Professional Learning Record

Name: Maddie Zylstra

Part of your development as a professional is to engage in learning beyond your coursework and your CSL/practicum experiences. One of the Standards of
Practice is the “Commitment to Ongoing Professional Learning”. After attending a professional learning community session at the Faculty or in your schools and
the community, take a moment to reflect on the learning that took place.

Date Title Location/Presenter Description* Learning: Key points

September Introducing the Location: uOttawa - Learning about the content on - Accessing the elementary curriculum (K-8)
13th 2022 New Curriculum CRX140 the ministry of education’s new - Resources to help with assessment and evaluation
and Resources Presenters: Heidi curriculum site. regardless of the grade level
Site and Derrick from Learning how to use these - How to access and use sample course plans
the Ministry of resources moving forward in - Upcoming virtual webinars for educators to attend
Education our teaching careers - Suggestion – access “TVO Learn” for new resources
- How to incorporate transferrable skills into my teaching
and classroom
- Teacher supports and expectations/ideas for teaching
different subjects
September Presentation to Location: uOttawa - Navigating the OCT website. - Teaching is a professional self-regulation occupation
27th 2022 Beginning CRX140 Learning more about what the - Ministry of education is responsible for policy, funding,
Teacher Presenter: Ryan OCT is and what they do and curriculum planning at the elementary and
Candidates Reyes from the OCT secondary level
- College certifies teachers and sets ethical standards
- Additional qualification courses are available to OCT
members
September AT/Principal Location: uOttawa - Describing what they expect - Maximize your practicum experience (immerse yourself
27th 2022 Panel CRX140 when we enter our practicum in the community of the school as much as possible)
Presenters: Paul schools, and the mentoring - Conduct yourself with professional integrity
Gautreau, Megan mindset we should be bringing - Show initiative in the school, get involved where
Egerton-Graham, to our placement possible right from the beginning
Michael Curry, - Come prepared with some kind of name game to help
Jeremy Nowiski, learn names and build relationships with students
Linda Hlaing- - Show up ahead of start time – be prepared
Bowen, Kelly Ross, - Be reflective; take things as constructive criticism
Stephanie Allardyce - Introduce yourself and get involved beyond the
classroom
- Classroom routines are important, be openminded and
informed
 - Learning style inventories
- Own mistakes, acknowledge them and move on (laugh it
off)
- Document all forms of communication – will help if
anything comes into question
- Take care of yourself physically and mentally
- Soft skills – positive, resilient, team players, problem
solvers
- Meet office administrators and custodial staff; take time
to introduce yourself to other teachers, tour the school
October EDI: Everyone’s Location: Zoom An authentic and challenging - Make sure people aren’t overarching and just checking a
3rd 2022 Doing It… But Webinar Online dialogue on thinking of equity, box, actually hiring people for their skills and worth not
Are They Doing Presenters: Cici diversity and inclusion (EDI) as to be a token of colour or race
It ‘Well’? Moya, Soukaina more than a box-ticking - Anyone who wants to apply the approach of EDI needs
Boutiyeb, Nathan exercise. to evaluate themselves and their prejudices before
Hall, Awad Ibrahim, Examining the complexities of engaging in that effort
Jon-Ethan Rankin- meaningful change and the - An inclusive future will have ups and downs but in the
Kistabish unique nuances of our long run things will continue to grow and improve
communities. - Change starts within
October Student Location: uOttawa – Share general information - Build the capacity of educators to implement
11th 2022 Achievement CRX140 about the SATE Inquiry. innovative, culturally relevant and responsive curricula
Through Equity Presenter: Chantel Share some other equity within an anti-colonial, anti-racist and ant-oppressive
Initiatives Smith initiatives in the OCDSB. framework
- Improve achievement and well-being for underserved
students via early intervention and support
- Create welcoming and inclusive classroom/school
environments that amplify student/parent/caregiver
voices
- Recognize, value, integrate, and celebrate the diversity
of the classroom, school, and community
- SATE learning coaches – notice, name, and disrupt
structures, practices, and behaviours that are barriers to
student learning; model growth mindset culturally
responsive and relevant pedagogy
- 70:20:10 model – learning coaches focuses on the 10%
(direct learning) then moving to collaborative learning
(20%); 70% is when the coach leaves and the learning is
 done on the job
- Centering the students as agents of change in their
learning
October Ministry of Location: Zoom Review the Ministry of - New documents for the kindergarten growing success
11th 2022 Education: Presenter: Laura Education’s vision for Ontario program
Assessment and Christmann and schools. - The primary purpose of assessment and evaluation is to
Evaluation Deborah Keefe from Be introduced to the Ministry improve student learning
the Ministry of of Education’s Equity and - Seven fundamental principles – found in the ministry
Education Inclusive Education strategy. documents
Be introduced to Board Equity - Teachers and students need to have a clear idea of what
strategies and culturally a learning goal looks like in order to achieve it; develop
responsive and relevant or co-develop success criteria for each goal
pedagogy.
November Maintaining Location: uOttawa – Professional interactions with - Professional boundaries are the verbal, physical,
1st 2022 Professional LMX 203 students. emotional, and social distances that and educator must
Boundaries Presenter: OECTA Legal interpretations and maintain in order to ensure structure, security, and
Representatives applications. predictability in an educational environment
High-risk behaviours, and - Many laws that regulate the teaching profession
preventing problems. - Always keep health and safety as a top priority
- Whatever you do off duty will be a reflection of you as
an educator
- Establish boundaries and maintain them – students are
explicitly aware of how you can interact with each other
- Not the personal intervenor for student’s personal
problems – not their parent, not their best friend
- Maintain professional role and not slide into parental
role/personal relationship
- Don’t divulge personal problems to students
- Don’t be alone with a student with door closed; avoid
behaviours or interactions with students that can be
interpreted as being personal; avoid any type of physical
contact with students when disciplining them
- High risk behaviours – meeting with students on
weekend outside school, gifts or money to one
particular student, one student attention, driving
students to/from school, allowing students to call you
by first name, no student nicknames, exchanging

November Before the Location: uOttawa – Teachers face unprecedented
1st 2022 school bell LMX 203 demands on their time.
rings: Well- Presenter: Karl Tending to their well-being
being practices Fernades (OECTA) need not be negotiable or time-
for teacher consuming. In this practical
candidates workshop, we will explore well-
being as it applies to teachers.
We will develop a conceptual
framework to situate a
teacher's sense of well-being,
identify challenges to the well-
being of new teachers, and
connect to a range of practices
and resources that support
personal well-being.
January Student Injury Location: Zoom This session will provide an
17th 2023 Prevention meeting overview of the legislation,
Presenter: Ministry guidance, and resources
of Education available to support students’
physical safety in the
classroom, on the field, and
during outdoor education
excursions.
personal notes or emails
- Avoid communicating with students late at night
- Know that electronic messages can be manipulated
- Well-being to teachers is unique – demands and
frustration can be directed to us
- Be aware that our role is unique and recognize why it
can be difficult sometimes
- Different aspects of well-being include physical,
economic, social, emotional, psychological, teaching
satisfaction
- Be aware of the mental health spectrum, mental health
is health and needs to be considered always
- Information overload can be negative, be mindful how
much time you are giving to this outside school time
- Tension is related to stress and we can feel it in a
physical way – try the tense and release exercise to help
- Teachers are the foundation level
- Adjust our ways and build healthy habits – positive self-
talk
- Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean me first; it means
me too
- Breathing techniques to regulate stress and mindfulness
- Students need a safe learning environment to maximize
learning
- Have a safety mindset
- Plan activities with safety in mind
- Identify any potential risks and plan accordingly
- Model safe practices for students
- It is your role as an educator to prevent injuries

January School Climate Location: Zoom This interactive session will - The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequalities
17th 2023 and Bullying meeting provide an overview of ministry and disproportionately impacted Indigenous, Black and
Prevention Presenter: Ministry policies related to school other racialized students
of Education climate and bullying prevention - A whole-school approach involving all education and
as well as practical strategies community partners is needed to sustain a positive
informed by students and school climate and bring about necessary systemic
 resource supports for teacher
candidates that can be used to
build and maintain positive
school climates, support
student safety, and foster
caring and inclusive classroom
environments for all students.
January Managing Location: uOttawa Identify the key components of
31st 2023 Challenging CRX 140 classroom management.
Behaviour Presenter: John Enhance positive relationships
through Johnston, ETFO between students and
Supportive and teachers. Increase the
Effective effectiveness of responding to
Classroom student behaviour.
Management
February Mental Health Location: uOttawa An overview of the OCSB
14th 2023 and Wellbeing Presenter: Dr. Mental Health and Wellbeing
at the OCSB Richard Boldu strategy as well as specific
strategies for teachers relating
it to clinical practice. Socio-
Emotional Learning strategies
will also be discussed. The
OCSB will provide a model of
the way a Board of Education
has implemented the Ministry
of Education's policy direction.
February ELL – Location: Zoom An overview of Ontario
28th 2023 Supporting meeting Ministry of Education policies
English and resources to support
Language teacher candidates in
Learners  welcoming and supporting
English language learners in
Ontario’s publicly funded
schools, with a focus on anti-
racism, anti-oppression, and
culturally relevant and
responsive pedagogy.
change
- A positive school climate will support all students
- All students benefit from a safe environment
- Engage parents and guardians in bullying prevention
efforts
- Establish clear routines and expectations with students
- Support students with your routines and expectations
- Greet students when they arrive and let them know you
have an exciting day planned
- Commit to student learning and learn from your
mistakes
- Understand the importance of relationships
- Have fair and predictable consequences
- Social-emotional learning is an important part of
education and human development
- SEL helps people develop the skills needed for
emotional regulation
- We should be creating a safe space in our classroom for
our students to learn
- The ‘third path’ is a relationship-based approach to
student well-being
- Intentional and positive relationships are crucial for
learning and growth
- The documents outline policies that focus on promoting
good outcomes for ELL learners
- The language acquisition policy helps ELL students by
engaging them in learning that develops their talents,
knowledge, and skills
- Many Roots, Many Voices is designed to provide
educators with different practices and strategies to use
when they are working with ELL students
*The description may be copied from the outline in the posting for this event.