Powerful Teaching and Learning

Minchau is a professional learning community committed to continually enhancing learning opportunities for students through ongoing professional development. Minchau’s professional development plan supports the teaching and learning framework by continually building expertise and promoting high expectations for learning. A commitment to both personal and collective growth is created within our school through this comprehensive plan.

A Focus on Student Achievement Through SMART Teams

At Minchau, teachers are organized into grade-group SMART teams in which they work collaboratively to improve student achievement in various subject areas. Through these teams, teachers identify areas in need of improvement through data analysis, set SMART goals (strategic & specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, time-bound), research best instructional practices to address these areas, implement them, and then use interim measures to monitor student progress. This is an on-going process designed to continually enhance learning opportunities for students. Through this shared leadership model, a culture of improvement, reflective practice, and shared responsibility for all students is created.

Engagement in Ongoing Professional Development

Ongoing professional development is necessary for educators to continually enhance the art of teaching. The staff at Minchau are committed to honing their skills and talents through active participation in various workshops and conferences.  Teachers have participated in the following:

·        Mini Lessons to Support 6 + 1 Traits of Writing for the Primary Years

·        Deepening Literacy Learning

·        Leadership

·        Enhancing Literacy Instruction using Technology (Div1)

·        English Language Learners Conference

·        Leadership in Technologies

·        Presentation Tools in Technology

·        Beyond Monet with Barry Bennet

·        Special Education Conference

·        Peaceable Schools

·        Cognitive Coaching

·        Teacher’s Convention

Learning From One Another Through School Inter-Visitations

School inter-visitations are an opportunity for teachers to visit classrooms in other schools to share best instructional practices in various subject areas. Teachers at Minchau participate in school inter-visitations throughout the year. This important collaborative work provides teachers the opportunity to enhance their knowledge in relation to teaching, receive and provide feedback in relation to the focus of the visit, and assist in moving our instructional work forward.

A Commitment to the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) : Assessment for Learning

At Minchau, teachers are continually enhancing the use of assessment to guide instruction and improve learning so that there is a clear understanding of where students are at, where they need to go and how they can be supported in getting there. Sound assessments are built on a foundation of five key dimensions:

·        They provide specific information about learning to students.

·        They arise from clearly articulated and appropriate learning targets or curricular outcomes.

·        They accurately reflect student achievement of those outcomes.

·        They effectively communicate results to students.

·        They involve students in assessment, record keeping, and communication to promote an intrinsic motivation to learn.

Assessment for learning has been shown to improve achievement for all students, but interestingly, has the greatest impact on the performance of struggling students. Assessment for learning practices improves students' engagement and motivation to learn.