Sitting in a staff meeting… Teachers seated in the audience, a select group of people at the front leading the meeting dispensing information. Information that may be important to know yet an inefficient way to accomplish the task. That day I remember one statement – emphatically declared that sat like an irritating pebble in myContinue reading “This is transformative…”
Category Archives: Professional Learning
Co-Creating Learning Stories
Inspiration! Once again gathering with my colleagues, participating in great sessions and connecting to new ideas, meant that this was another enjoyable and worthwhile teacher’s convention. I use photographs in my classroom as a way for students to share what they have learned and as a jumping off point for stories and further reflection. OurContinue reading “Co-Creating Learning Stories”
Inspired, Hopeful and Challenged
Sometimes the contrast between ideas makes you laugh, surprises or disturbs you, or makes you wonder how two ideas can exist in the same sphere. Two of the sessions I attended at the Greater Edmonton Teacher’s Convention (GETCA), did just that. One seemed like a throwback to the past and the other an open door to the future.Continue reading “Inspired, Hopeful and Challenged”
Making Meaning
Several years ago, Jo Boloar’s course ‘How to Learn Math’, included a video clip, of Sebastian Thrun speaking about his approach to problem solving and math. I felt a spark of recognition and a sighed with relief to hear him say that we should not move ahead with a problem until we understand it intuitively; that weContinue reading “Making Meaning”
Reflections on, ‘Creating a Passionate Literacy Classroom’
Today I had the opportunity to hear Pernille Ripp, a Wisconsin 7th grade teacher, who started The Global Read Aloud in 2010. Check her blog: Blogging Through the Fourth Dimension to learn more about her passion for students, learning and literacy. The session, Creating a Passionate Literacy Classroom, was organized by the Edmonton Regional LearningContinue reading “Reflections on, ‘Creating a Passionate Literacy Classroom’”
Question, Interest, Intention
Is it true that those who teach learn twice? If so teachers are the most fortunate of all. My question for this year: “Is there a way I can shift more agency to the learner?” A question inspired by, Invent to Learn by Sylvia Libow Martinez and Gary Stager. My interest and goal: Strive to remainContinue reading “Question, Interest, Intention”
The Girl on the Bus
Once upon a time a small girl sat on a city bus staring out the window. It was a regular day, cars and trucks drove alongside the bus, mothers with babies were out shopping for their families, and the sun shone down on it all. The little girl looked out the bus window and feltContinue reading “The Girl on the Bus”
One Common Thread
What a week this has been! So much to think about. On Monday Martin Brokenleg engaged us all as he spoke about the Circle of Courage: The spirit of Belonging: I am loved, The spirit of Mastery: I can succeed, The Spirit of Independence: I have the power to make decisions, and the Spirit of Generosity: IContinue reading “One Common Thread”
Thoughts on Student Assessment
Will this assessment help me to identify student’s needs as learners? Will it help me to guide next steps? These questions swirl around my brain. See that determined orange tabby climbing higher to to new levels? That’s what I want for my students. Recently this phrase, caught my attention, actionable feedback. Feedback kids know theyContinue reading “Thoughts on Student Assessment”
Shout it from the Roof Tops!
Current research helps us understand what high achieving math students do and it is most interesting, in fact Jo Boaler tells us it is worth shouting from the rooftops so here it is: High achieving math students use flexible thinking, are able to easily decompose and recompose numbers and naturally compress ideas to move onContinue reading “Shout it from the Roof Tops!”
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