For this reflection, I wanted to take some time to make a list of the types of professional learning I would like to engage in over the coming years. There is a broad range of areas that I would either like to begin to learn about or further my learning in. I think that many teachers probably similarly are curious about a wide variety of things, however it is hard to find the time to sit and reflect and I believe that in using this opportunity to do just that, I will be more likely to seek opportunities for these areas of professional learning in the future. So without further ado, my professional learning wishlist at the moment is:

  • Functional ASL for teaching deaf and non-speaking students
  • AAC (augmented and alternative communication) devices
  • Evidence based and culturally informed health education
  • Respectful incorporation of local Indigenous languages in the class setting
  • Multilingual childhood and adolescent language acquisition 
  • Play based and outdoor learning in the older grades (gr. 5 and up)
  • Gradeless classrooms
  • Student self-evaluation
  • Whole class literacy instruction in the older grades
  • Student led literacy instruction that follows the science of reading
  • Creating access to elective programs in rural communities (music, arts, metalwork, etc.)
  • Trauma informed praxis in the classroom
  • Lifeskills and sustainability instruction in the classroom
  • Community x Classroom integration
  • AI use in education

I am hopeful that in the coming years I will have the opportunity to engage in learning in some or all of these areas, either in a Pro D, workshop, or graduate capacity. There are so many directions my curiosity takes me when it comes to education, and as corny as it sounds, I truly hope to never stop seeking to learn.