top of page
Develop
Looking for your next professional development opportunity? Whether you'd like to attend in person, or are looking for a self-directed web-based option, we've got a few suggestions and links to get you started.
Self Directed Professional Development
Find your resource, your guiding questions, and your purpose in the following 10 websites.
Guaranteed to enlighten you and enrich your classroom practice!
1
Resource:
Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice Throughout the K-12 Curriculum
Guiding Question(s):
What does diversity and social justice look like in my school and classroom?
How do I visually represent these concepts?
Description:
-
Includes lesson plans and strategies for all subject areas and levels
-
Provides rationale for promoting awareness and understanding of diversity and support for social justice
-
Supported by policy and legislation regarding BC school system
2
Resource:
CASEL
Guiding Question:
​
How can we promote SEL in students with a focus on mental wellness?
​
Description:
-
CASEL stands for “Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning”
-
Provides lesson plans, multi-media resources, links to other sites focused on social emotional learning in the classroom and beyond
-
Connects to all diversity and respect month activities and can be used to extend conversations and encourage empathy
3
Resource:
ERASE
Guiding Question(s):
​
What are the complex issues facing students and how do foster communication?
Description:
-
ERASE stands for “expect respect and safe education”
-
a BC government website that supports school communities in fostering safe and inclusive spaces
-
includes resources not only for teachers, but for students, parents/guardians, and the community
-
Topics include bullying, school safety, stigma, anti-racism, and substance use
-
includes easy to follow lesson plans and strategies
4
Resource:
The Alberta Teacher’s Association Anti-Racism Compilation
Guiding Question:
How do we promote awareness and understanding of the diversity that exists within our society through our lessons?
Description:
-
Provides resources for learning and teaching about racism and anti-racism curated by The Alberta Teachers Association
-
A comprehensive “webography” itself with links to numerous websites and instructional strategies to promote diversity and inclusion in schools
5
Resource:
Embedding Bullying Prevention in Core Curriculum: A Teacher’s Guide K–12
​
Guiding Question:
​
How can belonging and mutual respect be fostered from our art classroom to our school culture?
Description:
-
This is a U.S. Site but is a one-stop shop for a myriad of relevant websites, resources, lesson plans, and teacher guides dedicated to anti-bullying and violence prevention
-
Has cross-curricular and multi-grade level resources
-
This is one to add to your bookmarks
6
Resource:
It Gets Better Project
​
Guiding Question:
​
How do we support our LGBTQ+ community through our class culture?
​
Description:
​​
-
lesson plans for teachers, as well as glossary of terms, video links fostering allyship and understanding
-
Provides links for students who may need support outside of the classroom.
-
Supports and extends our LGBTQs
7
Resource:
​
Canada FBM2021. Picking Up the Pieces: The Making of the Witness Blanket [Video].
​
Guiding Question(s):
​
What does it mean to have your cultural identity suppressed?
How, in the act of witnessing, can we move towards truth and reconciliation? How is art powerful?
Description:
-
A moving film documenting the construction of the large art installation ”Witness Blanket” made from hundreds of items reclaimed from residential schools, churches, government buildings and traditional and cultural structures across Canada
-
Viewer discretion advised (teacher to preview and anticipate)
8
Resource:
Edutopia: Why Representation Matters
​
Guiding Question:
Why does representation matter in art and how do we improve representation in our school community?
​
Description:
​
-
Blog post that includes a comprehensive article on promoting education equity
-
Links to lessons, strategies, and other amazing websites such as learningforjustice.org
-
Includes professional development opportunities and SEL resources for teachers
9
Resource:
Five Moore Minutes: Inclusive Education: It's not more work, it's different work!
​
Guiding Question:
​
What is inclusive education and how do we foster it in our classrooms?
Description:
-
Focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion with an emphasis on student well being
-
Offers lessons, instructional strategies, planners, and extremely engaging videos to foster empowerment in students with diverse needs
-
Created by Teacher, researcher, writer and consultant Shelley Moore
10
Resource(s):
1) Video: Are You Okay? Website: Fight Child Abuse
2) Koyczan, Shane. To This Day Project
Guiding Question(s):
​
How do we practice and promote empathy and anti-bullying in our schools?
​
Description 1:
​
-
A moving animated short film in response to the rising number of online bullying cases amongst youth
-
Visually expresses the definitions of bystander, victim, bully, and ally
Description 2:
​
-
Poet Shayne Koyczan gives a first-person account of his experience with being bullied
-
Both supplements for Pink Shirt Day activities
bottom of page