Wilfrid Laurier University
Information
Friday, November 13, 2009
Contact: Michelle Baker
Email: mbaker@wlu.ca
On the Day
On arrival at the Bricker Academic Building, please sign in with staff at the registration desk on the 3rd floor. In return, you will receive all the program materials you will need for the day. We ask you to please bring your own pen and paper for taking notes, as we will not be providing these materials.
Please note that the desk will be open for sign-in from 8:30 to 9:00 am. Beverages will also be available at this time.
Agenda
The program will commence promptly at 9:00 am in the Bricker Academic Building.
Please ensure you arrive with plenty of time to sign in and collect your materials for the day.
Refreshments
Refreshments (snacks and beverages) will be available on the day, but you must make your own arrangements for lunch.
We encourage you to bring your own beverage container (travel mug) to help us cut down on waste.
Online Survey and Certificate of Participation
Following the event, teacher candidates will receive an email message from the Ministry of Education inviting them to participate in an online survey to evaluate their level of satisfaction. Once they have completed the survey, candidates will be redirected to a website that will allow them to download their personalized certificate of participation, which they can then print out.
Information about the Workshops
Aboriginal Education – Towards Student Achievement for All
Did you know that there are over 300 expectations in the Ontario curriculum that help teachers bring First Nation, Métis and Inuit histories, cultures and perspectives into the classroom? For Aboriginal students, incorporating First Nations, Inuit and Métis perspectives and learning strategies into your teaching will help foster a strong sense of identity and a positive self-image. For all of Ontario's students this will help strengthen opportunities to explore, appreciate, understand, and value the contributions of Ontario's Aboriginal peoples and communities.
In this interactive session, teachers will learn about various approaches and strategies to use when addressing the needs of Aboriginal students. They will be given resources to use when covering Aboriginal perspectives in the classroom. An overview of the Ministry of Education's Ontario First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Education Policy Framework will also be provided.
Laying the Foundation for Effective Instruction in Literacy
Strong literacy skills are foundational for academic achievement and a lifetime of success. Students need to be able to use language and images in rich and varied forms to read, write, listen, view, represent and think critically about ideas. Teachers need to effectively utilize high-impact strategies to ensure that all students acquire this essential knowledge and skills.
In this session for Primary-Junior teachers, you will learn about six high-impact strategies that research has shown to be effective in laying the foundation for effective literacy instruction in your classroom. Practical resources and professional learning opportunities produced by the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat and the Ministry of Education will be shared to get you off to a solid start in your new profession.
Learning Mathematics for Teaching
What do you think an elementary teacher needs to know and be able to do to teach mathematics effectively in a province rich with diversity? It isn't just knowing how to do math; rather it is knowing mathematics in ways that are usable in the practice of teaching. Knowing mathematics for teaching could include: understanding the relationship between mathematical concepts, algorithms, terms, and symbols; choosing and generating strategic learning tasks and problems; understanding and evaluating the significance of students' diverse solutions and coordinating a class discussion for mathematics learning.
The Ministry of Education and the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat have produced a myriad of professional learning resources (e.g., e-learning, professional learning modules and resource documents, webcasts) that develop your knowledge of mathematics for teaching. Come and learn about these practical resources, professional learning opportunities, and some key mathematics teaching strategies that will get you off to a great start in your new profession.
New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP)
Every teacher candidate will be provided with an overview and update on the New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP), designed to provide support to teachers in their first year of professional practice. A new teacher who recently graduated from the faculty of education will share his/her experiences from the pre-service program through to the induction program.
