Our Learning Journey

Creating a Culture of Thinking

Our Continued Work with Mark Church

We welcomed Mark back to campus last week and his time was spent meeting with individual teachers, co-teaching teams, the MTV Book Clubs, attending our TLC/Innovation Team collaborative meeting, facilitating peer observations and working with us as an entire learning community.  Here are a few glimpses into our work with Mark.  A special thanks to all of you who opened up your classrooms for peer observations and to those of you who made time in your week to participate in the optional learning opportunities.

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Coaching Collaborative

Throughout the year, a small group of teachers and administrators have been exploring how teaching and learning coaches might contribute to the ongoing success of AISC.  Last week, this group came together formally to create the AISC Coaching Collaborative.  Comprised of instructional coaches, teaching and learning technology coaches, EAL coordinators, and a few administrators, this group engaged in a visioning exercise that explored the development of a model of coaching at AISC.  The Coaching Collaborative will continue to meet throughout the spring and we will keep you updated on our progress.

Four years ago AISC set off on a journey of reflection, visioning, and transformation that yielded our Strategic Plan and the powerful Mission that inspires our work. The plan, once merely words on paper, was brought to life and action by a great many of our colleagues, helping to create the learning and work environments we see today and which are still taking shape.

Creating lasting and meaningful change in an organization requires many courageous leaders stepping out of their comfort zone to collaborate, innovate, and reflect. Many of you have done this: you have led or contributed to teams, taken risks, and pursued research to further our understanding of mission-driven learning at AISC.

Together, this important work tells a fascinating story that we and future cohorts of educators can learn from, be inspired by and contribute to.

We want to tell our story.  

We want to publish an anthology authored by you. If you have a story to tell to help illustrate the amazing work that you have contributed to this process, we would be happy to see a proposal.  Successful ideas will contribute to the theme of the book, which highlights the collaborative nature of our work toward a Mission-aligned, adaptive, and innovative school. Pieces may involve looking back or looking forward, and may be personal reflections that include multiple perspectives.

Potential genres for a piece include,

Reflection

Process

Research

How-to / Theory into Practice

Graphical (Infographic, artwork, graphic novel)

If you are interested in contributing a chapter, we ask that you submit your idea using THIS LINK by Wednesday Feb 24th.  Final drafts will be due at the end of April.

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities - Literacy

You are invited to join Andrea in the SHED for the following after-school literacy options. Each session will start at 3:45:

TODAY - Tuesday 16th February- Guided Reading

Tuesday 8th March- Writing Strategy Groups
Tuesday 29th March- Effective Feedback in Literacy (Conferring)

Our Continued Work with Jodi O'Meara

Jodi O'Meara will be joining us again next week from February 23rd - February 26th.  Her calendar has been shared with you and will continue to be populated over the next couple of days. 

Dr. Gini Rojas' Visit

In May 2012, International EAL Consultant, Dr. Gini Rojas conducted an EAL program review at AISC. We are very excited to welcome Dr. Rojas back to our campus. She will be joining us from March 2nd - 4th to review (and celebrate) our progress since her first visit. As you look ahead to March, do know that she will be visiting as many classrooms as she can to see the teaching and learning that is happening at AISC.

SUMMER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES SPONSORED BY THE OFFICE OF OVERSEAS SCHOOLS

There are a number of fantastic opportunities this summer for professional learning.  Check out these and these!

NESA Spring Educators Conference

The Spring Educators Conference is full of professional learning opportunities that are very relevant to our school priorities.  If you still have PLD funding for this year, you should take a look at the options!

University of Northern Iowa (UNI) MAE Global Cohort

This global cohort option may be of interest to you.  AISC has experienced a very positive partnership with UNI over the years. Many of you will remember former UNI student teachers, Courtney Petersen, Mary Mysnyk and Erin Meyer.  Our own Ms. Anna Vanhorn is also an UNI Alum.  I have just learned that a few spots have opened up for the Master's cohort that is starting in April.  This cohort is comprised of applicants from ASB, ASD (Doha) ASD (Dubai), UAS (Dubai) and CAC (Cairo).

Here's a few highlights that our current participants tell us they like best-
• Emphasis on Teacher Leadership
• Personalized learning, even on-line!
• Relevant to international teaching
• 20 month program
• Non-thesis
• In-state tuition offered to all participants (approximately $15,000 USD)
• Option to move obtain principal's license w/ 2 additional courses + internship

If you are interested in the UNI Program, you can contact. Dr. Leigh Martin at leigh.martin@uni.edu.