Empowering Modern Learners - PDSB #Peel21st

In this jam packed episode, the new Coordinating Principal of Modern Learning Luke Mahoney steps in to co-host with Emily, and Nicole chats with grade 5 Reema Khithani, teacher candidate Jenna Marinucci and a couple of students.

This week we get to hear the great things Ruthie Sloan is doing in the Innovation Studio at James Grieve PS supporting students from K-3.

In today's episode we chat with Mark Uriarte and Tiffany Mackay a teacher and Instructional Coach at Champlain Trail PS.

This week Emily sits down with Christian Stepien, a gr1/2 teacher and k-6 planning time with a modern learning focus at Plowman's Park PS.

In today's episode we sit down with Susie Ellis, Instructional Coach and "Self-Regger" to discuss the role self regulation plays in teaching and learning.

In this week's episode we speak with social worker Marvin Arthur about the Reaching Out program and some ideas for keeping kids engaged in the classroom.

In this week's episode we chat social justice, culturally responsive and relevant pedagogy and equity with grade 8 teacher Zohrin Mawji and a few students in her class.

This week we resume our conversations with Phil Dodson and Gwen Reitemeier. Plus a special appearance from an old friend.

In this episode we chatted with Phillip Dodson, principal of Ray Underhill PS, teacher Gwen Reitemeier and a couple of grade 5 students as they discuss how their experiences with Indigenous education has created a stronger sense of community in the school.

This week we hung out with the Royal Orchard Middle School Boys club as they spend the afternoon exploring STEM activities in the LLC. Principal Kervin White, ISSP/Contact teacher Samantha Stephen, Instructional Coach Swarnaly Banerjee-Modi and a handful of students shared their experience.

In this episode we chatted with Jaime Girard - Intensive Support Teacher for the board's primary and junior interval classes. She discussed her prior experiences as an interval teacher as well as how she currently supports interval programs in her new role including an exciting invention convention event.

We're back! Emily and Nicole are now The Returned, and we want to thank you so much for your patience. We have been looking forward to getting this episode out since last season and are elated that we've finally been able to get things underway. We are going to try a few new things out, but the heart of it all will continue to be stories from educators on their journeys to empower our modern learners. In this episode we interview Lindsay Avery, Principal of Worthington Public School.

Welcome to the final episode of Empowering Modern Learners for Season 1, the 2017-2018 school year. In this episode, Jim and Amit look back over the season and highlight a few favourite moments from guests they have interviewed. They also listen to some bloopers from the past 34 recording sessions and share some laughs. Nicole James and Emily Farkas also join in and talk about next year's podcast. 

In this episode, we interview Adrian Graham who is the Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at the Central Board Office here in the Peel District School Board. Adrian shares his own journey through Empowering Modern Learners and he encourages teachers to continue to be co-learners with their students so they can be empowered as well. He also talks about some of the upcoming events and opportunities teachers have to learn in Peel about Empowering Modern Learners.

In this episode, we interview Emily Farkas and Nicole James who are both Modern Learning Resource Teachers and will be taking over the EML podcast in the new year. Emily & Nicole share what parts of the Empowering Modern Learners vision document speak to them as well as about the amazing things that are happening in some of their schools.

In this episode, we interview Claudine Scuccato who is the new Coordinating Principal of Modern Learning here in Peel. She shares her own journey with Empowering Modern Learners as well as some advice for teachers and administrators on how to get things going with the Empowering Modern Learners vision.

In this interview we interview Joe Dallaire who is a Science teacher at Stephen Lewis Secondary School. He shares the work that he is doing with the collaborative inquiry process with his students. He also talks about the work he is doing with the Peel Science 9 Resource.

In this episode, we interview Katie Novak who is the author of UDL Now! A Teacher’s Guide to Applying Universal Design for Learning in Today’s Classrooms.  Katie shares some great strategies that teachers can use when they are planning for their students using a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) lens.

In this episode, Jim and Amit provide some commentary and connections to Empowering Modern Learners while listening to various guests who stopped by to chat at the annual Digital Tool Summit that took place May 12, 2018.

In this episode, we interview Thanh Trieu who is a Grade 5 teacher at Cherrytree Public School. She shares how the Belief Statements and the three words in the vision of "Inspire, Innovate and Ignite" have really helped to shape the amazing learning environment she has created with her students. Together with her students, they have created a proposal to seek funding from the Board for an Outdoor Learning Space, and Thanh speaks about how she has helped to nurture the creative side in her students.

In this episode, we interview Sayema Chowdhury who is a Climate for Learning & Working Resource Teacher in the Peel District School Board. She shares how in her work she helps build relationships with all staff so they can be their best selves in their learning environments.

In this episode we interview Melanie Mulcaster, who is a Teacher Librarian at Hillside Public School with the amazingly supportive principal Jim Brooks. She shares how she engages student voice & choice in their learning to help them be successful. She also shares her passion for Making and the positive effects it has on learners of all ages.

In this episode, we interview Joanne Milligan who is the Department Head of Mathematics at Mississauga Secondary School. She shares how she believes that the students she sees each and every day are shaped by the ever-changing world we all live in. She talks about how she has adapted to meet the needs of these learners, and how she gives students the power to direct and be aware of their own learning.

In this episode, we interview Jael Richardson who is the author of The Stone Thrower: A Daughter’s Lesson, A Father’s Life which is a novel about her father Chuck Ealey. Jael is not only a former Peel student, but she is a celebrated writer who was a Toronto District School Board Writer-In-Residence in 2013 and 2016. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph, and she lives in Brampton, Ontario where she founded and continues to serve as the Artistic Director for the Festival of Literary Diversity.

In this episode, we interview Kathryn Lagerquist who is a STEAM teacher at Brisdale Public School. She shares how she connects the 21st Century Competencies found in Empowering Modern Learners to the work she is doing with her learners. She talks a lot about using creativity and tapping into the imagination and dreams of her students. In her interview she also shares how she believes that critical thinking should be the cornerstone of education.

In this episode, we interview Peter Joshua who is the Director of Education in the Peel District School Board. Peter shares his passion for teaching and learning in a new age, and offers encouragement for teachers who are trying to empower their modern learners in their classes each and every day. He talks about how classrooms are constantly changing, and shares how he has been inspired by the work being done in Peel by our teachers, students, administrators, superintendents and trustees.

In this episode we interview Susan Adamthwaite who is the Student Success Coordinator 7-12 in Peel. She shares how part of her jobs is to help expand the Learning Environment to include experiences outside of the classroom walls for students. She hopes to create authentic opportunities for students that challenge them and allow them to become global citizens. She shares how she views Empowering Modern Learners as a blueprint to becoming a life-long learner.

In this episode, we interview David Wiwchar who is currently teaching Physical Education and Science at Mayfield Secondary School. Dave shares a bit about his journey from being a student at Mayfield to now being a teacher there who is opening up his assessment practices and using technology as a way to help giving feedback in a more effective manner. His ideas parallel Jim Kardash who spoke in Episode 4: Rogue One, but he also shares how he has truly embodied becoming a co-learner by learning how to code in order to make Google tools do what he wants.

In this episode, we interview Julie Vandendool who is an ISSP Teacher at Alloa Public School. Julie shares how her role involves helping teachers design their lessons with all their learners in mind. She talks about working from a Universal Design For Learning standpoint and guiding students to make choices that help them know themselves as learners.

In this episode we interview Judy McKeown who is currently the Department Head of English at Louise Arbour Secondary School. She shares how she is helping her students take risks in their learning and learn how to be empathetic global citizens. She talks about how she uses "Hot Topics" as a way to generate discussions and try to meet both teachers and students where they are at in their learning.

In this episode, we interview Brandon Pachan, who is currently teaching Grade 8 SciTech LASS & Primary Dance and Drama at Macville Public School. He shares the work he is doing around Inquiry both at the Intermediate and Primary level. He also shares how the rules of improv he learned about are helping him empower his learners each and every day.

In this episode, we interview Melissa Wilson who is Instructional Coordinator of Indigenous Education in Peel. Melissa shares the work she is doing with schools across the board to bring an awareness of the true history of Canada and the work she does around identity. She also encourages teachers to step outside of their comfort zones, take risks and embrace being a co-learner with their students.

In this episode, Jim interviews Jennifer Pagniello who is a grade 3 teacher at Ray Lawson Public School. She shares how she is using the guided inquiry framework as a way to help empower her students. She also talks about the changes she has made to her assessment practices with the help of her Instructional Coach Mary Neely and Peel's Instructional Coordinator for Assessment Kristen Clarke who we interviewed in Episode 11 - The Wonder Years.

In this episode, we interview Rasulan "Q" Hoppie, and he shares how he is trying to weave Empowering Modern Learners inside and out of everything happening at Castlebrooke Secondary School. He shares how the teachers are empowering students through the use of Project-Based Learning, and that they have an ICT Mindset throughout the building. There are no textbooks in the schools as they are trying to encourage learners to use technology to access information. He also shares the amazing work he is doing with the We Rise Together Action Plan in the board.

In this episode, we interview Luke Mahoney who is currently the principal at Brian W. Fleming Public School. Luke shares how he is supporting the learners in his building to run with their ideas through being a lead learner and creating innovative learning environments. He also talks about the value he places on providing equitable access to technology and what that means for learners to be empowered.

In this episode, we interview Lynn Filliter who is the Curricular Lead Learner of Voice at Jean Augustine Secondary School. She shares the work she is doing around providing students with voice and choice in her classes and how she's helping the "next generation" of students learn how to be an integral part of their assessment journey and learning process. 

In this episode we interview Kristen Clarke, who is the Instructional Coordinator for Assessment in Peel. She talks about the importance of reflection when considering strategies of Informative Assessment (one of the Innovative Elements in Empowering Modern Learners.)

In this episode, we interview Adam Hughes, who is the Chief Information Officer for the Peel District School Board. He shares how the work being done in Learning Technology Support Services (LTSS) connects to Empowering Modern Learners. He also shares the new vision for LTSS and the journey they took to get there.

In this episode we interview Jennifer Brown, who is the Teacher Librarian at Castle Oaks Public School. Jenn shares her journey of how she transformed her library space into a space for everyone at the school. Through embracing the concepts of open learning and adopting a maker mindset, she has noticed shifts in her learners that have left them truly empowered.

In this episode, we interview Omari Rhoden, who is currently the Head of Business and Library at Turner Fenton Secondary School. He shares how he creates a safe environment for his students to take risks, and talks a bit about his journey in becoming an amazing educator.

In this episode, we interview Erica Armstrong, who is currently an Assistive Technology Resource Teacher in Peel District School Board. She shares how she made improvements in her classroom to promote a positive Learning Environment for her students, and how by creating a safe space, students were more inclined to take risks.

In this episode, we chat with Laura Smiley who is currently the acting Department Head for Moderns for FSL and ESL at John Fraser Secondary. Laura shares what she's doing with her students in FSL and how it connects to Empowering Modern Learners.

In this episode Amit interviews Sapna Khosa who is a Grade 6 teacher at James Grieve Public School who shares how she is creating a positive Learning Culture and Learning Environment with her students and how when students feel like they're part of a family in their class, the learning opportunities are endless.

In this episode, we chat with Jim Kardash, principal at Mayfield Secondary School. He shares his passion for learning and the school's journey of their "gradeless" pilot.

In this episode we interview Jim Blackwood, who is the Head of Innovation at Jean Augustine Secondary School. He shares the work the school is doing around Service, Advocacy, Innovation & Leadership (SAIL) and how it connects to Empowering Modern Learners.

In this episode we interviewed Keri Ewart who has just started as a Modern Learning Resource Teacher. We asked her about her experiences in the classroom and how she empowered her modern learners

In this episode, we interview Lawrence DeMaeyer who is the Coordinating Principal of Modern Learning for the Peel District School Board.