On September 23, all teachers from Chinook School Division were engaged in professional learning activities at a variety of locations.

Teachers, Kindergarten to Grade 8, continued learning about First Steps in Mathematics. First Steps was developed by the Department of Education in Western Australia and the students in that state rank among the world’s top academic performers in mathematics. Teachers will explore and learn about the 10 modules in First Steps over the next year. This program focuses on building teachers’ understanding of the big mathematical ideas so that they can make accurate decisions about their math instruction.

Other Chinook teachers worked in teams to plan for the implementation of new curriculum. This includes Math, Science, Welding, ELA (English Language Arts), Social Studies, Physical Education, Health, Arts Education, and Practical and Applied Arts.

Teachers engage in a variety of professional learning experiences personally throughout the school year, and in meetings outside of school hours. In addition to this personal commitment to improved professionalism, the Chinook Board provides 4 school closure days throughout the year which are dedicated to additional professional development.