Collaborative Time @ GHES

PAC Meeting

April 16, 2013

BC Education Plan

• FREEDOM TO ADAPT– This Plan will give students, families and educators

more say on how, where, when and what students will learn.

– In many cases, the way classes and schools look might change.

– School calendars may change if boards of education see that as benefitting students.

Curricular Change

• Reduce the volume and prescriptiveness of the current curricula while still ensuring a consistent focus on the essential elements of learning.

• Allow teachers and students the flexibility to personalize their learning experience to better meet each student’s individual strengths and needs.

• Focus less on imparting facts and the information-based details of what needs to be learned and more on the “big ideas” or concepts that students need to master to succeed in their education and their lives.

According to the Ministry of Ed

Changing a system as complex as the education system takes time. To do it well involves extensive ongoing consultation, thorough research and exploration of possibilities, thoughtful decision-making and detailed planning.

History of Innovation

– 4 Blocks

– SMART– Inquiry– Numeracy – problem solving– Technology– Collaborative Problem Solving– Socio-Emotional Learning

Why Innovate?

Innovation via Collaboration

• Teaching and learning are complex processes that address complex issues.

• Collaboration opens up the processes and issues to questions, reflection and action reflection, and action.

• Collaborating with colleagues helps with

analysis and understanding our work

Inquiry – what is it?

It is a specific type of Collaborative Professional Development

“We learn more from our peers. We know that knowledge generated together has more depth, but the starting point is one’s own practice. ”

Lieberman, A. (2007) Professional Learning Communities: A reflection.

Inquiry – what is it?

…it is a process that involves a group of teachers coming together to pose questions about their practice and then proceeding to find out the answers to their questions, often through the vehicle of action research.

According to BC’s Auditor General

• The importance of collaboration in education has been well documented

• We must focus on developing capacities to support collaboration and provide opportunities to gain the shared knowledge and understanding

• a collective vision is how we realize sustained education improvement.

- 2003

Inquiry…what does it take?

• 6 sessions (90 minutes each)– 540 minutes total– 186 days x 3 minutes/day = 558 minutes– No change to the instructional minutes in a year.– 2 professional development days moved from the summer to

after school

• We propose 6 early dismissal days (12:15) to pursue inquiries within our school that will improve the teaching and learning in our classrooms.– Dismissal at 12:15– Wednesdays – PM instead of AM– Still continuing with our 4 early dismissal days for parent

conferences

Why Early Dismissal?

• Current Model – In August

– 5 Pro D days in the summer

– Great for getting our “minds back into school”

– However, we are not able to apply it to the context of our class and make adjustments throughout the year.

Why Early Dismissal?

• Current Model – After School

– 5 Pro D days in the summer

– Great for getting our “minds back into school”

– However, we are not able to apply it to the context of our class and make adjustments throughout the year.

Why Early Dismissal?

• Current Model – After School

– 1.5 hours after school is often too much considering the demands of preparation and marking etc.

– We have run them in the past, but we don’t get 100% buy in.

– People have too much on their plates. They are willing, but can’t commit the time.

Why Early Dismissal?

• Current Model - Release time

– provided by the school district

– 6 ½ days x 17 teachers x $175 = $17 850 …do-able (maybe), but not sustainable.

– Also optional, we don’t get 100% involvement

– Teachers are not in their classroom

Why Early Dismissal?

• The will is there…but, ongoing, professional growth is difficult

• Collaborative Problem Solving experience

Considerations?

• Child care? – We are asking a lot from our parents.

• Bus students – What about them?

Considerations?

• It is going to improve the learning conditions of our classrooms

• No change in overall instructional time

• Continued emphasis on innovation

• Grassroots movement

• It’s more consistent for kids

Other Considerations

• Pro D Model SD #67– 5 days in August and 1 in October– Kids not in attendance = 1 day

• Proposed GH Model– 3 days in the summer and 1 in October– 2 required Pro D days, spread over 6 afternoons.– Kids not in attendance 2 days (6 x 1/3) + 1 October

• Pro D Model Vancouver SD #39– 6 Pro Days during the year and 1 school closure day– Kids not in attendance = 7 days (full)

Parent Voice

• Often in Education, we say we include parents, but in reality we don’t do a good job.

• In this case, we need your input. The plan will not move forward without your support.

Questions?