I have been asked a number of times what Inquiry Based Learning, and what Differentiated Project Based Tasks look like. The two can be combined into one strong culminating task. However, people often don't know how to craft their own tasks, as they haven't seen any as an exemplar.It is for that reason that I … Continue reading Differentiated Inquiry & Project Based Tasks
When writing the OSSLT (Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test) there are a number of unspoken requirements for success. This advice will help prepare you to succeed on the News Report and the Supported Opinion Piece. News Report Task:Write a five paragraph Newspaper Article responding to the headline and picture below. Ensure your article contains… The … Continue reading Understanding and Succeeding on the OSSLT Major Writing Pieces
WARM evaluations are evaluations that build upon the tenets of Universal Design for Learning, taking four key concepts into consideration during their design and implementation: Welcome student voice, Assessment opportunities, Repetition of skills, Marks into grades
Downloadable, high-resolution printable posters for each of the ten key literacy skills: Determining Importance, Summarizing, Visualizing, Predicting, Inferring, Comparing, Connecting, Questioning, Annotating, and Synthesizing.
The COAT Method is a form of lesson planning that implements Universal Design to ensure students are provided opportunities to be: Crafting, On their feet, Actively listening, and Talking to each other.
The first Literacy Skill that students need is Determining Importance. This one skill will prepare them for everything that follows. Without it, they will be unable to focus their thoughts and ideas. We have to teach students to identify key details. We need to teach students how to identify the main idea, and how to … Continue reading Focusing on Literacy Skills: Determining Importance
Before reworking your entire class to accommodate a new project, you will need to know why it's worth your time and effort. I get that. So, before I tell you why this matters we need to hear from the truly important voices. What the students have to say There's nothing more important than student voice. … Continue reading The Creation and Publication Project: A Brief Introduction
As the Toronto Catholic District School Board approves parking fees for teachers, board chair, Maria Rizzo claims the move is "a 'new part of reality' to ensure vital student programs continue" (1). The move comes after the Ford government announced its plans to cut one-billion dollars from education over the next four years. Rather than … Continue reading The True Cost of Teacher Parking
A curated list of online Professional Development opportunities for engaged and engaging educators.
TDSB Director John Malloy spoke at Unleashing Learning 2019, expressing his thoughts and feelings about the future of education in Toronto.
