Watch the interview with several of the SD8 teacher participants in Part 2 of a 3-part literacy series with Dr. Chase Young. A complementary book study series, "Artfully Teaching the Science of Reading" (Dr. Chase Young) was also attended by over 20 participants.

Watch the Video 

Learn More About the Learning Series

What did your teacher team do and learn?

Hannah Lunn, Phil Fertey, and Brenna Leitch with the support of interim principal Monica Doyle collaborated between three classes, creating a mixed age group of students who self-selected an important community member to interview.

• Created scaffolded learning guides to support students in open-ended inquiry based questions.
• Incorporated community experts, such as local photojournalist Louis Bockner to inspire and create a real-world connection for students.
• Created a four-week learning plan to teach students how to write narratives. Utilized exemplars from local publications such as Kootenay Mountain Culture to educate students on incorporating themes, imagery, and symbolism into their narratives.
• used a pre and post assessment tool (scaffolded for younger years) with the goal of supporting students’ self-reflection on their listening and interview skills. 

 What did your students do and learn?

• Learned interview and active listening skills from photojournalist Louis Bockner
• Practiced with peers and self-assessed using a “Glow” and “Grow” scale at the beginning of the project.
• Self-selected an important community member to interview
• Developed ten open-ended interview questions designed to foster discussion with their interviewee
• Scheduled and conducted interviews
• Using scaffolded prompts students drafted, wrote, and edited their narratives to highlight their important community member.
• Students self-assessed using a “glow” and “grow” scale at the end of the project.

Image

Mount Sentinel Elementary-Secondary School (Principal Shellie Maloff)

Mt. Sentinel's Middle Years Program (MYP) is a grade 7 and 8 program that focuses on authentic and meaningful learning opportunities to support middle years learners. The integrated nature of MYP enables literacy to be embedded in all learning. Focusing on reading and writing strategies feels necessary as students prepare project work to be shared with authentic audiences. 

The MYP teacher team focused on the revising and editing process of writing. There has been significant evidence of the effectiveness and impact of using schoolwide literacy tools to engage and motivate students, while improving writing skills.

Please see the attached MYP program overview for more details.

Salmo Secondary School (Principal Jon Francis)

This year at Salmo Secondary School English First Peoples 12 teacher Lisa Berk focused on land-based explorations that connect to the Seven Sacred Teachings. Learners analyzed texts by indigenous authors that highlighted the teaching, reflecting on how they embody the teaching, and created original writing based on the explorations. 

For example, learners explored a local creek spot to reflect on how the creek was like Kitchi-Sabe’s teaching of honesty. The next exploration will have them learning about reciprocity by harvesting and making elderberry syrup.  Students are enjoying the time outdoors, and will be reading their poetry to the class.