Cohort 21 | Jess Sheppard | Activity https://cohort21.com/members/jsheppard/activity/ Activity feed for Jess Sheppard. Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:13:21 -0400 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-CA 30 hourly 2 4671e92a710e85a22bbc302aafdb5e42 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/elissagelleny/2021/11/20/the-importance-of-critically-examining-urgency/#comment-127 Sat, 05 Oct 2024 18:07:35 -0400 Hey Elissa,
Not sure if I’m on track or way off the mark here, and I know I’m probably getting a little reductive, but you post seems like such a great solution to the quintessential ‘why do we have to learn this?” “when are we ever going to use this in life?” etc type questions. If our “whys” are in order, in terms of cohort, course, context,…Read more

In reply to - Elissa Gelleny wrote a new post on the site Elissa Gelleny Ok, perhaps the title is just a fun play on words, but the more I thought about the discussions we had at our first F2F about the Eisenhower Matrix and the […] ]]> 18a7a22af23f85fb907bdb48d126251a Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/?p=197 Thu, 26 Jan 2023 21:23:06 -0500 Should we be scared or not-o, Mr Roboto? An interview with ChatGPT (aka the robots). Me: Hey ChatGPT! Thanks for joining me. How are you […]

]]> fb80be45a14b2546b6fd2e75297a162a Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/lisabettencourt/2021/11/07/edutainment-and-elearning-is-education-future-ready/#comment-86 Sun, 16 Jan 2022 21:26:46 -0500 @lbettencourt, there are a tonne of interesting questions and considerations here. Certainly the potential for “personalized, innovative, purposeful, inclusive, creative, and collaborative” learning is here, and the ways in which we can connect with learners and cater information and its communication to their needs and interests continues to…Read more

In reply to - Lisa Bettencourt wrote a new post on the site Lisa Bettencourt Distance learning highlighted the value of “Edutainment.” Last year, we as educators produced and live-streamed lessons with an audience to engage, […] ]]> ac9289e32e5c810667e9180ea2ad9cdb Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/jeffadams/2021/10/08/what-is-going-well/#comment-7 Wed, 12 Jan 2022 03:04:48 -0500 Jeff! This course sounds fascinating! I love that it was developed through “interdisciplinary collaboration” and that it will allow students to focus on multiple perspectives. This is such an important skill, generally speaking, but perhaps especially in the current social climate. I wonder to what extent an emphasis on perspective will allow…Read more

In reply to - Jeff Adams wrote a new post on the site Jeff Adams Urgent vs Important What happens when they are both? Or which one takes hold of you on a given day? For myself, at the centre of this is most likely, anything to […] ]]> 85e81a55ef215d534d92beae9787ed4c Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/ariellerosario/2021/10/08/what-is-going-well/#comment-5 Wed, 12 Jan 2022 03:04:40 -0500 Arielle,
I think your acknowledgement of how your new role connects to the idea of time as “high currency” puts you in a great position to support your colleagues in a way that is meaningful, feasible, and considerate of people’s wellbeing, and the many hats they (we all) wear. Already, you are seeing your new role as an exchange of support and…Read more

In reply to - Arielle Rosario wrote a new post on the site Arielle Rosario Question 1: During the first face to face we used the language of Urgent vs Important to help frame our discussions and thinking around the use TIME. […] ]]> 688b0f612220fb4fe663679ff9bd934a Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/matthewphillips/2021/10/08/what-is-going-well/#comment-5 Wed, 12 Jan 2022 03:04:27 -0500 Hey Matt! May I suggest, if you haven’t already, that you chat with @lbaragar about some of the work she has been doing to shift her students’ mindsets from grade-focused to feedback-focused. While the step of ‘going gradeless’ might not be feasible for everyone, I suspect you two might be able to have great discussions about how to create greater…Read more

In reply to - Matthew Phillips wrote a new post on the site Matthew Phillips I am wanting to address the tension that exists between being a “learner” and being a “successful student”. I have honed in on this area due to the […] ]]> d46d9db55d150dfd526ca2e1aa7798b0 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/adamdrenth/2021/10/11/what-is-going-well/#comment-11 Wed, 12 Jan 2022 03:04:14 -0500 Adam! Lots of great discussion here already, so I will avoid redundancy, but I will say that I love that you have seen success when combining and integrating subject areas. Interesting how the boxes seem to check themselves when students can use the awesome interests they already have as a jumping off point into meaningful engagement and work!…Read more

In reply to - Adam Drenth wrote a new post on the site Adam Drenth The image I picked I liked because it had different kids in the room, it was messy (like full-on learning usually is) and one student is clearly thinking really […] ]]> f7d0392653907c50bc7934c83664def7 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/sheriwhitmore/2021/10/20/what-is-going-well/#comment-6 Wed, 12 Jan 2022 03:04:01 -0500 Hi Sheri,

Welcome! I wonder how the focus on indigenous studies and ways of knowing in your work might simultaneously lead towards your desire to focus on SEL and inclusivity/support for ALL students. It can be so rewarding when what seems like a specific area of focus at first all of a sudden extends its branches into so many other aspects of…Read more

In reply to - Sheri Whitmore wrote a new post on the site Sheri Whitmore Question 1: During the first face to face we used the language of Urgent vs Important to help frame our thinking around our use of TIME. Reflect on why you […] ]]> eee86a77a5ab094eb9a9f1e9641b6e2b Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/laurabargar/2021/12/10/going-gradeless-a-work-in-progress/#comment-8 Tue, 11 Jan 2022 14:57:25 -0500 Laura!

I LOVE this! It looks as though you have definitely had success in moving your students’ thinking away from traditional grades and towards metacognition and the use of feedback.

Another this I have seen done, and have tried to do in my classes, is to use something like your chart of expectation mastery to allow students to link…Read more

In reply to - Laura Bargar wrote a new post on the site Laura Bargar Going Gradeless: Last summer, a colleague, KR, and I made the decision to ‘go gradeless’ in our Grade 10 classes. KR, the Grade 10 lead approached me about […] ]]> 8d43780c79a64c66cfa7444f7ee019b7 Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/?p=180 Sun, 09 Jan 2022 23:10:35 -0500 (for the man, Karl Ove Knausgaard)

Exams are tests or evaluations. A physician may perform a physical exam on a patient, to evaluate overall health or to diagnose a particular illness or injury. An appraiser […]

]]> 62108a044fffbcbb78c3c4e7e0ca191e Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/hanchau/2021/10/08/what-is-going-well/#comment-7 Fri, 07 Jan 2022 18:25:29 -0500 Hi Han,

I love the vulnerable and self-aware approach here; the willingness to work on not just getting your ideas out coherently (the mess can be fun, but also frustrating when it’s time to share that mess with others!) but also in terms of figuring out how DEI fits in your subject area. I feel that we’ve all been taught to have a paradigmatic…Read more

In reply to - Han Chau wrote a new post on the site Han Chau Question 1: During the first face to face we used the language of Urgent vs Important to help frame our discussions and thinking around the use TIME. Reflect on why […] ]]> d165aea47796c534c7beb0c5310fa4f9 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/kaylablackmore/2020/11/16/where-to-begin/#comment-5 Sat, 01 May 2021 01:45:27 -0400 Wow, @kblackmore: such important insights and questions here! I love that you are embracing being “in the weeds.” So often, we rush into the easy, expected, or agreeable solutions, without giving much consideration to the hard questions, voices of dissent, etc. There have been times in the past when I’ve described myself as an “Eeyore” for being…Read more

In reply to - Kayla Blackmore wrote a new post on the site Kayla Blackmore This process of being vulnerable and courageous in the face of adversity, especially in 2020, seems so daunting at first; however, when it is examined […] ]]> f68998f3fddc24b4cb8b76b87348b410 Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/?p=168 Thu, 29 Apr 2021 21:16:00 -0400 (This was linked in the title, but made the post proper difficult to get to, so it’s here now instead.)

Since I wasn’t really in a school this year, and don’t feel that it’s my place to share the consolidation […]

]]> b4b5e4cf6bdae96f2157faa4bd1f00cb Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/2021/02/05/against-the-wheel/#comment-61 Tue, 23 Feb 2021 18:47:52 -0500 Thanks! Range has been on my to-read list for awhile, and you’re helping me realise I should get to it sooner than later!

In reply to - Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard Since the pandemic began, I have been hyping it as an opportunity to make systemic change, to shake free—for now and forever—of the shortcomings of our cur […] ]]> ca0233a9855a5e75381433af2dc117e4 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/monicarand/2021/02/08/mathematician-mondays/#comment-107 Tue, 16 Feb 2021 19:54:28 -0500 Love this! Beyond the DEI piece that you’re covering here, this is also a wonderful way to provide additional context to what students are learning. I think that I’d have maintained interest in math for longer if I had known about its history and its real-world applications, rather than just been asked to approach it as an abstract series of…Read more

In reply to - Monica Rand wrote a new post on the site Monica Rand “As a group of primarily math teachers, what challenges do you feel you face addressing  J.E.D.I in your practice and classes?” First of all, kudos to @tfauch […] ]]> 503c0c096b793627522e24ab542680cd Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/?p=157 Fri, 05 Feb 2021 21:52:10 -0500 Since the pandemic began, I have been hyping it as an opportunity to make systemic change, to shake free—for now and forever—of the shortcomings of our current education system, and to embrace best practices. Gen […]

]]> f187feae07d06e62e9d144a686086502 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/melissakurenoff/2020/10/17/what-is-going-well/#comment-4 Fri, 20 Nov 2020 17:43:38 -0500 This is really cool, @mkurenoff! I like the metacognitive trade-off of having them co-create the expectations for playing, so that it didn’t become a surface-level smattering of French vocabulary in an otherwise English game. Creating a translation takes this even further. But I think my favourite part is the targeted grammar outcomes that arose…Read more

In reply to - Melissa Kurenoff wrote a new post on the site Melissa Kurenoff While online gaming doesn’t seem like something you see very often in an education environment, the most rewarding decision I have made this year so […] ]]> 858d194ababf040d9fab234615786e04 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/2020/11/09/both-honest-and-gentle/#comment-52 Thu, 19 Nov 2020 15:40:57 -0500 @amacrae right!?! Cohort21 is such a great way to stay in the loop! Also, I love your point about the pandemic teaching us that it can be both necessary and productive to depart from the plan. Hopefully, by having no choice but to adapt during the pandemic, many of us will transfer that adaptability into our future teaching, and embrace the…Read more

In reply to - Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard Admittedly, I’ve been feeling a little lost in terms of blogging this year. It feels a bit hypocritical to write about what schools ‘should’ be doing during […] ]]> fa5f41b46c85b07632590dbe0cc0af2f Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/2020/11/09/both-honest-and-gentle/#comment-51 Thu, 19 Nov 2020 15:30:48 -0500 Thanks, @dneville! It doesn’t surprise me that what I’m feeling is a common, but it’s still reassuring to hear about others’ similar experiences. I’m glad that your return to school is going well so far!

In reply to - Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard Admittedly, I’ve been feeling a little lost in terms of blogging this year. It feels a bit hypocritical to write about what schools ‘should’ be doing during […] ]]> f419ee1211c271cfa5f90141251feaa5 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/2020/11/09/both-honest-and-gentle/#comment-50 Thu, 19 Nov 2020 15:26:45 -0500 Thanks, @tjagdeo! I hope that as we reprioritise (or rediscover our priorities) in this wild year, that piece will solidify its place at the forefront of pedagogy!

In reply to - Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard Admittedly, I’ve been feeling a little lost in terms of blogging this year. It feels a bit hypocritical to write about what schools ‘should’ be doing during […] ]]> ecfc2b8525b7f7c659b8fd2741b68136 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/rachelfoster/2020/10/17/what-is-going-well/#comment-2 Wed, 18 Nov 2020 20:14:46 -0500 As I read your first paragraph, my initial response was: why “typical unit test,” and after finishing the post, I see that you had the same thought as well. I’m glad you found a solution that worked fairy well for you and the students.

What I wonder, as you refine your assessment methods going forward, is how might you develop tasks that…Read more

In reply to - Rachel Foster wrote a new post on the site Rachel Foster How am I going to do this??!!?? Starting this year, I knew that I would have to re-think how I do summative assessments in my courses. With a hybrid […] ]]> 9b230022c74a4120612eb0219a142cde Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/jenniferharper/2020/10/17/optimisticmountain/#comment-2 Wed, 18 Nov 2020 18:26:52 -0500 I think your very last sentence is the kicker here: you’ll keep trying. It is so important to take time to be positive, grateful, kind, and fun—and especially to model those things for students who may be struggling to find them—but we also all need room to be real, to recognize the gamut of our emotions. When you enter the classroom—no matte…Read more

In reply to - Jennifer Harper wrote a new post on the site Jennifer Harper Like many professions, our teaching world pivoted last March. COVID changed what we knew as normal and we fell into survivor mode. Continuing, and […] ]]> 8e532e19779b37642280df54845bbd25 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/kathrynobrien/2020/10/25/getting-rid-of-shoulds/#comment-8 Wed, 18 Nov 2020 18:22:19 -0500 Love this! You’ve provided great insight into how the pandemic has allowed us to shift away from the “this is a battle” or “take one for the team” mindset into something much more balanced and healthy. I hope that this perspective is something that people are able to hold with them when we eventually move into life beyond COVID. Thanks for the…Read more

In reply to - Kathryn O'Brien wrote a new post on the site Kathryn O'Brien I should read that article on hybrid learning. I should sign up for the PD on using Google Meets. I should talk more to my at-home learners. I should […] ]]> cf21ee6cda909962d8b19da9a5f29786 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/jennafroggett/2020/10/17/what-is-going-well/#comment-3 Mon, 09 Nov 2020 19:05:37 -0500 I love the idea of having someone in the F2F group reach out to online learners each week. That extra effort to draw the remote learners into the classroom community, and give them a chance to connect one-on-one with a peer, is so important for relationship-building, and is a necessary step if we are going to be effective for all learners, both in…Read more

In reply to - Jenna Froggett wrote a new post on the site Jenna Froggett First post prompt: What is going well? Balancing synchronous and asynchronous has been… interesting. It has been exhausting, stressful, fun all in one. At […] ]]> 4a95aa2cef718ccfc319f825d6005005 Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/?p=144 Mon, 09 Nov 2020 17:50:09 -0500 Admittedly, I’ve been feeling a little lost in terms of blogging this year. It feels a bit hypocritical to write about what schools ‘should’ be doing during the pandemic (see: capitalise on the opportunity to […]

]]> f12323ae3501eb5970a98aa7458f610b Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/monicarand/2020/11/06/not-the-blog-post-i-thought-id-be-writing/#comment-2 Fri, 06 Nov 2020 22:18:41 -0500 Monica, this is beautiful. You’ve captured so many things incredibly eloquently: Robert, the RLC community, what is important in life. (I’m not a scientist: what was the verdict on running out of tears? Because as I was reading this I wondered if might get there!) There is great perspective in this post for anyone, and I hope that you found some…Read more

In reply to - Monica Rand wrote a new post on the site Monica Rand I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to be writing something related to what is working for me as a teacher during a pandemic right now. Or maybe I missed the dea […] ]]> 829c7b2869950e9edac11aa1f6aff316 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/grahamvogt/2020/02/28/a-few-thoughts-on-policy-proceed-with-caution/#comment-70 Sat, 29 Feb 2020 19:12:34 -0500 Hey, Jeeves! (@gvogt) I’m glad you posted this. These sort of discussions might be hard ones, but—if anything—that means they are important ones to have.

I haven’t quite wrapped my head around what I want to say to this (in trying to find balance, admin Jess and high school pseudo-anarchist skateboard Jess are circling the ring and feeling the…Read more

In reply to - Graham Vogt wrote a new post on the site GRAHAM VOGT First, a few thoughts balance: In a community, such as say a teaching faculty, it’s important. It’s not a directive, it’s a choice. It’s achieved through active, […] ]]> 21eb67e99f5ec77ef70590b561a914ed Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/2020/01/22/capra-luisis-the-systems-view-of-life-a-unifying-vision/#comment-40 Sun, 23 Feb 2020 23:24:39 -0500 Thanks, Jeeves! (@gvogt) But don’t walk down, because I’ve already lent this book out and you’ll have to keep going for another 250-300k: that’s some high mileage! Will get you ready for ATB though! 😉 Anyway, appreciate the kind words, and hope to keep these discussions going as we look at programming in our own little ecosystem!

In reply to - Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard (A book review. Sort of.) I had heard of Fritjof Capra in university, but my classmates and I were all so caught up with Arne Næss’ Nordic O.G. […] ]]> 362c8a6f876b3fdd6d6ff3837756a503 Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/?p=127 Wed, 22 Jan 2020 11:23:02 -0500 (A book review. Sort of.)

I had heard of Fritjof Capra in university, but my classmates and I were all so caught up with Arne Næss’ Nordic O.G. appeal that I don’t recall ever us getting deep enough into […]

]]> bbb182951b82b8e9781d2f3414fe2c70 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/brandonblack/2020/01/16/feedback-before-the-submission/#comment-61 Thu, 16 Jan 2020 16:23:27 -0500 This is great, @bblack! You write: “Further, if students receive feedback afterwards, what then can they do with it unless the same assignment is being written again? Perhaps an idea that struck me most was the fact that, even if students receive feedback the very next day, that feedback is still too late for them to use it in a meaningful way.” A…Read more

In reply to - bblack wrote a new post on the site Brandon Black Quickly, think about three things you enjoy most about teaching. I’ll wait. Got all three? While I can’t be certain, I’d make a bet that one of those top three […] ]]> c493568357ec63aff4077fe08dc4a46e Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/2020/01/11/geodes-more-than-meets-the-eye/#comment-35 Thu, 16 Jan 2020 14:30:27 -0500 Yes, Jeeves (@gvogt)! Love the language—and practice—shift from courses to programs. D DAYS, ESL, OE, and GEODES (will my Action Plan need an all-caps name too?) are leading the charge right now, and wouldn’t it be wonderful if (/won’t it be wonderful when) these things are not outliers, but simply what we do at RLC?

Can I write “stoked” aga…Read more

In reply to - Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard HMW incorporate vertical integration into our schedule to promote student engagement and enhance teaching practice? I hoped to experiment with the […] ]]> 2ee26b05a6012f446b5141da1129929b Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/lisayorke/2020/01/16/agents-of-choice-in-grade-5-music/#comment-5 Thu, 16 Jan 2020 13:31:39 -0500 @lyorke

The “Perform—Create—Explore” components are such concise ways of framing a variety of options in music. (I also think it is really cool that “create” seems to be the most popular goal choice: awesome!)

Is the peer mentorship piece something that this class has always been strong at, or did it seem to develop out of this choice pla…Read more

In reply to - Lisa Yorke wrote a new post on the site Lisa Yorke Grade 5 students love the opportunity to choose their own adventure in music. I am all for it, but there are obvious challenges that immediately come to mind. How […] ]]> 9bb431af668f5697a06d2a0ee5e5d307 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/anastasiacorbett/2020/01/16/how-might-we/#comment-16 Thu, 16 Jan 2020 13:25:49 -0500 @acorbett

Hopefully when things slow down for you a bit you will have the time and energy to dig deeper into your single-point rubric conferencing experience. If the students didn’t seem frustrated by the process, perhaps it wasn’t as disastrous as it initially seemed to you. Could you approach it with a smaller class? In groups? Tweak it into…Read more

In reply to - Anastasia Corbett wrote a new post on the site Anastasia Corbett …get out from under the pile of stuff we have to do to engage with and enjoy this process fully and completely. Maybe that should be a How Might I […] ]]> e32bfad6e18f35600079ae3d1dec67ae Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/wendydarby/2020/01/13/20-20-vision-on-school-report-comments/#comment-54 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 01:55:52 -0500 Hi @wdarby,

It’s great to hear that your Head of Academics is on board with giving students input into their own comments. Doing so gives them ownership both over their own progress, and the information that is communicated home about it. If you are interested, you may want to try to connect with @gvogt on Friday, as he recently implemented a…Read more

In reply to - Wendy Darby wrote a new post on the site Wendy Darby It’s time for a change, but how far can we go? In the days of open gradebooks, emails, texting and instant feedback, how do we make report cards a valuable […] ]]> 8ccb5f9223e63dd373db49cc3edf64aa Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/brandonblack/2020/01/09/an-alternative-to-due-dates/#comment-56 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 01:23:36 -0500 @bblack Love this “specific aspect” approach to reviewing students’ work. “Is this what you want?” and “Did I do this right?” can be such frustrating questions, because they are often so directly linked to checking boxes rather than actually learning. I ask these students to let me know what about their work they’re unsure of, but they can’t…Read more

In reply to - bblack wrote a new post on the site Brandon Black Of the many memories I have from high school, many come from my grade 9 physical education teacher. On several occasions, he would have us run the track out back of […] ]]> f16eb561cbf82962964a001581d864d4 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/andrewpetrolito/2020/01/09/i-believe-they-will-challenge-themselves-and-they-do/#comment-40 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 15:44:17 -0500 Would love to hear more about how you (or your students) determine what projects they’ll complete, and the “teacher-check” process to ensure they’re appropriately challenging. The FSL/FFL situation you have in your class can certainly pose challenges, but perhaps has the potential to be a great opportunity to have students bring their varying…Read more

In reply to - Andrew Petrolito wrote a new post on the site Andrew Petrolito HMW:  How might we engage Native French Speakers, and FSL speakers alike, in a manner that challenges both, while attending to and respecting […] ]]> c2263ad46e98014f471a8b7d81fb1d68 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/2020/01/11/geodes-more-than-meets-the-eye/#comment-32 Sun, 12 Jan 2020 22:00:13 -0500 @acampbellrogers I’d definitely love to hear more about how your Design/English integration is coming along! In terms of both my action plan and the GEODES project, finding time to plan collaboratively is something that I definitely see as a challenge (we’ve been able to do some pre-emptive, theoretical GEODES planning, but have not yet had to…Read more

In reply to - Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard HMW incorporate vertical integration into our schedule to promote student engagement and enhance teaching practice? I hoped to experiment with the […] ]]> 20bb694a10b21005724864a195cb60c3 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/2019/11/13/the-magic-number/#comment-31 Sun, 12 Jan 2020 21:54:13 -0500 Haha, thanks @acampbellrogers! I believe I’m using the blog theme “Twenty Seventeen” but with the default image replaced by a photo of Lake Rosseau last autumn. Thanks for not pointing out that my layout is “so 3 years ago!” [*knee slap!*]

I’m thinking of a more formal opportunity for vertical integration when it comes to my action plan. It is…Read more

In reply to - Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard I didn’t quite follow the instructions. BUT! I felt a little bit of magic in the air, followed it, and am pretty excited to see where it leads. GUT—with s […] ]]> 9b39b5d523f97a5378d789af4e66c09b Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/mattmurray/2019/11/24/my-take-on-assessment-and-evaluation/#comment-15 Sun, 12 Jan 2020 14:31:19 -0500 I’m glad that you were able to create a lasting and effective system based on your learning from this previous PD. I love that you’ve framed the self-assessment in terms of “essential skills,” that your final assessments are directly linked to each skill, and that numerical grades appear to be absent from the tool itself. Of course, when and how…Read more

In reply to - Matt Murray wrote a new post on the site Matt Murray Two years ago I participated in a professional development program very similar to Cohort 21 that involved using design thinking to come up with an action plan. […] ]]> 9c046fa53fa1710d16dec73776a40502 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/2020/01/11/geodes-more-than-meets-the-eye/#comment-28 Sun, 12 Jan 2020 14:03:49 -0500 Ab.So.Lutely. And—unlike colonial stigma—academic mentorship is a two-way street. I am certainly seeing this HMW as a structural challenge, not a pedagogical one. The pedagogy is sound.

In terms of GEODES, I’m lucky to work with colleagues and admin who are open to these sorts of ideas, and who are willing to venture into the different or unc…Read more

In reply to - Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard HMW incorporate vertical integration into our schedule to promote student engagement and enhance teaching practice? I hoped to experiment with the […] ]]> 73cbf705cfc9c29a777b84704ce7094c Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/?p=114 Sun, 12 Jan 2020 04:13:20 -0500 HMW incorporate vertical integration into our schedule to promote student engagement and enhance teaching practice?

I hoped to experiment with the vertical integration concept in December by having my grade 10 […]

]]> 6751f6f8006f2b8f26d5bcb262b7c86f Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/toniaredhead/2020/01/11/applying-the-skills-using-technology/#comment-7 Sun, 12 Jan 2020 01:46:43 -0500 I am glad you found a means of getting the students who were “hiding” engaged in your class. What are your plans for capitalising on this momentum as you move forward? It sounds like your students had a lot of fun with this activity, and I hope that they’ve gained from it not just an understanding of course content, but also of the benefits of…Read more

In reply to - Tonia Redhead wrote a new post on the site Tonia Redhead Well, I have been struggling with engaging my student’s with curriculum because they are distracted by the use of the computers in the classroom @rcampolucci. […] ]]> dcdb855b56eb672b483ba1968fdd3423 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/erinpaul/2020/01/10/my-musical-action-plan-begins/#comment-12 Sun, 12 Jan 2020 00:34:43 -0500 Hey Erin,
What I found really cool about this is the way you structured the self-assessment. In trying to capture the mindset of an 8 year old, I feel like it would be easy to think that singing is “just singing,” i.e. a singular skill, that one is either “good at” or “bad at.” It is cool to see how you’ve broken it down, and then had students…Read more

In reply to - Erin Paul wrote a new post on the site Erin Paul I really dislike having to assign a ‘grade’ for primary children in their music classes.  This struggle with assessment was what led me to Cohort 21 in the […] ]]> 99151f3e0a42430b60d25100c2345332 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/ericdaigle/2020/01/09/reason-6-question-discuss-repeat/#comment-82 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 14:35:23 -0500 Hey, @edaigle! Love the concept here, and the fact that each reason provides a platform from which we might be able to explore not just our own practice but also our HMW paths.

In reply to - Eric Daigle wrote a new post on the site Poet of Pedagogy ]]> 2cde83c1d066902b9a46154d64a7469a Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/andrewpetrolito/2019/11/04/chaos-is-fun-and-educational/#comment-35 Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:59:45 -0500 You had me at “chaos!” Love reframing efficiency, rather than as an end, as simply a means of finding balance between class content and real experience.

In reply to - Andrew Petrolito wrote a new post on the site Andrew Petrolito As a teacher, so much time is spent perfecting my craft. There is a daily focus on the most effective and dare I say, an efficient way of helping my […] ]]> ed8f02730a0572f7047c8c88956b3d54 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/erinpaul/2019/11/04/power-of-three-primary-music-assessment/#comment-5 Sat, 16 Nov 2019 00:33:19 -0500 From how it sounds like the class’ discussion with your Coordinator of Teaching & Learning went, I get the impression these folks are pretty open to sharing and showcasing their ideas and skills. Perhaps as they begin to compile portfolios, you will have the opportunity to help them develop their metacognitive skills so that they feel a greater…Read more

In reply to - Erin Paul wrote a new post on the site Erin Paul I decided to focus on the area of assessment in primary general music classes.  This has always made me uncomfortable; who wants to cripple a child with judgement […] ]]> 034f186e96b82be71becd3f54590db53 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/anastasiacorbett/2019/11/14/walking-this-winding-road/#comment-12 Fri, 15 Nov 2019 01:27:38 -0500 It is interesting that, through mapping out the curves ahead of you on this journey, you have come to connect your wellness idea back to the initial “is this for marks” area of need you identified on your placemat. I LOVE your bolded question about holistic grading, with student input, and hope that you can get the admin support you need to make…Read more

In reply to - Anastasia Corbett wrote a new post on the site Anastasia Corbett Ya’ll, I’m spent. The fact that a month has already passed is blowing my mind and being in the thick of report card writing (and the marking that […] ]]> f702a736ce73d63e9abb01096053a531 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/brandonblack/2019/11/11/taking-a-risk-on-unit-conferencing-2-2/#comment-15 Thu, 14 Nov 2019 02:02:24 -0500 Glad this is going well so far! As you get ready to reflect on the process yourself, you may want to check in with @edaigle—I know of at least a couple of iterations of skills-based assessment he’s built involving conferencing and student self-assessment, and there might be some insight to be gleaned in comparing notes.

In reply to - bblack wrote a new post on the site Brandon Black “Reflect, reflect, reflect!” This is likely a phrase that my students have heard continuously since the start of the school year as I’ve been mindful of regularly g […] ]]> 26d9f44e0b4c980a59fb390c6668fc2d Jess Sheppard wrote a new post on the site Jess Sheppard https://cohort21.com/jessicasheppard/?p=98 Wed, 13 Nov 2019 19:45:08 -0500 I didn’t quite follow the instructions. BUT! I felt a little bit of magic in the air, followed it, and am pretty excited to see where it leads.

GUT—with school size and sphere of influence in mind, I took a b […]

]]> 88c62b9b0b4fd0cf92f755e56a2a47e5 Jess Sheppard posted a new activity comment https://cohort21.com/michaelmoore/2019/11/08/students-create-their-own-math-problems-you-betcha/#comment-158 Wed, 13 Nov 2019 14:40:03 -0500 While I cannot profess to have any understanding of the math you’re showing here, I love that you’ve included examples that other math teachers can transfer into their practice. Short and sweet? Verdict’s out on that one. 😉 Regardless, this post has a tonne of useful resources in it, modelling yet another great use of this platform!

In reply to - Michael Moore wrote a new post on the site Michael Moore I’m trying something new with this post. I’m going to try to keep this short and sweet. Get in and out quick. Get right to the point. No more lon […] ]]>