February 29, 2024

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

Announcing RCtv: Honouring Truth and Reconciliation | More info
Join us for a nationwide conversation reflecting on Canada’s legacy of Indian Residential Schools and pathways towards reconciliation. Showcasing a powerful short documentary by legendary Abenaki filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin, the programme involves three simple steps:

1. Watch Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair with your class between April 3 and April 17
2. Join the discussion with special guests on Wednesday, April 17
   (see time below)
3. Ask questions through our online platform

The programme also includes lesson plans, sensitivity support resources, extension activities, and access to the film – all completely FREE OF CHARGE. Can’t make the date? You can still watch an interactive recording any time afterwards.

DISTRICT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
To see our full calendar of offerings, visit www.thinklangley.com

NEW Workshop! Nurturing Young Writers (K – 3) with Matt Glover – Session 3 | Feb. 29, 2024 I Register
One of the challenges teachers face is determining what to teach each day during a unit of study in writing workshop. Even when teachers have curricular plans and resources that give teaching possibilities, only teachers can determine what their students need each day. In this session teachers will learn and use a process for designing writing units that meet curricular goals and respond to the individual needs of their students

That Wellness Thing | Langley Education Centre | March 6, 2024 | More info
Langley Education Centre is hosting its fifth annual wellness event on Wednesday March 6, 2024 from 4:30 – 7 pm! We hope you can join us. #thatwellnessthing features information and resources from a variety of community agencies, service providers, and some of our local post-secondary schools. There will be opportunities to try yoga and light refreshments will be served. The event is open to students 16+ and their families, staff, and the public.

NEW! Getting Started with Book Creator | On-Demand Learning Feature
Curious about Book Creator? Book Creator is a District approved app that is available to teachers to use with their classes that allows students to create and publish high-quality books as part of a rich classroom literacy program. If you would like to learn more about Book Creator and get an introduction to how you could get started with Book Creator in your classroom

The Path to Reconciliation: Embedding Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into Our Schools with Len Pierre | On-Demand Learning Feature
In this second session in our Ensouling Our Schools series, Len Pierre focuses on decolonization, reconciliation, and cultural safety in schools. Setting out with the intention to focus on good, culturally safe practices for educators, Len outlines a number of cultural strategies for school districts to embed in their practice at the classroom, school and district and district level. As well, Len also shares some exciting, promising practices and resources that he has encountered in this work that offer continued hope for ensuring cultural safety lives in our classrooms and schools.

EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

PHEBC Chat – Critical Conversation about Daily Marks in PHE… what are we looking for? | March 5, 7 – 8 pm | Register
Historically speaking, gathering daily marks has been a common practice in many PHE classes. The methods used to gather these marks, and the number of marks available (e.g., 3, 5, 10) have differed, but the approach has largely been the same: to record a daily score for students in a PHE class. Should we gather daily scores in our PHE classes? What information are we gathering, and how is it used? Are there other ways to approach this practice and support student learning? Join us on Tuesday, March 05, 2024, from 7-8 pm PST as we explore this topic and possibilities for our PHE classes. This is open to everyone, and it will not be recorded.

CAfLN Conversations | Wednesday March 6 – 5:00 pm | cafln.ca
The next CAfLN Conversation from the Canadian Assessment for Learning Network is coming up on Wednesday March 6 starting at 5:00 pm.  CAfLN members can join for free. Not a member of CAfLN? Then go to cafln.ca to learn more about how to become a member and get access to all of the excellent resources and professional learning opportunities that CAfLN offers their members. This session is about Co-regulation of learning via metacognition: what is it and what does it look like in our classrooms? This is a collaborative session so come prepared to discuss your context and the context of others.

Invitation to The Walrus Talks at Home: Arts and Culture Right Now | March 6, 2024 | More info | Register
Join The Walrus Talks at Home: Arts and Culture Right Now, an event that brings together young Canadian artists and cultural leaders who are shaping the future of arts, activism, and digital innovation. Four speakers will discuss how creativity can promote civic engagement, merge politics with art, and leverage technology for change. Join this conversation to witness firsthand how Canada’s creators are not just participating in the arts and culture scene, but are actively redefining it with their bold visions and innovative approaches.

Harnessing the Power of AI to support Teaching and Learning | Mar 7, 2024 | Register
Meet the Teaching Assistant you never knew you needed. Join Learning Forward BC with Cari Wilson and Alex Bleim from West Vancouver Schools online from 4:00-6:00 pm PST on March 7th. The theme of this session will cover making teaching easier, practical ideas and suggestions for using AI in the classroom and supporting the myriad of student demands that face educators daily.

UBC MEd in Math Education and MEd in Science Education | Applications due March 25, 2024 | More info: Math or Science
UBC is now accepting applications for the next fully-online Masters of Education (MEd) cohort programs beginning Sept 2024 and open to all teachers K-12. MEd in Math Education and MEd in Science Education are both excellent opportunities for collaborative professional development for teachers across the province. Teachers can apply in school or in district teams, and a degree in math or science is NOT required. The program enables teachers to qualify for TQS Category 6 Pay-scale Increment.

Network of Inquiry and Indigenous Educators Annual Symposium | May 10 & 11, 2024 | More info
The theme this year is Connections + Community: People, Practices & Promises. It is taking place on Friday, May 10 8:30-4:30pm & Saturday, May 11 8:30-12:30pm at The Westin Wall Centre, Richmond, BC. Make connections and strengthen community with colleagues committed to ensuring every learners crosses the stage with dignity, purpose and options.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF/STUDENTS/CLASSES

Discovery Farm Tours at Academy Farms – K to 12 | Academy Farms School Tours Info & Study Guide.pdf
Academy Farms is a local and one-of-a-kind farm that has been operating in the Township of Langley since 2021. In addition to raising unique animals such as bison and water buffalo, the farm also takes great pride in their innovative, sustainable and modern approach to agriculture.  Academy Farms is now offering Discovery Farm Tours for classes at all grade levels – K to 12 – that is directly linked to the provincial curriculum. To learn more about the Tours and what is available as well as for information on the pre and post tour resources available to teachers, please check out the full Academy Farms brochure found at the link above.

BCCPA COIN Competition Announcement | Deadline April 8, 2024 | Register
Each year the Chartered Professional Accountant’s of British Columbia (BCCPA) run an accounting competition called COIN. Your students are invited to compete! Please share this with your Accounting teachers, who will be required to pre-register their students. The deadline to register is 9am, April 8th and the date of competition is 10-11am, April 20th, 2024. Prizes provided by BCCPA.

LEARNING RESOURCES

FORED BC Society Lesson Plans and Resources | Lesson Plans
Unleash your inner maestro with FORED BC Society’s latest sensation! Dive into our electrifying new lesson plan, jam-packed with the symphonic secrets of trees and music! From strumming guitars to pirouetting ballet shoes, discover the sensational ways trees groove into our daily rhythm! Get ready to rock and roll with nature’s melody. Download your musical journey now

Literacy Resources available through Curio
Did you know that students who read for 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week, are exposed to up to 1.8 million words in one school year? Inspire even your most reluctant readers with our incredible selection of recommendations.

• Literacy Secondary | Series
  When we are at a crossroads, when uncertainty is upon us, when we have faced challenges and are ready for the future, how do we know where to go next? This collection of books is about finding the resilience and the hope needed to carry on and keep moving forward. Don’t miss the Canada Reads 2024 debates, March 4-7.
• Literacy Elementary Grade 4-7 | Video
  Check out The Forest of Reading’s previous year’s Blue Spruce Award nominees and their inspiring work in the 4 to 7 age category.
• Literacy, Culture Secondary  | Video
  Turtle Island Reads celebrates stories written by and about Indigenous people in Canada and discusses why bringing Indigenous books into the classroom is important (with teacher guides).

PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL READINGS AND RESOURCES

Establishing Ongoing Student Self-Assessment in the Classroom – Katie Novak | Article
This article by Katie Novak talks about the benefits of student self-assessment and how to implement it in the classroom in a  very simple way. The author argues that self-assessment helps students develop metacognitive skills, appreciate the purpose of their work, and advocate for themselves.  The article also provides a link to a book and a video on the topic of shifting from teacher-led to student-led instruction which is a crucial component of helping students become more independent, self-directed learners.

The Value of Descriptive, Multi-Level Rubrics – Jay McTighe, Susan M. Brookhart, Thomas R. Guskey | Article
While single point rubrics are very useful and have become very popular among teachers, this article is a very interesting and important read for teachers when considering the use of a single point rubric.  While there is a definitive ease with using them, when it comes to the importance of providing valuable, descriptive feedback to students to help move their learning forward, there are shortcomings which would be perhaps better served with a more descriptive, multi-levelled rubric.

TECH TIPS

How-to’s:

• Book Creator browser app: the district has purchased licenses for teachers and students. Learn more here: (new) Book Creator (browser)
• NEW elements for Creating a Virtual Teams Meeting: New-convenient options are now right within the new meeting window. There are now different types of Teams meeting that automatically put specific controls in place. Learn more: New Virtual Teams Meeting Options (Feb 2024)

Digital Citizenship Terms:

• Media Balance: using media in a way that feels healthy and in balance with other life activities (family, friends, school, hobbies, etc.)

• Phishing: when someone poses as an institution, like a bank or school, and sends you a personalized message asking you to provide private information.
• Sound Ergonomics: the control and set up of digital sound system (often headphones)

Generative Artificial Intelligence Terms:

• Large Language Models: or LLM, is essentially a highly intelligent computer program designed to understand and generate human-like language. It’s capable of assisting people with writing, answering questions, and engaging in conversations by leveraging its vast knowledge of words and sentences.
• Neural Network: A neural network is a complex computational model inspired by the human brain, composed of interconnected nodes that process information through layers to learn from data and perform tasks such as image recognition or language processing.
• Natural Language Processing: or NLP, is a type of computer technology that helps machines understand, interpret, and generate human language in a way that feels natural to us.