Tag Archives: BCTF

Module 1 Post 4

Hidden History is an interactive e-book that offers resources to educators on the history of residential schools in Canada, which is part of the grade 4/5 curriculum I teach. It includes information on the formation of residential schools, the practices within, and consequences. It also looks towards reconciliation and the role of teacher in this process. I found the six steps outlined by project of the heart particularly impactful as action that can be taken within the classroom. It expands beyond “teaching about” and gives teachers a stepping stone for helping students listen to the stories of survivors and to take social justice action. It is a collaboration between the BC Teacher’s Federation (BCTF) and Indigenous peoples of BC, and offers some authentic voices along with a western written history.

Hidden History E-Book

Project of Heart information

Further resources related to Project of the Heart

 

MOD #1 POST #2: BCTF Professional Development Workshops

https://bctf.ca/pd/workshops.aspx?id=233054

The British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) has a series of workshops available for teachers, ranging from resources for employment equity for Aboriginal Educators to teaching resources. One of my research interests is learning about how we can support teachers, so they feel comfortable integrating Indigenous perspectives and ways of knowing in their classrooms. Availability to professional development resources and workshops is one way we can support teachers. The website mentions virtual workshops and there are three adapted for online facilitation, Infusing Aboriginal Content (K-9), Project of Heart, and UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. I do not know if these are available online because of the ongoing global pandemic and if they will continue to be available online post-pandemic. According to the website, workshop costs are covered by the BCTF, but schools need to provide facilities and supplies.

From BCTF (2021), the criteria for booking a workshop:

  • booked through the Professional and Social Issues Division
  • facilitated by BCTF facilitators who are classroom teachers
  • require at least three weeks’ advance notice
  • for groups of 15 to 30 (special circumstances and small schools exempted)
  • for intact teacher groups, school staffs, etc.

 

References

BCTF (2021). Professional and social issues workshops program. British Columbia Teachers’ Federation. https://bctf.ca/ProfessionalDevelopment.aspx?id=38669#process