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Professional Development

SIVA Training
SIVA Canada - Jan 27 - Feb 10, 2023

SIVA (Supporting Individuals through Valued Attachments) is a Canadian-based provider of specialized support and safety management services to national and international education, therapy and residential programs responsible for children, youth and adults with emotional and behavioural challenges, neurodevelopmental delays, dual diagnosis, brain injury, histories of trauma and perpetration of abuse. SIVA promotes and inspires holistic safety that derives from proactive systemic and direct support decision-making and the continuous development of trusted relationships among programs, significant others and individuals receiving support.

Process of Constructing and Symbolism of the Blackfoot Teepee
John Chief Calf - Oct 18, 2021

John Chief Calf of Lethbridge School Division met with myself and the other Indigenous Education reps from Wilson Middle School to show us the process of setting up a traditional Blackfoot Teepee. He told us the symbolism and stories behind each step, and each part of the Teepee. WMS hopes to purchase their own Teepee and have those who attended this session teach the rest of the staff how to set it up.

Minecraft for Education
Bret Jesse - Oct 13, 2020

Bret Jesse is a high school teacher in the Lethbridge School Division. For the district-wide PD day, I participated in a Collaborative Community where Bret taught us how to use the Minecraft Education app to lead engaging Minecraft lessons and design projects where students can use Minecraft as a tool for learning as well as to demonstrate learning. I later used this in my Structures and Forces Unit.

Callysto in the Classroom
Education Students - Feb 25, 2020

Raeesa Shivji, Kaisa Roggeveen, Joyce Huynk, Rebecca Lindquist, Ashley Berreth, and Ethan Pullan. This was the first student-led PD of the year. This session introduced participants to an excellent online resource called Callysto. In this hands-on seminar, participants were able to learn how to utilize this interactive tool to introduce computational thinking and coding in the classroom.

Supporting English Language Learners Through Vocabulary Devlopment
Greg Ogilvie - Feb 24, 2020

Dr. Greg Ogilvie from the University of Lethbridge's Faculty of Education presented information on language development and the complications that arise with supporting ELL students. He discussed how their limited vocabularies contribute to their learning difficulties and provided resources and strategies for strengthening their word retention.

Promoting a Classroom Reading Culture
Rhona Harkness - Jan 28, 2020

Rhona Harkness is an education professor at the University of Lethbridge, and also happened to be my Language and Literacy instructor in PSI. This PD session gave student teachers tools and resources for creating a better reading culture in the classroom, with intent to encourage students to read more and feel passionate about the books they love. Some strategies include choice, integration of picture books, book dusplays, book baskets, and book tastings.

Math Running Records
Tracy Inaba - Nov 12, 2019

Tracy Inaba, Principal of Vulcan Prairieview Elementary School held a PD day session about creating running records for students in math. I attended this as my first day in PSI practicum. I learned strategies for creating these running records, what to look for when recording, and the codes that teachers use to refer to different strategies that the students use.

Integrating Indigenous Education
Dawn Burleigh - Sept-Oct 2019

In PSI I attended a pair of workshops that spoke about First Nations, Metis, and Inuit culture and history, and how we can begin to integrate this into our classrooms. There was a blanket activity, sharing circle, and we heard from First Nations elders about their experiences in residential schools and how we play a role in future reconciliation as educators.

These workshops provided me with amazing resources that I can use in my future practice towards meeting TQS Competency #5.

Kagan Workshop
Terry Freeman - March 2017

Terry Freeman visited our EDTS class to hold a workshop on Kagan Strategies. In the seminar we learned the set of values that are the foundatin of Kagan classrooms, and we learned about different activities and ideas to use in our future classrooms. 

The Importance of Building Relationships
Pat Grisonich - March 2017

Pat Grisonich, Principal of Crescent Heights High School, held a seminar on the importance of building relationships with your students. Pat was my principal during my high school years, and I am constantly inspired by his positive outlook on life an doverall enthusiasm to be involved with his teachers and students. Being in tune with your students and creating a positive atmosphere for them to learn is among the most important philosophies a teacher must embrace.

FNMI Education
Deborah Lloyd - March 2017

Deborah Lloyd (or Kokum, as many know her) spoke about her experiences leading First Nations, Metis, and Inuit education in various ways throughout her career, and how future teachers can connect with these cultural attitudes to make their classroom an FNMI-sensitive place. Her teachings have included "Walking with Kokum", "History in the Hills", and many other activities that help students learn FNMI perspectives and ideologies early in their education.

Community Involvement

PSIII Mentor to New PSI's

November-December 2020

During my PSIII practicum, I volunteered to be a mentor to a new PSI student at the UofL. My responsibilties to them included giving tips for succeeding in PSI, helping with lesson ideas and looking over their lesson plans and work. I gave constructive feedback that helped my Mentee to begin to develop their teaching practice.

Kiwanis Regional Science Fair 2017

April 2017

I volunteered as a judge for the science fair for students in grades 4 to 12. My responsibilities were to fairly assess the assigned projects based on a marking rubric I was provided. As a student teacher I found this experience enjoyable and beneficial, as it helped me strengthen my ability to talk to students of all ages, ask them critical thinking questions about their projects, as well as practice some summative assessment.

SEATCA 2017

February 2017

Volunteering included tech help, directions and various duties throughout the Southeastern Alberta Teacher's Convention. This experience took place through the Medicine Hat College Education Undergraduate Society, I logged 7 hours at SEATCA and also received a reference letter for my help

EUS Grade 5 Hockey Tournament 2017

March 2017

I volunteered at the annual EUS grade 5 hockey tournament held at MHC campus. I was the coach for the IF Cox/Roy Wilson team. my job was to keep my kids together whether they were in the gym or team room, make sure they are ready to play when they have games, score-keep, make sure they are hydrated and fed, and to keep them encouraged and cheer them on. It was an incredible experience to improve team building and relationship building skills, and overall it was just a lot of fun for us and the kids.

River Heights Parent-Teacher Seminar Supervision

October 2016

I volunteered at River Heights elementary school to supervise students from kindergarten to grade 6 while their parents were at some sort of conference with their teachers. We supervised in the gym, and played games with the students over the course of three hours. we were in charge of keeping all the students in the gym and behaving, as well as keeping tabs on gym equipment and cleanup. 

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