Then after school, teachers were able to meet in Primary and Intermediate teams where, although the topics were different, the learning and planning and sharing continued with the same galvanizing, inspirational pace.
Before I forget: Homework
1) Body checking assignment (Th)
2) Scholastic book order (optional) (F)
As for the body checking assignment, last week I gave the students an article which detailed the reasons why Hockey Canada has banned all body-checking from the Bantam level down (ie: younger than teen-aged years). We had a discussion then, and revisited the discussion today, hearing especially from some of the members of our class who actually play hockey. Students were given a handout that asks for their opinion, and asks them to justify their opinion.
As for the Scholastic book order, one of our parents has volunteered to collate and send in the order on our behalf, so I will remind you that if you wish to take part, please, please, please No Cash! Cheques only (made out to Scholastic Canada Ltd.) please and thank you!
Teachers at Brooksbank met today after the kids were dismissed to plan our steps this year as we begin to learn how to change how we teach and how kids learn through (amongst other things) "Project Based Learning" or PBL. That led naturally to assessment of kids, and it happens we have two really knowledgeable leaders in this field in our Principal and Vice-Principal. There are exciting changes in the years ahead from the Ministry of Education's proposed changes to curriculum and assessment. In the meantime we are committed to improving our instruction, and District has responded by granting us 11 days of T.O.C. coverage to help release us so we can collaborate, observe, evaluate, discuss, reflect, and learn to become better teachers. That 11 days has to be shared amongst the entire staff, so it is not a lot, but it is definitely enabling time! We teachers have our homework to get done too!
