In the Loop – November 5, 2021

November 5, 2021

“In the Loop” is expanding its scope to include resources and learning opportunities for ALL staff.  In every issue, we will highlight learnings from Truth and Reconciliation to reflect our District’s commitment to the Calls to Action reported on from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.  All staff can begin working on a deeper understanding of the truth.

 

KEY RESOURCES IN LANGLEY

 

KEY DISTRICT DOCUMENTS FOR TEACHERS

 

HONOURING TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Indigenous Education Resource Inventory
Ministry site with rich resources, videos (including one from Langley!), facilitator guide, activities etc.

First Peoples Principles of Learning – Jo Chrona.  This site is created to help educators in BC understand how they might incorporate the First Peoples Principles of Learning (FPPL) into their classrooms and schools.

Kevin Lamoureux Speaks with Ensouling our Schools School Teams in Langley. Very powerful learning about Truth and Reconciliation HERE

English First Peoples District Initiative
December 1, January 19, February 11, May 18 [Register]
This Professional Learning Community will connect high school teachers interested in learning more about, advocating for, sharing their current practice and ultimately teaching English First Peoples 12. We will be learning more about English First Peoples 12 as a course, creating connections amongst ourselves as well as community stakeholders, and advocating within our school communities for English First Peoples 12 with the support of this Professional Learning Community.

 

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

Math Place: A New Math Resource for Grade 1-3 Teachers – November 10 [Register]
Math Place is a newly approved Math resource for Grade 1-3 teachers. This September, each school will receive 1 kit per grade of the NUMBER and OPERATIONS set. Join Diane Stang, the author of Scholastic Math Place, as she goes through the kits and shows you how this new resource aligns with the BC curriculum and how you can use it as part of your math instruction. This is a great way to start building number sense in your students right at the beginning of the year.

Asian Canadian Book Study
November 10, December 8, January 5, February 23, April 13, June 1 [Register]
Let’s talk books! Join us as we explore Young Adult novels created by Asian Canadian authors and artists. Together, we will curate a list of novels to support teachers looking for high-quality and engaging Young Adult literature that reflects our diverse community. Read one book or read ten! You determine what works for you throughout the Book Study series.

New Support Staff Orientation – November 12 [Register]
This orientation is an opportunity for new support staff to learn important information about district policies and programs and meet their union executive. All CUPE 1260 support staff employees are encouraged to participate.

ICBC’s Educational Programs for Road Safety – November 16 [Register]
We invite you to attend an overview of ICBC’s Educational Programs for Road Safety. Road Safety Learning Resources – These age-appropriate online resources are available for free and are aimed at children in K-10. The Road Safety Speaker Program is aimed at students in grades 11 & 12, and we’ll share the steps for schools/facilitators to book a free road safety speaker presentation.

Kindergarten Screening Protocol – Phonological Awareness Assessment – November 22 [Register]
The KSP is the recommended phonological awareness assessment for Kindergarten in Langley. If you are new to Kindergarten, the district, or to using KSP, please join us for a quick overview of this valuable assessment tool. Participants will receive the KSP protocol after the session.

Digital Numeracy Skill Builder – November 23 and 30 [Register]
Finding, evaluating, organizing, creating and communicating information is what math is all about! In this workshop, you will learn how to incorporate digital tools to help students demonstrate their learning in math and numeracy. We will be using different activities and games to illustrate number concepts, patterns, geometry, and number sense. Attendance at both workshops is recommended!

Creating Community with Green Screens (for the Holidays) – November 24 [Register]
Just in time for December activities! Come learn how easy green screens are to use. This hands on workshop will walk you through how to use the green screen kits available for booking from the District Learning Commons.

NEW English First Peoples District Initiative
December 1, January 19, February 11, May 18 [Register]
This Professional Learning Community will connect high school teachers interested in learning more about, advocating for, sharing their current practice and ultimately teaching English First Peoples 12. We will be learning more about English First Peoples 12 as a course, creating connections amongst ourselves as well as community stakeholders, and advocating within our school communities for English First Peoples 12 with the support of this Professional Learning Community.

 

DISTRICT LEARNING RESOURCES

Teacher Mentorship Program
Do you have more than 5 years teaching experience? Do you love to help others grow and learn? The Teacher Mentorship Program needs you!

The mentorship program is looking for mentors! A mentor is a teacher with more than 5 years of classroom experience who understands the needs and challenges of the early career teacher, a reflective practitioner who analyzes his own teaching, someone who is involved in ongoing personal and professional development, and a collaborative educator with strong interpersonal skills willing to provide professional guidance to a colleague.

We have a number of early career teachers looking for a mentor.  We need mentors at all grade levels but especially primary (K-5). Please contact Gwen Thornburn, District Teacher for Teacher Mentorship Programs at gthornburn@sd35.bc.ca for more information.

SPACES Pilot Opportunity for K-12 Teachers (more info)
Are you interested in looking:

  • for innovative ways to showcase learning in your classroom?
  • at ways to collect evidence of learning for student led conferences?
  • for a tool that helps students collect artifacts of learning that shows growth & development as part of their learning journey?

If so, we have a pilot project for you! Langley SD is running a “Spaces” pilot project looking at digital tools and processes that support both teachers and students for collecting evidence of learning for Standards Based Assessment & for collecting artifacts of the K-12 Learning Journey that leads to Capstone.

Are you using All About Me in your classroom and want to win some gift cards for Christmas??
myBlueprint is running a contest where all you have to do is show what your students are doing in All About Me and you could win one of 15 $100 Amazon gift cards! Check it out here for more details and to enter – good luck!

Attention grade 8-12 teachers: Do you want to make some extra Chrismas MONEY?
I need you for coding (marking) the District Numeracy Assessment 9. This will occur on Saturday, November 20. If you are interested in helping mark, please use this form to apply. Teachers will be compensated for their work (information is included on the form). Deadline for application is Monday, November 8. Please direct any questions to Theresa Walker at twalker@sd35.bc.ca.

 

EXTERNAL STUDENT/STAFF OPPORTUNITIES and LEARNING RESOURCES

Open School BC K-12 Professional Learning Resources: As a follow-up to the Teaching Tenaciously webinar series, Open School BC has created a set of K-12 resources for educators on topics such as trauma-sensitive classroom strategies, student-centered assessment, and building compassionate communities. Resources include videos with reflection prompts and activities. Educators can also access a free online course (registration required) with practical strategies for teaching in a blended learning classroom.

New WorkBC.ca Career Education Resources for Teachers and Career Counsellors: WorkBC has launched a new Career Education Resources microsite with lesson plans, learning activities, tools, and resources to support career education in classrooms and online learning environments.

Vaping Prevention Resources: As part of the Province’s ongoing work to combat the surge in youth vaping, the Youth Advisory Council for Anti-Vaping and the Minister of Health created the BC Lung Toolkit with new classroom presentations for Grades 5-7 and 8-10, and a video. These resources are intended to support school administrators, educators, and parents in talking to children and youth about the risks of vaping.

SFU SCHOOL ASSOCIATES – SPRING 2022
At SFU, we are committed to the development of outstanding teachers. But we need your help. School associates play a pivotal role in our teacher education programs helping student teachers (our future colleagues) to make sense of the vast and complex world of educational practice.

Thank you to everyone who has already offered to be a school associate this spring. We greatly appreciate your help. We are still inviting nominations for generalist elementary (English and French) and secondary specialists in the following subjects:

  • Social Studies
  • English Language Arts
  • Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth)
  • Fine and Performing Arts (Theatre, Dance, Music, Visual Arts)
  • French (Core and Immersion in all subjects)
  • Mathematics
  • Physical and Health Education

To register your interest, please speak to your school administrator by November 8, 2021.

Exploring Careers in Politics for Girls Webinar – November 13 (more info)
The Exploring Careers in Politics for Girls Webinar introduces girls ages 12 to 17 to a range of professional opportunities available in the political sector. Students also learn about ways to gain invaluable experience in the political arena through internships, page programs and volunteering. The class culminates with a 20 minute Q & A about working in the political sector.

HEALTHY SCHOOLS BC NEWSLETTER – November 2021 (sign up to receive the resources that follow here)
HEALTHY SCHOOLS BC News:
Farm to School BC Grants – Do you have an idea for a local and sustainable food project? Schools across British Columbia can once again apply for Farm to School BC’s Start-up Grants (up to $3000) and Scale-up Grants (up to $1000). Projects can include building garden beds, foraging for local food, growing indigenous plant gardens, small-scale farms, indoor growing spaces and more. The deadline to apply is November 14th, 2021. Find out more.

HEALTHY SCHOOLS BC Resources:
Student Mental Health Lesson Plans and Resources – The Student Mental Health Toolkit from Stigma-Free Society includes downloadable resources and lesson plans aligned with the BC Curriculum. Designed for students in grades 4 to 7, the activities in the toolkit can be used to teach students about a variety of mental well-being topics including stigma, emotions, empathy and conflict resolution. Find out more.

Outdoor Education Toolkit – Ontario Physical Health and Education Association (OPHEA) released an Outdoor Education Toolkit for Grades 9 to 12 to promote a culture of safety-mindedness and increase teacher awareness, confidence, and preparedness to teach outdoor education. The toolkit includes tips, a checklist, conversation starters, lesson plans, and links to additional resources. Find out more.

HEALTHY SCHOOLS BC Announcements:
World Kindness Day is November 13th, 2021 – Celebrate World Kindness Day in your classroom using Drama Games for Inclusion and Social Change from Heart Mind Online. Writing skits and improvising together allows students the space to playfully explore social issues. Use the drama games on World Kindness Day to encourage students to consider the importance of kindness in their day-to-day social interactions. Find out more.

Instructional Services | #Think35

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Phone: 6045347891
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