The “Teachers Learning Together” team from Crossroads School in Devlin was saluted last night with the Rainy River District School Board’s monthly Recognition of Excellence Award for taking on an action research project.
In conjunction with the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario and a support team from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, the “Teachers Learning Together” team has initiated a project to gauge the impact of the strategic use of specific oral language strategies from Grades 1-8 on the development of oral language within the student body.
The team includes Nancy Mapledoram-Councillor, Brad Gushulak, Luella Kellar, Caren Fagerdahl, and Donna Kowalski.
“We put forth a proposal to see if we could participate,” noted Mapledoram-Councillor, adding boards within the province were able to chose different topics.
“Our proposal centered around oral language because we feel it is an integral part of learning,” she remarked.
Once their proposal was accepted, the teachers attended a province-wide conference in August to begin preparations on the research project.
They selected a random sampling of students to provide the necessary data that will drive instruction. And throughout the rest of the school year, the team will implement oral language strategies from the resource material.
In late spring, the students will be assessed to determine the level of oral language skill improvement, with the results to be put together in a formal and in-depth conclusive summary.
“Research shows that there is a direct connection between oral language and the development of skills associated with reading and writing,” noted Fagerdahl.
“We hope to find that the project is successful,” Mapledoram-Councillor said. “But if anything, it’s been a really good learning experience. . . . It’s been a lot of work, a lot of testing, and a lot of marking, but so far the kids seem to be benefiting from it.”
She explained students in different grades, from different ethnicities, and both genders are involved in the project, adding it will “be interesting to see how the data plays out.”
“What started out as a little idea has turned into something pretty cool,” she enthused.
The trustees, along with director of education Jack McMaster, commended the teachers on the work they’ve been putting in this action research project.
“The way you are looking at data-driven decision-making just excites me,” McMaster said.
In other business at last night’s meeting, the local public board was provided with an update on the “Prime” program (Professional Resources and Instruction for Mathematics Educators) regarding student success in mathematics by Kathy Smeeth, the board’s math/science/tech/social studies co-ordinator.
She explained it’s a Canadian research-based program designed using current research on developmental learning with kindergarten through Grade 6 curriculums in mind.
It was tested on thousands of kindergarten through Grade 7 students.
“They found many Grades 7-8 students were not hitting Phase 5, so they came up with this resource,” Smeeth explained, adding there is a specific kit for each of the five strands of the math program.
“It allows us to assess students to see how they are thinking mathematically,” she indicated.
“The teachers can become more comfortable with the math they teach . . . and once the student is assessed, the teachers can find strategies to help them along.”
She added being able to differentiate instruction enables students to experience success more often.
Last year they provided training for Grade 2 teachers in the “Prime” program.
This year, to support the Student Success Initiative and the 7-12 Numeracy Plan, they have provided training to Grade 7 and 8 teachers, as well as Grade 9 teachers of the workplace and applied level programs.
In addition, this month they will be offering training for teachers in the junior division of the school board.
“‘Prime’ training allows us to continue to move forward with best practices in numeracy,” Smeeth stressed. “I think the program has great benefits for students.”
Also last night, the board:
•heard reports from the Special Education Advisory Committee, the Occupational Health and Safety Committee, and student trustee Meredith Ivall;
•approved the following policies: trustee benefits, student discipline, adult education, purchasing, contracted services, authorization of disbursements, reserves for working funds, participation in fundraising activities, petty cash, and budget process;
•awarded the RFP for Employee Family Assistance Program to Behavioural Science Centre for three years starting Jan. 1, 2008, with an option to extend for an additional two years;
•approved the 2006-07 financial statements as presented; and
•approved withdrawal of $27,600 from classroom reserves for use in the Student Success programming.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
