May 1 2024 • Issue #55
Learning opportunities and initiatives demonstrating commitment to Thames Valley's Strategic Priorities and Operational Goals
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Math Problem-Solving at
Byron Northview Public School
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I enjoyed my visit to Byron Northview Public School, where I had the opportunity to learn about their school-wide focus on problem-solving!
Their grade 8 classroom knows that math does not occur in isolation – math is used in all areas of our lives! I was able to see how the students learn from real-life problems, use concrete tools and strategies to work through them, and achieve real-life solutions. The numeracy skills they are learning in the classroom are applicable to everyday life.
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The TVDSB Math Action Plan includes 3 Priorities.
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Priority One: Know You Curriculum & Teaching Strategies
- Implementation of K-12 Math Curriculum and High-Impact Instructional Practices
- Professional Learning related to Math Curriculum and High-Impact Instructional Practices
Priority Two: Know Your Math Content
- Professional learning to support educator confidence teaching math and effective instruction that supports student confidence in math
- Promote and provide financial support for educators to pursue math additional qualifications courses
Priority Three: Know Your Students
- Use a variety of formative assessment tools and screeners
- Focus on social-emotional learning strand of curriculum to support student confidence
- Intentional student supports plans for multilingual learners and students with special needs
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Math Games Evening at
Oliver Stephens Public School
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Students and caregivers at Oliver Stephens Public School in Woodstock were invited to a Family Math Information and games night. With the help of Classroom Math Support and De-streamed Classroom Support teachers Hannah Lebel and Pamela Pion, and students from the Leadership Program at their partner secondary school, College Avenue, Oliver Stephens created a Groundhog Day themed evening where families visited different stations throughout the school to participate in various math activities, including math reading, math board games, groundhog food recipes, coding, Geoboards, and more! | |
Throughout the evening, parents and caregivers were told about Oliver Stephens’ School Improvement and Equity Plan and the work the school is doing in mathematics. Part of this evening was sharing how the students are learning and engaging with math at school every day. The school also shared several ideas and resources with families that can be used at home to continue the conversation, learning and further development and understanding of math skills and concepts. The evening was well attended, and families left with books, resources, and board games to support math skills at home. | |
Knowledgehook in the Classroom | |
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Knowledgehook is an online math tool for in-class and at home learning, designed to give students greater ownership of their math education. The lessons and resources are curriculum-aligned and interactive. This tool helps teachers to view their student’s progress, understand where their students are at with their learning, and provides engaging math activities for students.
Teacher Testimony:
“Over the past 5 years at East Carling, I have utilized Knowledgehook to positively impact student engagement in the classroom over a variety of grades. I have personally used the program in grades 4 - 8 during my time at East Carling P.S. and can attest to the positive impact that it can have. The use of gameshows within the classroom helps with consolidating our learning at the end of a lesson, and when used at the start of a lesson, is also an effective hook to capture the attention of the class. Additionally, my students find the leaderboard on these tasks to be a great external motivator. Knowledgehook has had a positive impact on the students’ ability to see themselves as math learners and has an effective reward system to support achievement along the way.”
- Jeremy Marin, Grade 7/8 Homeroom teacher, East Carling Public School
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EQAO - Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics | |
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Beginning in late May and through June, students currently enrolled in Grade 9 de-streamed math will be participating in Ontario’s provincial assessment of Grade 9 mathematics through EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office).
The Grade 9 EQAO math assessment assesses the skills students are expected to have learned by the end of the Ontario Grade 9 de-streamed mathematics course. Prior to completing the official provincial digital assessment, every student in Thames Valley will be provided an in-class opportunity to complete the Sample EQAO Test. This will allow the student to become familiar with the digital assessment platform and the features and tools that can support their success. Your child’s teacher will communicate the Sample Test dates with their class.
The EQAO Grade 9 assessment will take place at Thames Valley schools following the practice Sample Test days. This date will be provided to your child by their teacher. Please be sure to contact your child’s school if you are uncertain of these specific dates.
The provincial digital assessment is linked to the Ontario curriculum. The assessment results will be included as 5% of their final mark for the course. Therefore, we encourage students to demonstrate their knowledge and skill and prepare for success on this assessment.
If you wish to learn more about the EQAO Grade 9 assessment, visit the EQAO website. This site also contains informational videos for families. Please contact your child’s math teacher and/or the school office if you have additional questions about your child’s learning in mathematics or the EQAO Assessment.
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High-Impact Instructional Practices at
East Carling Public School
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Teacher Testimony:
"In grade 6 at East Carling, we value High-Impact Instructional Strategies and as a school improvement and equity plan (SIEP) we decided that many of these strategies can be utilized during daily “math talks”. Working alongside our Classroom Math Support Teachers (CMSTs) has helped develop positive learning environments that have helped our math learners develop confidence in these techniques, such as math conversations, involve different practices such as (but not limited to) using tools and representations and involve various styles of problem-solving. This allows our students to discover learning at their own pace and develop their mathematical language before being introduced to the learning goals and success criteria of the lesson. With flexible groupings and small group instruction, our students can “warm up” their brains before direct instruction and deliberate practice that opens the door for effective descriptive feedback. We value the use of co-created anchor charts that our students use on a regular basis to guide their learning and has resulted in great improvements in the confidence of our math learners. Working alongside our CMSTs has helped develop positive math learning environments at East Carling that have helped our students develop confidence and take risks, while enjoying their learning."
-Conor Elliott, Grade 6 Teacher, East Carling Public School
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Ealing Public School staff engage in
Mathematics Professional Learning
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The staff at Ealing Public School have recently engaged in multiple occasions of professional learning focusing on High-Impact Instructional Practices in Mathematics.
During the April 8 Professional Development Day, staff explored three high impact strategies that are part of the implementation of their School Improvement and Equity Plan. These strategies included teaching about problem-solving, tools and representations, and problem-solving tasks and experiences.
Staff from Ealing also engaged in Math professional development during their staff meetings. In Fraction Tasks Talk, the teachers work on problem-solving with fractions. As a group, the staff found a common task across the grades and teachers created anchor charts to go along with that concept, showing the progression from JK/SK up to Grade 8.
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Kinesthetic Math Learning at June Rose Callwood | |
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Grade 1 students at June Rose Callwood Public School practiced using kinesthetic learning to improve their math skills! In this exercise, students used a number line to solve subtraction and addition questions using movement.
In more hands-on math, the grade 1 students at June Rose Callwood have also been working on shape sorts. In these exercises, students must decide how to group the shapes, and justify their decisions.
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"Be a Math Superhero" Family Math Night at Caradoc North Public School | |
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Caradoc North Public School was excited to welcome parents and caregivers to their first Family Math Night! The event’s theme was “Be a Math Superhero,” as we all possess math superpowers! The evening started with a brief presentation thanking everyone for attending and highlighting that when schools engage families in ways that are linked to improving learning, students make greater gains. This presentation also shared the school’s math goals and reviewed myths about fact fluency.
Families then explored 5 classrooms that contained a variety of games that link the Ontario Curriculum to fact fluency for Kindergarten to grade 6. There were also several math provocations and estimation activities posted in the hallway. The School Council also donated math games that we held draws for. Grab bags were given to each family that included 6 commercial board games spanning K-6, a folder with several PDFs of Family Night Math Games booklets purchased from Box Cars and One-Eyed Jacks, a small bag containing the game items, and a resource booklet containing ideas that parents and caregivers can use to promote mathematics within the home. The evening was a great success!
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April was another busy month for the Trustees' Office!
Trustees were honoured to have the opportunity to listen and learn at the Sikh Community Engagement Session on April 17 and the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Community Engagement Session on April 24.
Trustees Christian Sachs and Arlene Morell were pleased to take part in a Community Planning and Facility Collaboration Opportunities Meeting for Middlesex County earlier in the month, to help inform our accommodations planning.
Capital projects are moving along, with Thames Valley awarding the construction tender for the new Woodstock elementary school and child care centre.
At this month’s Regular Board Meeting, Trustees supported plans to ask Lord Roberts French Immersion Public School families to vote on three potential new names for their school. We also approved several motions related to the Oxford North Elementary Attendance Area Review, with the goal of balancing enrolment and establishing an attendance area for the approved new school in north Woodstock. You can watch a recording of these decisions and more on TVDSB’s YouTube channel, where our Regular Board Meetings are live streamed.
You can also give your feedback on several Public Input items online, including the Student Dress Policy and Procedure and School Councils and Procedure.
Finally, the Board was pleased to recognize our incredible system committee volunteers at our Volunteer Appreciation Reception at the Education Centre on April 22. Thank you for everything you do for Thames Valley!
We were also thrilled to join in construction kick-off celebrations for two new London schools and child care centres on April 29.
For more updates, please see News - TVDSB.
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Meet Trustee Arlene Morell | | |
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Greetings,
It has been a pleasure to serve in public education as a TVDSB Trustee for Middlesex County since my initial election in 2014. I am incredibly proud to be a lifelong resident of Middlesex County. My children are graduates of TVDSB and my grandchildren attend schools in Middlesex County.
In addition to local Trustee responsibilities, I serve as Western Region Council Chair for the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, where I am proud to be a leader and an advocate, promoting OPSBA’s voice in public education.
Prior to becoming a Trustee, I gained invaluable insights as a parent member of school councils and Home and School Associations. It was this experience with my children’s school that led to my involvement as the President of the Ontario Federation of Home and School Association and the inaugural chair of the Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee. Today, I am pleased to continue supporting parent leadership by attending local school meetings and events, connecting with parents and community leaders.
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As a Trustee, building relationships and community is important to me along with promoting safe and inclusive working and learning environments, as well as meaningful family engagement. I believe our caring school staff and administrative leadership make Thames Valley schools truly great places to learn and work, where students flourish.
Beyond my role as a Trustee, I am actively involved with provincial and national organizations, I serve as an Advisory Committee member to the Ed Can Network, supporting their focus in fostering supportive workplaces. I’m also a member of the National Advisory Committee for the Prime Ministers Awards for teaching excellence.
In my free time you will find me enjoying lacrosse, and spending time with my grandchildren.
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