Instructional Capacity

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In this last Pro-D session several members of the 150 Mile staff went to the Bryan Gidinski workshop. Staff learned ways to weave reading, writing and oral language into layered instruction. Teachers also gained a better appreciation for necessity of comprehensive scaffolding when starting new language arts lessons.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/4b1ef18d-116e-44a7-b97a-ae5cb8779b6d" alt="Literacy with Bryan Craig Munroe" width="308" height="411" style="width:308px;height:411px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Many SD27 educators recently participated in a four-week Outdoor Learning course designed to strengthen Social Emotional Learning (SEL) practices. Each 60-minute session offered practical strategies to support student wellbeing through nature-based experiences.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Over the four weeks, educators explored:</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-Mindfulness and self-awareness through sit spots, nature observation, and journaling.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-Social awareness and communication through cooperative outdoor play and group activities.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-Emotional regulation and perseverance through outdoor challenges that require patience and problem-solving.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-Ethics, stewardship, and community-building using Indigenous pedagogies and land-based learning.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This learning series expanded instructional capacity by equipping teachers with simple, powerful routines that connect SEL and the outdoors—strengthening both classroom practice and student engagement.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/8bc725e3-8479-48f0-ba37-56d1d04107f5" alt="Outdoor SEL kimberley ikebuchi" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/e2c06472-82a6-4430-bb57-6126fd91a38d" alt="Outdoor SEL 2 kimberley ikebuchi" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Julie Knevel hosted "The 6 Minute Solution" literacy workshop today at 150 Mile. This literacy program is a hands-on student oriented literacy program that helps students concretely see their fluency and accuracy reading skills progress. I had 80% of my teaching staff attend and they are incredibly excited to begin this program in their classes.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Jessica and Roland from HCTF (Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation) spent the afternoon with staff teaching them about Project Wet activities which augment our WILD school activities. Topics such as the water cycle, properties of water and water on the Earth were covered in detail. This workshop will be followed up with students doing place based learning activities next week!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/518b2d9a-fda2-42d7-95ff-8273edb0f9eb" alt="51 Craig Munroe" width="368" height="276" style="width:368px;height:276px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Many teachers at 150 Mile gathered to learn more about RTI (Response to Intervention) as it applies to the many facets of learning but specifically to literacy. Julie Knevel, with her vast knowledge in early literacy strategies and skill development, hosted the morning workshop. This workshop is a focal point for developing our school wide literacy program based on evidence based instructional practices supported by ongoing assessment. Truly a worthwhile workshop to attend, I am excited about the next steps for our school.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/cc291f93-62ab-4ba3-84c9-16a25c23d662" alt="49 Craig Munroe" width="494" height="370" style="width:494px;height:370px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">150 Mile Elementary was recognized by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation in the WILD Schools Outdoor Education Program. 150 Mile was recognized for being the school putting in the most professional development hours for a school in the province! Over 80% of our dedicated staff have voluntarily put in 25 hours of professional development learning how to better educate students in the outdoors.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/710411ff-73ef-4fc0-bdb1-97a5a8601613" alt="thumbnail image001" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Staff at 150 Mile continued their WILD Schools learning with Jessica and Roland from HCTF Education. Focus was local plant identification and how to maintain native species on the school grounds and in the local area.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/fdcda3e1-0a78-4de0-8fd4-a4d04388f2e3" alt="WILD Schools" width="732" height="549" style="width:732px;height:549px"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">150 Mile Elementary had Bryan Gidinski from the Learning Series leading two writer's workshops. Mrs. Iverson's Grade 2/3 class and Mrs. Vath's Grade 5/6 classes learned key elements to expand the quality, and also quantity, of their writing efforts. Enthusiasm and desire for students in these classes to write and journal is now at an all time high!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/64ca1f11-b4f3-4916-bea6-ed804f856627" alt="Writing Workshop" width="842" height="545" style="width:842px;height:545px;float:left"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/17b5084d-cd32-4a29-b3c0-f9de89508176" alt="Writing Workshop" width="406" height="541" style="width:406px;height:541px;float:left"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">On a wildly windy and rainy day the staff at 150 Mile Elementary went outside with the WILD School instructors, Jessica and Roland, to explore types of math lessons that can be done outside. Here we are learning how to approximate the height of trees.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/5273da0b-c5e7-56af-b274-edf6dfca06ae" alt="yykmt6hg.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All the classroom teachers at 150 Mile Elementary came together in the afternoon of the September Pro-D day to learn abut lesson planning for outdoor learning activities. Focus areas for lesson development included migration, habitat, plant identification and food chains but also many more. Thank you to WILD schools for sharing their expertise.&nbsp;</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/1dc1faa9-f52a-542a-b87a-b34406c66cba" alt="p8t9to9q.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div>