The "Playscapes" TLLP has reenergized the educators' teaching

Mme. Francella and her team have been highly motivated, and have shown a deep desire to grow professionally and to deepen their students’ learning and understanding of the environment right from the start of the Teacher Learning and Leadership Program (TLLP). During my school visits and learning walks, I have observed inquiry-based, integrated and experiential learning with a focus on nurturing children’s sense of wonder such that they develop a lasting appreciation for the natural world. So inspiring seeing our youngest learners provided the time and opportunity to experience the natural world in meaningful ways in the classroom, schoolyard and Board’s St. Kateri Outdoor Learning Centre!

From my perspective, the ‘Playscapes’ TLLP has reenergized the educators’ teaching, engaged their students, and transformed their classrooms into exciting learning environments. Educators had to rethink what they do and why they do it. Their inquiry placed students’ questions and ideas at the centre of the learning experience. Educators encouraged students to ask and investigate their own questions about the world around them. Educators integrated literacy, math, science and well-being into the ‘flow of the day’. They further facilitated students’ learning by providing a variety of tools, resources and experiences that enabled learners to investigate, reflect and discuss potential solutions to their questions about the environment, water, air, plants and wildlife. The students were so engaged, enthusiastic and productive!

The educators documented the children’s thinking processes. Observations of student learning, immediate feedback to help move student learning forward, assessment, evaluation and the communication of learning to parents was all evident during the learning journey. Feedback from parents has been extremely positive! Parents want their children to experience the joy of learning in their natural surroundings and they were most appreciative of all the hard work, coordination and planning the educators did in service of their children. I, too, extend my heartfelt thanks to Mme. Francella and her team, administration, staff, students, and parents for making such rich and meaningful learning possible for our youngest learners.

Thank you! Merci! Miigwech!

Maria Esposito, Superintendent of Education