The spirit of collaboration was alive and well at North Otter Elementary this week, as nearly 40 teaching students from UBC came to the school to listen and learn from experienced District teachers.
The subject Thursday (February 13) was literacy - specifically as it relates to early learning. UBC students gathered in the gym to hear hands-on teaching advice from North Otters' Kindergarten, Grade 1 and 2 teachers, while also taking part in an in-depth exploration of the research and science behind literacy instruction.
The event "served as a valuable opportunity to extend the District's expertise and foster collaboration with the next generation of educators," said North Otter principal Daniel Woelders.
The collaboration between North Otter Elementary and UBC's teaching program began, Woelders said, after the school realized how much both staff and visiting student-teachers benefitted during the latter group's practicums at the school.
"We recognized that while teacher candidates at North Otter benefitted from extensive hands-on literacy training, the experience wasn't universal among all incoming educators," he said. "In response, we engaged with local universities to explore ways to bridge this gap. UBC soon reached out, inviting us to host a workshop that would provide their cohort with a comprehensive, research-informed, and practical approach to literacy education."
"We operate in a highly collaborative district, where we teach and learn from one another, and it would be a shame not to celebrate and share that expertise with other educators."
Thursday's session focused on, among other things, teaching strategies for getting all young students to learn how to read, spell and pronounce words, while also making the experience fun and memorable. Ensuring that all students - regardless of how quickly they learn - have firm grasps on the basics is equally important, Woelders said.
"Literacy is such an integral part of early education. Gaps in reading and writing that don't get addressed often become significant barriers in academic development. Educators need to be equipped to deliver high quality instruction, recognize when learners are struggling, and implement timely and targeted interventions to get them back on track."
