December 14, 2023
KEY RESOURCES IN LANGLEY
- Clickable PDF to Key Resources in Langley
- Instructional Services Website: For all your district-vetted resources K-12! Check it out!
- Aboriginal Resources vetted by the District
- TCS Sites (TCS SS-grade 3, 4-8, Secondary): Key resources are still being placed in these Teams. If you need access to one of these Teams, please email dzurbuchenjonker@sd35.bc.ca
- District Learning Commons is a lending library of classroom and teaching resources available to all school staff in the Langley School District. All of our items are available to view and book online through the Insignia Library system. Find instructions, an area to check out new resources, request new resources and report lost or damages kits here: https://sway.office.com/qbfcZW739otNIwLe?ref=Link
We deliver and pick up all the items you request through district mail twice per week (check with your admin assistant to see which days your deliveries are on).
HONOURING TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
Truth and Reconciliation Toolkit | More info
The Assembly of First Nations has put together an outstanding Education Toolkit that offers 22 learning modules on topics such as residential schools, cultural competency, and more. Downloadable user guides and unit plans for each module are available on the Assembly of First Nations website. There are many great resources and unit plans available for educators for both use in their classroom as well as for your own personal learning. Please note, given the nature of some of the topics covered, it is extremely important that educators are reviewing the lessons, units and materials carefully before implementing in your classroom with students.
The Path to Reconciliation: Embedding Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into Our Schools with Len Pierre | On-Demand Learning Feature
The Path to Reconciliation: Embedding Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into Our Schools. Join Len Pierre as we embark on this year’s Ensouling Our Schools Series. In this session, Len talks to us about what Colonial Socialization means, and how it has created anti-Indigenous sentiments that go right to the heart of “Canadian Values.” How do we recognize our biases, and how to address the anti-Indigenous learning we were indoctrinated into as Canadians? How do we create school systems and classrooms that are safe places for our Indigenous Learners?
Centering Indigenous Pedagogies in Math Education Webinar Series | More info | Register
The Edith Lando Virtual Learning Centre through UBC is offering a four part webinar series for teachers where leading scholars and educators explore strategies for centering Indigenous pedagogies in mathematics education. Sessions will focus on classroom teachers sharing examples, ideas, and questions on various Indigenous pedagogies such as Indigenous Storywork, teaching mathematics with/from place and land, and culturally responsive mathematics education and assessment practices. The series is free to educators and while the first session was held this past Tuesday November 7 you can still access the recoding by signing up now. Future sessions are January 23, February 27 and April 9, and even if you are unable to attend the after school sessions, registered participants will receive the recording.
DISTRICT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
To see our full calendar of offerings, visit www.thinklangley.com
Insignia Tutorial: How to Check-in and Check-out Textbooks | On-Demand Learning Feature
A 7 minute video tutorial on how to sign in and out textbooks using a browser on a computer or the Insignia app on a tablet or phone. All teachers have permissions to sign in and out textbooks.
DIFFERENTIATING YOUR MATH GAMES WITH DICE | Jan 23, 2024 I Register
Come join Jane Felling from Box Cars and One-Eyed Jacks for a fun-filled workshop using DICE. This will be a virtual workshop using ZOOM. Box Cars and One-Eyed Jacks math games are hands-on, easy to use for whole class learning, small groups, or in differentiated learning centres. Come see how dice can be an effective tool in inspiring real engagement, resulting in long-lasting learning.
Reggio Inspired Mathematics | Jan 31, 2024 I Register
Come meet with other educators to discuss how the Reggio Emilia approach is a perfect fit for teaching numeracy and how it is represented in the BC Early Learning Framework. This session will include information from the BC Reggio Emilia Inspired Group of educators, examine ties to the BC Early Learning Framework, provide practical examples of materials and activities, as well as give you the opportunity to visit classrooms.
EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Webinars: Live PD with a SpacesEDU Expert | Register
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or looking to get started with SpacesEDU for the first time, attending a live webinar with one of our in-house experts will help you tackle SpacesEDU in 2024 with confidence and get answers to any questions you may have.
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF/STUDENTS/CLASSES
Crayola Creativity Week 2024 | January 22-28, 2024 | More info
Crayola Creativity Week is back for its third year, and educators won’t want to miss this! Taking place from January 22-28, 2024, this week-long, world-wide program aims to nurture young kids’ minds. Creativity Week gives kids space to let their originality shine with plenty of resources, giveaways, unique creator celebrity content, and much more- and it is all completely free!
As January nears and educators prepare to re-ignite children’s excitement for learning, Crayola encourages principals and teachers everywhere to sign up for Crayola Creativity Week and be the first to know about this year’s free resources, activities, and events centered around our new theme: “Creativity Connects Us.”
Reporting for Curio! Contest Deadline extended to January 26, 2024 | More info | Register
Curio’s looking for classroom commentators to cover Canada’s climate change crisis! To enter the Contest, as a classroom, watch a few Climate Change stories from the specially curated, age appropriate, categories (see more info link above) and, with your journalist caps on, put together your own video piece reporting on what you think Canada’s Biggest Climate issue is, and what we’re doing, or what we could be doing, to slow down the effects.
If your classroom submission is chosen, your report will be published on Curio as part of our Climate Change theme! Not only will your class become official Curio contributors, for millions of students and teachers to enjoy and learn from, but you’ll also receive an eco-conscious basket of classroom supplies! Don’t forget to read the contest rules before getting started.
LEARNING RESOURCES
Power Smart for Schools | New holiday themed K-7 activities | More info
Wrap up the year and put a bow on it with new holiday-themed K-7 activities before winter break begins. Encourage students to learn how to be more energy efficient at school and at home, while also teaching them how to safely celebrate the holiday season. Activities are available in English and French. Also last chance to take part in our “LED there be light” contest and win a pizza party. Share a photo of your classroom decorated with LED lights by Friday, December 15 and add your picture to the growing gallery.
Blog: Revive Your SpacesEDU Class for the New Year | Read Article
Embrace the New Year with your SpacesEDU Class. If you’ve implemented SpacesEDU in the Fall, it’s time for your class to elevate usage of the platform. The blog outlines four ways to kick-start the new year with a renewed sense of enthusiasm, including discussion Posts and Activity prompts.
Practical Tools to Help Implement Universal Design for Learning | More info
Are you interested in learning more about how to create an instructionally inclusive, student-centered learning environment that allows all students to thrive and succeed? Novak Education is one of the leaders in this area and offers an extensive array of free tools and resources to help make the shift to Student-Led learning.
Canadian Primary Sources for use in the classroom | More info
The Begbie Contest Society has a website full of rich primary source documents that teachers can utilize in teaching a variety of subjects related to Canadian History. The site includes maps, pictures and other primary resources plus a large volume of useful and relevant political cartoons that can be used to teach both the history as well as to provide students more knowledge and understanding of primary and secondary source materials.
Introducing the redeveloped Substance Use section on foundrybc.ca | More info
Developed by the BC Children’s Hospital for foundrybc.ca, this new section approaches substance use in a holistic, inclusive way that incorporates the latest evidence and language around substance use and meets youth where they are at in their journey of substance use with content that is evidence-based, accessible, non-judgmental in tone, and reflective of youth experiences.
PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL READINGS AND RESOURCES
What is Executive Function? Signs and Symptoms of EFD | Read Article
Many educators have likely heard the term Executive Dysfunction and may have wondered exactly what that means and how it impacts and relates to student learning. In this article from Janice Rodden, she walks through what Executive Functioning is and how its develops as well as the causes, symptoms and types of executive dysfunction and some of the challenges with identifying it in individuals.