2011 Innovative Practice Awards 

 

 

David Close – Callingwood School

David Close teaches grade 5 at Callingwood School in Edmonton.  David uses technology as a medium through which his students collaborate online and create digital projects.  He uses Student Portal and Google Docs to develop his students’ skills of 21^st Century Literacies.  The level of student engagement has dramatically increased in David’s classroom, and he has found that students are eager to work on assignments and collaborate with classmates more so than in the past.  He is also a valuable member of his school with his technology “know-how”. He has presented at the District Wide Share Fair and has developed programs within his school for his fellow teachers. The impact of David’s work is evident in classrooms right from Kindergarten to Grade 6.  He encourages and facilitates growth for both students and staff and ensures that they have the tools to learn in the 21^st Century.

 

Judianne Wall – Patricia Heights School

Judianne is an energetic, young teacher who meets the needs of her students through differentiation, technology instruction, and creating lessons generating pure excitement within her classroom.  She engages students by creating incredible drama sets within her classroom to meet the goals of the curriculum.  Through role playing, complete with costumes for both teacher and students, active learning experiences are happening daily.  Whether they are acting as pirates sailing the sea or dressed as scientists, dissecting actual cow eyes, the children really are living what they are learning.

2010 Innovative Practice Awards Synopses

 

 

Daily Fitness - Bonnie Marples of Beacon Heights School

FOCUS Fitness Pilot – this program involved a select group of students who participated in a daily fitness session that raised their heart rates to at least 60% of their maximum heart rate.  The children chosen to participate were students who struggled with staying alert and focused during class.  Studies have shown that after intense exercise, students returning to class have improved alertness, attention and motivation.  It also leads to lower levels of stress, anxiety, depression and increased physical fitness.
Email Bonnie Marples for more information

Chinese Bilingual program - Kildare School Teaching Staff

Kildare School is a Chinese bilingual program site whose innovative practice involved creating a recognition program for Chinese characters to be used on the interactive SMART boards in their school.  Through this technology, teachers noticed an improvement in both student engagement and achievement.  Kildare was recognized as a Showcase School from SMART technologies.
Email Heather Langenhahn for more information.

Students who have experienced a loss in their lives - Linda Parr, Dr. Cameron Morhaleik, and Dr. Erik Wikman of S. Bruce Smith School

The GAP program at S. Bruce Smith is a highly successful counseling program where co-therapists work with students who have experienced loss in their lives.  Students are able to share in an atmosphere of confidentiality and the group builds a strong sense of trust, support and family.  The students who have participated in the program have developed lifelong skills, strong self confidence, self esteem and a sense of purpose in life.  These students have also become role models for others by initiating new programs within the school that recognize students’ acts of goodwill and kindness.
Email Donna.Watson for more information

 

Providing teachers with meaningful PD - PDNetwork 9 Planning Committee

This principal team of highly motivated instructional leaders, worked together to plan Professional Development geared toward creating and strengthening a Profession Learning Community (PLC).  This group demonstrated exceptional leadership by participating and modeling the practices of a PLC.  Their goal was to provide teachers with meaningful PD to encourage quality delivery of curriculum, the setting of standards, and providing collaboration opportunities outside of their school to ensure the best quality of education for all students.
Email Tara Copeman more information about this PLC initiative.

Student Achievement and Behavior for Severe Conduct Disorder Students - The Aspen High School Program

The Aspen High School Program works with students who have severe conduct disorder.  As the school works on both student achievement and student behavior, they have come up with the focus of “Job Embedded Practice” which includes several skill sets that work together to improve both of the areas of focus.  The staff works collaboratively to support each other in all areas to increase credits earned, attendance, successful work placements and student satisfaction. 
Email Dr Shaun Hains for more information about the Aspen High School program

Child-Centered Learning - Grovenor School

Grovenor school staff believes that learning must be a child-centered process.   They have successfully created an environment that supports the needs of all children in a safe and caring environment.  They practice Assessment for Learning strategies, use Gardener’s multiple intelligences theory, differentiated instruction, enriched academics, arts, athletics, and leadership.  They have established a learning community where both students and teachers engage in inquiry, action research and reflection.  This “whole child” education provides direct experience with real world concepts, interactions with peers and supported learning which is the foundation of Grovenor’s philosophy.
Email Leona Morrison to learn more about Grovenor’s Whole Child approach,