Posts

Insight into Comprehensive Literacy

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Comprehensive approach to Assessment  Students often have high-stress and difficulty with completing unorganized summative assessments. It is important to deliver proper assessment to students in means of explicit expectations and guided inquiry. Rich Performance Assessment Task's (RPAT's) often converge various skill sets that students develop alongside the compulsory subject-based curriculum. The figure below indicates an example of a commonly created rubric that some teachers use for Language and/or a translated version for French oral curriculum expectations. The key components of the rubric are the criteria focused around the RPAT topic. However, usually the criteria should be generalized align with the overall curriculum expectation. In contrast, if the rubric criterion becomes too specific, teachers tend to stray students away from the importance of inquiry. Alignment between assessment and curricular expectations is essential to develop student learning in metaco...

'BE'ing a Citizen: A Cross-Curriculum and Across Curriculum

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Canadian Context into Bilingualism As of late, Canada has been taking into account the importance of Indigenous education. With such an important topic finally being regarded, it should not be surprising to Canadians that there is a large  shift toward integrating Aboriginal education. With the advancement into building curricular content around Aboriginal teachings, history, philosophies and contexts, educators may find it difficult to take on this new approach. There is such a transformative development in terms of what teachers should know about Aboriginal content - and yes, there is a lot! But this should not deter educators from taking on the significant topic.  The Census of Population from Stats Can (2011) highlights linguistic statistics for Canadians. They publish that official bilingualism rates climbed steadily over recent years. However, the predominantly French-speaking province Quebec has been seeing trends in declining bilingualism. But there have been ...

Modelling Interdisciplinary curriculum through Inquiry of Multiculturalism

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Who is at the forefront?: As education advances, there seems to be a split between progressive categorical curriculum and constructionist interdisciplinary curriculum. Both models of education provide means for students to learn fundamental lifelong skills. However, the theory of curriculum being of interdisciplinary approaches to education brings a completely new way of seeking knowledge. Similar to the other education systems that have been coming to light (i.e.: Finland, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand), students that learn through this comprehensive schooling system, eventually lead children to develop into experts by connecting all subject-matter to a specific topic. This curriculum correlates to all, rather than being efficient in a certain topic or subject like in our Western education systems. After which this 9-year comprehensive schooling is completed; by the approximate age of 16, the students will choose between an academic-track or a vocational-track. Both of which ...

Time to get Innovative.

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It is about time that I have returned to the blogging community. Since my last post, I have graduated and commenced my masters degree. This new entry into the rigor of academia is exciting! After having completed my undergraduate studies and have moved forward into the realm of elementary schools, as well. The District School Board of Niagara is my current occupation as a french occasional teacher, and with much delight, an educator looking to make a difference in the lives of many. There is course that I am currently completing in my masters degree referred to as; Innovative Curriculum Design and Classroom Assessment. It is an incredible course that aligns its readings, content and lecture principles on the innovations of curriculum. I am anticipating an enjoyable and engaging class design that encompasses the use of teaching the masters students the importance of the 21st century, while also scaffolding the current assessment available. The professor is Susan Drake (2014), whom bei...

Comprehensive Literacy

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Online Resources Used for Infographic: http://www.ocdsb.ca/sta/cli/docs/Comprehensive%20Literacy%20Instruction%20K-12.pdf http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/balancedliteracydiet/Home/ 5 Supporting Artifacts for Language Arts 1)        The Ontario Curriculum Document http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/language18currb.pdf -  This artifact is a pinnacle and basic foundation for programs that encompass comprehensive literacy. This must continuously be referred to, and concisely used when planning comprehensive literary lessons. Lesson and unit plans must revolve around overall and specific expectations that exist in this document in order to teach the students accordingly. Some modifications and accommodations may be made for particular students and their required needs 2)   Kahoot ! https://kahoot.it/#/ This artifact is a very flexible tool to be used under the Teacher Choices for the 100 Minute Block. Students are a...

Way into the mind of a 21st Century Student

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Wow, what an exciting session. Today we looked at incorporating the online game 'Minecraft' into school lessons and technology and this method has been sweeping the nation by storm. Not only does it invoke a students sense of inquiry, but in a simplistic arcade style approach it allows students to create what they wish in a simulated merge of real-world application and a fantastic new world. I hope to learn more about the functionality of this application and how to adapt it into my future program, although it may be tough; especially when regarding French curriculum. But I do believe there is a way to change the language into French. This is the only limitation I can foresee at the moment, although it has a lot of potential for most all other subject criterion for curriculum.

Scheduling some routines!

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During today's session we looked at the calendar applications that Google has to offer. It worked wonderfully and was super user friendly. I am so glad I had the opportunity to check it out as I don't think I would have done so on my own accord. I am learning so much from this Technologies course, it will most definitely help me with my lesson, unit and program plans and it's availability to students, families and staff. I am also finding it particularly enjoyable each and every class. There seems to be a new format, gadget or application looked into and learned which helps with our own knowledge and the technological knowledge of our future students. Of course, certain things will become past paradigms eventually and so adds for an increase in learning technology at an exponential level. The most important factor in this is to remind oneself that it's a self-perpetuation and meta-cognition and never something that should be forced on students. This fluidly moves into...