Teacher Quality Standard
Fostering Effective Relationships
Differentiated Learning
During each of my practicum teaching opportunities, I provided differentiated learning opportunities for students with different abilities, this built trusting relationships with students who knew that they were safe to lean and explore in ways that made sense to them.
Supporting Students
During time away from my practicum I took time to support students by attending a poetry reading they spent weeks preparing for.
Having Fun Together
Having fun together is an important part of relationship building. During Halloween events, I spent time reading themed stories to little witches and wizards and later attended the Halloween dance dressed as Waldo. I enjoy bringing fun into the classroom as a way to motivate students and inspire them to find the joy in every day.
Partners in Learning
Many of my fellow education students have become my sounding boards and cheerleaders. These friendships have brought me so much joy! The support of a group of like minded individuals has been a wonderful gift. Together we encourage, support and learn. Collaboration with this group has encouraged personal and professional growth in all of us.
Devoting Time
I have enjoyed many volunteer opportunities at various schools in Medicine hat. I dedicated time to students in grades 1, 3 & 5 who needed extra support with their reading. I also loved spending many days as a volunteer in a specialized classroom. These experiences helped me build trusting relationships with students which translated into hard work and dedication from students which results in successful learning and achievement.
Relationship Strategies
Building trust and fostering effective working relationships with staff and students is essential to building strong connections that support individual growth.
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Here, I am working with HUGS coordinator Brielle to learn how to teach children to solve small problems they may experience at school using Kelso's Choice and an emotional thermometer.
Engaging in Career Long Learning
Teach Mental Health
My passion for mental health advocacy led me to become certified in mental health literacy for the classroom. This course prepared me to recognize and understand mental health in children and youth.
Bringing Mental Health to Schools
In this course, I learned how to apply classroom-ready, web-based, modular mental health curriculum for mental health literacy. This program is designed to be delivered by usual classroom teachers to students in grades 7 – 12.
Reconciliation Through Indigenous Education
Through this course, I have learned how Indigenous histories, perspectives, worldviews, and approaches to learning can be made part of the work we do in classrooms in ways that are thoughtful and respectful.
Child Development Worker
My certification as a child development worker allows me to work as a preschool teacher in Medicine Hat. In 2017 & 2018Â I taught two separate preschool classes in the morning and afternoon.
Bachelor of Psychology
I graduated with a degree in psychology from Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina University- College) in 2008. My minor in anthropology complemented my psychology major by teaching me about human societies and cultures.
Establishing Inclusive Learning Environments
Inclusive Classrooms
I attended a PD session presented by Greg Ferris and Adele Henderson on the topic of autism and the structured classroom. This presentation highlighted the challenges and successes of teaching students with diverse needs. I learned about how to structure the physical environment in the classroom, routines and schedules to set students up for success as well as how these structures can benefit all students in the classroom.
Orange Shirt Day
Coming together in a spirit of reconciliation and hope because every child matters.
Pink Shirt Day
I participated in Pink Shirt Day. This movement is one way many elementary schools are choosing to acknowledge bullying. Students wear pink to show their support for inclusive, kind and tolerant attitudes. This is a movement I am happy to support.
Differentiated Learning
I have had the opportunity to create differentiated learning plans for students on a regular basis. Responding to the individual needs of these students has allowed many of them to see success in their learning as well as an increase in confidence and motivation to learn. Providing students with learning opportunities that match their learning needs is something I stive for in every lesson I plan.
Targeted Learning Strategies
Through learning opportunities like small group and teacher tables, I am able to implement targetted learning strategies to enhance learning for every student. In this example, I used flash cards to support students in developing a literary foundation to help increase reading success.
Demonstrating a Professional Body of Knowledge
To provide a tangible showcase of my work, I’ve included a portfolio of my most recent lesson plans.
I am unique
This lesson challenged students to think about the ways in which people can be unique and how their unique qualities contribute to our diverse community. First students learned what it means to be unique, then they contributed to thoughtful conversation on the topic. Finally, each student created a self portrait that captured their unique qualities.
Art Lessons
During this five week Art practicum students explored various ways to create colour. This project combined science and fine arts curriculum which offered students a unique perspective on colour mixing and art creation.
Smart Notebook Lesson
This lesson was created using Smart Notebook for a grade 4 science class. The interactive lesson provides exciting ways to learn about plant growth and changes.
FSL Science 7
Students enjoyed building bridges with toothpicks and marshmallows after their lesson on structures and forces. During the lesson students learned about different types of structures and explored local structures through video and photos.
Applying foundational knowledge about first nations, metis and inuit
Indigenous Lesson Plan - ELA
I created this lesson plan for EDUC 4351. The lesson which combines direct teaching and a picture book read aloud links English Language Arts outcomes with indigenous ways of knowing and perspectives. The delivery of this lesson was made possible through video recording. Due to copyright, I am unable to share video content. However, the lesson is linked below.
Dialectical Notebook
I created this document in the fall of 2020 for EDUC 4351: Indigenous Perspectives in Education. This journal allowed me to reflect and consolidate my learning throughout the course. Each entry is a personal reflection of my thoughts, understanding and growth in the areas of reconciliation, Indigenous perspectives and integrated learning.
Indigenous Resource Evaluation
I critically evaluated the suitability of five classroom resources with indigenous content using The Guiding Voices Evaluation Tool to determine the appropriateness of each resources for use in curriculum. Click to read my thoughts on the following resources:Â
- Stolen Words ( Picture book)
- The Math Catcher ( Math through Indigenous stories)
- Stories The Totems Tell ( Article)
- Who Are the Métis (Lesson Plans)
-Angutiup ânguanga Anguiti’s Amulet (picture book)
Personal Growth Through Education
I am working to improve my knowledge about First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in Canada through education. It is my hope that by educating myself I can support students by engaging in teaching approaches that build capacity for authentic learning about First Nations, Métis and Inuit in the classroom.
Adhereing to legal framework and policies
The Alberta Education Teaching Quality Standard
This Teaching Quality Standard identifies six competencies that teachers are required to meet in order to hold and maintain an Alberta teaching certificate. These Quality Standards must also be demonstrated by student teachers in pursuit of a teaching certificate.
The Alberta Teachers Association
The Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) is the union and professional association for the teachers of Alberta, Canada. It represents all teachers and teacher administrators in all schools in Alberta's public, separate and francophone school divisions