Here are the 10 most memorable photos (related to education and learning) that I either viewed or snapped in 2014:
#10 Mystery Reader at St. Andrew & St. Luke
On May 8, during Catholic Education Week 2014, I was very pleased to appear as a mystery reader at both St. Andrew and St. Bernard schools. Research has confirmed that story telling is an effective way to help young children become interested in reading and develop literacy skills. During the 15 years that I taught English and language arts, I was often amazed at how mezmorized students became (even high school students) while listening to a story told by an enthusiastic reader.
#10 Mystery Reader at St. Andrew & St. Luke
On May 8, during Catholic Education Week 2014, I was very pleased to appear as a mystery reader at both St. Andrew and St. Bernard schools. Research has confirmed that story telling is an effective way to help young children become interested in reading and develop literacy skills. During the 15 years that I taught English and language arts, I was often amazed at how mezmorized students became (even high school students) while listening to a story told by an enthusiastic reader.
 |
| Me with other 'Mystery Readers at St. Andrew: Mayor Jim Watson, City Councilor Jan Harder, & Trustee Alison Baizana |
#9: Steven Katz Presentation
On May 28, Steven Katz, author of Intentional Interruption, presented in Ottawa. His ground-breaking theories on learning have had a significant impact on many educators, including me. By identifying both the enablers of and barriers to learning, Katz has helped redefine how professional learning is conducted.
#8 Gallery Walk at St. Joseph High School
On May 21, I was part of a Student Success learning walk at St. Joseph High School that included a visit to an English class where students were participating in a gallery walk. A gallery walk is a student-centred teaching and assessment startegy whereby students move around the classroom and view the evidence of each other's learning and interact in order to deepen their learning experience. In this particular class, students had created displays and activities to demonstrate their insights into the themes of the novels they studied. The picture below shows a board game a student designed for Of Mice and Men.
#7: Baby Jesus Birthday Party at St. Elizabeth
On December 16, along with Mayor Jim Watson, I was honoured to be a "celebrity server" at the annual Baby Jesus' Birthday Luncheon at St. Elizabeth. This pre-Christmas celebration provided the elementary students with not only a wonderful turkey lunch but also served as a reminder that Jesus is the reason for the season. A combination of social justice and faith in action, it was a great reminder of what Catholic education is all about!
#6: Student Self-Reflection at St. Jerome ElementaryFor the past few years, teachers at Ottawa Catholic schools have been focusing on student self-assessment and self-reflection as means of both helping them develop thinking skills and empowering them during their learning. I snapped some pictures during a learning walk at St. Jerome Elementary School on April 7, 2014, including those below of primary students self-assessing their written and group process work.
#5: My Ashes Selfie at Mother Teresa High School
Inspired by both Ellen DeGeneres' selfie at the Academy Awards on March 2, and their commitment to their faith, several students at Mother Teresa High School took this selfie of the ashes in the shape of the Cross with which they were anointed during the Ash Wednesday service at their school on March 5.
#4; Restoring One Another in a Spirit of Gentleness
The pastoral theme for the Ottawa Catholic School Board during the 2014-2015 school year is Restoring one another in a spirit of gentleness. As a long-time supporter of restorative practices as a whole-school approach to positive school climate, I was thrilled that the board adopted this theme, and even more heartened that, in 2014, close to 150 teachers and school support staff particiapted in 2-day training sessions developed by the International Institute for Restorative Practices.
#3: Summer Learning
This past July, for the 2nd summer in a row, primary-age students at Dr. F. J. McDonald were offered the opportunity to attend Count Me In Math Camp. This summer camp provided the children with an inquiry-based numeracy program that combined the use of technologies such as iPads, chromebooks, and Smartboards with outdoor activities such as scavenger hunts and sand castle construction.
Here I am with 3 other happy and engaged Count Me In math camp attendees at Dr. F. J. McDonald Elementary School.
#2: Embracing Digital Learning
Ottawa Catholic School Board teachers are well known for the enthusiastic manner in which they are leveraging digital technologies to engage students and enhance learning. The banner below, which is strategically placed in the atrium near the front doors of Mother Teresa High School (another creation of Mother Teresa student Katy Heffernan), speaks clearly to the changed mentality of teachers: Don't turn your iPhones off as you enter the school; rather, turn them on to ignite your learning!
On May 28, Steven Katz, author of Intentional Interruption, presented in Ottawa. His ground-breaking theories on learning have had a significant impact on many educators, including me. By identifying both the enablers of and barriers to learning, Katz has helped redefine how professional learning is conducted.
 |
| Thrilled to have my picture taken with Steven Katz |
#8 Gallery Walk at St. Joseph High School
On May 21, I was part of a Student Success learning walk at St. Joseph High School that included a visit to an English class where students were participating in a gallery walk. A gallery walk is a student-centred teaching and assessment startegy whereby students move around the classroom and view the evidence of each other's learning and interact in order to deepen their learning experience. In this particular class, students had created displays and activities to demonstrate their insights into the themes of the novels they studied. The picture below shows a board game a student designed for Of Mice and Men.
#7: Baby Jesus Birthday Party at St. Elizabeth
On December 16, along with Mayor Jim Watson, I was honoured to be a "celebrity server" at the annual Baby Jesus' Birthday Luncheon at St. Elizabeth. This pre-Christmas celebration provided the elementary students with not only a wonderful turkey lunch but also served as a reminder that Jesus is the reason for the season. A combination of social justice and faith in action, it was a great reminder of what Catholic education is all about!
 |
| Me serving gravy at St. Elizabeth Baby Jesus Luncheon |
#6: Student Self-Reflection at St. Jerome ElementaryFor the past few years, teachers at Ottawa Catholic schools have been focusing on student self-assessment and self-reflection as means of both helping them develop thinking skills and empowering them during their learning. I snapped some pictures during a learning walk at St. Jerome Elementary School on April 7, 2014, including those below of primary students self-assessing their written and group process work.
#5: My Ashes Selfie at Mother Teresa High School
Inspired by both Ellen DeGeneres' selfie at the Academy Awards on March 2, and their commitment to their faith, several students at Mother Teresa High School took this selfie of the ashes in the shape of the Cross with which they were anointed during the Ash Wednesday service at their school on March 5.
 |
| My Ashes Selfie by Mother Teresa HS Students |
The pastoral theme for the Ottawa Catholic School Board during the 2014-2015 school year is Restoring one another in a spirit of gentleness. As a long-time supporter of restorative practices as a whole-school approach to positive school climate, I was thrilled that the board adopted this theme, and even more heartened that, in 2014, close to 150 teachers and school support staff particiapted in 2-day training sessions developed by the International Institute for Restorative Practices.
 |
| Banner on the theme of restoring relationships designed by grade 12 Mother Teresa HS student Katy Heffernan |
#3: Summer Learning
This past July, for the 2nd summer in a row, primary-age students at Dr. F. J. McDonald were offered the opportunity to attend Count Me In Math Camp. This summer camp provided the children with an inquiry-based numeracy program that combined the use of technologies such as iPads, chromebooks, and Smartboards with outdoor activities such as scavenger hunts and sand castle construction.
Here I am with 3 other happy and engaged Count Me In math camp attendees at Dr. F. J. McDonald Elementary School.
#2: Embracing Digital Learning
Ottawa Catholic School Board teachers are well known for the enthusiastic manner in which they are leveraging digital technologies to engage students and enhance learning. The banner below, which is strategically placed in the atrium near the front doors of Mother Teresa High School (another creation of Mother Teresa student Katy Heffernan), speaks clearly to the changed mentality of teachers: Don't turn your iPhones off as you enter the school; rather, turn them on to ignite your learning!
#1: The Teachable Moment - Tribute to a Hero
Ottawa Catholic School Board staff at the Catholic Education Centre gave up their lunch on Friday, October 24 to line Hunt Club West Road in order to show their respect for Corporal Nathan Cirillo (who was fatally shot by a lone gunman at the War Memorial on October 22) as the hearse bearing his remains passed by en route to the Highway of Heores and his final resting place in Hamilton.
 |
| Hearse bearing the remains of Corporal Cirullo passes by the Catholic Education Centre on West Hunt Club Road |
 |
| Just some of the Ottawa Catholic staff at the Catholic Education Centre that lined West Hunt Club Road at his hearse passed by - to pay respect to Coporal Nathan Cirillo (more gathered on the other side of the road) |
No comments:
Post a Comment