Teacher Feedback
“The documentary was a great real life example to get students thinking at the start. The quote from the woman experiencing homelessness at the beginning helped set the tone.”
“The format and activities were excellent. The examples were personable and relevant, with real lived experiences.”
“I thought it was good to give the students a working definition and to show the video with people speaking about it. This all accumulated in the students thinking about coming up with solutions to the problem.”
“This documentary and education would be very meaningful to many social science courses.”
“Very informative, visually appealing slides that were logically organized and easy to follow.”
Student Feedback
“One thing I learned is that there are so many reasons how someone can end up homeless and it’s not always because they choose drugs, etc. So, one thing I take away from today is that we should have empathy for them and try to help them.”
“I learned to look at people’s perspectives and that we as a community can take further steps to help people out.”
“How difficult it [homelessness] really is to deal with and try to overcome, especially if you are already a part of a marginalized group.”
“How common it [homelessness] actually is, and how different it actually looks like than what we think.”
Lived Experts
“Placing ourselves in somebody else’s shoes can be an experience of unknowing. Once a portion of the experience settles, a rebirth of a perspective is unveiled. Your youthful spirit will spark the flame of a care while processing life. When your gifts are discovered, your flow of truth will shine, which is powerful. Your views and recommendations for future generations, is impactful. You are activating a foundation that makes an informed change. I believe this curriculum will help steps to move forward reducing stigma and shame onto people.”
“Growing up surrounded by homelessness shaped who I am and I believe that by bringing honest conversations about homelessness into our high school curriculum, we can help young people see beyond stereotypes and understand the realities that many people in their own communities face. Knowledge creates empathy, empathy inspires action, and action builds stronger communities.”
Feedback from LearnIt
“It has been a privilege for LearnIt to partner with Erin Dej, Carrie Sanders and the broader team behind Creating Dialogue: Secondary School Teaching Resources on Homelessness in Canada as they piloted this curriculum with high school students across Ontario.
What stood out to us most was the impact these conversations had on students. We watched young people move beyond many of the assumptions and stereotypes they had previously encountered and develop a much deeper understanding of the complexity of homelessness in Canada. More importantly, students began to recognize that they are not simply observers of these challenges. As the next generation of community members, professionals and leaders, they have an important role to play in shaping more thoughtful and compassionate solutions.
Throughout the pilot sessions, we saw students passionately share ideas, ask difficult questions and engage with researchers, educators and professionals at a level that is rarely seen in a traditional classroom setting. The curriculum created a space for students to think critically, challenge their own perspectives and participate meaningfully in conversations about one of the most pressing issues facing communities across Canada.
We are incredibly proud that LearnIt was able to support the piloting of this work and even more excited to see Creating Dialogue become accessible to educators and students across the country.”