Category Archives: Professional development

ALDI/LEARN web event: Math problem-solving techniques for students with different learning needs

Its a new school year and we’re announcing the first web event of the year, in collaboration with LEARN.

Join us September 21st at 3:30 PM for an in-depth look at problem-solving techniques for students with different learning needs. Kim Desmarais will present “Schema Based Instruction – Teaching Children with Different Learning Needs to Successfully Solve Word Problems.” Kim will discuss her ongoing research in the Department of Research and Clinical Psychology at Concordia University, as well as her work with students and resource teachers within our school boards.

Never attended a web event? Its easy and its from the comfort of your own classroom, or anywhere else. Let the learning come to you!

Sign up here. We’re looking forward to seeing you online!

 

Multi Ethnic People Holding The Word Math

 

 

 

 

 

New ALDI “Jumpstart” Assistive Technology Series for 2015

Are you wondering how to begin supporting Universal Design for Learning with assistive technology? Would you like hands-on learning sessions in order to use the assistive technology effectively to support pedagogy in your classroom?

Empower your team in 45 minutes with a hands-on assistive technology jumpstart session. We will discuss the specific AT tool (15 min) and how it can be universally applied in the classroom. Then we will go hands-on to apply the tools (30 min).

Where: At your school.

When: At lunch, during a staff meeting, or after school.

Designed for: School teams (between 2-15 individuals). Administrators, resource teachers, classroom teachers, integration aides, attendants, technicians, and non-teaching professionals all welcome.

Please see the detailed description for more information on sessions and contact information:

ALDI jumpstart AT series

 

 

 

The Multi-Faceted Role of the Resource Teacher-web archive now available

On September 22nd, Tara Wheeler, Project Development Officer for the Work-Oriented Training Path, presented “The Multi-Faceted Role for Resource Teacher.” Tara has just completed her Master’s degree at Bishop’s University and has surveyed resource teachers within our boards in Quebec for her study at Bishop’s University. Hear what Tara and participating teachers had to say about their roles in our schools-and how they develop mentoring relationships, administrative/teacher partnerships, and resource delivery models. resource teacher tag cloud

 

Link to archive

Resource teachers! Check out the ALDI PLC archived webinars

Its a new school year and ALDI will be providing details soon on the ALDI online PLC for 2014/2015. There’s an exciting webinar coming up in September-details to follow!

The online PLC is a webinar series for resource teachers and resource based teams. Join your colleagues from across the province to discuss innovative teaching and learning practices for our students with special needs.

Access a provincial professional learning community without even leaving your school. Check out our archived webinars from winter 2014 here:

Writing strategies for students who struggle

One iPad? No Problem!

Maximizing use of text-to-speech for students with reading disabilities

 

As the project coordinator, I’m always open to new ideas and suggestions for the online PLC. Contact me here.

 

 

Thanks to resource teachers at CQSB for a great Edcamp!

photo 2CQSB resource teachers partipated in an Edcamp as part of their resource teacher network meeting.

This motivated group of teachers discussed:

  • Behavioural strategies for students with special needs
  • Using the iPad in the resource setting and apps to aupport students with diverse learning
  • needs
  • Effective resource models
  • Supportive school environments for resource teachers

Thanks to all for the engaging discussions that generated all kinds of resources and

new ideas.

 

 

 

ALDI Edcamp-a great learning opportunity (and a lot of fun too!)

edcamp photo

ALDI Edcamp, a session provided at the ALDI Symposium this year, was a wonderful opportunity to learn from each other in a relaxed, but highly engaging environment.

If you’re not familiar with the Edcamp movement, check out our previous post on “What is an Edcamp?”

Our participants (a great representation of teachers from all of our boards as well as the private sector)

came to the session ready to discuss their topics. And what a HUGE variety of topics-from the role of

the resource teacher, to the integration of new assistive technologies and mobile devices in the

resource setting, to Universal Design for Learning, to best teaching practices for students with

learning disabilities…and many more. We had excellent discussions surrounding these topics,

and input from a wide range of teaching backgrounds as well as years of experience provided us with

very unique perspectives. All in all, a great success!

If you are interested in bringing an Edcamp to a resource teacher network meeting, or planning a

larger event within your school board, please contact the ALDI coordinator.

Check out our feedback board with exit cards (above) to see what we learned, and what we’d like to know more about!

Gearing up for ALDI Edcamp!

A new professional development opportunity is in the works…and its coming to the ALDI 2013 Symposium!

Get ready for ALDI edcamp-the first “unconference” for resource teachers in the province!

What is an unconference? Its a movement that is changing the way we think and experience professional development as teachers. Essentially, an unconference is driven by the participants, who prepare presentations or discussion topics beforehand but announce and schedule them the day of the conference. Anyone attending can host a session or discussion-all you need is the desire to learn from your peers and the willingness to lead and guide a discussion. Its an interesting model for resource teachers, as we all have a wealth of knowledge and strategies that we would like to share.

For more information on the edcamp movement and to see it in action, check out this short video:

If you will be signing up for the ALDI edcamp at the ALDI symposium 2013, these are the pre-requisites:

  • Be interested in learning from your fellow teachers in an active discussion.
  • Come prepared to lead a discussion about a topic, project or PDIG you have completed, area you would like to explore, classroom strategy or instructional methodology that you would like to learn more about.
  • You do not have to be an expert in the topic, just be willing to lead a discussion.

Looking forward to seeing you there!