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The use of sports, ice hockey in particular, is very important to Canadian culture. This sport is so prevalent that it is just known as hockey in Canada. Kiprop (2018) Lacrosse is also big in Canada, with other sports such as football and baseball getting spectators, but not as much as hockey. Hockey is considered the national sport of Canada and is taught at a very early age.

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Flag of Canada

The maple leaf is the national symbol of Canada and it has been the symbol of their flag when it became official by royal proclamation on February 15, 1965. Smith (2019) This flag came to be after many felt that the previous flag did not properly identify local culture and traditions.

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Places

Canada is the second largest country in the world and is known for its love of hockey, maple syrup, and brutal winters. Canada is home to popular provinces like, Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. Toronto, Ontario is the country’s financial center and is known for their International Film Festival and the sky-high CN Tower. Toronto is also about an hour and a half away from one of Canada’s main tourist attractions, Niagara Falls. I have had the pleasure of visiting Niagara Falls, and the view from the Falls and the Skylon Tower (775 ft. above the Falls) is truly astonishing. “There are more than a million river, streams, and lakes, which make up a quarter of the world’s fresh water supply,” (Pang, Barlas, 2004, p. 10). Canada also share the Great Lakes with the Unites States, which are the world’s largest bodies of fresh water. According to Pang and Barlas. Canada is divided into six main geographical regions; the Atlantic Provinces, the Canadian Shield, the Great Lakes – St Lawrence Lowlands, the Interior Plains, the Cordillera, and the North.

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Population & Language

Though, Canada is the second largest country, it is also one of the least populated countries in the world considering its size. With a population of about 37 million (2019) Canada’s ethnic makeup is comprised of 28% British Isles origin, 23% French origin, 15% other European, 2% Amerindian, 6% other (Asian, African, Arab), and 26% mixed background. In 2016, the population growth rate was estimated at 5%. (Pang, 1992, p. 31). As a Country with dual nationality, French Canada and English Canada, the official languages in Canada are English and French. There are many more English speakers (58.7%), than French speakers (22%), according to records from 2011 (commisceo-global.com).

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Culture & Society

A vast country comprised of six geographical regions, there are wide range if regional differences, including “ethnic diversity, which complicates a coherent sense of the social stratification” (commisceo-global.com). There is a great disparity in economic development between the central provinces and the more rural provinces. In rural provinces, average incomes are around 25% lower than the national average, creating a division of class. The class division is further exemplified in less educational inclusion, resulting in many children leaving school before graduating. In terms of gender roles, there is no openly “recognized exclusion relating to gender in the workplace,” though some bias does exist. For instance, Commisceo-global states that in the health industry, men tend to lead the way and dominate the top positions. The medical profession is dominated by men, while women serve in more representative, nursing roles. Both men and women participate in politics with what is perceived as equal status. In the household, the role of men and women has changed over the years, and more men share childcare and household chores with their significant other.

Canada is similar to the United States in terms of child rearing. All children are required by law to attend school until they are at least 16 years of age. Home school is permitted, but must comply with government guidelines. As previously stated, infant care has traditionally been primarily the responsibility of the mother, but as a result of more women working, “there has been a rise in the provision of infant daycare services.” Canada is very similar to the U.S. in its idea of individuality. While love, support, and encouragement are staples of proper child rearing in both cultures, once children are 18, there encouraged to move out or go to college and begin to provide for themselves. At this age, children are now expected to learn from life’s experiences and make strong personal and professional connections.

Religiously, the three most popular faiths are Catholic (39%), Protestant (20.3%), and 23.9% do not identify with religion.  Other religions in Canada include, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist, among others. While Canadians have different beliefs, a 2017 poll states that Canadians are growing more comfortable with a range of different faiths, Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism being viewed most favorably. Islam, however is often viewed more skeptically. Islam is viewed positively by 34% of Canadians, leaving almost half of Canadians viewing Islam negatively. “The lower levels of favorability are likely the result of the fact that Islam is almost the exclusive focus of media attention in Canada and internationally” – Paul Branadat (Swift, 2017, p.1).

Nationally observed holidays in Canada include; New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

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Music

The Canadian music scene has had its fair share of mainstream musical acts that have had worldwide success. Acts such as Bryan Adams, Alanis Morissette, Shania Twain and Celine Dion are some of the biggest musical acts of all time and they all hail from Canada. Their musical genres range from Pop, to Country, to Rock. These artists all work in music that caters to the sound and music that Americans like to hear.

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Student-Teacher Interactions

To gain a better understanding of student-teacher interactions we examine a study done by Sarah Joyce, “Gender Differences in Student-Teacher Interactions in Some Grade Seven Mathematics and Language Arts Classrooms in Canada and Cuba.” The purpose of this study is to “determine whether there are any significant relations between the sex of students and the quantity and quality of their interactions with teachers in mathematics and language arts,” (Joyce, 1991, p.4). Joyce explains that in the Canadian sample, boys seemed to “dominate in classroom communication.” The study suggests that boys tend to monopolize the teacher’s time and involved in more process questions and more extended interactions with teachers than girls. Boys in Canada are also disciplined more than girls and often call out in class.

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Education System

The education system in Canada is similar to that in the United States with a few minor changes. Students in Canada go to school for 190 days, compared to America where it is anywhere between 180 and 183 school days. The average length of the school day runs from 8am to 3pm, from Monday to Friday. Educanada.ca (2019) Public education is free for the primary and secondary schools in Canada. Educanada.ca (2019) Most publicly funded schools in Canada are non-religious. The vast majority of privately funded schools are religious based. Ourkids.net (2019)

The educational belief in Canada is a set of beliefs and values that they try to instill and promote throughout their educational system. This is the list as follows; Intellectual development, Learning to learn, Citizenship, Preparation for work/career development and Instilling values. Edu.gov.on.ca (2019). This set of values and beliefs are what set up the foundation and the structure of their educational system.

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When it comes to Canadian cuisine, it is difficult to identify what is truly authentic Canadian because there is now such wide multi cultural and multi ethnic composition of the country that has resulted in a wide range of foods and varying preparation techniques. Kiprop (2019) There are a couple foods that are very uniquely Canadian. This would be maple syrup, Canadian bacon and poutine. While maple syrup and Canadian bacon are foods strongly associated with Canada, the poutine is considered to be a true Canadian dish. It consists of French fries covered in cheese curds and gravy. Sushi pizza is another dish that has its origins in Canada. While neither sushi nor pizza are originally Canadian, the idea of putting them together was invented in the city of Toronto.

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Classroom Management

James Levin’s “Principles of Classroom Management provides great insight into classroom management strategies used by teachers in Canada to decrease disruptive behavior. Levin, et al., believes that “teachers and students share responsibility for classroom behavior and teachers may have to modify their teaching style if they expect student’s behavior to change” (Levin, et al., 2016). In Canada teachers utilize several techniques for optimal classroom management, such as, differentiated instruction, clear communication of goals and expectations, and a recently developed model of strategies for managing classroom behavior. The CALM (consider, act, lessen, manage) Model provides a series of steps that serve to “help teachers make logical decisions and avoid responding to problem classroom behaviors entirely from an emotional point of view” (Levin, et al., 2016).