Celebrating Success

Recently, during a discussion in an AQ course @ed_rego, we started talking about math scores and the effectiveness of Ontario’s public education system. Ed Rego mentioned Ontario and Canada’s success on the international front. Not only do Canadian students rank high on the international front, its public education system also makes a difference in students’ lives. Let’s look at some reveling data first.

1. Canada ranks high in international testing.

In my studies on education, I discovered how well Canada does on international test scores, especially in relation to the United States. The Organization for Economic Co-operation or OECD conducts yearly tests to rank countries based on performance in science, reading, mathematics (Program for International Student Assessment or PISA) and trends in international mathematics and science study (TIMSS) in both French and English. Students are randomly selected by age (15 year olds for PISA) or by grade level (Grades 4 and 8 for TIMSS).

In 2015, Canadian 15 year olds ranked 4th in science , reading, and mathematics among the PISA results tied with Finland. Singapore, Japan, and Estonia were the only countries to surpass us (Chinese countries include Taipei, Macao, Hong Kong, and B-S-J-G China) . The United Kingdom came in 10th place and the United States came in 20th place. The trends show Canada varies only slightly between testing years. Also note, in Canada, all 15 year old students, of all abilities, participate in our education system and thus would be possible participants in the PISA testing. Also note that Canada does not have weekend “Cram School” as part of our educational landscape. Cram School focuses on rote learning and not critical thinking. In addition, some countries stream students with learning challenges away from formal education. A breakdown of PISA 2015 results for specific provinces can be accessed below.

In 2015, Canadian students ranked 8th in grade 8 mathematics surpassed by Singapore, Korea, China Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, and Kazakhstan. England ranked 10th and the United States ranked 11th. Norway students ranked 14th in mathematics. Finland scores were not listed. In science, Canadian students ranked 13th in grade 8 surpassed by Singapore, Japan, China Taipei, Korea, Slovenia, Hong Kong, Russia, England, Kazakhstan, Ireland, United States, and Hungary. Norway students ranked 18th in science. A breakdown of TIMSS 2015 results for specific provinces can be accessed below.

These PISA and TIMSS scores show strong results for both Canada and Ontario, particularly in light of the latest decrease in mathematics EQAO scores in 2017. From these results, I can conclude that Canada’s public education system does a very good job educating our students, even on an international level.

Note: I did not analyse the breakdown of grade 4 test scores as the introduction of specific Canadian curriculum differs in mathematics from other countries.

Canada’s 15-year-old students among best global performers in science, math

Breakdown of Canada’s PISA scores for 2015.

2015 mathematics TIMSS results

2015 science TIMSS results

TIMSS 2015 Ontario result breakdown

2. Canada teaches students how to critically think and engage in rational discourse.

As Heather Mallick of the Toronto Star stated, our public education system teaches “to value thought over feeling, reason over passion” (Mallick, Toronto Star, November 12, 2016). Canadian teaches do not accept writing with statements without supporting details that come from credible sources. Teachers teach the difference between real news and false news.

3. Canadian public education socializes students.

All students, from all backgrounds (i.e. age, gender, cultural background, socio-economic status, or ability) participate in Canada’s public education system. Students are not segregated based on background, culture, or socio-economic status. Students all learn together. Teachers teach values of inclusion for all and education for all. Students learn to get along with others from many different backgrounds and many different places in the world. And this level of national inclusion, is one thing that makes me proud to be a Canadian citizen and a Canadian teacher.

Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy

4. Canada’s public education is equitable and democratic.

Canada’s public education system (almost) compensates for disadvantages that impact student learning. Canada’s public education system gives students from all background (due to age, gender, cultural background, socio-economic status, or ability), an opportunity to succeed in school. Newly-arrived immigrant students rapidly integrate enough to perform the same as their Canadian classmates. Dr. John Jerrim (UCL Institute of Education in London) stated that Canada’s high league table ranking reflects the narrow socio-economic gap in school results. The outcome is that Canada’s score show a very high average, with relatively little difference between advantaged and disadvantaged students. The OECD states that Canada supports social equity as “Schools should provide a good education for all students, regardless of their parents’ education or career. PISA assesses to what extent differences in education outcomes are associated with the social status of parents as well as the performance gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students. It also identifies the share of students who perform well, despite coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, known as resilient students.” (OECD, 2015)

PISA 2015 Key Findings for Canada

How Canada became an education superpower

I end this blog with the words of John Dewey …

It is no accident that all democracies have put a high estimate upon education; that schooling has been their first care and enduring charge. Only through education can equality of opportunity be anything more than a phrase. Accidental inequalities of birth, wealth, and learning are always tending to restrict the opportunities of some as compared with those of others. Only free and continued education can counteract those forces which are always at work to restore, in however changed a form, feudal oligarchy. Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife. (Dewey, 1916, The Need of an Industrial Education in an Industrial Democracy)

Let’s celebrate Canada’s public education system success as a democratic and well educated nation – for I believe this is why we are one of the best places to live in the world.

Collaboratively Yours,

Deb Weston

This blog was inspired by an article written by Heather Mallick, Toronto Star, November 12, 2016.

June 30, 2017June 30, 2017 Laura Bottrell Celebrating Success, Year End Activities

Puzzling Together the Pieces

As the school year comes to an end, it’s important to keep our students engaged and active in meaningful activities. Aside from all of the celebrations and partying, we took some time at our school to get our students reflecting and connecting on their year as a whole.

My current school is a very small, close-knit community, which led me to think about a way to get the entire school collaborating on some kind of year-end reflection. My principal asked me to take the lead on an activity that would allow students to recall their learning, communicate it with others and possibly share these thoughts with younger students entering their grade next year.

So, I came up with the idea of having each student in the school design a puzzle piece that represented learning that was meaningful to them. I visited each classroom and facilitated a discussion about what the big ideas of their learning were and what experiences were part of their story. Students had some wonderful reflections to share and once the conversation got started the students began to recall and make connections about many different areas of learning from their year at school – both curriculum based and not. We worked together to make sure that within the class, all of the most important areas of learning or events were represented.

We talked about how each piece of the puzzle was important and connected with the other pieces. We also talked about how all of their puzzle pieces came together to paint a picture of their experience, both of the individual class and the school as a whole.

It was nice for me, as a teacher, to participate in this activity with my students. I got to reflect on all of the wonderful memories we made together during our year and it was very informative for me to hear what they felt important enough to include in our discussion, and on their puzzle pieces.

After visiting each class, I collected all the puzzle pieces and, with the help of some of my eager students, created a giant mosaic in our school’s entry way. This mosaic is going to remain there well into the next school year so students can look back at their learning!

This is only one of many ways to facilitate year-mapping with students. Next time I do this, I think I will challenge students to think about where their puzzle pieces fit into the puzzle as a whole, and get them to share why they place their piece in a certain spot. Overall, I really enjoyed leading this school-wide activity and it was a great way to celebrate the stories and success of our community!

June 28, 2017June 22, 2017 Will Gourley Celebrating Success, General, Inspiring Teachers, Making a Difference Through Education, Occasional Teachers, Professional Learning and Growth, self reflection, Year End Activities

The (W)rap

The following is proof why I will never quit my day job for a career in entertainment.
Sung to the tune of Rapper’s Delight with apologies to the Sugar Hill Gang.

Rap

It’s June again and the heat is on,
School is buzzin’, students’ll soon be gone.

What’s that you say? No not yet.
You forgot to give one last test.

Too late my friends that’s all the learnin’
It’s time for the grades they’ve been earnin’.

10 months of fun fly by so fast.
Too bad, so sad these times don’t last.

But, that’s ok, not to fear,
We’ll all be back for another new year.

So say see you later, not goodbye
There’s no need to dry your eyes.

Take time to celebrate your endeavors,
Kick back, and relax. Take time to recover.

Boxes

Before you shut the door for the final time this June, take time to look back on all of the amazing things you were part of in your classroom this year? Maybe it was a break through in Math or Language. Perhaps it was a victory in classroom management? Don’t forget the “a-ha!” moments where it seemed like all of the light bulbs over your students’ heads went on at once. Make sure to pack your boxes of memories tightly. Holding on to each one, because it is the sum of these experiences that continue to inspire, shape, and fuel your practice.

Look at the lives you made better for students where you invested time to coach teams, organize a concert, or lead a club. Cherish the moments of learning outside of the curriculum. The minutes you have shared will add up to a life time of difference in the lives of learners. Think about the mentorship you provided a new teacher, or the warm welcome you gave to an OT. Take time to remember all of the good you’ve brought to education this year.

Congratulations to everyone for another amazing year of education at the speed of life. It is an honour to share the journey of education with you all. May your time away be truly be relaxing and restorative.

June 7, 2017 Mike Beetham Celebrating Success, General, Inspiring Teachers, Making a Difference Through Education, self reflection, Wellness, wellness

THANK YOU!

It has been a long, arduous journey from September to the end of June and we are just weeks away from closing the chapter on another academic year. I am going to relive the last ten months of a fictional elementary school teacher.

A group of twenty plus disconnected, diverse individuals arrived in your classroom with a variety of needs beyond their academic status. Through careful planning, creative thinking, endless commitment and tremendous flexibility you were able to to:

make each child feel welcomed and loved
create a learning community
develop the confidence and self-esteem of your students
help them move forward in all academic areas
taught them the power of being a team
provided off campus, intramural, choir, club and athletic opportunities for them
offered them a high five to celebrate and emotional support when needed
in some cases provided food to meet their basic needs
laughed and cried with them
believed in them enough to provide tough love
wrote reports, called parents, attended meetings
organized assemblies and spirit days
created Individual Educational Programs
purchased necessary materials for your class and students
spent endless hours beyond your school day
gave up personal and family time for your students
helped develop future global citizens
attended a variety of professional learning opportunities to help in your journey toward best practice
you have sacrificed personal health for your class and school
please continue this list with anything I have missed

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! On behalf of students and parents everywhere, you continue to be a part of one of the most rewarding and important roles there is. You are a teacher!

I would also like to take this time to thank ETFO for the opportunity they have given me to be a part of the Heart & Art blog for the last 5 years. In that time I have had the wonderful opportunity to learn from many talented people. I have had comments shared with me that reminded me how proud I am to be a part of this profession. Finally, I have become a better teacher as my blogging has helped me reflect on the day-to-day work in my classroom. I am making this my last blog and challenge the many talented and inspiring teachers in ETFO to join in and share the expertise that lies within you and your teaching. THANK YOU!

May 31, 2017 Will Gourley Assessment, Celebrating Success, General, Modern Learning, Report Cards, Year End Activities

On track

A couple of years ago, I shared a post titled Not feeling it today. It was a response to the highs and lows experienced in my life as an educator. The post’s banner image captured a lighthearted take on our profession in a simple sentence. It read,

“Students: If you ever want to know what a teacher’s mind feels like, imagine a web browser with 2,789 tabs open all the time.”- via Buzzfeed

Laugh it off

Each day comes with its own set of open tabs that seem like a wave of ups and downs. On the upside, I witness students working hard, asking questions, and discovering their talents. On the downside, the lows come in the form of students struggling with anxiety, issues of adolescence rearing their heads, and even some perceived/learned hopelessness about the future. Each time I look at this meme, the irony of it’s humour helps lighten my mood when I need it most coping with everything that occupies the physical and mental space of my own practice. We all need to laugh. Laughter is an effective stress reliever.

It seemed like June was so far away. I started hitting my stride around March Break, and suddenly it’s the last week of May. Instead of coasting to the finish line, I find myself running the other way after looking at my Teacher’s To Do List.

How are you coping?

I’m struggling, straight up. The frequent visits to the coffee shop are getting expensive. As this month winds down, I’m nervous that the light at the end of the tunnel might be a train pulling boxcar after boxcar of assessment, reporting, and end of year activities. Yet, here I am speeding down the track towards it.

A similar sentiment gets shared when speaking with colleagues too. The hard part is not running out of steam.

Have you noticed that students are feeling it too? I’m finding this a great time to encourage collaborative work in remaining subject areas. Free time is allotted to Maker Space, Inquiry, and Genius Hour projects. We will also be creating a Year Map to add a visual note to their past 10 months in the classroom.

In all of this many of us will be compiling assessment data. Whether, it is on sticky notes, digital, or mark books, our students will be given a snapshot of their accomplishments.

Kind words

For me, solace is found in reflecting over student growth throughout the year. I see the final report card as a treasure hunt that gets a new map attached to continue the adventure next year. Each year, our learners show so much growth and potential. As we report en masse these next weeks, take time look back at all of the amazing things that were accomplished in your classroom. Celebrate the highs, lows, bizarre, unexpected, and growth in yourself and your students. I have been fortunate to witness incredible growth in the curriculum subjects by my students this year, but it pales in comparison to the growth they have made as citizens and community. I hope you can celebrate this with your students too.

February 23, 2017 Kelly.McLaughlin Assessment, Celebrating Success, Differentiated Instruction, Diverse Learning Needs, Learning About Your Students, Standardized testing, Student Ownership, Students as Teachers

Options

My grade five class is almost done their perimeter and area unit. At the close of this unit, I was having trouble deciding what the best option would be, a project or a test. I decided to present both options to the class and then let them select which one they should do.

I then had an issue with letting students who had received an “A” on their reports not do both. I wanted them to challenge themselves by trying both since they had achieved such a high mark on their report card.

Some students reacted very negatively to this thinking they wish they had received a lower mark. I on the other hand, tried to explain to them that since they had such a high mark on their report, they have proven that this unit is not a challenge to them so they should challenge themselves by trying to take on two activities.

It was interesting how many students chose to take the test over the project. I for one, HATE tests and as a child never enjoyed spending time after school studying for them. As a teacher, I dislike giving them as well because they do not offer any creative elements for the child who is writing it. So when some of my students chose the test over the project, I was rather shocked.

I am happy I gave my students the option because I loved seeing students debate over both and then finally arrive on their final choice. I think that when I was in university learning about choices for students, I never really understood the feeling over power it would give my future students. It was amazing seeing them weighing their options and I am happy I was able to give them that feeling.

February 15, 2017 Mike Beetham Celebrating Success, Constant Learning, General, Making a Difference Through Education, Modern Learning, Occasional Teaching, self reflection, The Arts

Jack of All Trades, Master of None

I am for sure aging myself here, but for those of you who may not be familiar with this figure of speech it is used to describe a person who is good at many skills but a master of none. That is the best way to describe who I am as a teacher and how I have evolved over my career of learning to be a better teacher.

Far too often we think that in order to use a strategy or tool in our classroom we have to be an expert at it. We don’t! As a teacher I have to be familiar with the content, the methodology and/or the necessary steps but I do not have to be a master of it. I am going to talk specifically to my personal Achilles tendon of teaching, the ARTS. I am in no way a musician, yet I can share my passion for music, lyrics and the powerful messages found in music. I can learn and teach to the curriculum expectations of my grade. I can partake in professional development opportunities to expand my skill set and knowledge. Even after all that, I will still not be an expert as compared to a music specialist.

My greatest accomplishment in the arts has been my work on understanding drama as a teaching tool, learning dramatic content and implementing it into my program. I have never been on stage (other than as an elementary student at Christmas time). I have never been a part of any formal dramatic theme, other than helping clean up after a school event and yet drama is one of the most successful components of my program these days. Each year my team and I take a group of highly volatile behaviour students and put on a formal dramatic presentation that we travel with to various schools within my board to share. We are currently in mid production of this year’s play.

Like in almost anything I was not comfortable with as a teacher, the students’ skill set, passion and innate ability to learn took over and I was just left to facilitate their growth. The second message is that when you share your expertise with your colleagues (collaborative planning) the saying that no one person knows more than all of us holds true. I am writing this for all teachers to understand that is it okay to take risks, it is okay to make mistakes in your classroom and learn from those mistakes and it is certainly okay to be a jack of all trades and master of none.

January 11, 2017 Mike Beetham Celebrating Success, General, Inspiring Teachers, Making a Difference Through Education, Mental Health, self reflection, Wellness

Memories

I remember my first day of teaching as if it had happened yesterday and not 32 years ago. As my journey of teaching continues, there have been countless scenarios that have occurred that brought a smile to my face, made me cry, challenged me, taught me and humbled me. Those are the moments that inspire me each and every day I enter my classroom. About 13 years ago a very passionate and visionary principal I worked with started our year off by giving each teacher an empty box. She then went on to describe how it is up to use to fill that box with memories, moments in time that are like treasures not to be lost or forgotten. Ever since that time I have kept a memory box.

This box is filled with magical moments that I have been a part of in my teaching experiences with colleagues, students and/or their families. There are letters, cards, toys, photographs, trinkets, phone call summaries, thank you cards, trip mementoes, amazing accomplishments of individual students as well as class accomplishments. What goes into that box is anything that reminds me just how precious and important my efforts are and that no effort is wasted. I take the time to go and revisit my box in moments of self-doubt, challenging times or just when it seems that nothing is going right. After just a few moments of revisiting these wonderful experiences I can raise my head and once again forge on filled with confidence and positive energy. I look forward to the day (not too far in the future) when I can stop, reflect back on a career as I take the time to go through each item in my memory box, piece by piece, story by story.

I hope you take the time to stop and smell the roses in your everyday teaching and life. Make a pledge to start your memory box in 2017. Happy New Year!

December 27, 2016 Will Gourley Celebrating Success, Constant Learning, General, Professional Learning and Growth, self reflection

2016, seems like we were just getting started…

https://www.flickr.com/photos/orvalrochefort/2992146699 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ — https://www.flickr.com/photos/orvalrochefort/2992146699
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

It’s too late. Whatever you wanted to share or teach in the classroom will have to wait until next year. I’d have liked a little more time. Was this the case for you too? Fortunately, a return date is just around the corner. Conversely, time away from routines can also restore mind, body, and spirit.

A break like this provides me with time to think about teaching and other pursuits. Usually, it’s catching up with family, over-caffeinating, reading, and blogging. With the school year already 40% complete, our time off serves as both restorative opportunity and cathartic challenge.

This December’s end, I wanted to reflect like it’s June. Think of it as part of my own personal development. I am trying to make sense of things now – in the moment. A resolution, pep talk, or plan of action if you please. This means there are a lot of questions to which the answers are either too simple, or underdeveloped.

Did I miss something? Could I have been more supportive? Did I make the curriculum come alive with relevance for my students? Did they have enough challenge, motivation, and opportunity to learn? Did I prepare enough? Did I assess too little? Too much? Did I give my students opportunity to succeed? Was I supportive to my colleagues? Did I give everything I could? Was my work-life balance maintained?

I am sure the answer to each one of the above questions could be yes. Even the one about work-life balance.

Now what?

Questions like these pervade my thoughts. I’m cannot be alone as a reflective practitioner in our profession. So how do you reflect at this time of the year? How are you de-stressing? Are you able to turn off your teacher brain for 2 weeks? How about checking your email or assessing student work?

Do you think that this changes over a career in education? After 8 years in the classroom, I am trying to see each season with fresh eyes, but still struggle with disconnecting entirely. Saying goodbye to 2016 and hello to 2017 will see me sharing, reflecting, learning, and unlearning as part of a process crucial to a professional pursuit of progress. How about you?

Keep the conversation going. Please share, respond, or retort.
I love hearing about your journey and heart for the art of education.

Happy 2017.

Will

December 11, 2016December 11, 2016 Mike Beetham Celebrating Success, General, Inspiring Teachers, Making a Difference Through Education, Mental Health

Tis The Season To Celebrate

As the holidays approach it is important to sit back, relax, reflect and rejuvenate as you take time to get that balance back in your life. In the mean time, I would like you to celebrate everything you have done to advance your students’ learning and social development by putting in endless hours of lesson preparation, all the small things that are not part of your role, hours of team practices, choir practices and performances, clubs, extra support at recess, calls home, visits, breakfast clubs and on and on and on.

Please take the time to watch the following collection of short videos as they remind us just how important teachers are in a student’s life. ENJOY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN3iLeq1828

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaHJRLoCyWc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tN1U0uu2e4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el6Hu2XQB_k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2MLDW6Uh-E

Category: Celebrating Success

Why our public education system is awesome!