WHAT'S NEW -DECEMBER 2003

PLANNING FOR INSTRUCTION

Welcome to the website for the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards (COATS). This area of the website changes monthly. The theme for this month will be of interest to teachers, administrators, and parents who are exploring the topic of planning for instruction. The section below identifies weblinks related to this subject. We hope that you find this website to be a valuable resource. For quick reference bookmark http://www.teachingquality.ab.ca today!

WEBSITES AND ARTICLES RELATED TO PLANNING FOR INSTRUCTION

Alberta Programs of Study Guides
Alberta Learning
Edmonton, Alberta
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/curriculum/bySubject/

Alberta Learning is responsible for developing programs of study for Alberta's 600,000 students. This webpage presents curriculum online by subject in the form of the Alberta Program of Study Guides. The Guides articulate the standard learning outcomes prescribed in the province for Kindergarten to Grade 12. Core programs and optional programs are clearly distinguished. Amendments to the Guides for 2003 are also included on this webpage. Further electronic resources can be found at these related links:
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/BackToSchool/Curric_article.asp
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/curriculum/
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/curriculum/other.asp
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/connection/default.asp?language=e&EditionID=39&CategoryID=CRU

Canada's Digital Collections. 2003.
Canada's SchoolNet
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/E/index.php

Here is a collection of resources for instructional planning that is worth examining. These resources are rich in Canadian content focusing on Canada's history. The contents can readily be searched by subject area or alphabetically. In addition, under the heading of educational resources, the website provides a searchable database of particular educational activities, including lesson plans as well as activities for the classroom. Contents are searchable by type of activity, age level, province and language. This website is part of Canada's SchoolNet http://www.schoolnet.ca/home/e/.

Curricular Starting Points
©2003 2Learn.ca Education Society of Alberta
Telus Learning Connection
http://www.2learn.ca/currlinks/stpointsmenu.html

Technology presents new approaches for planning instruction. This website presents a set of curriculum resources according special attention to ICT (Information and Communication Technology). These online curriculum resources were developed in Alberta and are related to the Alberta Program of Studies. Many of the resources available at this website have been developed by teachers. Some of the tools provided can help construct classroom materials and activities based on the programs of studies for grades 1-12. Other tools can assist teachers with conducting customized searches for specific curriculum resources. The Education Society of Alberta and Telus Learning Connection developed this webpage. Those unfamiliar with this website can take the 2learn tour offered at: http://www.2learn.ca/mapset/new2net/2LearnTour/2LearnTourOverview.html.

Curriculum, Standards and Results. 2003.
Alberta's Commission on Learning
Edmonton, Alberta
http://www.learningcommission.gov.ab.ca/commission.asp?LID=146

This webpage encapsulates the status of Alberta's Program of Studies by focusing on statements of Alberta's Commission on Learning that refer directly to the curriculum, provincial standards and learning outcomes. These comments deal first, with the overall purpose of the Program of Studies and then describe its principle features, including core and optional areas. Finally, the statements speak about the achievements of Alberta's students as recognized in a variety of provincial and international assessments. This webpage is linked to webpages dealing with other facets of Alberta's Commission on Learning report, released in October 2003 (http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/Commission/).

Developing Instructional Leaders. 2002.
Lashway, L.
http://eric.uoregon.edu/publications/digests/digest160.html

The notion of instructional leadership is constantly evolving. In ERIC Digest (#160), Lashway makes the case that at the present time leadership in instruction is key to leadership in the school. The current situation of instruction is characterized by a particular attention to standards-based accountability; there is a need to demonstrate that students are learning. Consequently, teachers and principals now require particular kinds of instructional skills that were not previously necessary. The article alludes to a variety of best practices in schools. Universities and school districts are challenged to provide opportunities for instructional leaders to develop the required skills. The digest contains suggestions for further study and will be of interest to teachers and principals who wish to play a lead role in instructional planning.

Differentiation of Instruction in the Elementary Grades.
Tomlinson, C. A.
http://www.ericfacility.net/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed443572.html

In this ERIC Digest (ED443572), Tomlinson addresses the subject of differentiated instruction for the elementary grades. Diverse kinds of students provide the initial impetus for differentiating instruction. The author starts with a basic definition of differentiation and then explains how it may occur on the basis of content, process, products, and learning environment. The justification for this practice lies in maximizing the learning potential of each student. The practice does require a great deal of flexibility on the part of the teacher. In addition, the author offers advice on what factors can lead to successful differentiation. References for further study are included.

Glossary of Instructional Strategies
©1996-2003 PlasmaLink Web Services.
http://glossary.plasmalink.com/glossary.html

This online glossary is provided as a service to all educators. It catalogues some 880 individual strategies and methods for instruction. Some strategies are simply named, but many of the individual entries in this glossary are linked to further electronic resources that elaborate or explain the particular approach. The collected strategies range, for example, from the traditional lecture, to mind maps, to songs and chants as well as to storytelling. An alphabetical index provides assistance in accessing item descriptions strategies. This resource will be of use to teachers who wish to expand their repertoire of instructional approaches and to enhance their students' learning experiences. This electronic resource remains under construction.

Planning for Instruction. 2003.
Calgary Board of Education
Calgary, Alberta
http://www.cbe.ab.ca/linknlearn/Planning.htm

This webpage posted by the Calgary Board of Education exhibits the planning for instruction involved in the implementation of a new health curriculum-the Health and Life Skills K-9 program of studies from Alberta Learning. The presentation, in a pdf version of PowerPoint format, reveals the instructional strategies chosen to achieve the program's learning objectives. The presentation is divided into three major parts: (1) planning for instruction, (2) instructional activities, and (3) resources and activities. This webpage is enhanced with an extensive collection of linked documents that grew out of the project's records. Taken together, the presentation and background documents provide a wealth of insights into the process of instructional planning at the level of a school district.

Programs at St. Thomas More. 2002.
St. Thomas More Catholic Junior High School
Edmonton, Alberta
http://www.stthomasmore.ecsd.net/programs.htm

The website from St. Thomas More Junior High School in Edmonton demonstrates evidence of instructional planning at the school level. The website reveals how the Alberta Program of Studies can be combined with other offerings. The basic structure of the school's program is based on the Alberta Program of Studies. The school's program identifies core instruction as well as complementary instruction. In addition, the school's offerings make available the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program as of 2002-2003. Recognizing that parents play a significant role in the learning of their children, the website also makes curriculum handbooks available for parents online.

Resource and Lesson Plan Links. 2000.
Faculty of Education, AISI Team
University of Alberta
http://www.quasar.ualberta.ca/AISI/LessonPlanlinks.htm

This website provides a ready point of access for teachers in a wide variety of subject areas. In this massive collection, the AISI (Alberta Initiative for School Improvement) Team at the University of Alberta has identified links for teachers who are seeking lessons plans and other curriculum resources. This website brings together links to lesson-plan websites under subject areas of the Alberta Program of Studies. Subject headings include Drama, English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Technology among others. The website also brings together an assortment of links to websites with general curriculum resources.

Resources by Subject. 2003.
Statistics Canada
http://www.statcan.ca/english/kits/teach.htm

On this webpage, Statistics Canada collects resources and online links for teachers of particular subject areas. The 17 subject areas range widely, from aboriginal studies to history, languages, mathematics, and social studies. The resources provided regularly fall into three categories: lessons, articles and data. The items are flagged with indications of their suitability for particular age levels. An alphabetical list of lessons plans facilitates access to and navigation of this resource. In addition, descriptions of a variety of teacher's kits are available at http://www.statcan.ca/english/kits/kits.htm.

Teachers and Librarians: Collaborative Relationships.
Russell, S.
http://www.ericfacility.net/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed444605.html

This ERIC Digest (ED444605) highlights the professional expertise that school librarians are able to make available to teachers as they plan classroom instruction. Cooperative relationships between teachers and librarians have the potential to enhance the success of instructional planning. Teachers bring to such a partnerships a close knowledge of students' abilities and interests, while library media specialists bring a thorough understanding of information skills. Russell makes specific references to related Canadian research. Team planning, when supported by school administration, can heighten the success of teacher-librarian collaboration. Such collaboration holds a great deal of promise but does require time to develop. References for further study are provided.