can self-regulation help them thrive?

education professors dr. sonia mastrangelo and dr. meridith lovell-johnston are engaged in a research partnership with the kwayaciiwin education resource centre. kwayaciiwin provides essential support to first nations schools in the sioux lookout region of northwestern ontario.

kwayaciiwin sought out lakehead's help because their 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 are struggling with lower literacy rates and higher rates of depression and suicide than 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 in other parts of the province.

the goal of drs. mastrangelo and lovell-johnston's research is to foster "self-regulation" in elementary 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 so that they become more emotionally resilient and can flourish at school.

their research project called – supporting the development of young children's self-regulation capacities and literacy skills in ontario's northern communities: engaging families and educators – is being funded by a three-year partnership development grant from the social sciences and humanities research council (sshrc).

           dr. sonia mastrangelo                                                                                dr. meridith lovell-johnston

1. can you explain what self-regulation is and why it's important?

self-regulation is a way of understanding stress and managing tension and energy flow that enables children to cope with the stressors of daily life. we use the framework developed by dr. stuart shanker called shanker self-reg©.

there is growing awareness among developmental scientists that the better a child can self-regulate, the better they can rise to the challenge of mastering more complex skills and concepts because they are able to be calm, focused, and alert.

this is essential because stress is on the rise – kids are spending less time outdoors and less time socializing with friends. instead, for many children, the reality is that they spend more time in isolation with increased screen time. this was true well before the pandemic.

stress has a negative effect on children's brain development, and therefore it's important to address the stressors that impact children across five domains – social, emotional, cognitive, biological, and pro-social.

2. how is self-regulation connected to children's ability to do well in school?

research has shown that self-regulation is the foundation of healthy human development including mental health, learning, resilience, emotional safety, caring relationships, and vibrant, peaceful families, schools, and communities.

families and educators can help children re-frame their stress and direct them to strategies that can restore their equilibrium. eventually, kids are able to move from co-regulation to being able to do it themselves (self-regulation).

3. in what kind of situations is self-regulation useful?

people experience different kinds of stress – biological, cognitive, emotional, social, and pro-social. being overtired, having difficulties with math, mourning the loss of a family member, and being bullied are all examples of stress.

frequently, people have more than one stressor, which can result in a multiplier effect of stressors across several domains. the first step towards self-regulation is to identify these stressors, re-frame them, and then develop personal strategies to help reduce them.

we teach children to develop their own personal toolkit of techniques, which is highly individualized, and might include: deep breathing, meditation, taking a movement break when they've been sitting too long, dimming the lights if they're overstimulated, and drumming. one size doesn't fit all, and different strategies work for different kids.

4. can you provide an overview of your self-regulation research project?

we are sharing research and experiences with families and educators that will contribute to our mutual understanding of how calm environments help children in kindergarten to grade 3 grow emotionally and academically.

another key objective is supporting indigenous children's print literacy by promoting culturally appropriate approaches such as oral storytelling, community literacy nights, working with educators, and tracking literacy skills over time.

the partnership is also intended to open a meaningful dialogue about the cultural values of northern ontario communities and to address issues of social justice.

children will be able to document their self-regulation journeys through photos, videos, indigenous story circles, and self-regulation events in their communities.

5. can you tell us about your visit to big trout lake?

big trout lake was the first community to become involved in the project. it's an oji-cree first nation reserve, also known as kitchenuhmaykoosib inninuwug, located about 580 kilometres north of thunder bay, ontario.

we travelled there in january 2020 to offer self-regulation workshops to teachers and support staff at the aglace chapman education centre, big trout lake's elementary and high school.

janna garrett, a grade 3 teacher and the teacher lead on the project, has said that the self-regulation training has given her insights into what her 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 are facing.

she's told us that 'kids come to school with a backpack that holds all the things they are dealing with. i now understand why a behaviour is happening and how to better help children succeed at school.'

we also hosted a spaghetti dinner for parents, elders, and other community members who shared their hopes and dreams for their kids with us. the connections and friendships they have with one another, their families, their teachers, and the land is inspiring.

this fall, we will travel to big trout lake again to begin classroom observation visits and to work closely with children and educators on self-regulation strategies and effective literacy practices.

ian mcrae had an unforgettable first teaching job.

“the summer i graduated from lakehead orillia, i thought, ‘what would be a great adventure?’” he says.

ian started searching the government of nunavut’s website and found a position in pangnirtung, a remote community on baffin island. he moved there in 2016 with his girlfriend, and fellow lakehead grad, erica beuermann (hbsw'15), who is now his fiancée.

pangnirtung is an epic place, surrounded by some of the biggest cliffs in the world and wildlife like polar bears,” ian explains. “as a community, people in ‘pang’ are incredibly proud of their inuit culture.

he was there for a year and a half and taught a grade 5 class before teaching at the local high school, attagoyuk.

“living up north was a special experience. i can honestly say the best part was the time i spent with my 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 ,” ian says.

"my experiences at lakehead helped me gain the confidence to be a leader early in my career," says ian mcrae (hbasc/bed'16). "i take a lot of pride in working hard and creating change."

then a job prospect in toronto as a government relations coordinator with the canadian federation of 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 (cfs) came up. it was a difficult decision to leave pangnirtung, but the distance from their families and the expense of travelling to and from the community prompted the couple to say goodbye.

ian’s new job renewed his connection with an organization he’d been involved with previously. as a student, ian had been the cfs northern chairperson and an executive in the 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 student union (lusu). ian relished the chance to once again be an advocate for postsecondary 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 .

“i’ve always been passionate about fighting for greater access to education,” he says. “with the cfs, i helped organize student groups across the country to lobby the provincial government for real legislative change.”

 ian credits much of his passion to his time at lakehead and his role as the first lusu executive on the orillia campus.

“that opportunity changed my life by getting me involved in the campus and in the community. i learned that if you want to see something happen, you often have to be the one who takes the first step.”

currently, ian is a partner client manager at applyboard, an online platform that helps international 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 apply to schools around the world.

“applyboard is one of the fastest growing companies in canada, and it’s revolutionizing the international student sector,” ian says.

“i work directly with our partner schools throughout much of ontario, including lakehead. as an education tech company, we focus on using new systems and artificial intelligence to make the application process easier for 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 and schools. i love being in this industry – there is just so much potential.”

he and erica now live in stratford, ontario. erica is employed locally as a social worker and ian works in applyboard’s kitchener office. since the pandemic, though, they’ve been working remotely.

“we have a daughter named audrey who’s almost two,” ian says. “it’s been a wonderful time for our family to slow things down and spend time together.”

with the rise of populism in places as far apart as brazil, india, the united states, and europe, democracy seems to be on shaky ground.

this surge in authoritarian populist movements has caught many off guard, but dr. steven jobbitt has been watching this phenomenon unfold for more than a decade. he is a lakehead professor of eastern and central european history with a particular interest in hungary.

he was researching early 20th-century right-wing movements and intellectuals in hungary when the fidesz party, led by viktor orbán, won hungary’s 2010 national election. fidesz is an unapologetically right-wing populist group.

“orbán’s victory was seen as a rebuke of europe,” dr. jobbitt says. “until 2010, hungary had been regarded by many as the poster child for post-communist integration into the european union.”

as hungary’s new prime minister, orbán set about dismantling his country’s democratic institutions and aligning himself more closely with russia and the policies of vladimir putin. the parallels between hungary’s past and the present were striking, and dr. jobbitt began focusing his research on contemporary hungarian politics. what he witnessed was disturbing.

by 2012, hungary’s constitution had been rewritten to curtail civil liberties, undermine free and fair elections, and destroy the independence of the judiciary and the media. other repressive measures followed.

prime minister orbán has also stoked anti-immigrant sentiment and hostility towards jews and the romani, an ethnic minority group in hungary.

dr. jobbitt earned hba (1998) and ma (2001) degrees in history from lakehead.

“they still have elections, political parties, and a parliament,” dr. jobbitt says, “but if you define democracy as a thriving civil society, there is no democracy anymore.”

how did hungary’s populism of fear and resentment take root? “the general consensus was that fascism had been defeated after world war ii and that communism had been defeated with the end of the cold war,” dr. jobbitt says. “liberal democracy had triumphed.”

almost immediately, though, seeds of discontent were planted. the expansion of the european union provoked a rise in nationalism and fears of losing cultural identities. there was also a backlash against aggressive globalization and capitalism that promoted the free market at all costs while slashing funding to education and social programs.

prices went up and salaries went down after the fall of communism. combined with climate change and population movements, people’s lives became more
precarious. hungary’s rural areas were struggling, then the 2008-09 global financial crisis hit.

orbán’s fidesz party positioned itself as the defender of hungary, but instead of rejecting capitalism, they co-opted it for their own financial benefit.

“one scholar refers to orbán’s hungary as a mafia state,” dr. jobbitt adds. despite this, the middle class has rallied behind orbán. “for them, it’s about holding on to their privileges. they don’t want to share with other people. they say, ‘why should 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 have free tuition? why should we help the poor or refugees?’”

dr. jobbitt believes that populism is animated by a drive for revolutionary solutions and that this energy can move to the left or the right. in hungary, it has definitely moved to the right.

“it would be a mistake to think that these forces – in hungary and around the world – are going away. we have to come up with policies that will address the needs of the
people. otherwise, we will reap what we sow.”

there's no place like lakehead is one of kathy pozihun's mantras.

"thunder bay has always been home, and lakehead is part of my family," she says. "my husband, my daughter, my step-daughter, and i are all graduates – and my son just finished his first year."

kathy first arrived at university as an eager commerce student who, like many 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 , juggled university with a part-time job. although she was extremely busy with her studies and work, she did have time to listen to a little music.

"i was a huge bon jovi fan. everyone used to tease me because i had life-size posters of jon bon jovi everywhere."

kathy's work ethic brought her back to lakehead in 2012 when she was appointed vice- president of administration and finance after holding senior financial management positions at community living thunder bay and the lakehead district school board.

"it was really special to return to my alma mater as a vice-president," she says.

so, what does kathy do?

"first and foremost, i am lakehead's chief financial officer – which means ensuring that the university remains financially sustainable and poised for growth. i also have the pleasure of leading many administrative units, including financial services, human resources, technology services, physical plant, risk management, security services, residence operations, food & conference services, athletics, human rights and equity, as well as ancillary profit centre operations like our bookstore and parking services."

administering a university with campuses in two cities over a thousand kilometres apart is no easy feat, but kathy is undaunted.

in 1992, kathy earned her honours bachelor of commerce (accounting major) and then went on to become a chartered professional accountant, certified general accountant in 1996.

"it's important to remember that we are one university with two campuses. lakehead orillia and lakehead thunder bay share the same strategic goals and vision."

in this age of intense competition, economic volatility, and a global pandemic, kathy stays focused amidst constant change.

"all universities in ontario are facing financial challenges," she says, "but lakehead has successfully managed declining provincial funding, significant cuts to domestic tuition, and now covid-19."

this means making tough decisions, like cutting costs whenever possible. that's why lakehead's transparent and accountable budget process is a source of pride for kathy.

"we do not run deficits and the board of governors will only approve balanced budgets. this has positioned lakehead for a strong financial future."

together, kathy and her exceptional team have made lakehead better in countless ways.

"establishing lakehead's first office of human rights & equity and overseeing the construction of the wolf den athletics facility and the cases building really stands out for me," she says.

kathy's steady guidance has meant that lakehead continues to have a positive economic impact on our communities. of course, it's a two way street. our communities play an integral role in sustaining us.

"lakehead's alumni and industry, government, indigenous, and community partners allow us to grow, change, and continue to be a leader for our next generation."

the next generation looms large in kathy's mind.

"i was the first person in my family to graduate from university and i will always remember walking across the stage of the thunder bay community auditorium to receive my degree – my parents were so proud."

1970s

joseph n. agostino (hba'75/ma'80) has written several articles that have been published in the journal etc: a review of general semantics. these articles about closure, distal shift, and inductive reasoning are based on research joseph conducted for his hba and ma degrees in psychology. in addition to journal publications, he has written articles for magazines including active senior's digest, autumn view, and muskoka seniors magazine focused on family relationships, institutionalization, health, religion, and their relevance in the lives of our seniors. joseph and his wife, donna, moved to bracebridge, ontario, in september 2015. they maintain an active lifestyle and continue to enjoy various academic, leisure, and recreational activities.

1980s

marianne jones (ba'88/bed'89) was excited to announce the publication of her novel, maud and me by crossfield publishing in may. set between marathon and thunder bay in the 1970s, maud and me is about the unlikely friendship between an artist and the deceased lucy maud montgomery, author of anne of green gables. marianne is an award-winning poet and author of seven books, but maud and me is her first literary novel.

1990s

scott peterson (bsc'99/engdip'03) is the new president of tbt engineering limited (tbte), northwestern ontario's largest independently owned engineering consulting firm. previously, scott served as tbt engineering's vice-president. in his new role, he is responsible for providing technical and project management services for many tbte divisions. scott is also tbte's manager of geological and pavement engineering. he specializes in geotechnical and geological investigations and design studies, environmental and hydrogeological investigations and assessments, pavement structure evaluation and rehabilitation investigations and design reports, aggregate and quarry source studies, and wastewater management solutions.

beth potter (ba'90, english) was announced as the president and ceo of the tourism industry association of canada (tiac) in march 2021. beth has a long and distinguished career in canada's tourism sector, including most recently serving as the president and ceo of the tourism industry association of ontario. she is a recognized leader with more than 30 years of experience in the not-for-profit and tourism industries and has worked with a variety of boards and committees, including her recent contributions to the world travel & tourism council's tourism recovery efforts. in a tiac media release, beth said, "these are undoubtedly challenging and difficult times, but the tourism industry is an innovative and resilient sector."

valerie stortini (hbsw'94) became the chair of 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 's ogimaawin indigenous education council (oiec) in february 2021. oiec is an important advisory body that meets several times a year as a council and with lakehead's president and vice-chancellor, to discuss and advise on issues related to indigenous postsecondary education opportunities. "the oiec is an engaged group of people from the university community, as well as the community at large," said valerie, who joined the council in 2017 and is the employment counsellor for the apatisiwin program at the thunder bay indigenous friendship centre.

2000s

rita fenton (hbsw'01) was profiled in the anishinabek news on january 13, 2021, for a virtual presentation she made as part of the dibaajimowin anishinaabe storytelling series. rita, an elder from the fort william first nation, went back to school as a mature learner to earn an honours bachelor of social work degree from lakehead in 2001. she also earned a master of social work degree from wilfrid laurier university when she was 69 years old. in the anishinabek news article, rita said, "i work all over the north. i registered with matawa (first nations management) and nishnawbe aski nation, and whenever there was a crisis, they would call me."

nathan lawrence (hbcom'07), a managing partner with royal lepage lannon realty and a licensed mortgage broker with dominion lending centres mortgage excellence, was appointed the new board chair of the ontario chamber of commerce in may 2021. nathan earned an honours bachelor of commerce, majoring in human resource management, from 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 in 2007. he served two terms on the thunder bay chamber of commerce board of directors, including as the 2018/19 board chair. he is the past president of the northwestern ontario associated chambers of commerce.

dr. lana ray (mph'07) has been appointed 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 's indigenous research chair in decolonial futures. this position is the first of its kind at lakehead and is part of the university's commitment to strengthen research grounded in indigenous knowledge and culturally appropriate methodologies. lana is an anishinaabe scholar from opwaaganasiniing (red rock indian band) who has been a strong voice for the advancement of indigenous education in ontario. she is also an assistant professor of indigenous learning and the recipient of the 2021 emerging voices in indigenous scholarship/researcher award, presented by the indigenous inquiries circle awards committee.

adrienne roberts (bed'09/med'16) was the ndp candidate for the riding of brantford-brant in the 2021 federal election. raised in ancaster, ontario, adrienne moved to brantford in 2011 and has immersed herself in the community. a lover of learning, she has graduated from postsecondary programs at mcmaster university, 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 , and memorial university of newfoundland. as a third-generation union member, she is an active member of the ontario secondary school teachers' federation (osstf) and sits on the local executive as secretary. she is also the vice-president of the brantford-brant ndp riding association.

2010s

matt pascuzzo (ba'17, political science) left a position as the senior communications and issues management adviser for federal minister of health patty hajdu in 2020 to return to his alma mater and enrol at lakehead's bora laskin faculty of law. matt first began working for minister hajdu during her 2015 election campaign while he was still a political science student. during his time in ottawa, he also worked as a press secretary with the prime minister's office. matt is now starting his second year of studies at the law school.

2020s

ashley faulkner (hbsc'20), a current master of science in biology student, won first place in the three-minute thesis competition at lakehead's 2021 research and innovation week, which was focused on the theme of "our changing world." ashley joined other lakehead researchers highlighting the positive impact their research is having regionally and further afield. ashley's thesis is being supervised by dr. ingeborg zehbe, a lakehead research chair who studies human papillomavirus (hpv) and cancer prevention.

in memoriam

peter sadler kerr (engdip'85/ beng'87) passed away on april 8, 2021, after a long battle with cancer. peter, who was born on august 29, 1960, was known for his deep appreciation of the outdoors, his integrity, and his work ethic. he was also incredibly determined, which served peter well when he returned to high school as an adult learner and then completed a civil engineering degree at lakehead. he was a respected engineer who had a great impact on his places of employment: 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 , the town of atikokan, and ontario power generation. he is survived by his wife leslie and his children lindsay, mitchell, and mellisa. should you wish, donations to the atikokan general hospital foundation or tbhrsf northern cancer fund in peter's memory would be appreciated.