West Bay Elementary and Cypress Park Primary teachers spent part of their Non-Instructional Day (Thursday, April 21, 2016) exploring the First Peoples Principles of Learning. We examined Jo-anne Chrona's amazing resource/blog, First Peoples Principles of Learning
(https://firstpeoplesprinciplesoflearning.wordpress.com) and then made connections to our IB Units of Inquiry and how we can bring the principles to the forefront in our classrooms. We also had posters made for classrooms.
(https://firstpeoplesprinciplesoflearning.wordpress.com) and then made connections to our IB Units of Inquiry and how we can bring the principles to the forefront in our classrooms. We also had posters made for classrooms.
Principles of Learning Poster
http://www.fnesc.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PUB-LFP-POSTER-Principles-of-Learning-First-Peoples-poster-11x17.pdf
http://www.fnesc.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PUB-LFP-POSTER-Principles-of-Learning-First-Peoples-poster-11x17.pdf
Principles of Learning and West Bay's Learning Commons
Teacher Librarian, Julie Hunt
www.strongnations.com
Teacher Librarian, Julie Hunt
- the goal of the library is to match resources to teacher’s units of inquiry – most of the directives have come from the teacher’s requesting Aboriginal literature that ties into their specific units
- During library time, Julie connects Aboriginal resources with units but also uses non-Aboriginal resources and connects to the Aboriginal Principles of Learning
- Over the last year, she has purchased many new books with Aboriginal content and is sensitive to aboriginal resource selection
- Julie believes that it’s important to have different aspects of our culture represented in the books we read
- There is also a section in the library of local books that have a Northwest Coast focus
www.strongnations.com
- Went with the intention of meeting the needs of the teachers for their units of Inquiry
- Terry Mack, Author and owner of publishing house led the workshops
- She discussed the importance of choosing Aboriginal resources carefully and ensuring that they are either written by an Aboriginal person or with the permission
- She also stressed that books discussing Aboriginal culture in the past should be reassessed, as this presents misleading information. For example, “Squamish people used to dance and wear regalia.” This statement is not true, as this is still practiced in 2016.