Education Reform | Joanna Johnson | TEDxGrandePrairie

The teacher’s Ed for my classroom math book was missing, so a friend with lots of time to spare, offered to fill in the book.
The kids all corrected their own homework, with the agreement that if they found any wrong answers in the “teacher’s edition “, they would earn a piece of candy. 😂

In school I was not learning disabled, I wasn't trying hard enough and at the same time was not paying attention and looking FOR attention. No such a thing as learning disabled and EVERYONE is an intuitive learner. Guess who isn't.
I HATED every single second in school from grade three onward.
Joanna is right about everything.

As an English teacher in the US for around 30byears in middle school, high school, community college, and college, youbwould think I would know more of the answers. I am here to tell you I don't know all.of the questions. I spent many of the 30 years teaching in a special program for the best and brightest students in the area's high school and middle schools: Grades 8-12. The last 2vyears, the students took university courses, taught by the professors at the state university. They would come down state 2 nights (I think) a week.

This worked great until the community college decided THEY wanted to teach the classes (and make the money from the tuition. )
The first year it was tried, the students would flood my class during the break to complain, "It's all grammar. It's everything you taught us last year without the fun and interesting parts likevrhevnovels and research. We are all getting A's, but we're BORED!!

Believe it or not, many kids would prefer to work harder and be challenged and learn something new.

I stopped teaching 3 years ago? 5??
I didn't like many of the new ways of writing which were ridiculously formulaic. My younger son, who had been through the first level of the program before the changes was looking over my monitor as I was marking essays and who had been in the program a few years later.
He asked "Are they learning to write or playing Mad Libs?"

I would love to sit down with Johanna one day over a pot of tea and compare notes and stories.

I've been out of school for 49 years and I sure wish I had a teacher like you!

I agree with the comment on grade 3....it was my grade 3 teacher MR Blackburn who did not like to teach grammar, so he did not. I have suffered my entire life because of this. I am 74. I took grammar classes of course, but it never stuck. I always remembered Mr Blackburn and his attitude.

Band class was the most important class in my high school. It's the only reason I had friends (I was a military dependent, so I moved a lot.)

Brilliant 👏 ❤😂🎉

Canada does not have a Minister of Education. Education (primary, secondary, and post-secondary) is the responsibility of provincial governments.

Awesome insights! So many confused and anxious kids turn to apathy and indifference that it can be hard to reach any of them. Thank you for sharing, and keep on passing on that passion to your students!

Some kids don’t hand things in or hands things in late because they don’t believe what they’re learning is important. Their sports, phone, etc are worth more of their time, so it’s not always someone else’s fault. These are also the students who don’t really want to engage with me, their teacher, so if you can’t build a relationship with them it’s hard to reach them.

I watch your YT vids in 2026. Then I find you here; you don't promote yourself. You offer help and information and "be yourself". That's TRUE LEADERSHIP. I applaud you! I had "issues" in school (smart kids weren't acceptable in the 80s). I hear you.

Joanne, Commodore, I have had the wonderful experience of having teachers in so many subject who knew more than what was in the text books and it made me want to keep learning. Even 20 years later.
I would love for schools to do what Denmark has done, and go back to books and paper, research learning, hands on learning with projects and activities, and have less required classes to graduate. To Do what Britain does and have subject dedicated diplomas for post secondary education so the kids matriculating have real options.
I would also love or the education system to be funded to 3-4 times what it is so the kids would have access to that.

0:07 shut up it's your fault

JoJo you ROCK! I'm 64 and I was grateful that I had teachers that treated me like I was their kids or grandchildren. You are beyond awesome ❤

Great talk and info. My teachers knew I needed a better school. But they didn’t know something was happening at home.

What an awesome sweet lady she is ❤

Buy high school textbooks? We weren’t expected to pay for a single textbook. I still have a lot of my free textbooks. New Brunswick1966-77. Newfoundland 1977-79.
Nice talk.

Old Fashion Teaching like we had for Genx, don't know why it changed when it was working, I know some schools and areas where different.

You are so well spoken and really convey the message properly! I love watching your videos, entertaining yet educational! I'm so glad you share your thoughts with us all on the Internet! Great work! 💪🏻

We as Canadians don't want to follow in the steps of the US. I'm 66 and I was one of those that didn't fit in the box. I'm glad I had a few teachers throughout my life that made a difference like you. You go girl!!! I know you'll never stop.👍

I absolutely love Joanna. ❤❤❤❤

I pulled my oldest out of school in grade 3 and had to emotionally rebuild him. He returned back in grade 5. I became very present in the school. We got him into another school in high school that had trades. Long story short. He is now 31 and bought his own home at 24 years and is doing good.

You remind me of some of my favourite teachers - mine from the 70s and 80s,and my kids' from the 90s and 00s. We need many more of you

Love you Joanne, I’m a grandma who’s watching the public education system fail my grandchildren, just like it failed me. What can the average person do to break the cycle?

So pleased to find this.
Sharing on FB.

Love this.. and thank you!!!

Wonderful! Thank you! From a retired teacher-33 years.

Awesome Ted talk

Love your thoughts, really enjoy the tik toks!!

I'll say it again.... My mom would have loved you as a teacher...

Jo you are amazing!!!

Does Joanna have a channel?

I bet she had a kilo of Lead in her right pocket, to ballance the huge, bright watch on her left wrist.
I thought it was an Invicta, but now I am pretty sure it's a "Police" timepiece.

As a 66 year old Canadian woman, I look back on my education and there are 3 or 4 teachers that stand out as being very impactful. I can almost guarantee that YOU are that teacher in many kids lives. I would bet my life that your students come back to visit you over and over after graduation. Thank you for what you do.

Exactly!!

Student who is pregnant. Helped her get through the year.

A private school has more to offer because it cost so much , but our public schools are out of control

Spend the fkn money on the kids!!!!

Tax at a level sufficient to cover whats needed to invest in our future. So yes, tax the rich at a 90s level….and watch us pay our debt down, and we have necessary programs for people.

Love her

The United States can't afford to have good education. Because if it had good education, then who would work all those minimum-wage jobs?

Why does this only have 369 likes??? Joanna is an absolute treasure!

Now we need someone who speaks intelligently like Joanna for president not a cheeto who only thinks about himself. Bring back intelligence again

Great talk! Thank you! 🙏

I wish there were more teachers like Joanna!

Thank you

Omg! Grade 3 math ...the beginning of the end!

I can't remember when I had less than 40 in a class. It's been years...like at least 10-15 years like that.

❤

I just found this and I love it. Thank you for actually saying these things and making sense.