In the Loop – November 16, 2023

November 16, 2023

KEY RESOURCES IN LANGLEY

HONOURING TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

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?

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

Odyssey 2024 – February 16, 2024 – Call for presenters | Workshop Submission Form
The Langley School District’s Odyssey Conference will be held in-person on Friday February 16, 2024.  The day will open with an Indigenous-focused presentation and keynote at the Langley Events Centre followed by breakout sessions at RE Mountain and Peter Ewart. We are in the process of building the program for the breakout sessions and are seeking Langley staff who would be interested and willing to offer breakout sessions on any topics relevant to both teaching and support staff. While there will be an emphasis on breakout sessions focused on Indigenous learning and pedagogy in keeping with our Odyssey theme, this is not a requirement for breakout sessions as we are also hoping to offer many different learning sessions that meet the need of staff across the district. If you would be interested in submitting a proposal to present at this year’s Odyssey Conference, please use the link above.

More than Just Speech to Text and AAC: Technology for Digital Equity, Engagement, and Opportunity| On-Demand Learning Feature
Learn how to enhance your use of technology to plan and program for ALL students. This session looks at the technology competencies from BC’s Digital Literacy Framework and introduces two models for designing, implementing, and evaluating learning experiences. It is through creative and mindful integration of technology into our practice that we can support, equip, and inspire today’s and tomorrow’s students.

EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

CAfLN Conversation: How is AfL (Assessment for Learning) living in your classroom? | November 22, 2023 | Register
CAfLN (Canadian Assessment for Learning Network) is a non-profit learning network that connects educators dedicated to establishing and sustaining high quality Assessment for Learning at all levels of education. For a yearly membership fee, educators have access to all of the assessment resources that CAfLN provides as well as free access to a number of different professional learning opportunities including their annual CAfLN Conversation series. The next session in this series is coming up on Wednesday November 22 and focuses on a conversation about how AfL is living in your classroom. This is a members-only event and registration is free. Please register to receive the Zoom link.

Engaging All Learners in the Middle Years – Interactive Webinar Series | Register
The Edith Lando Virtual Learning Centre at UBC is inviting all Middle School educators to participate in a four-part, interactive webinar series exploring the engagement of middle years learners in multi-grade classrooms. The four webinars will be recorded. Register once and attend any or all of the sessions or watch the recordings if you are unable to attend live. The series will be led by Dr. Leyton Schnellert and Tammy Renyard and will feature special guests every session. The second session of the series is coming up next week – see below:

  • Thursday, Nov 23 — Shelley Moore, Belinda Chi, Bryan Gidinski, Marna Macmillan, Kiran Abraham
  • Tuesday, Jan 30 — Angela Stott, Jennifer Eddie, Rebecca Labonville
  • Tuesday, Apr 23 — Nikki Lineham, Kendra Jacobs

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.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF/STUDENTS/CLASSES

SHAD Canada | Shad2024 Scholarship Opportunities | Applications close Dec 1, 2023 | Apply Now
Shad is a month-long summer STEAM and entrepreneurship program for grade 10 & 11 students that opens doors to post-secondary pathways. Shad offers 10 Entrance Scholarships for Indigenous Students and 10 Entrance Scholarships for Black Students funded by generous donors. Shad is committed to removing barriers to STEAM education and careers for equity-deserving communities, which means ensuring all communities have access. Each year, Shad provides over $1.5 million in funding for students across Canada to help make our program accessible.

LEPS Workshop Material | More info
Langley Environmental Partners Society is offering environmental education for K-8 Students for the 2023 – 2024 school year. There are In-class workshops such as “It’s a Bug’s Life”, “Hazards in My Home” and “It Isn’t Easy Being Green”. They also offer Local Food Education such as “Seed to Plate” and a bunch of resources for teachers. Check out their flyer under “more info” above.

Grade 6 Poster Contest | Canadian Public Health Association | Deadline Feb 9, 2024 | More info
An invitation for Grade 6, and Grade 5/6 or 6/7 split classes to participate in a poster contest being held for students across Canada from the Canadian Public Health Association. The contest is a chance for teachers and students to learn more about climate change and the impact it is having on the spread of infectious diseases like Lyme disease and West Nile virus in our communities.  Students across Canada can submit a hand drawn poster to bring attention to a climate sensitive infectious disease for a chance to win an Apple Ipad 9 and other great prizes. To support Grade 6 teachers to incorporate these concepts into their lessons, they have developed a ‘Teacher Toolkit’. This toolkit includes a five-lesson plan, to guide teachers in facilitating a rich, cross-curricular learning experience for students.

LEARNING RESOURCES

UFLI Phonics Program | Videos from Sandi Osborne at North Otter
The videos below have been recorded and are being shared courtesy of Instructional Services and ELL. We would like to offer you a glimpse into one of the phonics programs that has been vetted by IS and ELL. Sandi Osborne from North Otter graciously offered for us to come in and view and record. She has also opened her classroom up along with her grade 1 teaching colleague Leanne Tocol as they learn and share this new program. Thank you so much to these 2 wonderful teachers that have shared their experience so that other teachers are able to see what it is all about. They use this program along with small group instruction with decodable books to build targeted skills, and also integrate levelled books in as needed for exposure to reading beyond the controlled vocabulary. In the “activities” video, you will see the class engaged in a variety of literacy opportunities that help them to practice the skills learned and apply them to various reading, writing and oral language activities.
UFLI Day 1:
https://vimeo.com/834121855/904eaa14d0?share=copy
UFLI Day 2:
https://vimeo.com/834122271/87718e030a?share=copy
UFLI Student Activities:
https://vimeo.com/834122660/a4fb2541d3?share=copy

Math and Numeracy Resources for Classroom Teachers
The following sites offer many great tools, resources and supports for classroom teachers in the areas of Math and Numeracy Instruction:

BC Numeracy Network | More info
The BC Numeracy Network is a group of K to 12 educators who have collaborated to provide teacher resources for planning, instruction and assessment.  This includes lots of videos on instructional routines that can also be found at the links below:

The Indigenous Mathematics K-12 Network | More info
The Indigenous Mathematics K to 12 Network provides resources, webinars and other learning opportunities for educators with the goal to bring together teachers, students, parents, administrators and academics to explore and re-imagine ways of improving mathematics education for Indigenous learners.

BC Association of Mathematics Teachers (BCAMT) | More info
The BCAMT is the Provincial Specialist Association for Mathematics teachers across the province of BC.  Their updated website has many resources, learning opportunities and supports for classroom teachers in the areas of mathematics and numeracy.

BC Reggio-Inspired Mathematics Project | More info
The BC Reggio-Inspired Mathematics Project is a professional collaborative inquiry group consisting of educators from across BC who have been examining how Reggio-inspired principles and practices can enhance the teaching and learning of mathematics.

Instructional Services | #Think35

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