About

Essays by Shalon Sims on education, creative writing and literacy

About me

I’m writer and a K-12 teacher who lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Teaching

I completed my B.Ed at UBC specializing in Middle Years—Self-Regulated Learning. My interests as a teacher lie in inclusive education—I’m hugely inspired by Shelley Moore and Dr. Jennifer Katz, who have made astounding contributions to BC’s inclusive education practices.

I have a “propedeuse” degree from the Universiteit van Amsterdam in Pedagogical Sciences (Education Psychology-ish) specializing in developmental disorders. I studied in Holland for five years (in Dutch!) in my early twenties. No, my family is not Dutch, and no, I did not speak the language before moving. Looking back, I honestly can’t believe I did that—It was another life!

I also have a bachelor’s degree with minors in English and visual arts from the University of the Fraser Valley. The minor in English consists primarily in creative writing courses, which leads to the next huge area of interest in my life: writing.

Writing

I write primarily science fiction and creative non-fiction, and most of my stories touch on topics like gender, literacy, social justice, mental health and climate change. Whether I draw from my own experience or my imagination, my goal is to say something about this world we live in.

Prior to taking the plunge to do the Teacher Education Program, I worked for 10 years in communications as a freelance writer and editor, and for many years, I was the in-house copy-writer and communications strategist for a design and branding studio.

I also teach writing! My favourite is teaching teenagers creative writing, and teaching ESL and/or grammar through creative writing. You’d be amazed how much easier and more fun it is to learn English when you’re being creative with it.

I live, teach and write in Vancouver, BC, on the traditional lands of the Musqueam First Nation.