La Grande JAM

MY FINAL REFLECTION... (Image courtesy of Pixabay) It is with great relief that I type this final post for LIBE477C.  When you sent out the first email, I was the most anxious I've ever been to start a university course.  What made it uncomfortable mostly for me was the technology requirements and the fact that my learning was going to be public. The time of the year was also challenging.  Being able to BALANCE teaching, marking, end of year concerts & shows, family and report cards with the UBC course was very difficult this time around.  Requiring me to have a greater online presence was also trying.  I know that this aspect of the course was not my forte but I did what I could do with the time I had.  (Image courtesy of Pixabay) In one of the earlier blog posts, I talked about how LEARNING IS MESSY , and it was!  Figuring out how to blog and use the tools available to insert links, videos and images for example took some time. ...

FINAL VISION PROJECT PART 1 For my final vision project for LIBE477C, I have decided to focus on the importance of inquiry based learning for the 21st century learner.  I have always been interested in this topic and this year, I implemented for the first time a year long inquiry using the Genius Hour framework in a Sciences humaines 11 (SS11) class.  The experience was challenging yet rewarding in the end for both my students and for me.  For this reason, and in the spirit of sharing (Richardson, 2012), I have decided to apply to be a workshop presenter at this year's BCSSTA PSA Conference.  I would like to share my experience and expertise (albeit minimal) with other social studies teachers and in particular, help out other French Immersion teachers who struggle to access resources and/or workshops in French. (NB. Applications are due July 15, 2018 and presenters will be selected shortly after this date!) I have divided the post in two sections.  The f...

I Hate History by Julie Anne Mainville    

(Image courtesy of Pixabay - no attribution required) Full disclosure:  I know absolutely nothing about this topic.  Therefore, before even beginning this post, much research was required.  Once I began reading about Library for All, the International Federation of Library Associations & Institutions (IFLA), the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Bibliothèque Sans Frontières (Libraries Without Borders) among others, I found myself amazed at the work many organizations are undertaking in order to create a world with universal literacy and also understood more clearly the role libraries play in developing nations to help end poverty. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development signed in 2015, is a framework of 17 goals touching on economic, environmental and social development and it's ultimate goal is to make the world a better place for all human beings.  Libraries have been identified as key partners in achieving these goals. ( IFLA )...

(Image courtesy of Pixabay - no attribution required) Change is a long term and complex process.  It is not an event. The current context in British Columbia's education system is one overflowing with change.  As of 2016, BC's K-9 new curriculum was officially implemented.  2019 should see the full implementation of the Graduation program.  Assessment frameworks are changing and new reporting standards are being posted as I write.  In 2015, the Ministry replaced BCeSIS with the MyEdBC student database and as many will recall, the transition did not go smoothly.  In my school district, we have implemented a new tech platform called "Scholantis" as of 2016 which replaced a system that had been in place for over a decade and was familiar and effective for staff; the new system is less so.   All this change is, in my opinion, impacting ongoing teacher professional development.  When multiple initiatives are being implemented at once, teacher...

(Image courtesy of Pinterest "Top 10 teacher quotes") HOW DO I LEARN NOW??? This question is easy for me to answer.  Since the beginning of my career, I have experienced many different learning journeys to keep my skills current.  For example, I did formal learning through graduate work at SFU and currently am enrolled in this TL diploma program at UBC.  I have always participated in school based pro-d activities and local PLN on topics of personal interest (especially if there was a promise of a free book).  I have attended major conferences in both Canada and the US and subscribe to many professional associations such as BCSSTA, BCTAML, BCTELA, CUEBC, ACPI, BCLCA, NCSST, etc.  I have done Ministry work first in the field of Social Studies as a 20th Century History 12 curriculum consultant, then as a Trial Writer of Provincial Exams as well as a marker for over 10 years.  Marking exams was amazing prod and a great opportunity to network with other ...

(Source:  françaispourl'avenir.org 2014) Let's make something very clear:  it is very unlikely that as a French Immersion teacher, I will foster an intrinsic joy of reading in French in my students.  My best hope is that I can get them reading and not complaining too much about it.  Let me explain... (Source:  Journal Le Reflet Témiscamien ) I am a native French Canadian from northern Ontario.  I spoke only French until I was 5 and once I started watching Sesame Street, Polka Dot Door & Mr. Dressup , as well as playing with the kids on my street, I learned to speak English.  I attended a francophone school my whole life and even attended a French language university where I studied in both languages.  I am fluently bilingual.  In my teens, I started learning Spanish and continued to learn my third language in university and also did an intensive study abroad program in Mexico.  I have a very functional Spanish.  I als...