Ms. Wheeler
Teacher-Librarian at Ridgemont High School
Office: RHS Library
Contact me: laura.wheeler@ocdsb.ca
Twitter: @wheeler_laura
Blog: mslwheeler.wordpress.com
Ms. Wheeler:
Teacher Librarian at Ridgemont High School
Certified Pear Deck Coach; presenting at EdTech Team summits around Ontario & Québec
OSSTF Collective Bargaining Committee branch representative and member of the local bargaining team.
Lead Associate teacher at Ridgemont; coordinating our school's student teachers w/ their associate teachers.
Speaking about Ms. Wheeler on a podcast: "Quintessential teacher, right? Sees something, is inspired by it, and says 'how can I use this in my classroom? ... Here's something powerful; how can I bring it to my students?' And then gets to work on it. I love that!" - Stephen Hurley
I am:
the Digital Lead Learner for Ridgemont HS; working with colleagues to evolve their digital pedagogy according to the SAMR model & advocating for student & staff technological needs.
a teacher supervisor for the x-country running team and the fitness centre (weight room).
responsible for maintaining & updating the social media accounts for Ridgemont HS.
the curator of a weekly school-wide newsletter sent to all staff and student inboxes with information about opportunities and events for the coming week
I have been:
a presenter at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference
Moderator of #BFC530 - a daily 15 minute Twitter chat at 5:30am
an Acting Department Head of Physical Education & Library
OSSTF Branch President, supporting staff
a co-organiser of EdCamp Ottawa
a moderator of #OttEdChat
Math Subject Coordinator for the OCDSB Summer School program
a seconded Professor to the University of Ottawa (Technology in the Classroom, 2017 Winter; Intermediate Mathematics, 2014 Fall)
an associate teacher to many teacher candidates from the University of Ottawa as well as McGill University over the last 19 years.
an NTIP mentor to new teachers in the OCDSB.
a teacher supervisor for Link Crew, Gay-straight alliance, Photography club, volleyball team, and Ridgemont's leadership camp.
a presenter at OAME; introducing Math teachers to Peter Liljedahl's "Thinking Classroom" research and strategies.
active in the MTBoS; the math twitter blogosphere.
a presenter at Education Technology conferences such as ECOO & EdTech Team Summits
a supervisor for overnight Outdoor Education trips; hiking, canoeing & winter camping
Courses I have taught:
Math; MPM1D, MFM1P, MFM2P, MPM2D, MAP4C, Gr.8 Math (QC), ELD Math (grade 2-5 level math for ELLs)
Science; SNC1D/1DF/1P, SNC2DF/2P, SBI3U, Gr.8 Science & Technology (QC)
Civics & Careers; CHV2OF, GLC2OF (in French)
Géographie; CGC1DF (in French)
Core French; FSF1D/1P
Link Crew; IDC3O/4U
Information & Communication Technology for Business; BTT1O
I have my specialist in Teacher Librarianship as well as Teacher Leadership.
I also have my French as a Second Language part 1 qualification.
I illustrated a book!
Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K-12
14 Teaching Practices for Enhancing Learning
by Peter Liljedahl - Simon Fraser University
A thinking student is an engaged student
Teachers often find it difficult to implement lessons that help students go beyond rote memorization and repetitive calculations. In fact, institutional norms and habits that permeate all classrooms can actually be enabling “nonthinking” student behavior. Sparked by observing teachers struggle to implement rich mathematics tasks to engage students in deep thinking, Peter Liljedahl has translated his 15 years of research into this practical guide on how to move toward a thinking classroom. Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K–12 helps teachers implement 14 optimal practices for thinking that create an ideal setting for deep mathematics learning to occur. This guide
Provides the what, why, and how of each practice and answers teachers’ most frequently asked questions
Includes firsthand accounts of how these practices foster thinking through teacher and student interviews and student work samples
Offers a plethora of macro moves, micro moves, and rich tasks to get started
Organizes the 14 practices into four toolkits that can be implemented in order and built on throughout the year
When combined, these unique research-based practices create the optimal conditions for learner-centered, student-owned deep mathematical thinking and learning, and have the power to transform mathematics classrooms like never before.
Professional Development Workshops offered:
Thinking Classroom;
Implementing the research of Peter Liljedahl in the Math classroom, using rich problems, visibly random groups, and vertical non-permanent surfaces.
Pear Deck;
Student response software for engagement
Twitter & Blogging;
Building your PLN
Sketchnoting;
Visual note taking