Author Archives: John Ames

About John Ames

My first Masters degree specialized in Literature and Science of the Late-Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries, focusing on how scientific trends in English and French circles of thinkers, such as Erasmus Darwin (C. Darwin's grandfather) and numerous French Philosophe scientists, influenced 1st and 2nd generation Romantic literature, such as that of John Thelwall, William Wordsworth, Percy & Mary Shelley, and John Keats. In becoming a teacher I quickly became attracted to problems in special education research, embarking on a second Masters' degree in the field that continues to this day as a PhD student. During my Masters I was a Research Assistant for The Libretti of Learning: Portraits of Journeys to Operatic Accomplishment, examining how opera singers overcame learning disabilities through opera instruction: research that sparked my interest to this day. Building upon my interests in community- and place-based learning and evolutionary roots of human emotional articulation, my PhD research looks at how multimodal arts-based methods, especially children's “muzik-theatre,” may promote literacy in writing and reading for students with learning disabilities. One of my collective public aims is to create classroom adaptable training methods that will teach children the elements of creating their own short operas from conception to completion, thus promoting emotional growth through narrative development. It is my hope that through facilitating this method -- adapting one representational signing system to another -- greater cognitive understanding of writing and reading will generalize to learners.

Standard 1: Educators value and care for all students and act in their best interests.

Artifact: Halloween Student Day Killarney Secondary School: October 29, 2010. Reflection: This special day has been a tradition at Killarney Secondary School for the last twenty four years; it was originated to ‘burn up’ the energy of students preparing for … Continue reading

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Standard 2: Educators are role models who act ethically and honestly.

Artifact: Blue Whale Skeleton – Beaty Museum – Opening date, October 16, 2010. Reflection: As an Museum Educator volunteer with the Beaty Museum I have met numerous instructors and subject matter specialists interested in teaching both students and public about … Continue reading

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Standard 3: Educators understand and apply knowledge of student growth and development.

  Artifact: One Room School House in Wells B.C. Grades K-7. Reflection: I had opportunity to teach for three weeks in Quesnel School District during the last three weeks of my practicum, and applied in a morning debate an exercise … Continue reading

Posted in 03: Childrens Growth and Development | Tagged | Leave a comment

Standard 4: Educators value the involvement and support of parents, guardians, families and communities in schools.

Social Anxiety Disorder Brochure Artifact: This artifact is a self-help guide for parents, students and educators on where to find information on social anxiety disorders. Reflection: This brochure was specifically developed to work with parents, students and other educators when … Continue reading

Posted in 04: Role of Parents and Home | Tagged | Leave a comment

Standard 5: Educators implement effective practices in areas of planning, instruction, assessment, evaluation and reporting.

Artifact: “Teach-In” Ancient Chinese Philosophies Reflection: This lesson, based upon the creation of puppets by students made from plain paper bags, was derived from the success of a grade 11 Social Studies class on Canada’s Post-War Prosperity.  Students we asked … Continue reading

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Standard 6: Educators have a broad knowledge base and understand the subject areas they teach.

Artifact: St. George’s Kermis With The Dance Around The Maypole (1620-25), by Pieter the Younger Brughel. Reflection: Conveying broad concepts, such as citizenship and principles of democratic governance, often prove difficult when introducing students to historical issues via text-based materials. … Continue reading

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Standard 7: Educators engage in career-long learning.

Artifact: Philippine Organic Harvest Brochure Reflection: I produced this small pamphlet for my good friend whom I am involved with in assisting Philippine farmers get fair prices for their coffees, cocoa, sugar, and coconut products. Helping farmers secure money for … Continue reading

Posted in 07: Life-long Learning | Tagged | Leave a comment

Standard 8: Educators contribute to the profession.

Artifact: “Re-ordering Creation: Materialism, Monism, and the Scientific Iconoclasm of Eighteenth Century Literature”: Restoring the Mystery of the Rainbow: Literature’s Refraction of Science. Reflection: In 1999 I attended an international conference on Literature and Science at the University of Leiden, … Continue reading

Posted in 08: Contributions to the Profession | Tagged | Leave a comment

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