OACS News Service

Ontario Christian School Teachers Association grapples with creating ‘excellent learning communities’
Association commits to four key emphases for next year
Wednesday January 13, 2010 -- Michelle Strutzenberger
As the Ontario Christian School Teachers Association (OCSTA) grapples with its over-arching vision of what it means to create excellent learning communities and provide excellent Christian education, it is committed to four key emphases for the next year, says executive director Diane Stronks.

OCSTA is aiming to provide special education training for all teachers, believing that all teachers need to be aware of the special needs issues that students face in the classroom.

“There’s a passage in Scripture where the most vulnerable parts of the body need to be protected. We’re taking that idea to the classroom,” says Stronks.

“When you protect and take care of the most vulnerable members of your classroom community that speaks volumes to the rest of the students as well about what are we trying to create.”

Continuing its work around the development of professional learning communities among Ontario’s Christian school teachers will be a focus for the year as well.

OCSTA is also committed to introducing restorative practice into Christian schools, exploring what it means when things go wrong between the members of a school community, including students, and how to approach these situations in a way that brings “shalom” to the school.

The association hosted two speakers last year to speak on the subject and also launched a professional learning community for teachers interested in bringing restorative practice into their classrooms.

A fourth activity area, also already in the works, is to continue the delivery of training in “the newest of the new in differentiated learning and differentiated instruction.”

“We’re very interested in the research-based studies on what are the best practices in the classroom for students today,” says Stronks.

“We think that ties in with all of these themes of taking care of kids, honouring kids’ gifts, looking for ways to help them best learn.”

Stronks says a question the association has held up to its teachers is the following: If students aren’t learning, are teachers “really teaching?”

“That’s the question that needs to be in front of us at all times.”

Reflecting on what it means to practice excellence in education, Stronks wrote in an earlier editorial that she believes it includes providing both unconditional support and high standards.

If you have feedback on this article please contact michelle(at)axiomnews.ca, or call the newsroom at 800-294-0051.

The OACS News Service is independently written and produced. The stories are researched, written and posted by Axiom News Service without prior editorial approval from either OACS or their members.

Stories may be reprinted in their entirety with permission and when appropriately credited. Please contact Axiom News at 1-800-294-0051 for more information.