Joyce Tam (B.Ed. '99) has been working for the Peel District School Board for over 20 years. In her own practice it has always been important for Joyce to explicitly teach about kindness and inclusion, and to build empathy in her students. With the goal of creating a resource to foster acceptance in the classroom, Joyce collaborated with her long-time colleague Kelly Leslie to publish Do The DAKI. Kelly is a retired elementary school Principal and continues to be active in the teaching community by raising ongoing awareness around inclusion and special needs.
Kelly and Joyce’s mutual interests of social-emotional learning, inclusion, and acceptance come together in their curriculum resource, Do The DAKI. Using the four pillars in the DAKI program: differences, acceptance, kindness, and inclusion, educators can equip students to manage their stress, build resilience, and develop healthy relationships built on a foundation of respect for diversity and inclusion. Joyce and Kelly created easy-to-use lesson plans to establish the foundation for a collaborative learning environment and community. It is their hope that students will deepen their understanding of self, while supporting one another.
Do The DAKI was born out of the desire to reinforce that classrooms are safe spaces for all. Both Joyce and Kelly believe “as educators, we have always known the importance of addressing the social emotional, as well as the academic development, of our students.”
Do The DAKI is available online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indigo.