Academy Advisory Council Meeting

The Learning Community - North Option

Wednesday, September 20, 2000

C.H. Best East M.S.

8:30 am to 11:30 am

Minutes

Present:

Faculty: Anne Marie Chudleigh, Susan Schwartz, Steve Anderson, Nicole Sanderson, Lorne Cook,
Dianne Stuart, William Bell

Field: Monique Anderson, Marie-Anne Vosoi, Howard Lindo, Sharon Basman, Pat Bonavota, Andrew Fong-Ying, Andrew Howard, Eloise Giancola, Nadira Persaud, Sharon Kornhaber, Karen Madarasz Lynn Chadder, Wendy Chesworth, Laura Rodney, Donna Quan, Ronna Kluger, Carolyn Dobkin-Kurtz, Laura Pavy, Vince Anania

TC Reps: M edrian Yueh, Ian Marquis, Jennifer Kinrade, Karen Scale, Linda Ryu

1. Welcome , Introduction, Objectives:

Susan introduced the Learning Community team (see 2000-2001 Learning Community flyer), new schools, new Liaison Teachers and Administrators (see 2000-2001list of Academy Schools), and introduced TC reps for this term.

Susan shared the objectives….to reconnect as the Learning Community Academy, to share highlights of our upcoming year, and to obtain some input into future meetings. She explained the ‘Ticket out the Door’- ‘to be used to jot down questions you would like answered - to be handed in before you leave’.

Nicole presented the warm-up activity – ‘Create a name tag including information in each corner. Share the information on the name tag with someone you don’t know.’ Susan read a response written by a TC highlighting the name tag activity as one this TC will use in her future classes.

2. Feedback re: Orientation Day and First Week:

Anne Marie encouraged participants to do a ‘stop, start, continue’ brainstorm. Responses included:

Stop:

Start:

Continue:

3. Technology Links:

Lorne said that disks are coming soon to the schools to allow Liaison Teachers or others on staff access to OISE/UT First Class and our conferences.

 4. Assignments:

Highlights of assignments and changes this year were shared. It was emphasized that changes were made based on feedback from the AAC meeting in May 2000:

  • Diversity Among Learners à Anne Marie and Steve shared the expectations of this assignment and pointed out the connections this year with report card writing (in direct response to feedback from the June meeting
  • Mini-Seminars à this year, STEs will be able to connect to the conferences and be part of the online conversations if they wish to be involved
  • Literacy Study Groups - the professional reading will be in the area of reading to increase discussion about literacy….it was decided that 2 copies of the readings will be provided to the schools, and schools can photocopy more if other teachers want to read them
  • Action Research – no changes from last year and details will be discussed after the December holiday…Academy Quest is scheduled (see calendar)
  • Portfolios continue to be a focus

5. Planning:

Susan shared planning updates and distributed packages for feedback. The first class on lesson design/lesson planning will take place earlier this year based on feedback from the June meeting (before Sept. 28th and 29th). She emphasized the importance of STEs looking at and providing feedback on lesson plans, and asking for them one day in advance if TC is experiencing difficulty. Unit planning will occur before the 4 full weeks of the first practicum. Unit planning will be a strong expectation during the second practicum. Susan will be collecting lesson and unit plans throughout the year to provide feedback to TCs.

6. Calendar:

Anne Marie shared important dates (see calendar).

Internship à two studies were conducted last spring which provided information to revise the program…..details will be shared at a later date.

STE P.D. à it was decided not to schedule an after-school session at this time; faculty advisors would provide the P.D. on site as needed; and Liaison Teachers would continue to take an active role in bringing new STEs on board.

7. School Sharing:

A number of Liaison STEs shared highlights and interesting information about their school’s events, initiatives, etc.

8. Practicum Assessment Package:

Anne Marie walked through the package and highlighted changes. She discussed some changes made in light of the 5 Standards of Practice (no longer the 6 images).

9. Accreditation process update and implications:

Steve pointed out that the final report of the Accreditation process by the Ontario College of Teachers is available in the recent edition of Professionally Speaking, September 2000. He discussed the Ontario Standards of Practice which will be used this year instead of our 6 Images. Steve asked if more time should be spent with Liaison Teachers re: the Standards and a lengthy discussion occurred.

10. Booklist:

Susan distributed the booklist for this year and encouraged schools to purchase copies for their professional libraries. She highlighted Carol’s new book on portfolios (to be used at the Portfolio Institute in January) and John McNaughton’s new book on school legalities. She asked that teachers attending the Cooperative Learning Institute bring with them (either borrow from teachers who attended in previous years or buy new ones) copies of ‘Cooperative Learning: Where Heart Meets Mind’.

11. Budget:

Susan re-emphasized budget cuts, etc. and handed out the revised ‘Commitment’ page with a summary of the budget and payment dates.

12. Susan collected the ‘Tickets out the Door’ which included the following questions:

From TC reps:

  • Which two other schools besides Gateway are involved in the Reading Recovery program?
  • Where did the idiom ‘laundry list’ come from?
  • Please explain ‘IPRC’ and ‘students going to team’.
  • What information have new STEs received regarding the practicum thus far, and do they meet with the faculty liaison before then? I think P.D. for new STEs from the faculty would be a really good idea.
  • Will there be more discussion about what’s happening in each school in future meetings?

From STEs and/or Administrators:

  • Do we need to provide you with a new list of names for the next practicum block?
  • Can you please attempt to team up the new TCs with teachers who did not have a TC this term! Thanks.
  • Do you use our students’ names in your TC assignments? Eg. in the Diversity assignment?
  • How do we qualify / apply for an intern placement?
  • Can the summative report be downloaded?
  • How do you address the needs of French Immersion teacher candidates?

Positive Comments included:

  • It was great to observe and meet teachers, principals…
  • very informative and detailed…as usual
  • The meeting answered many of my questions.
  • A worthwhile, well organized workshop providing enough information to feel comfortable having candidates in the school…a well-guided session! Thank you.
  • Please feel free to visit our school anytime!
  • I look forward to a great year!

 

 The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.

A special thank-you to Karen Madaraz and Wendy Chesworth for hosting this meeting!

Next AAC meeting will be held at Crestview P.S. on Wednesday, November 8th, 2000 from 8:30-11:30 a.m.