Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
@jasonhimsl.bsky.social
Education Officer in Ontario’s Ministry of Education where I'm supporting ELL and Secondary English curriculum writing. Passionate advocate for kids and literacy. Any opinions expressed are solely my own.
Pinned
I posted this in the old place, and maybe it'll do some good for the #EduSky crowd. This is a collection of right around 300 #MentorTexts that I've curated in recent years. While they certainly betray my idiosyncrasies, I think there's a lot here that will speak to teens. padlet.com/himsjaso1809...
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
'E' before 'i,' when the “rule” feels like a lie...
January 8, 2026 at 2:42 PM
'E' before 'i,' when the “rule” feels like a lie...
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
I am honoured to announce I’ve been appointed as a member to the Order of Canada. Thank you to everyone for the support! I dedicate this to my late Mom who taught me so much about history, local independent media & research. I know that she would be, like me, screaming with joy! #orderofcanada
December 31, 2025 at 1:24 PM
I am honoured to announce I’ve been appointed as a member to the Order of Canada. Thank you to everyone for the support! I dedicate this to my late Mom who taught me so much about history, local independent media & research. I know that she would be, like me, screaming with joy! #orderofcanada
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
The 'kin' of ‘napkin’ means "little."
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
December 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The 'kin' of ‘napkin’ means "little."
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
Reflecting on the incredible work of the #TDSB Middle Years Digital Storytelling initiative with Apple.
From drawing and video creation to interactive digital storytelling, teachers are discovering powerful ways to help students communicate their ideas with authenticity, creativity, and confidence.
From drawing and video creation to interactive digital storytelling, teachers are discovering powerful ways to help students communicate their ideas with authenticity, creativity, and confidence.
December 23, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Reflecting on the incredible work of the #TDSB Middle Years Digital Storytelling initiative with Apple.
From drawing and video creation to interactive digital storytelling, teachers are discovering powerful ways to help students communicate their ideas with authenticity, creativity, and confidence.
From drawing and video creation to interactive digital storytelling, teachers are discovering powerful ways to help students communicate their ideas with authenticity, creativity, and confidence.
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
And I'll add that one of the reasons why students may not value the experience of writing is because much of the writing they're asked to do in school does not require thinking. In fact, they're given lots of methods (templates, et al) that actively discourage thinking.
December 3, 2025 at 7:47 PM
And I'll add that one of the reasons why students may not value the experience of writing is because much of the writing they're asked to do in school does not require thinking. In fact, they're given lots of methods (templates, et al) that actively discourage thinking.
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
118 days until Opening Day
November 27, 2025 at 5:41 PM
118 days until Opening Day
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
This made me laugh, it’s so good!
November 22, 2025 at 3:06 PM
This made me laugh, it’s so good!
Really enjoying The Debaters show with @patterdad.bsky.social tonight in Oshawa. So glad that I came prepared to be amazed!
November 17, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Really enjoying The Debaters show with @patterdad.bsky.social tonight in Oshawa. So glad that I came prepared to be amazed!
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
There's a word for learning from evolution's inventions: bioinspiration. Here's my interactive story on the way animals and plants fuel technological creativity. Gift link: nyti.ms/4otNQyl
How Inventors Find Inspiration in Evolution (Gift Article)
Soft batteries and water-walking robots are among the many creations made possible by studying animals and plants.
nyti.ms
November 10, 2025 at 3:37 PM
There's a word for learning from evolution's inventions: bioinspiration. Here's my interactive story on the way animals and plants fuel technological creativity. Gift link: nyti.ms/4otNQyl
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
An engineer wanted to make a quiet high-speed train. “The question then occurred to me — is there some living thing that manages sudden changes in air resistance as a part of daily life?” The answer: the kingfisher. See my story today for more tales of bioinspiration. Gift link: nyti.ms/4otNQyl
November 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
An engineer wanted to make a quiet high-speed train. “The question then occurred to me — is there some living thing that manages sudden changes in air resistance as a part of daily life?” The answer: the kingfisher. See my story today for more tales of bioinspiration. Gift link: nyti.ms/4otNQyl
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
Incredible investment in starting book clubs in our department. Over 100 copies of culturally diverse texts, including several 2SLGBTQ+ titles I wasn't familiar with.
We know voice + choice = engagement. Time to put theory into practice!
@elanontario.bsky.social #iteachEnglish📖 #EduSky
We know voice + choice = engagement. Time to put theory into practice!
@elanontario.bsky.social #iteachEnglish📖 #EduSky
November 3, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Incredible investment in starting book clubs in our department. Over 100 copies of culturally diverse texts, including several 2SLGBTQ+ titles I wasn't familiar with.
We know voice + choice = engagement. Time to put theory into practice!
@elanontario.bsky.social #iteachEnglish📖 #EduSky
We know voice + choice = engagement. Time to put theory into practice!
@elanontario.bsky.social #iteachEnglish📖 #EduSky
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
Yes, this is a #writing prompt. #ENG3U students brought in a mix of in/organic materials and will brainstorm tactile, haptic connections between the item and our play. Can't wait to see how they rise to the challenge.
@elanontario.bsky.social #EduSky #iteachEnglish📖
@elanontario.bsky.social #EduSky #iteachEnglish📖
November 3, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Yes, this is a #writing prompt. #ENG3U students brought in a mix of in/organic materials and will brainstorm tactile, haptic connections between the item and our play. Can't wait to see how they rise to the challenge.
@elanontario.bsky.social #EduSky #iteachEnglish📖
@elanontario.bsky.social #EduSky #iteachEnglish📖
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
WEP photo director Jalani Morgan in the Toronto Star talking about his Black Jays photography project.
www.thestar.com/sports/blue-...
www.thestar.com/sports/blue-...
Why this photographer is capturing the joy of Black Blue Jays fans during the World Series: ‘I just want us to be seen’
Jalani Morgan is building an archive of Black Blue Jays fans, families and community showing their unwavering love of baseball.
www.thestar.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:54 PM
WEP photo director Jalani Morgan in the Toronto Star talking about his Black Jays photography project.
www.thestar.com/sports/blue-...
www.thestar.com/sports/blue-...
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
Tuesdays are a battlefield.
Mars was the Roman god of war.
The Germanic equivalent was Tīw or Tiu (Norse = Tyr).
This is why today is called ‘Tuesday.’
And why it’s mardi/martes/martedì in the Romance Languages.
Mars was the Roman god of war.
The Germanic equivalent was Tīw or Tiu (Norse = Tyr).
This is why today is called ‘Tuesday.’
And why it’s mardi/martes/martedì in the Romance Languages.
October 21, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Tuesdays are a battlefield.
Mars was the Roman god of war.
The Germanic equivalent was Tīw or Tiu (Norse = Tyr).
This is why today is called ‘Tuesday.’
And why it’s mardi/martes/martedì in the Romance Languages.
Mars was the Roman god of war.
The Germanic equivalent was Tīw or Tiu (Norse = Tyr).
This is why today is called ‘Tuesday.’
And why it’s mardi/martes/martedì in the Romance Languages.
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
The Assumption of the Virgin, by Guido Reni, 1597, 📸 via @RoysEnergy
October 21, 2025 at 3:27 AM
The Assumption of the Virgin, by Guido Reni, 1597, 📸 via @RoysEnergy
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
Small, simple thing that changes the way you move through the day: placing this sticky note front-and-center on my desk first thing this morning.
Made for a really nice Friday. ☑️ ☑️ ☑️
Made for a really nice Friday. ☑️ ☑️ ☑️
October 18, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Small, simple thing that changes the way you move through the day: placing this sticky note front-and-center on my desk first thing this morning.
Made for a really nice Friday. ☑️ ☑️ ☑️
Made for a really nice Friday. ☑️ ☑️ ☑️
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
What's the difference between 'immigrant' and 'emigrant'?
October 15, 2025 at 2:12 PM
What's the difference between 'immigrant' and 'emigrant'?
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
From airplanes to Pac-Man to the battlefield, the joystick has quietly shaped the way humans connect with machines 🕹️
Episode 2 of Hidden Levels is out now on the 99% Invisible and @WBUR.org Endless Thread feeds 👉 https://bit.ly/46Sxbgg
Episode Producer: Amory Sivertson
Episode 2 of Hidden Levels is out now on the 99% Invisible and @WBUR.org Endless Thread feeds 👉 https://bit.ly/46Sxbgg
Episode Producer: Amory Sivertson
October 10, 2025 at 7:43 PM
From airplanes to Pac-Man to the battlefield, the joystick has quietly shaped the way humans connect with machines 🕹️
Episode 2 of Hidden Levels is out now on the 99% Invisible and @WBUR.org Endless Thread feeds 👉 https://bit.ly/46Sxbgg
Episode Producer: Amory Sivertson
Episode 2 of Hidden Levels is out now on the 99% Invisible and @WBUR.org Endless Thread feeds 👉 https://bit.ly/46Sxbgg
Episode Producer: Amory Sivertson
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
I got to meet folks from Tokona te Raki, an organization that is tackling academic streaming to promote educational equity for Māori children in New Zealand.
I shared some insights about destreaming in Ontario and they captured them in their annual report.
www.maorifutures.co.nz/research/kok...
I shared some insights about destreaming in Ontario and they captured them in their annual report.
www.maorifutures.co.nz/research/kok...
September 28, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I got to meet folks from Tokona te Raki, an organization that is tackling academic streaming to promote educational equity for Māori children in New Zealand.
I shared some insights about destreaming in Ontario and they captured them in their annual report.
www.maorifutures.co.nz/research/kok...
I shared some insights about destreaming in Ontario and they captured them in their annual report.
www.maorifutures.co.nz/research/kok...
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
TODAY I AM, edited by <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:27ddymjvdpb3uezwwp73wpyb" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky-mention">@jaelrichardson.bsky.social, was commended as a Starred Selection 2025 Best Books for Kids and Teens by the Canadian Children's Book Centre!
September 9, 2025 at 5:40 PM
TODAY I AM, edited by <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:27ddymjvdpb3uezwwp73wpyb" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky-mention">@jaelrichardson.bsky.social, was commended as a Starred Selection 2025 Best Books for Kids and Teens by the Canadian Children's Book Centre!
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
Linguistics.
September 24, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Linguistics.
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
The 'kin' of ‘napkin’ means "little."
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
September 22, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The 'kin' of ‘napkin’ means "little."
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
one like, one writing opinion (void while prohibited, while supplies last).
one like, one writing opinion.
one like, one SFF opinion.
July 25, 2025 at 3:58 PM
one like, one writing opinion (void while prohibited, while supplies last).
Reposted by Jason Himsl (he/him/his)
And we're back. Today, a new episode of Heavyweight: Etta. omny.fm/shows/heavyw...
September 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM
And we're back. Today, a new episode of Heavyweight: Etta. omny.fm/shows/heavyw...