Learning Opportunities

GPRC Pre-Service Teacher PD Day

September 20, 2018

8:30-9:00am Registration

9:00-9:15am Welcome

9:15-10:30am Morning Session 1:

A - Christie Watson: Differentiating to Meet the Needs of Your Students

Having experience in the classroom and now as an admin - I have had the unique opportunity of learning what our district requires from our teachers, as well as what I look for when I am interviewing candidates. Comprehensive literacy is one of the major pillars of our district - as it impacts all subjects in all grades. I want to talk about what this means, what it looks like and how you can differentiate to meet the individual needs of your students - as you will have a variety of learners. Instead of you just listening to me talk, you will be interacting with my lesson - you will be my students in my classroom. I hope this will be more meaningful, as you will experience what it would actually look like in your class, how you can lesson plan to save time and show you some samples of student work. I will share examples of guided reading lesson plans, as well as using mentor texts to teach writing. All with tips that I wish I would have known earlier in my career. Let's have some fun!

B - Bill Sheets: Competencies in Curriculum

This session will examine the eight competencies with an emphasis on, their descriptors and indicators, and their connections to curricular outcomes. Participants will come away with a better understanding of how the competencies can be  demonstrated in their classrooms.

10:45am-12:00pm  Morning Session 2:

A & B Repeat (you will attend the session you didn't in the first time block)

12:00-12:45pm Lunch - Provided

12:45-2:00pm Afternoon Session 1:

C - Stefanie Van Wyngaard

“Is This a Starbucks or a Classroom?” Using ​Project-Based Learning (PBL) and alternative seating creates an independent, engaging and authentic learning space for all students. Emphasis is placed on teaching students the essential or ‘big’ ideas in the curriculum and giving them the power and responsibility to explore and inquire within those guidelines.

Flexible alternative seating in the classroom means that students will be able to choose their own working spot from a variety of options. They can choose from kneeling tables, sitting desks, standing spots, stability balls or stools - as well as lying down with a comfy spot. Choosing their own working spot allows students to be purposeful and effective with their learning and get the most out of their day!

Whole Brain Teaching A research based system that utilizes all areas of the brain, keeps children engaged throughout short lessons, and helps them retain much more information than the standard lecture-discussion model.  Whole Brain Teaching is a highly interactive form of instruction where students take control and teach what they have just learned to each other, using hand-gestures to help remember specific vocabulary. This allows for a higher retention rate than the traditional lecture-style model. While students teach each other, teachers are able to walk around the room to discover who understands the lesson and who needs more instruction.

D – Kim Barker Kay: Education for Reconciliation - Closing the Achievement Gap

In this session, Kim will share her 2005 research findings on barriers to Indigenous student achievement. She will then introduce ways of removing these barriers. After this session, participants will have been introduced to The Equity Framework and missing ingredients to closing the achievement gap; Education for Reconciliation – Empowering the Spirit website; and to diversity training from the National Coalition Building Institute.

2:00-3:15pm Afternoon Session 2:

C & D Repeat (you will attend the session you didn't in the first time block)

3:15-3:30pm Closing