdoor education. Join the ESC “Drove” as we learn: road rage Darren may be scarier than lawn removal Darren; Neil Young may be cool enough to be called a Pegger, while most people from the city at the centre of North America are called Winnipeggers; the Forks in downtown...

In episode 9 our virtual tour of Canada takes the ferry to the “Warm Land” of Duncan Christian School in Duncan, British Columbia with grade six teacher Sandy Veenstra. Join our ESC “gang” hosted by Sandy and her 40 year teaching journey into deeper truth and reconciliation with the Cowichan Tribes as we learn: how thankful Darren, Justin and I are for our elementary school teachers - one of them...

In episode 8, Perpetual Boafo at King’s Christian Collegiate in Oakville, Ontario, invites us into her grade 10 Career’s classroom which embodies “diversity + inclusion = belonging.” Join the ESC “Corps” as we learn: some interesting tidbits about our names (spoiler alert: Darren could have been Darlene), even grade 8’s can start a day off sharing their gratitude, Oakville is as pleasant as it’s n...

In episode 7, Darren hosts the first ever Every Square Centimetre “campfire” conversation. Inspired by our chat with Shannon Gillespie from Nanaimo Christian School (episode 3), Darren asks if grade levels are really just arbitrary groups based on birthdate, or are they something else. The campfire also proves to be an ideal atmosphere to engage in a “crossfire” segment, responding to listener mes...

In episode 6, Liz Rachul at Edmonton Christian School--Northeast Campus in Edmonton, Alberta, invites us into her grade 4/5 classroom which uses Teaching for Transformation to invite kids to meet real needs for real people in their learning. Join the ESC “Surfeit” as we learn: some cats don’t have owners, they have staff; that cups and goblets are not the same; that there’s 17 hours of daylight in...

In episode 5, Jacquie De Raaf at Trinity Christian School in Burlington, Ontario, invites us into her grade 2 classroom with sound walls and timelines where students meet Jesus. Join the ESC “Cast” as we learn: chair take-down can be seriously risky business; that colour matters in a teacher’s wardrobe; what a Bruce Trail “end to ender” is; that 26 letters equals 42 phonemes, especially on Jacquie...

In episode 4, Bonnie Burton at Richmond Christian School invites us into RCS’s unique story of the purpose for learning. Join the ESC “Convocation” as we learn: the connection between Odie and having a growth mindset; sometimes punishment requires a good ice cream sandwich; faking a fight is one way to see who your real friends are; when it comes to city-building you’d rather not have to worry abo...

In episode 3, Shannon Gillespie at Nanaimo Christian School shares a passion for middle school-aged students specifically, and Nanaimo’s unique theme-based structure for their learning. Join the ESC “Gam” as we learn: that some of us really don’t know much about musicals; that in Nanaimo, bathtubs are for racing in the Salish Sea; the payoff when you take the time to onboard new students; why midd...

In episode 2, Zaak Robichaud from Calgary Christian School shares a vision for mathematics that supports the whole student—academically but also social/emotionally—in the ESC “Route.” Join us as we discover: the superfruit you’ve probably never heard of; the real purpose behind land acknowledgement; how many mini donuts are consumed annually at the Calgary Stampede; the four best breweries in Calg...

For our maiden episode, Harry Blyleven from Hamilton District Christian High talks tech and Project Based Learning in the Every Square Centimetre "Nursery.” Join us as we learn: where the "poo" emoji lands in the list of all time used emojis; that they don't serve "phlegm brûlée" in Ontario... or anywhere else for that matter; the sad context of the name "mush hole;" about Hamilton District Christ...