Today on the show I speak with Canadian teacher and homeschooler Jessica Wallace. Jessica part time homeschools her own children as well as tutoring other homeschooled children. She chats about prioritising the joy of learning and how we can view learning as exciting and inspiring rather than a task. We also chat about the Finnish system where transversal life skills are prioritised over a strict focus of academics. When kids really want to learn - it all becomes so much easier! Jessica experience teaching everywhere from Canada, to the cayman island to Australia in various methodologies has produced her very interesting and unique view on education. Enjoy!
About Jessica:
For the last twenty years Jessica Wallace has been developing and teaching inspirational curriculum (including Waldorf, Montessori, Mainstream, Private Schools, Outdoor Schools, Pre-schools, University and College) in Australia, Canada and the Caribbean, to a wide range of students, community members and organizations diverse in age, socio-economic status, and cultural backgrounds. In the Cayman Islands, Jessica worked as the Education Manager for the National Gallery, the Art Teacher for both the Primary and High side of St. Ignatius Catholic School, an Adjunct Professor for the University College of the Cayman Island’s Teacher Training Program, as well as the Humanities Instructor for International College of the Cayman Islands. Combined with teaching at Haliburton School of Art and Design, Sir Sandford Fleming College of Fine Arts since 2006, completing her Honours Psychology Thesis on “Self-Fulfilling Prophecies and Teacher Expectations in Education” and years of teaching elementary school in Ontario, Canada, Jessica’s experiences have allowed her to create and implement numerous empowering, cross-curricular, nature and community based, student-directed learning opportunities (while integrating all educational aspects of the Australian, Canadian, U.K., and Cayman National Curriculums). Jessica is currently the Director of Inspired Education Perth, a private tutoring company for home-schooled/unschooled/free-schooled students and co-founder of Conscious Education Eco Centre Perth, with Gillian Howarth.
As a published author, Jessica has recently had the opportunity to reach beyond the limits of the education system to work with WA’s ancient Indigenous People, co-authoring the “Biboolmirn Welcome to Country” with local {Ab} Original, Joe Collard. Jessica’s books continue to communicate her passion, energy, and commitment to educating and empowering communities by encouraging creative, hands-on, flexible and open-ended activities that can help people resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, develop a growth mindset and achieve insight.
Jessica Wallace has been an avid artist for her entire life, opening her first solo-exhibition before she turned sixteen, exhibiting internationally, and establishing herself as a Professional Artist across the globe. Shortly after she curated the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands UP Exhibition, she began her certification as a Yoga Instructor. Jessica completed her Yoga and Nia Teacher Training in Canada and provided years of children’s yoga classes to local children. Since moving to Perth, Jessica has become deeply engaged with learning from and connecting to nature, permaculture and providing educational opportunities for all ages, outside of the box.
