ARPDC Change Maker Conversations in Education

Kim Barker-Kay and Jason Bigcharles (Cree Wāpastim or White Horse) joined Dr. Rick Gilson and Charlie Kraig to share a conversation centred on Kim and Jason's work in developing a comprehensive website and series of YouTube videos to support teachers as they work to imbue Indigenous culture-based learning within the Alberta Curriculum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we visit with Julie Stern, author of Tools for Teaching: Designing Lessons and Assessments for Deep Learning (Elementary and Secondary editions) and Learning that Transfers: Designing Curriculum for a Changing World. Julie also has a website well worth visiting for resources and examples. It is at https://www.edtochangetheworld.com. Julie discusses teaching for conceptual understanding, sharing examples from classroom visits and examples referring to various books that can be applied to all subjects and all grades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded for the Alberta Summer Literacy Institute the YouTube Version of this visit is available on the APLC YouTube channel. David Robertson shares several of his books, sharing his stories and lived experiences in picture books like On the Trapline and through historical fiction, the residential school experience in books like Sugar Falls and When We Were Alone. The award-winning author of the Misewa Saga series, David speaks in schools and is engaged in developing the first Indigenous-run Imprint with Penguin House of Canada. Through this work, David seeks to bring new Indigenous authors to support their writing and publishing. David speaks to the importance of better understanding each other as we share this great country and land. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our last podcast episode of the 2023-2024 school year features Matthew (Matt) Johnson a Michigan area English teacher who has taught grade 6 - 12. Matt has written several books and his most recent book comes out during the summer of 2024 entitled: Good Grammar, Grades 6-12: Joyful and Affirming Language Lessons That Work for More Students  Don't fall over; it's not a mistake. Joyful and Grammar in the same sentence. Matt shares several ways by which teachers can better approach grammar in speaking and writing. Matt mentions the ‘Da Art of Storytelling essay by Kiese Laymon as another resource to consider. Matt's own websitecontains a section with summaries of his books and links to his submissions to several journals and other resources.  Matt also invites us to look at the choices that others make in their social media post, pulling texts and (X)/Twitter posts into the writing and into the writing structure. Little Nas X to Taylor Swift. Every English teacher can benefit from this podcast as Matt discusses assessment practices and the mechanics of helping students enhance their understanding and application of the mechanics of English. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Changer Maker Conversations in Education—Literacy Across the Curriculum podcast episode features two outstanding educators, Michelle Bence and Michelle Ramzy. This dynamic duo came together through proximity in work and postgraduate studies, sharing a deep commitment to literacy instruction that has led them to share their understanding of the work with educators. Avid readers(no surprise there), Michelle and Miriam share thoughts on several professional and personal titles, thoughts on helping students read and write and the importance of seeking out sound research and methodologies to support the work. You can find them online through their Layers of Literacy website. The Alberta Professional Leaning Consortium (APLC) is grateful for the opportunities to partner in sharing their understanding through this podcast and sessions we've hosted and look forward to hosting moving forward.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

​​Rebekah O'Dell believes in the power of choice, authenticity, and students' voices in the reading and writing classroom. Travelling the country to work with teachers and students provides constant inspiration as she helps educators do the hard and transformative work of teaching real writing. In public and independent schools, she taught middle and high school students at all levels -from inclusion to AP and IB classes. In addition to being a real-time classroom teacher, Rebekah co-founded Moving Writers - movingwriters.org  and is the author of Writing With Mentors (Heinemann 2015) and Beyond Literary Analysis (Heinemann, January 2018). Rebekah shares several insights into working with students to develop stronger writers and readers, resources for teachers to support that work and their development as mentor readers and writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you are blessed with an opportunity to visit with an individual whose career has been dedicated to helping children learn how to read and love reading, the conversation will be a good one. When you add decades of service as a professor at the University of Lethbridge, dedicated in large part to helping pre-service teachers develop the skills to support the instruction of all aspects of literacy, you are really on to something special. When it turns out that your guest is also a voracious reader of detective mystery novels that feed a desire to know more about other places around the world, that's just fun. Our podcast conversation with Dr. Robin Bright of the University of Lethbridge was all that and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Charlie Kraig and Rick Gilson visit with a long-time friend and colleague, Joanne Pitman, who was recently appointed as Chief Superintendent of the Calgary Board of Education or CBE. Jo (as she prefers to be called) shares some thoughts on her most recent read - and re-read, "What We Owe the Future" by William MacAskill and how it has influenced her thinking and work as a system leader and human sharing planet Earth. The episode draws to a close with Jo sharing one of many great poems from the book, "Leading from Within: Poetry that sustains the courage to lead." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of our ARPDC Podcast - Literacy Across the Curriculum Series, we visit with Elyse Morin, one of our ARPDC team of Designers of Professional Learning and a seriously intense champion of reading and books in the classroom and at home. Elyse discusses some 15-plus titles for the Francophone or French Immersion classroom with Rick Gilson and Charlie Kraig - the conversation is in English. (for the most part;-)). Several books Elyse talks about are available in both French and English versions.  One such example, Killer Underwear Invasion! or Alerte: Culottes Meurtriéres by Elise Gravel, has come up in a couple of episodes recently; the sub-title is timely for adults and younger children in today's world: "How to Spot Fake News, Disinformation & Conspiracy Theories." Spoiler Alert: Not everything called fake news is fake; not everything called news is news. Great books, how and why you might use them in the classroom is the focus of our conversation. The episode website link provides a full listing of the titles discussed in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ARPDC Podcast Series hosts, Charlie Kraig and Rick Gilson roll up their sleeves and share excerpts and thoughts on approximately 15 books for the classroom, professional and personal reading libraries. Along the way, we talk about where and how they might be used, what we have taken away from them for personal and professional growth and offer a couple of online resources to check out.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our conversation explores the links between identity and literacy, the importance of teachers exploring their own identity and where that can be found in the literacy they create and consume, as well as what we can do to help our students in their exploration of both the individual identity and how literacy can help us better understand those with whom we share our communities and the planet on which we live. We explore the opportunities to shine lights on those who have been less visible in all aspects and modalities of literature and writing and the importance of being aware of the advantages and disadvantages that exist for people of the majority and minority in any society. Shawna's work in her most recent book invites readers to consider 5 Principles to guide their literacy work in the classroom: The 5 Principles Principle #1: Literacy involves both cognitive processes and social practices. Principle #2: Identity and literacy are inextricably linked. Principle #3: All human beings engage in literacy and language practices that are both valid and valuable. Principle #4: Meaning-making occurs within a variety of equally valid communicative channels or modes. Principle #5: Literacy can be used as a tool for liberation as well as a tool for oppression. Coppola, Shawna. Literacy for All: A Framework for Anti-Oppressive Teaching (Equity and Social Justice in Education Series) (p. 51). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition About our Guest: Shawna Coppola has over two decades of experience teaching from Kindergarten through to University students. The majority of her professional life has been spent teaching literacy to middle school-age children as well as serving as a literacy specialist/coach in a k-6 school. Currently, Shawna spends most of her time writing, facilitating engaging professional learning opportunities for educators, and speaking at national education conferences. The author of three books and a Fellow/Literacy consultant with The Educator Collaborative, a K-12 Think Tank and professional development organization. Shawna is a member of the faculty at the University of New Hampshire's Learning Through Teaching program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlie Kraig and Rick Gilson are joined by Trevor Aleo, author, teacher, podcaster, and doctoral candidate, as we discuss and take a deep dive at times in the conversation, the many ways and means by which students of all grades can develop and demonstrate their literacy. Trevor shares several titles, research points and resources that can support your professional learning and practice in the classroom to benefit your students. A classroom teacher primarily working with students in grades 9-12 Trevor is currently working on completing his doctorate working with Dr. Mary Kalantzis and Dr. Bill Cope at the University of Illinois Urbana-Chgampagne. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Aly Ricke of the University of Florida Literacy Institute joins Dr. Rick Gilson and Charlie Kraig from ARPDC for another conversation focused on literacy, specifically looking at the evolution and development of UFLI's work, how it's growing across Alberta, Canada and the United States and what we might do to better understand and support the work. Aly also shares some of the work on Dyslexia being developed at the University of Florida. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of our podcast series, we visit with Irene Heffel, a long-time literacy coach, instructional lead, current Designer of Professional Learning with our ARPDC team and an instructor at Concordia College in the faculty of Education in Edmonton. Irene has over 35 years of experience at all levels of education and has worked in and with elementary and secondary teachers to implement best practices in curriculum, assessment and backward design with a primary focus on reading and writing instruction across the curriculum. Our conversation brought up the importance of conversation and dialogue around what you are reading, what you are thinking as a result, and how your thinking has changed due to your reading. We found ourselves discussing motivation, making thinking visible and working to develop our own professional practice as curious learning readers in addition to developing those same attributes in our students and classrooms. The work of mindfully supporting our students in thinking about what they are reading, what they are hearing from others as they discuss or share what they are reading, and our ability as teachers to be attuned to the processes of reading, viewing, listening, as they impact our understanding and thinking is the focus of this podcast episode. Irene emphasizes the importance of preparing the students, priming them to be mindful of their thoughts, and drawing upon their background knowledge before reading an article, an excerpt, or a book. With that excellent preparation, you are enhancing expectations and curiosity. Following the reading, you get into the conversation and questioning that helps draw out what you still think, what you now think and how that has evolved, been affirmed or changed in the process. Resources and links shared in the website link. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We sat down with Kari Tanaka of the University of Lethbridge Bookstore as she walked us through several books for educators, students, and families covering titles from preschool/kindergarten through Grade 12 and beyond. Kari once again proves to be a valuable resource for anyone who loves books and is always on the lookout for new additions to their own TBR piles or classroom libraries. She brought everything from non-fiction to graphic novels to picture books to hybrid texts (including elements of fiction and non-fiction). There is something for everyone on this list! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having recently completed a significant update to the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortium's English as an Additional Language Website, we sit down in this podcast episode to engage in a conversation with Stephanie Dodyk, whose post-graduate work focuses on the support of English as an additional language (EAL) learners of all ages. Stephanie shares the personal experiences that, in part, motivate her passion for this work, resources, stories and, of course, books and the website with listeners. The EAL website is part of the growing collection accessed at the ARPDC website under the General PD Resources tab. We encourage you to check out the site and specifically the EAL website and linked resources found therein. Stephanie shared a number of books for personal and professional reading as well as books teachers might consider adding to their classroom libraries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Lisa Starr, the new Dean of Education at the University of Lethbridge, engages in a conversation with Charlie Kraig and Dr. Rick Gilson, ARPDC Change Maker Conversations in Education hosts, about books (classics and new), Cellphilming, listening, writing, multi-modal approaches to share your learning and ideas and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Karen Filewych, one-time newspaper journalist, turned to teaching, all the while remaining passionate about writing – both her own and all those she teaches. In this episode of the Change Maker Conversations in Education, we continue our Literacy Across the Curriculum conversation with this author, educator, leader and all-around awesome soul. Karen shares several books and thoughts, inviting us to consider the importance of doing everything we can to help people of all ages to enjoy and thrive as readers, writers, and full participants in the conversations and practices of a literate society.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortium (ARPDC) has worked with the creators of Camp Re-write, (Matthew Johnson, Rebekah O'Dell, and Angela Stockman) who have partnered to create a pedagogical summer camp, primarily for teachers of English Language Arts and Literature. In support of teachers in Alberta, ARPDC is offering Camp ReWrite - Alberta Campground and in our recent podcast with Angela Stockman we talked about Camp ReWrite for about 10 minutes, that excerpt is provided here for your listening entertainment. Alberta Teachers please check our Regional office websites for information on how you can sign up for the Alberta Campground and enjoy access to an amazing summer of "on your schedule" professional learning in support of English Language Arts and Literature Instruction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angela Stockman can help us all with our reading skills K-12; however, it is in writing, expressing your thoughts, and ideas, and telling stories across a myriad of modalities that Angela has really lived, breathed and worked with teachers and students for most of her life. Angela believes we all have stories, our stories are important, and there are a myriad of ways we can tell our stories. Her Writer's Workshops, books, and sessions provide all educators (and parents) with inspiration and procedures (including assessments) that create an environment where even the most reluctant can see a path to sharing their stories and improving their writing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CEO and founder of Wells Performance, a global consulting firm on a mission to elevate how we live our lives at work in life, Dr. Greg Wells is committed to working with leaders and educators to create the best possible environment, organizational and individual habits and culture for wellness. Greg's work touches upon all the pillars of wellness and well-being drawing upon an extensive lived experience and personal study. Dr. Wells is a scientist and performance physiologist and has dedicated his career to exploring and researching human limits and making that science understandable and actionable. In this podcast we explore some of the Organizing Ideas in the Alberta Physical Education and Wellness Curriculum discussing how they apply in our own lives as teachers and receive a few tips in several areas that we can use to recharge through the summer and for the rest of our lives. Visit the episode link for more information and resources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Julie Causton and Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak of Inclusive Schooling visit with Charlie Kraig and Dr. Rick Gilson of ARPDC visit about the Summer Leadership Institutes held by Julie and Kristie through their Inclusive Learning organization. A number of books, podcasts and a movie title are shared, as well as an exploration of the Inclusive Schooling 2023 Summer Leadership Institute. Check out the episode notes for further information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we visit with Laurie McIntosh, who loves to share with others...create unique burgers with her students, and fundraise with little ones who want to make and have made a difference in the class and the community. Laurie started her teaching career in Lacombe and moved to Lethbridge with the Holy Spirit School Division about five years ago. The journey of learning starts at birth and continues throughout our lives; dozens of kindergarten students have been blessed to start their school journey in Laurie McIntosh's class. In our visit, Laurie shares some of the magic experiences she has had with her students, parents and educators and a number of books and strategies we can all use in class and at home. As Laurie shares titles, she expands on how the book(s) are used in the class, the conversations the student have, the takeaways that go home, and the activities that connect each other as we read. So many of the titles shared could be used in support of the organizing ideas of Alberta's Physical Education and Wellness curriculum, particularly Human Development and Character Development. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Committed to growing thinkers, writers, and readers, Nawal Qarooni visits with hosts Charlie Kraig and Rick Gilson to discuss the work of the NQCLiteracy team and her passion for connected families in the process of literacy development. Foundational to Nawal's work is the notion that we learn best when our learning is connected with all those with whom we have a relationship. Through mindful efforts to expand our knowledge of others, other cultures, and other people, our relationship tree expands our ability to read, write, listen and better relate with each other. Listeners are encouraged to check out Nawal's team, work and website at www.nqcliteracy.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of our Literacy Across the Curriculum series we visit with learning consultant and mathematics wizard (in our opinion) Jackie Ratkovic. Jackie shares a number of titles and talks us through how each book can be used to support students k-12 (mostly elementary) in their development of skills and understanding in Math. Jackie outlines how books used in class fall into three categories: Text Dependent: You need to understand the math to understand the book Idea Enhancing: Books do not depend on a previous understanding of math and help connect and expand on the concepts. Illustration Exploring: Books that contain pictures, drawings, and diagrams within the story that help pull out those important space and shape connections that are very much a part of mathematics. Jackie emphasizes that "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." A full list of the books and other links can be found on the episode blog post link. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Dr. Rick Gilson with ARPDC visits with Christina Giddings, Stefanie McLeod, and Dr. Colleen Pollett of the University of Florida Literacy Institute - UFLI about their work to provide teachers (and parents) with materials, resources, lessons, and support to build foundational work in the classroom (and home) in developing confident and capable readers and writers of the English language. "Building Strong Readers" is the motto that motivates all that they do. Our guests share how they got into the work, what motivates them, what they have learned and how they hope the work can make a difference in the lives of students, teachers, and families. Along the way they share a couple of books they are reading and ideas you might apply at work, home or in your life. The UFLI website has a wealth of resources, all provided as open education resources(free of charge), the UFLI foundation manual complete with lessons, is the only component of the work that must be purchased directly from UFLI. In addition, the UFLI team is active in their support of the UFLI Facebook Group. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we visit with a career English Language Arts teacher, Curriculum Consultant and Professional Learning Facilitator, Tannis Niziol. Throughout Tannis' 30-year career as an educator in Edmonton and Winnipeg, Tannis has remained passionate about teaching and learning and the need for explicit literacy apprenticeship at all grade levels in all subject areas. Tannis is a voracious reader who believes students deserve access to rich, diverse reading experiences and to a safe, equitable space to talk about what they see, hear, think and feel. She is on a journey to disrupt and bring clarity to the conversations that drive our planning and assessment in the English Language Arts classroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are excited to meet with Kari Tanaka from the University of Lethbridge bookstore in this episode. Leveraging her years as a bookseller and dedicated book/author supporter, Kari offers many suggestions for teachers (and readers) to add to their book collections. She also shares some tips on doing a book talk that gets readers interested in the text. Kari's excitement for great books is truly contagious, and we cannot be held responsible for the number of books you decide to buy after listening to this episode. Episode Author/Book Highlights Wildoak by C.C. Harrington One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate  Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury Change the Game by Colin Kaepernick  Dreamer by Akim Aliu  Sadie by Courtney Summers Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine by Catherine Marsh  Alan Gratz  My Suitcase: Nii Sookayis by Christina Fox I am Quiet - A Story for the Introvert in All of Us by Andie Powers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we welcome Brent Gilson, a high school teacher with experience teaching at every division level in his career. This conversation includes several titles and authors for your students and offers suggestions for professional reading. We explore some of the challenges and methods to support bringing your students and ourselves into reading, what you might do to share or book talk in your classroom, and how best to use time in the class when students are reading. Genuine assessment, empowering student voice, and being open to multimodal approaches to showcase learning are just a few of the great landing points throughout this 65-minute podcast episode.  You can find Brent online via Twitter (@mrbgilson) or his blog (https://thingsmrgsays.com/blog/). Brent has been part of the #G2Great Twitter conversation for educators in English for several years and has recently hosted the first of a new series folding in his love of weightlifting with his passion for literacy called #LiftingLiteracy. Its debut Twitter chat featured guest Angela Stockman as the group discussed Angela's recent books: The Teacher's Guide to Multimodal Composition K-5  and The Teacher's Guide to Multimodal Composition 6-12. Brent has presented sessions at the English Language Arts Council (ELAC) and National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) conferences.  Episode Author/Book Highlights ●      A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (series) by Holly Jackson  ●      Arc of a Scythe (series) by Neal Shusterman  ●      Jason Reynolds (author) Ghost Series (4), Long Way Down (novel in verse), and all his work really ●      David Robertson - Barren Grounds and the Misewa Saga (series) ●      In the Wild Light - Jeff Zentner  ●      Kwame Alexander (author) ●      One of Us is Lying (series) by Karen McManus ●      Hands by Torrey Maldonado  Professional Resources ●      Pointless by Sarah Zerwin ●      Disrupting Thinking by Kaylene Beers and Robert Probst ●      Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us as we visit with David A. Robertson, award-winning Swampy Cree author from Manitoba, Canada. David shares thoughts on the writing process, his works, and collaboration processes, particularly as it relates to his graphic novel books. We also discuss book banning and the importance of diversity in the library. To that end, David shares a bit about a new project he is leading to support new and upcoming indigenous authors. David's works include illustrated story books for children, YA literature currently illustrated by the very successful Misewa Saga launched by book one "The Barren Grounds," with the fourth in the series due to be released in 2023. David's Black Water is the non-fiction story of elements of his own life and a return to the land, the children's picture book and Governor General's Award-winning, On the Trapline was based on the material from Black Water. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Charlie Kraig and Rick Gilson of ARPDC visit with the authors Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii) of Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, A White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation. Our conversation touches on stories from the book, how the authors came to work on this project and collaborated in the writing process, as well as how teachers might use the book in your classroom both for its content and as a mentor text. In addition to our recommendation that every teacher in Canada should read this book, we believe that every junior and senior high classroom and school library would be well-served by adding a copy or two to the bookshelf. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr Joan Netten visits with consultant Marylou Gammans in French discussing 2nd language learning, French Immersion and the Neurolinguistic Approach Dr. Netten pioneered in support of language learning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ARPDC consultant Marylou Gammans in conversation with Order of Canada recipient and professor Dr Joan Netten on French Language and French Immersion instruction and learning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A conversation with Senior Research Associate at Harvard's Project Zero, Dr. Ron Ritchhart whose work focuses on the development of school and classroom cultures in support of developing students' as powerful thinkers and learners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Initially recorded with SAPDC's "Hit Pause with SAPDC" in January of 2020 - Rachel French, MA Ed, is an internationally recognized presenter, consultant, and Author. She was certified by Dr. Lynn Erickson and Dr. Lois Lanning as a Concept-Based consultant, presenter, and trainer. Rachel co-authored her first book with Dr. Erickson and Dr. Lanning, the second edition of 'Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction for the Thinking Classroom,' published by Corwin, February 2017. Rachel's second book and video series co-authored with Carla Marschall became a best seller in the first year of publication, 'Concept-Based Inquiry in Action,' published by SAGE Publications Inc, July 2018. Rachel is now the sole provider of the annual H. Lynn Erickson and Lois A. Lanning Certification Institute for Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction Presenters. https://www.professionallearninginternational.com/ Rachel has led numerous workshops in Europe and Asia, and she has presented on Concept-Based Learning at International Baccalaureate Conferences. She works as a consultant supporting schools all over the world to plan and implement Concept-Based Units. Rachel also coaches and provides feedback to teams of teachers on curriculum development. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This podcast introduces the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortium and the plans we have moving forward for the ARPDC Change Maker Conversations in Education Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices