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THIS JUST IN: New Book @ Education ->Classroom Management, Grades 3-8: 24 Strategies Every Teacher Needs to Know
A former classroom teacher, principal, and superintendent, David Adamson offers his most effective and easy-to-use strategies for organizing and managing classrooms that support students’ learning and achievement. Written with both new and experienced teachers in mind, this classroom-tested approach helps teachers prevent behavior problems and effectively intervene when they do occur. Adamson shows teachers how to focus and maintain their students’ attention, maximize instructional time, increase student participation, set clear expectations for classroom rules and procedures, encourage a respectful learning environment, and more. For use with Grades 3–8. (via Google Books)
$353 million to build 9 new schools and 4 school additions
British Columbia will spend $353 million to build six elementary schools, one middle school, two secondary schools and four school additions while also purchasing six new school sites, Premier Christy Clark announced today.
Surrey, the province’s fastest-growing school district, will get two new elementary schools, in South Newton and East Clayton, and additions at Fraser Heights and Panorama Ridge secondary schools. The province is also purchasing four school sites for future construction in the Clayton and Grandview Heights neighbourhoods.
Vancouver, the second largest district, will get one new elementary school in the International Village near False Creek.
The province also announced a new elementary school and a middle school for Langley’s Willoughby neighbourhood and an addition for Richmond’s Henry Anderson elementary school. Central Okanagan school district will get one new elementary school in West Kelowna and an addition for Okanagan Mission secondary; Sooke gets money for a new school to replace Belmont secondary and a new Royal Bay school while the Conseil Scolaire Francophone has approval to build a new school near False Creek.
Patti Bacchus, Vancouver’s chairwoman, described the news as terrific, saying a new International Village school has been the district’s No. 1 priority since 2009. The new school is expected to ease enrolment pressures at Elsie Roy elementary.
Clark said the capital plan responds to pressures in some parts of the province. “There are school districts in our province that have experienced tremendous student enrolment growth in recent years and are in need of funds to expand current schools or build new ones,” she stated. “This investment will also create more jobs, which is great news for B.C. families.”
Overall, enrolment in B.C. public schools has been declining for years. But student numbers in Surrey rose by eight per cent between 2007 and 2011, and the district has had to accommodate students in 255 portable classrooms.
Click here to read the complete Vancouver Sun article.
B.C. announces plans to modernize education system
British Columbia is promising more choice for students, speedier assistance for those who struggle and policies that allow them to bring smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices into the classroom to help with their learning.
A reform plan announced Friday by Education Minister George Abbott would also promote personalized learning, critical thinking and quality teaching, with regular teacher evaluations and a new-teacher mentorship program, although details have yet to be worked out with the B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF).
“The world has changed and continues to change,” Abbott told student leaders from around the province during a meeting of BC Student Voice in Richmond. “To keep pace, we need to shift the way we look at teaching and learning.”
Abbott has been discussing the plan with education partner groups for many months but this was the first time details were made public. It’s not clear when changes will take effect because the government is seeking feedback from students, parents, teachers and others through a newly created website (www.bcedplan.ca) before proceeding.
A final draft is expected by spring, but Abbott gave no dates for implementation.
To read the entire Vancouver Sun article, click here.
Event: Celebrate Learning Week — Celebrate School Libraries
Our annual School Library Day Colloquium hosted by the UBC Education Library and School of Library Archival and Information Studies will be held on Wednesday, November 2 at 4:30PM.
Speaker: Mike Eisenberg, Professor and Dean Emeritus, The Information School, University of Washington
Topic: Project Information Literacy: What College Students Say about Conducting Research in the Digital Age
Time/Location: Wednesday November 2, 4:30-6:00PM, Dodson Room, IK Barber Learning Centre, UBC campus
Abstract: Project Information Literacy (PIL) is ongoing research project, based in the University of Washington’s Information School. The project seeks to understand how early adults conceptualize and operationalize research activities for course work and “everyday life” use and especially how they resolve issues of credibility, authority, relevance, and currency in the digital age. Research in 2009-2010 collected data from over 10,000 students. Most recently, PIL studied how 560 college students managed technology and multitasked while they were in the library during “crunch time” (the final weeks of the term). Prof. Eisenberg will discuss the findings and implications of PIL research–for higher education but also for information work across settings and contexts.
Speaker Bio: Mike Eisenberg is the “founding dean” of the Information School at the University of Washington, serving from 1998 to 2006. His current work focuses on information literacy, information problem-solving in virtual environments (funded by the MacArthur Foundation), and information science education K-20. His “Big6 approach to information problem-solving” is the most widely used information literacy program in the world. Mike is a prolific author (9 books and dozens of articles and papers) and has worked with thousands of students-pre-K through higher education-as well as people in business, government, and communities to improve their information and technology skills.
SLAIS Colloquia are free and open to the public. These talks are recorded and broadcast through the generous support of the IK Barber Learning Centre.
Schools must distribute report cards (even if they’re mostly blank)
The B.C. government has ordered public schools to prepare and distribute report cards this fall as usual, even though they may contain little more than the student’s name and attendance record due to teacher job action.
In an email to school superintendents, deputy education minister James Gorman said regular report cards are required by law and if teachers won’t prepare them, then principals and vice-principals must do so.
“Report cards are an important educational tool for both parents and students,” Gorman writes. “A report is to be issued to every student regardless of the teachers’ strike, indicating at a minimum, the student’s division, teacher(s), courses, attendance and reports and/or grades for any classes taught by administrators.
“Parents should also be provided contact information to follow up directly with the teacher(s) if they wish to do so and to the extent possible.”
School districts are required to provide three written report cards and two informal reports during the school year, the deputy states. “The duties of principals and superintendents remain unchanged by the teachers’ strike.”
Jameel Aziz, president of the B.C. Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association, said report cards for the youngest students will be mostly blank because there are no marks in the early grades and reports are anecdotal, which can’t be drafted without teacher involvement.
In schools where principals and vice-principals also teach classes, marks will be provided as usual.
Public school employers are headed to the B.C. Labour Relatios Board today to seek an order that would compel teachers to prepare report cards.
Over the summer, teachers decided not to write report cards, attend staff meetings or communicate with administrators as part of a job action intended to pressure government to open its purse at the bargaining table. The contract with the B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) expired June 30 and while talks with the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association continue, there’s been little progress.
To read the entire Vancouver Sun article, click here.