November 21, 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).
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
Interested in Becoming a Mentor?
We are in great need of experienced teachers with five or more years in the profession to support and guide newer educators as they transition into their roles.
We have many brand-new or early career teachers looking for a mentor. We need mentors at all grade levels but especially primary (K-5) and middle (6-8).
Time Commitment as a mentor: Mentors need to commit to ONE 45-minute learning-focused conversation every 3-5 weeks. There are optional workshops, networking and learning sessions available.
https://langleyteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Mentor-Info-Sheet.pdf
New to the District or a New Role?
If you’re a newer teacher looking for mentorship, please fill out the Mentee Information Sheet here. Once completed, email it to teachermentorship@sd35.bc.ca to join our program!
Ongoing: Classroom Library Kits – let us know if you would like one! Fill your classroom library by borrowing books from us – Kits for K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 available!
HONOURING TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
Braiding Sweetgrass for Educators | Register
The award-winning Indigenous author and educator, Monique Gray Smith will be offering Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults in January. Registration is now open for four, 1-hour sessions with Monique where she will explore the 6 sections of the book and chapters within each of them, including key content for classroom and school use. Early bird registration is open until December 15, 2024.
4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning | More info
The 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning is an online course that is offered in partnership with over 50 non-profit organizations through the Outdoor Learning Store. It serves to support participants in deepening their understanding of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives while strengthening connections with the local Land and supporting more respectful, reciprocal relationships. To learn more about the course and the different learning opportunities available through this course, please check out the website at the link above.
DISTRICT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
To see our full calendar of offerings, visit www.thinklangley.com
**** Save the Date – Odyssey on Monday February 10, 2025 ****
Odyssey 2025 | Monday February 10, 2025 | Call for Presenters
The Langley School District’s annual Odyssey Conference will be held in-person on Monday February 10, 2025. Similar to last year’s event, the day will open with an Indigenous-focused presentation 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.
There will be two breakout sessions on that day and presenters can opt to present just once, or can offer the same breakout session two times, or even two different breakout sessions if they prefer. Also, please remember that offering a breakout session does not require you to deliver a formal presentation – leading a breakout session can include leading facilitated conversations around a specific subject area, grade group or topic with a group of educators. Each breakout session would run for 75 minutes long.
If you would be interested in submitting a proposal to present at this year’s Odyssey Conference, please use this link. The deadline to submit a proposal is Monday December 2.
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. Please use your district credentials to sign in via the following web link.
Let’s Felt Together: A Kindergarten Teacher Workshop I December 2, 2024 I Register
Join us for a fun and creative hands-on experience where we’ll felt and weave our stories together! In this interactive workshop, you’ll craft a beautiful, felted story mat that you can use in your classroom. Along the way, you’ll build meaningful connections with fellow kindergarten teachers, sharing ideas and inspiration. Leave feeling inspired, with a unique story mat in hand and new friendships to nurture your teaching journey!
Learning in the Primary Years: A Four Part Series | December 3, 2024, and January 20, 2025 I Register
Curious educators are invited to learn and think together about the newly released “Learning in the Primary Years” Ministry document with connections to playful practice. Register for one session or all, just select the appropriate pass during registration. Dinner will be provided to those who attend in person.
Setting up an explicit Literacy Program in the Primary Classroom: A Four Part Series | January 15, 2025, Jan. 22, 2025, Feb. 19, 2025, Feb. 26, 2025 I Register
Are you looking to set up an evidence-based literacy program but unsure where to start or how to support small groups? We will start with discussing the Scope and Sequence to guide your instruction, then look at assessment tools that will inform your practice and allow for creating groups based on targeted skills. Then, we will go over ways to support instruction in the different areas such as decoding and fluency. Finally, we will have a check in to see what has worked and what next steps could be.
Emotional Literacy for Educators I January 21, 2025 I Register
This 90-minute interactive workshop provides educators with practical, research-based tools to help students regulate their emotions, fostering a classroom environment conducive to teaching and learning. By blending Marc Brackett’s RULER approach with Leroy Slanzi’s breathing techniques, participants will gain effective strategies to reduce stress, enhance focus, and improve emotional resilience in their students.
Through hands-on activities, role-playing, and discussion, educators will walk away with actionable methods to create a calm, focused learning space and strengthen students’ social-emotional skills.
EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
The Outdoor Learning School & Store | More info
The Outdoor Learning School & Store is a charitable social enterprise offering excellent outdoor learning training, tools, resources & equipment with 100% of proceeds going back to supporting outdoor learning non-profit initiatives! The y currently have a number of Professional Learning opportunities available for educators that can be accessed from their website at the link above.
Teaching the Holocaust – Micro-Certificate for teachers | More info
The Continuing Studies Department at UVIC is offering a unique, 8-week online course for in-service and pre-service teachers to help prepare them to integrate Holocaust Education into their classroom with this now being mandated by the provincial government starting in 2025-2026. The course runs from January 13 to March 7, 2025, but interested learners also have the option to attend an in-person, one-day professional development workshop on Professional Development days. This workshop is designed to complement the online course and offers additional learning opportunities from leading experts in Holocaust education. The first session will occur on Friday, October 25, 2024 and the second will take place in Spring 2025 at the University of Victoria campus. Please see under October 25 Pro-D Day events above for more information on this event. For more information on the 8-week virtual course, please see the “More info” link above.
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF/STUDENTS/CLASSES
Career Panelist Chat for Teens & Parents | November 27, 2024 | Poster | Registration
Career Week is coming up next week! There is an upcoming online career panel discussion on Nov 27, 2024. During this discussion you will hear inspiring stories, explore diverse career paths, and get insider tips to turn passions into a career you’ll love. Experts from finance, technology, trades, healthcare, and HR/Business will sharing their journey and advice.
Christmas in the Country Field Trip | Dec 5-29, 2024 | More info
Join Thunderbird Show Park this December for Christmas in the Country! This indoor event offers a fun opportunity to learn about agriculture in the Lower Mainland. Get up close with an 800-pound Speckled Park cow and discover the chick hatching process through hands-on exhibits and workshops. Students can enjoy the hobby horse kids’ course and admire dazzling light displays, all while celebrating the holiday spirit!
School of Animation & Visual Effects Program Preview is Dec 5, 2024 | Vancouver Film School | Register
Calling all animators! Learn how you can launch your career for a multitude of industries at VFS. Learn about Vancouver Film School’s award-winning School of Animation and how VFS launches your career in the entertainment & game industries in just one short year. This is a free online event but advanced registration is required.
Film Production Program Preview is Dec 11, 2024 | Vancouver Film School | Register
Calling all filmmakers! Discover how you can launch your industry career at VFS. Learn about Vancouver Film School’s award-winning Film Production program and how VFS launches your career in directing, cinematography, producing, production design, or post-production in just 1 short year. RSVP today. Limited spots are available.
Crash Science Virtual Field Trip | December 12, 2024 | Register
This virtual field trip will cover the science of crashes. After the broadcast, you can take the science back to the classroom and have your students collect their own data!
For the best experience students can use PocketLab G-Force to collect data and design a crash cushion meant to reduce the forces that act on a vehicle during a collision with a wall. Check out the lesson here!
The low-cost alternative would be for students to use budget-friendly materials to design and build a paper car designed to protect its raw egg occupant! Check out the lesson here.
Design Contest for Pink Shirt Day | Leading Edge Promo | Contact: CustomerService@LeadingEdgePromo.ca
Students are invited to create designs for Pink Shirt Day for 2025. This creates a wonderful opportunity for teachers to discuss the topic of bullying and supporting each other and then see it appear on shirts. Don’t worry about the artwork being a bit rough, the art department can clean it up and prepare it for printing. Leading Edge Promo is looking for the message and design. If a student’s design is selected they will receive t-shirts for their whole class and a $200 honorarium.
Also, they are reaching out to indigenous artists who may like to see their design on shirts for the 2025 campaign. If an indigenous artist design is selected they will also receive an honorarium as well as a $2.00 royalty for each shirt sold.
Japanese Speech Contest | March 1, 2025 | More info
The 37th Annual British Columbia Japanese Speech Contest is open to British Columbia and Yukon residents who speak Japanese as a foreign or second language. The 2025 Contest will be held on
Saturday, March 1 2025 at the Asian Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Campus. Please see the “More info” link above for all the details.
Discovery Farm Tours at Academy Farms – K to 12 | More info
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 under “More info”.
PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL READINGS AND RESOURCES
“Assess THAT” Podcast on “Feedback” with Tom Schimmer and Natalie Vardabasso | Podcast
“Assess That” is an excellent ongoing podcast on assessment hosted by Tom Schimmer and Natalie Vardabasso. In one of their recent episodes, Tom and Nat explored the topic of feedback. In the podcast, they discuss feedback as both simple and complex and provide some excellent ideas and suggestions for helping teachers use feedback effectively to improve student learning. Without a doubt, this is one of the better podcasts out there when it comes to the topic of how to use feedback effectively in the classroom and definitely worth a listen!
LEARNING RESOURCES
Financial Literacy Resources | MyBlueprint | Free Download
Did you know that fewer than 15% of Canadians feel they have strong financial skills? Even more concerning, 39% rate their financial knowledge as poor. But here’s the exciting part: This November, it’s Financial Literacy Month! It’s the perfect opportunity for us to come together and change these statistics. Let’s empower students on their financial literacy journey, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence they need to tackle their financial futures head-on. Together, we can make a real difference! Download the new Financial Literacy Student Guide for a wealth of interactive activities designed to engage students this month and beyond!
Canadian History Week | Curio.ca | Log-in
It’s Canada History Week – an opportunity to learn more about the people and events that have shaped our country and shifted our culture. Whether you’re interested in learning more about the history of our politics, our land, or even in exploring the experiences of our nations’ first occupants some 15,000 years ago, on Curio, the story of Canada is yours to discover. Log in now to learn more. Curio is free for all Langley teachers to access.
TECH TIPS
Using TEAMS Tip of the Week
If you would like to ensure that the person or group you are sending a TEAMS message to gets a notification, remember to @ them or the group in the message – this will ensure that they receive a notification and will be more likely to see the message. So for example, if you are wanting to send a message out through one of the TCS TEAMS, you would start your message by choosing the @ sign and then adding the name of the TEAM or person – so @TCS-Grades4-8 for an example.
Microsoft EDGE Browser
If you are not already doing so, we would highly recommend that all District Staff use the Microsoft EDGE browser as their default web browser. Microsoft EDGE is a Microsoft product that is provided to all Langley District staff as part of the Office 365 package that is part of our District system. As a result of it being a Microsoft product, it is therefore most compatible and easiest to use with all of the other Microsoft tools available for staff. It is also the safest and most secure browser to be using from a privacy and protection lens as well.
Microsoft Accessibility Tools
Microsoft has a number of excellent accessibility tools available to District staff that are built directly into most of the Microsoft and Office 365 products that District staff have access to and use on a daily basis. These tools are great for both staff use but many of them are also useful and helpful when working with students. Below is information including a video link and a PDF resource regarding the Microsoft Live Captions tools available to staff in both TEAMS and PowerPoint. Please do note that some tools are only accessible depending on which version of office you are using and some online tools are only available through the Microsoft EDGE browser – see item above for more information on why you should be using EDGE!
Live Captions Videos
Live Captions Quick Guide PDF