Edmonton Regional ASCD
Edmonton Regional ASCD Celebrates Innovative Practice
As an association dedicated to the advancement of education, the Edmonton Regional of Alberta ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) have instituted this celebratory event to recognize innovative and thoughtful practices which are providing promising results in the areas of at-risk students, collaborative practice, differentiation of instruction, mentoring, assessment for learning, teacher as leader, educating the whole child, and closing the achievement gap. Once again, our congratulations are extended to these educators for their educational contributions!
1. Marcus Reed (EIPS), Christine Pichlyk ( King Edward Elementary School EPSB), Fern Reirson (Jackson Heights School EPSB), Donna Daniel (George H. Luck School EPSB), Jill Lagaarden (Earl Buxton School EPSB)
For: Teacher as Leader, Mentoring, and Collaborative Practice
Board: Elk Island School Board, Edmonton Public Schools
These five nominees are writers for Edmonton Public Schools’ Resource Development Services. They have helped in the development of new Social Studies Online Resources. This is in response to the needs of the new Social Studies Curriculum for Alberta. Their innovative creativity and expertise shines throughout the engaging activities they have developed. A demo of the K-3 Teaching Plans can be found at: http://projects.uvcs.uvic.ca/edca082/cletourneau/demo/index.html
2. Christine Pouliot, St. Gerard
For: Differentiation of Instruction (Kindergarten Literacy Project)
Board: Edmonton Catholic School Board
Christine Pouliot has put together a program for teaching literacy to Kindergarten children that provides for all of their individual learning differences, including those with mild to severe special needs. She is innovative and makes the learning meaningful, which makes her students feel successful on an everyday basis. Some of her ideas include Literacy tubs, Author’s Chair, Phonics games, rhymes and activities, One-on-one reading, labeling things in the classroom, mini-books and flashcards. These practices have resulted in strong readers at the Early Childhood level.
For more information, please contact Christine at pouliotc@ecsd.net
3. Karen Kjenner, Win Ferguson School (Fort Saskatchewan)
For: Know the Learner
Board: Elk Island Public Schools
Karen Kjenner’s grade two classroom is involved in an education project called “Oilers Ice School”. The grade two students travel to Rexall Place everyday for five days to be involved in site based learning activities, all day long. This will include a variety of experiences including measurement, journaling, safety discussions, creating and designing hockey masks, historical connections, and getting to meet Trent Evans, the ice maker who used the Canadian Loonie as a trademark buried in the ice.
Throughout the week, a large focus will be on literacy, where students will be exposed to many books. The variety of activities provide many opportunities for differentiation of instruction. All of these activities are geared to improve student learning by drawing on their multiple intelligences.
For more information about this innovative project, please contact karenkjenner@gmail.com
4. St. Mary School Staff, St. Mary School
For: Using Assistive Technology
Board: Edmonton Catholic schools
The exemplary use of assistive technology in the teaching/learning process provides “equity of learning opportunities” for a wide range of learners in an inclusive classroom. As a Professional Learning Community, St. Mary School is developing awareness and skill in the use of Assistive Technologies available to “at risk” students which will enhance their learning opportunities. Creating an accessible classroom is a research study which will open up new possibilities for students, staff and parents. St. Mary’s ultimate vision is to help others understand how Assistive Technologies can improve the quality of learning opportunities for all children.
To learn more, please contact St. Mary school (780) 988-6577
5. John D. Bracco Flex Thursday Teams
Language Arts and Social Flex Thursday Team
- Debbie Ball, Kris Hendrickson, Richard Espinoza, Brenda MacKinnon, Vern Johnston, Ingrid Robinson, Georgia Atkins, Sheri Tchir, Eva Foff
Mathematics and Science Flex Thursday Team
- Stephanie Bertholet, Eric Hanson, George Nickel, Shelley Kotyk, Nelson Lauzon, Dee Elder
- Barb Lemay, Cathy Forrest, Joshua Robbins
Fine and Practical Arts Flex Thursday Team
- Darolyn McCrostie, Jason Ashmore, Maxine Bureau, Jennifer Boldt, Dan Senger, Gordon King
For: At Risk Students and Collaborative Practice
Board: Edmonton Public Schools
The staff at John D. Bracco has come up with an innovative way to address the needs of at risk students and also allow staff to collaborate in unique ways to meet these needs. The school day was modified on Thursdays for larger blocks of time in each of the subject areas to allow students to explore concepts to a fuller degree. This required labour intensive planning to prepare the learning activities based on criteria that included: re-grouping, re-teaching, re-testing, performance based learning, and challenge. Activities were planned to explore higher level thinking for all students. Students with larger gaps received more one on one interaction through small class size. This project has resulted in staff looking at the school differently in terms of finding practices and opportunities to address achievement gaps. It has certainly enabled more meaningful collaboration among staff and new strategies to meet the needs of at risk students.
Edmonton ASCD Regional Contact:
Fred Fonseca , Edmonton Regional
ASCD Chair: fred.fonseca@epsb.ca |
