Ontario News from ExploreLearning

Math Professional Learning Teams - Full day workshops

Yesterday, I delivered the last of a series of workshops I have been leading for the Durham District School Board's Math professional learning teams. These teams are commited to making a difference to student success and are engaging in the professional learning cycle to rethink their instruction. It has been a fantastic learning opportunity for all of us and my privelege to be involved. For more information, have a look at the workshop agenda we developed collaboratively to meet the needs of the DDSB teams.

"Thank-you for the outstanding work you have done with regards to our Durham DSB SSSI teams.  Your commitment to your job and genuine passion to always do your best is both admirable and inspiring.  The extra planning time you took after each session to improve the PLC process was both noted and appreciated.  I truly believe today's session was a level 4 performance."                      

                                    Leah Franklin, DDSB Program Facilitator (Math)

Leah Franklin sent me this feedback and, although she does not know it, her words are critically important to me. Annually, I revisit and refine my mission and objectives to keep me focused on meaningful things. What is very satisfying to me is her feedback precisely describes two specific objectives embedded in my current personal success criteria: passionately develop the skill of learning and inspire Ontario teachers to grow professionally.

This just reinforces my belief (and Damien Cooper's) that if we can get students to own learning success criteria and teachers offer precise feedback identifying how they are succeeding, they too can experience the authentic satisfaction that comes from achieving something meaningful.

For more information -  Download SSSSI Workshop Agenda

 

Memories of STAO 2011

Thanks everyone for the great conversations at STAO this year. It is always a pleasure to share ideas with engaged teachers! If you are looking for my handouts, I have posted them below.

 

      

 

Self Guided Tutorial:  Download Self Guided Tutorial _Ontario_ 2011

Smarter Science: Growing Plants, Fan Cart Physics, Household Energy Usage

 

 

Growing Plants Gizmo and Smarter Science

Kay Stephen shared her experiences with the Smarter Science lesson I developed for the Growing Plants Gizmo a long time ago now. She even published a blog post describing what happened when she delivered this lesson to her locally developed science class. This was a really satisfying story to read mostly because I am regularly dreaming up lessons that weave great teaching strategies and Gizmos but do not regularly have a class of students to test whether or not the idea works to engage learning. 

Thanks for sharing Kay! (and if you have a success story to share - please pass it along: slippa@explorelearning.com )



 

 

 

 

 

ExploreLearning PD at Six Nations School District, Ohsweken

How exciting...I am thrilled to announce that Peter Wright will be facilitating ExploreLearning workshops this week as part of the Six Nations School District P.D. Day program. This marks the first workshop that will be delivered to a First Nations community in Canada. Peter is working on some supporting materials for the sessions and will post them here and on the Six Nations Numeracy blog when they are ready. Stay tuned...

 

Update: Nov 24, 2011

Here they are... Peter's handouts for the...

1.  Morning: Download SixNations_HO_AM

2.  and Afternoon: Download SixNations_HO_PM