Highlights in This Issue

Volume 11, Number 2 Winter 2010

• Editorial

—Professional Development Matters..................... 1

• UpcomingATAEvents.......................... 2

• ProfessionalLearningforInformedTransformation:The2010ProfessionalDevelopmentSurvey... 3

• Reminders................... 3

• FeatureWorkshop—Collaborative

Learning.................. 4

• Links............................ 4

• BetweentheStacks—The Leader Who Had

No Title: A Modern Fable on Real Success in Business and in Life........................... 5

• InYourNeighbourhood—Professional

Development in the North (or What I Learned in Fort Chipewyan)............. 6

• SpecialistCouncilProfile—Fine Arts Council.... 8

• LookWho’sTalking—International Teacher

Exchange and Student Exchange Services... 9

• Àvotreécoute!.......... 11

Editorial

Professional Development MattersMichael Podlosky, Coordinator, Professional Development

Happynewyear!ItrustyourChristmasbreakgaveyoutheopportunityfor

relaxation,timewithfamilyortravel.Asweturnto2011,professionaldevelopmentwillcontinuetobeamajorfocusofattentionanddiscussion.

Iinviteyoutotakeadvantageofeveryopportunitytoleadandshapetheconversationsthatwillultimatelydefineakeyaspectofourprofession.Teacherqualityandthecriticalroleofongoingteacherprofessionalgrowthareseenasmajorfactorsinstudentsuccess.ThetrendintheUnitedStatestobaseteacherpayonstudentachievementdemonstratestheridiculousextremesofsomepolicyinitiatives.WehaveseenhowtheOrganisationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment(OECD)hasusedtheProgramforInternationalStudentAssessment(PISA)toleveragepolicydevelopment.Ithasnowdevelopedasecondanalyticaltool,TeachingandLearningInternationalSurvey(TALIS),whichclaimstoprovide“groundbreakinginsights”intofactorsthatliebehinddifferencesinlearningoutcomesinPISAresults,suchasprofessionaldevelopment;teacher

beliefs,attitudesandpractices;teacherappraisalandfeedback;andschoolleadership.

Someofthepolicyimplicationsofthesedirectionsarealreadyevidentthroughgreaterdemandsonteacherstocontinuouslyupdatetheirknowledgeandskills,toaccesshigh-qualityPD,andtoincreasefocusoninductionandmentoringofnewteachers.OtherconsiderationsarelikelytofocusontheamountandtypeofPDundertaken,theimpactofdifferentformsofPDonteachers’workandthePDneedsofteachers.TheAlbertaTeachers’Associationwillbeworkingcloselywithothereducationstakeholders(includingtheprovincialPDconsortia),andhasreceivedaconditionalgrantfromAlbertaEducationtoundertakeamajorresearchstudytoexamineaspectsofteacherefficacyandPD.

Youmayfindthefollowingtwodocumentsofinterest:

• Professional Development in the United States: Trends and Challenges: Phase II of a Three-Phase Study,byRuthChungWei,LindaDarling-HammondandFrankAdamson

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(www.edweek.org/media/nsdcstudytechnicalreport2010.pdf)

• Teachers’ Professional Development: Europe in International Comparison,ananalysisofteachers’professionaldevelopmentbasedontheOECD’sTALIS(http://ec.europa.eu/education/school-education/doc/talis/report_en.pdf)

Pleasetaketheopportunitytoinformtheconversationaroundprofessionaldevelopment.TeachersstillhavetimetoprovidefeedbackonAlbertaEducation’sBackground Paper: Professional Learning for Teachers in Alberta’s K–12 Education System.Pleasecompletetheonlinesurveyathttp://engage.education.alberta.ca/other-initiatives/proflearn,individuallyorwithyourPDcommitteeorexecutive,beforeMarch 31.

Ilookforwardtocelebratingtheprofession’songoingcommitmenttohigh-qualityprofessionallearningattheupcomingteachers’conventionsaroundtheprovince.

Upcoming ATA EventsJanuary

28 Integrating Citizenship Education into Alberta Classrooms (Conference)

February

10–11 Central Alberta Teachers’ Convention

North Central Teachers’ Convention

17–18 Calgary City Teachers’ Convention

Northeast Teachers’ Convention24–25 Palliser District Teachers’

Convention South Western Alberta Teachers’

Convention Southeastern Alberta Teachers’

Convention

March

3–4 Greater Edmonton Teachers’ Convention

10–11 Central East Alberta Teachers’ Convention

Mighty Peace Teachers’ Convention

17–19 First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Council Annual Conference

29–April 5 Edmonton Catholic/Edmonton Public Spring Break

April

14–16 Career and Technology Studies Council Annual Conference

15 PD Facilitators’ Meeting Convention Association Spring

Meeting15 (eve)–16 Spring Professional Development

Area Conference (PDAC)15–17 Middle Years Council Annual

Conference22–24 Easter Weekend29–May 1 End of Easter Week

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ThistimelyresearchdocumentwasreleasedattheFallProfessionalDevelopmentAreaConference(PDAC),andisnowavailableinprintandonline.Administeredtothe

chairsofATAlocalPDcommittees,withresponsesrepresenting89percentoflocals,thePDsurveyprovidesperspectivesonabroadrangeofPDissuesacrosstheprovince.Thesurveyinstrumentsincludeanonlineportionwithvariousnumericalanddescriptiveresponseoptions,andacharttocollectinformationaboutPDresourcesatlocalandjurisdictionallevels.PDleadersinATAsubgroupsareencouragedtoconsiderthePDsurveydatawhenplanningevents,collaboratingwithothersandadvocatingforteachers’PDneeds.Considerhostingadialoguewithyourjurisdictionalstafforschoolboardtrusteestoadvocateforpowerfulplanningprocesses,orusetheinformationasastartingpointtoassesstheeffectivenessofyourcollaborationwithotherlocals,specialistcouncils,regionalPDconsortiaandconventionorganizations.

ThesurveyresponsesindicateconsiderableconcernaboutthetimeandresourcesavailabletosupportparticipationinPD,andaboutteachers’abilitytodirecttheirownprofessionalgrowth.Surveyparticipantscelebratedthebenefitsof

professionallearningcommunities,aswellastherangeandbreadthofPDstructuresavailabletothem.FurtherinvestigationisneededonhowtobestmeetthePDneedsofsubstituteteachersandthosenewtotheprovinceorcountry,andhowtofurthersupportthementorshipofbeginningteachers.ThefullreportexplorestheseandotherPDissuesindepth.

ThereportalsofeaturesanexecutivesummaryandalistofresourcesavailabletomembersthroughtheATAlibrarydatabase.AcompanionPowerPointpresentationhasbeencreatedforATAPDleaderstousewhensharingthisinformationinagroupsetting.Foraccesstothispresentation,contactyourregionalstaffofficerorvisitthePDcollaborativewebsite.

MemberscanorderprintcopiesofthispublicationatnocostfromBarnettHousebycontactingDistribution(780-447-9400,ext321,inEdmonton;1-800-232-7208elsewhereinAlberta).Nonmemberscanordercopiesforanominalcost.TheelectronicdocumentcanbefoundontheATAwebsite(http://www.teachers.ab.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/ATA/Publications/Research-Updates/PD-86-18%20Professional%20Learning%20for%20Informed%20Transformation.pdf).

Commentsandsuggestionsarewelcome.E-mailGayleneSchreiberatgaylene.schreiber@ata.ab.ca.

Professional Learning for Informed Transformation: The 2010 Professional Development Survey

Gaylene Schreiber, Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development

Reminders:

Please be advised that the date of the Spring Professional Development Area Conference (PDAC) has been changed to April 15 (evening) and April 16. The date for the PD Facilitators’ Meeting and the Convention Association Spring Meeting has changed accordingly to April 15.

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Feature Workshop

Collaborative LearningJoni Turville, Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development

Inordertolearn,studentsneedtodomorethan

justlisten.Collaborative learningcanbethoughtofasanumbrellatermforavarietyofapproachesinvolvingworkingingroupstomutuallysearchforunderstanding,solutionsormeanings,ortocreateaproduct.Theunderlyingpremiseisthatknowledgeisconstructed,discoveredandtransformedbythelearner,andexperiencescanbepurposefullydesignedbyteacherstofacilitatethisprocess.

ThenewATACollaborative Learningworkshopexplorestheconceptofcollaborativelearning,withanemphasisonpracticalstrategiesthatcanbeusedintheclassroom.Essentialelementssuchaspositiveinterdependence,interaction,accountability,andinterpersonalandgroupworkskillsandprocessesareexplored.Theroleofcollaborationindigitalspacesisalsodiscussed.

Considerbookingthisnewinteractiveworkshopforyourschool,districtorotherPDevent.Thecostisonly$100(plusGST).Forfurtherinformationortobookaworkshop,pleasecontactProfessionalDevelopmentatBarnettHousebyphone(780-447-9485inEdmonton;1-800-232-7208,ext485,elsewhereinAlberta)orbye-mail(pdworkshops@ata.ab.ca).

Links

Learning Forward (formerly National Staff Development Council)www.learningforward.org/index.cfm

American Educational Research Associationwww.aera.net

Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortiawww.arpdc.ab.ca

A Guide to Support Implementation: Essential Conditionswww.essentialconditions.ca

Alberta Education’s Excellence in Teaching Awardshttp://education.alberta.ca/teachers/excellence.aspx

Curriculum Coordinator Cornerhttp://education.alberta.ca/apps/cccorner/

Guide to Education 2010–2011http://education.alberta.ca/admin/resources/guidetoed.aspx

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ATAPDleadersaretheunsungheroeswhoaftertheirregularteachingdayarehardatworkrunningPDmeetings,writingproposals,organizingPDevents,seekingoutappropriate

venues,coauthoringarticles,dealingwithvenuelogistics,balancingimpossiblebudgetsortravellingtoeventsonblusterywinterSaturdays.ThelistofresponsibilitiesforaPDleaderisendless.Ifyouareoneoftheseamazingpeople,thisbookisforyou.

InThe Leader Who Had No Title,RobinSharma,abest-sellingauthor(The Monk Who Sold His FerrariandThe Greatness Guide)andleadershipguruontheFortune500circuit,sharesafewofhissecretsintheformofamodernfable,onethatmade

mewanttoreadfurther.Sharma’sfableopenswithGandhi’swords:“Inagentleway,youcanshaketheworld.”Sharmaalsosuggeststhat

Regardlessofwhatyoudowithinyourorganizationandthecurrentcircumstancesofyourlife,thesinglemostimportantfactisthatyouhavethepowertoshowleadership.Whereveryouareinyourcareer,orlife,youshouldalwaysplaytoyourpeakabilities.

Nomatterwhatleadershippositionweholdoraspireto,Sharmasharesstrategiestohelpusclaimourpowerashewalksusthroughaseriesofleadershipconversationswithothers,includingahousekeeperandagardener.

ThemainprinciplesespousedbySharmaare:

• Youneednotitletobealeader.• Turbulenttimesbuildgreatleaders.• Thedeeperyourrelationship,the

strongeryourleadership.• Tobeagreatleader,firstbecomea

greatperson.

TheheroofthefableisBlakeDavis,abookstorestockingclerk.Therearemanylessonstobelearnedfromhimandforus,includingthefollowing:

• howtoworkandinfluencepeopleregardlessofyourposition

• amethodtoreorganizeandseizeopportunitiesintimesofdeepchange

• astrategytobuildagreatteam• hard-hittingtacticstobecomementally

strongandphysicallytoughenoughtoleadinyourfield

• real-worldwaystodefeatstress,buildanunbeatablemindset,unleashenergyandbalanceyourpersonallife

InoureverydaystrugglestogiveflighttoourPDvisionanddreams,torekindleourpassionandtomaintainthedeterminationneededtoseeprojectsthroughtocompletion,Sharmashowsusthatwhenweawakentheinnerleaderwithinus,wewillleavethingsbetterthanwefoundthem.

The Leader Who Had No Title: A Modern Fable on Real Success in Business and in LifebyRobinSharmaFreePress,2010204pages

Françoise Ruban, Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development

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In Your Neighbourhood

Joni Turville

AsIsatinthetinyplanegazingatthebreathtakingsunriseovertheregionnorthofFortMcMurray,Iwasstruckbythevastnessofthelandbelowmeandthedistancethat

laybetweentheplaneandtheremotecommunityofFortChipewyan.ThephysicaldistanceseemedtomeanappropriatemetaphorasIreflectedontheworkshopIwasabouttodowithstaffatthelocalschool.On-sitePDcanbehardtocomebyinremotecommunities,andthecostofattendingworkshopsofferedinlargercommunitiescanbeprohibitive,soIhopedtoprovideausefulinteractivelearningexperienceforthemainlybeginningteachersatthisschool.

ThefriendlyspecialeducationcoordinatorandItookabrieftourofthetownsitebeforeIorganizedmymaterialsfortheworkshop.FortChipewyanistheoldestcommunityinAlberta,butitremainstiny,consistingofapproximately1,000people(includingthoselivingontwoCreereservations).Ontheshoresofbeautiful

Professional Development in the North (or What I Learned in Fort Chipewyan)

LakeAthabasca,thesceneryisspectacular.Attheedgeofthetownlimits,theentrancetotheiceroadtoFortMcMurraylooms.Whenitopens,typicallyinDecember,itisanextremelybusyroute,withmanypeoplemakingthefour-and-a-half-hourtrektoFortMcMurray.TheroadisusedforhaulinggoodsandsuppliesthataremoreexpensivethaninAlberta’smaincitiesbecauseofadditionaltransportationcosts.Iwasinformedthattheothertransportationalternativeisabargethatrunsupanddowntheriveronatripthattakesbetweentwoandsevendays,dependingonhowmuchbackhoeingtheyneedtodoifthewaterlevelsarelow,andonhowmuchfishingisdonealongtheway.

Aswetouredthearea,Iwasastonishedtodiscoverthatinthelocalstoreafour-litrejugofmilkcostsapproximately$14.00,anEnglishcucumberis$7.89andapoundofbaconis$14.00.Whiletheywereappreciativeofmyworkshopsupplies,theteachersIspentmydaywithexplainedthatthebestgifttobringtoFortChipistoiletpaper.Atmorethan$1.00perroll,itisoftensomethingthatpeoplebringbackfromlargercentresforoneanother.Ihadnoideajusthowmuchmoreteachersinruralnorthernareasmustpaytowardbasiclivingexpenses.Schoolexpensesarealsoconsiderablyhigher,withupto40per cent

Heavy machinery is needed to maintain transportation options.

A northern Alberta sunrise in November

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manyofthesameissuesasotherteachersaroundtheprovince—increasinglydiversestudentneeds,limitedsupportservicesandresources,communityissues,andcurriculumoutcomesthataredifficulttomeetgiventhecomplexclassroomrealities.TeachersinFortChipewyanaremuchliketheirsoutherncolleagues:warm,funny,friendlyandfocusedonhelpingstudentssucceed.InFortChip,asinmanyschools,teachersworktogetherandsticktogether,helpingoneanotherouttostretchmeagreresources.

AsIjourneyedhome,Ireflectedonmybrieftimeinthecommunityandmarvelledattheenthusiastic,caringandcompassionateteachersIhadmet.Thenexttimesomeonemakesassumptionsbasedonteachers’experiencesinurbanorsouthernrealities,IwillthinkaboutmydayinAlberta’sremotenorth,andadmirethepeoplewhochoosetolive,workandthrivethere.

The fireplace in the school entrance both warms the feet and provides a sense of community.

greatercostsassociatedwithbasicteachingresources,suchasaphotocopierandpaper.

Duringtheworkshop,IdiscoveredthatteachersinFortChipewyanaredealingwith

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Fine Arts CouncilGayla Worden, President, Fine Arts Council

TheFineArtsCouncil(FAC)oftheAlbertaTeachers’AssociationhasbeeninexistencesinceApril1963.TheFACembracesthedisciplinesofmusic,art,drama

anddancewithoutobscuringeachone’suniqueness.Ifyoubelievethattheartsarebasictolifeandfundamentaltothedevelopmentofthehumanspirit,thattheyofferuniquewaysforchildrentolearnthroughtheirsenses,thattheyhelpdevelopcritical-andcreative-thinkingskillsinchildren,thattheyenablestudentstomakeinformedchoicesanddecisions,andthattheyenhanceone’sculturalandindividualidentity,thenyoushouldbecomeamemberofthisspecialistcouncil.

TheFACservesasacommunicationlinkbetweenfineartsteachersandtheircolleagues.Itsupportsteachersthroughinserviceandmentorship;liaiseswiththeGovernmentofAlbertaanditsagencies;influenceslocal,regionalandprovincialpolicymakers;contributestocurriculumdevelopment;providesfocusforcommoninterestgroups;andaffiliateswithotherspecialistcouncilsandsupportorganizationsatthelocal,regionalandprovinciallevels.OurmembersalsopresentattheBeginningTeachers’ConferencesinbothEdmontonandCalgary.Oursessionsarewellattended,asteacherslooktousforthesupportthatmanydistrictsnolongeroffertheirfineartsteachers.

TheFAChasestablishedstrongnetworkswithmanyofourpartnersineducation.

WeworkwiththeregionalPDconsortiatoprovidePDforteachers.Weliaisewithotherspecialistcouncilstoshareideasand,inthefuture,mayworktogethertopresentjointconferences.WehavealsopartneredwiththeAlbertaBandAssociationandareinvestigatingwayswecanworktogethertokeeptheessenceofthefineartsaliveinAlbertaschools.Wecontinuetobeactiveinadvocatingfortheartsasthegovernmentlookstoupdatefineartscurricula.

BenefitsofFACmembershipincludediscountedratesforthecouncil’sannualconference,regionalinservices,MADDDashworkshopsandasubscriptiontothejournalA Fine FACTA.Recently,wehavehadtwosuccessfulconferences—2009inKananaskisand2010inCalgary—andplantohostthe2011conferenceinCalgaryonOctober27–29.WatchforpreliminaryinformationaboutthisconferenceontheFACwebsite(http://fac.teachers.ab.ca).

TheFAC’smembershipnumbershaveincreased,andteachersareremindedthattheymustrenewtheirmembershipeverySeptember.TalktoyourfineartscolleaguesandencouragethemtogettheirfreeannualmembershiponlinethroughTNET(www.teachers.ab.ca).

Aswemoveintothe21stcentury,wemustcontinuetobuildourmembershipbase,exploreallavenuestoofferPDforourmembers,advocateforthevalueofourartsprograms,buildleadershipcapacityandsupportnewteachersinthefinearts.Ifyouhaveapassionforthearts,weaskyoutobecomemoreinvolvedinyourcouncil.Thiscanbeassimpleastalkingtootherteachersaboutourcouncil,talkingtotheFACexecutiveaboutyourideasorrunningforanexecutiveposition.Manyhandsmakelightwork,andyourpassioncanmakeadifference!

Specialist Council Profile

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TheATAispleasedtowelcomeanewprogramtoourbuilding.ComingtousunderagreementwithAlbertaEducation,threenewstaffmembersareheretoansweryourquestionsaboutteacherandstudentexchanges.

Introducing Sara Coumantarakis

IamdelightedtobebackattheATAafteralongabsence.Previously,IwasatBarnettHousewiththeAlbertaGlobalEducationProjectandthenwithSafeandCaringSchools.InowreturnasthecoordinatoroftheTeacherExchangeProgram,whichhastraditionallybeenhousedwithAlbertaEducation.

IholdaBA(English)andanMEd(interculturalandinternationaleducation)fromtheUniversityofAlberta.MyfirstteachingpositionwaswithEdmontonPublicSchools,soI’malwayshappy

Look Who’s Talking

International Teacher Exchange and Student Exchange Services

toreceiveexchangeapplicationsfromcolleaguesthere.IhavealsoworkedwithLearningNetwork,theprofessionaldevelopmentconsortiumfornortheastAlberta.

IfyouareinterestedinteachinginAustralia,theUK,Switzerland,DenmarkorGermany,orinanotherCanadianprovince,pleasecontactmeat780-447-9400(ext628)orsara.coumantarakis@ata.ab.ca.Formoreinformation,visitwww.educationexchangealberta.ca.

Introducing Lisa Lozanski

Pleasedtomeetyou!IamthenewestadditiontotheEducationExchangeteam.IhavehadthepleasureofworkingwithProfessionalDevelopmentstaffandspecialistcouncilspriortomyarrivalinOctober.Lastyear,Iassistedindevelopingtheworkshop“BeyondGoodIntentions:

PartneringwithSchoolsinDevelopingCountries,”andfrom2006to2008,IwastheglobaleducationadvisorfortheATA’sGlobal,EnvironmentalandOutdoorEducationCouncil.

MyinterestinallthingsinternationalbeganatayoungageandwasfuelledbymystudiesattheUniversityofCalgary,whereIcompleteddegreesininternationalrelationsanddevelopmentstudies.IcomplementedmyeducationwithpositionswiththeCanadianInternationalDevelopmentAgency,IndianandNorthernAffairsCanada,andtheCanadaWestFoundation.

(left to right) Lisa Lozanski, Sara Coumantarakis, Katherine McGeean

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Mostrecently,IworkedinAlbertaEducation’sInternationalEducationBranch,whereIdevelopedresourcessuchasA Guide to International School PartnershipsandThe Handbook for International Education Administrators.IwaspleasedtoberecognizedbytheAlbertaCouncilforGlobalCooperationasoneofAlberta’stopglobalyouthleadersof2010.

Ifyouneedmoreinformationonourexchangeprogramsorifyousharemypassionforglobalprojects,I’dlovetotalkwithyou.Youcanreachmeat780-447-9400(ext627)orlisa.lozanski@ata.ab.ca.

Introducing Katherine McGeean

IampleasedtobepartoftheEducationExchangeProgramteam.HavingworkedwiththeStudentExchangeProgramsince2008,Ihaveenjoyedworkingwithteachers,studentsandparentsfromacrosstheprovince.Currently,IamcoordinatingtheAlberta–Spain,Alberta–Mexico,Alberta–Germany(Hesse)andAlberta–Quebecstudentexchangeprograms.Thisyearweareworkingwith77studentsand48teachersat36schoolsinoursixprograms.

IreceivedmyBAfromtheUniversityofAlberta,andin2004,IcompletedmyMAindisputeresolutionattheUniversityofVictoria.IwashonouredtobeawardedaCIDAInnovativeResearchScholarshiptopursuemythesisworkinpostconflictsituationsinCentralAmericawiththeRedCross.

Ihavebeenworkingintheinterculturalfieldandwithinternationalexchangesinoneformoranotherforover20years.IhavehadtheprivilegeoffacilitatingtheinterculturallearningofyoungadultsandtrainingstaffwithCanadaWorldYouthandCanadianCrossroadsInternationalinseveralcountriesinCentralAmericaandAsia.Morerecently,IhavebeendelightedtointernforseveralsummersattheSummerInstituteforInterculturalCommunicationinPortland,Oregon(www.intercultural.org).Attendingtheinstitutehasallowedmetoenrichandindulgeinmypassionforinterculturalcommunicationandlearning.

AsaqualifiedadministratorfortheInterculturalDevelopmentInventory(whichisadaptedfromBennett’sDevelopmentalModelofInterculturalSensitivityandwhichcanprovideameasureofinterculturalcompetence),Ihavealsobeenlookingathowwedeveloptheinterculturalcompetenceofstudentsparticipatingintheexchange—boththroughourpredeparturetrainingandtheInterculturalStudies35course,whichisbeingpilotedwithsomestudentsfromourprogram.

Ifyouwouldlikemoreinformationonthestudentexchangeprogram,thesummerinstituteortheinventory,pleasegivemeacallat780-447-9400(ext629),ore-mailmeatkatherine.mcgeean@ata.ab.ca.Moreinformationonthestudentexchangeprogramcanbefoundatwww.educationexchangealberta.ca.

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À votre écoute!Rapport de Françoise Ruban

2010s’estécouléeàunevitesseinfernalepourmoietpourbeaucoupdenosmembresquienseignentenfrançais.Justeavantl’arrivéedelanouvelleannéeetdefutursdéfisàrelever,lemoisdedécembreestpropiceàlaréflexion.C’estpourquoijevoudraispartageravecvousicilesproposquej’aitenusilyaquelquesjoursdevantcertainsd’entrevous.

Eneffet,le3décembre,j’aieuleplaisirdesouhaiterlabienvenue,aunomdel’ATA,auxparticipantsducolloque « Lefrançais en salle de classe : Ça bouge! », uncolloquepourlesenseignantsetconseillersdes

programmesd’immersionfrançaiseorganiséparEdmontonRegionalLearningConsortiumetMetroEdmontonRegionalFrenchImmersionProgramming(MERFIP).Cettejournéepédagogiqueapermisauxparticipantsdecollaborer,d’approfondirleursconnaissancesetderéfléchirsurdiversthèmestelsquelapédagogied’apprentissaged’unelangueseconde,lesnouvellestechnologiespourmotiverlesélèves,l’évaluationetl’améliorationdescompétenceslangagièresdesenseignants,lanouvelleorthographeetl’apprentissageparlarésolutiondeproblèmes.

Voicidonc,aprèsmesvœux,mondiscoursd’accueil,empreintdenostalgie,d’optimismeetdesagesse.Jel’adressemaintenantàvoustous,enseignantscourageuxetdévouésquejerespecteinfiniment,carc’estvousquiouvrez,chaquejour,lesportesdusavoiretdel’aveniràvosélèves.

Passezdebonnesvacancesdefind’annéeetreposez-vousbien.Tousmesvœuxlesplussincèresderéussite,santéetbonheuren2011!

« Delapartdelaprésidente,MmeCarolHenderson,etdetousmescollèguesàl’AlbertaTeachers’Association,jevoussouhaitelabienvenueàcecolloque.Celamefaitchaudaucœurdevoirautantd’enseignantsd’immersionfrançaiseréunisicipourseperfectionner,seressourcer,nouerourenouerdesamitiésdanslebutde“réseauter”pourmieuxenseigner.Eneffet,vousêtesdeplusenplusnombreuxàenseignerenfrançaisenAlbertaetl’avenirdel’immersionestenpleinessor.Voussavez,toutcelaacommencéiln’yapassilongtemps…

Enfaitsi,ilyalongtemps,trèslongtempsmême…Jemesouviensdujouroù,toutejeuneetnouvellementarrivéeduManitoba,j’aifrappéàlaporteduCalgaryBoardofEducationquirecrutaitpoursespremièresécolesd’immersionfrançaise.J’étaisenseignantedébutante,spécialiséeenanthropologieetfrançaislanguepremière.Etbienjemeretrouvais,peudetempsaprès,devantles21petitsvisagesd’uneclassed’immersionde1reannéeàl’ÉcoleWestgate.Oui,cefutunvraibaind’immersion,unbainnonseulementlinguistiqueetculturel,maisaussipédagogiquepuisquejem’étaispréparéeàenseignerlefrançaispremièrelangueausecondaire.

Cependant,jesuisvitetombéeamoureusedecespetitsboutsdechouxquim’arrivaienttouslesjours,lesourireauxlèvres,l’aircoquin,lesyeuxpétillantsetavidesd’apprendre!Ilsfaisaientdeseffortsprodigieuxpours’exprimerdanscettenouvellelangue!Ilsn’avaientaucuneréticence,aucunecrainte!Jeressentaisl’espoirnaitreenmoi,l’espoirnonseulementdelesvoirdevenirunjourparfaitementbilingue,maisaussil’espoirdevoirceprogrammeuniqueetprometteurgrandirenAlberta.Jel’avoue,jesuisundes“dinosaures”del’immersionenAlberta!J’ai

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enseignéunpeupartoutdanslaprovincependant30bellesannées,deLethbridgeàEdmontonetmêmesurlabasemilitairecanadiennedeLharenAllemagne.

J’aibeaucoupappris.J’aidécouvertque“çabougeait”,eneffet,danslesprogrammesd’immersionfrançaise,etqueçadonnaitenviedes’ydonneràfond,etmêmed’allerau-delàdel’apprentissaged’unelangueetdel’appréciationd’uneculture!Enseignerenimmersionc’estunepassionetilfautl’assouvir!Eneffet,lesenseignantsquitravaillentenimmersionsontdifférentsdesautresenseignants!Etpourquoineseraient-ilspasfiersdeleursdifférences?Leurapprochepédagogiqueesteneffetdifférente,leurlangued’enseignementestdifférenteetleurcheminementprofessionnelestdifférent!

C’estdoncàeuxd’informerleurentourage,leurcommunauté,lesparents,leurscollèguesetmembresdeladirectionoudupersonnelscolairedecesdifférences.Etc’estàvous,enseignantsd’immersion,d’exigerdesservicesdifférentspourmieuxenseigner.C’estàvousdesoutenirlesorganismesquisontlàpourvousaider :l’ACPI(l’Associationcanadiennedesenseignantsenimmersion),MERFIP,CPF(CanadianParentsforFrench),leCampusSaint-Jean,lesConsortiumsprovinciauxdeperfectionnementprofessionnel,l’ATAetleConseilfrançais,entreautres!Vousêteslesleadersdel’immersionfrançaise.C’estàvousd’assurersonavenir!

L’AlbertaTeachers’Associationoffredenombreuxservicesàsesquelque43 000 membres,dontlesenseignantsenimmersionfrançaisedisséminésdansplusde200écoles,deMedicineHatàGrandeCache.Depuis2008,annéedemonentréeenfonctionàl’Associationausecteurduperfectionnementprofessionnel,jesuis,entreautres,responsabledetroisdossiersimportants :celuidumentorat,del’aideinternationaleetdesservicesenfrançais.

L’ATAoffredesateliersdeperfectionnementprofessionnelenfrançaisetnosdeuxtraductrices,MesdamesVioletteBigeatetRégineToalfontdeleurmieuxpourtraduireautantdedocumentsquepossible.Touslessecteursdel’ATA,Direction,Serviceséconomiques,Perfectionnementprofessionnel,TQSetServicesauxmembresoffrentdesservicesenfrançais.Mêmeàlabibliothèquedel’ATA,MadameConchitaRico,techniciennetrilingue,seferaunplaisirdevousservirenfrançais,etplusvousréclamerezdeguides,livresouvidéosenfrançais,etplusnouspourronsenacheterd’autres.Alors,n’hésitezpas :c’estsimple,gratuit,etvouspouvezvousrenseigneretpassercommandeenligne!Etfinalement,nousavonsleConseilfrançais,l’undes21Conseilsdespécialistesdel’ATA,porte-paroledetouslesenseignantsenprogrammesd’immersionouécolesfrancophonesenAlberta.

N’hésitezdoncpasànouscontacter,carnoussommeslàpourvous,etnoussommesàvotreécoute! »

orthographe

nouvelle