I've had a great week in Calgary going to four different schools to see what history teachers are doing in their classrooms. What a treat. It felt like Christmas because each teacher gave me a gift. Whether it was new ways of teaching, great ideas or lesson plans, I was overwhelmed by their generosity.

The first school I visited was Calgary Science School. It is a charter school with some very unique attributes. For one, their superintendent's office is actually IN THE SCHOOL. Wow - how connected is that. I can't begin to discuss what a novel and wonderful way of having administration in touch with what is actually happening in the school. The other amazing thing about this school is that teachers have  four hours a week of joint teacher time, that is, working with a teacher who has the same classes to prep and prepare together. One of the teachers I met there, Neil Stephenson, has the position of collaborating with all of these teacher teams to help guide, direct and facilitate the school's mandate of inquiry-based learning and incorporating technology. Another teacher, Amy Park, a GG Award winner, loves the collaboration and the emphasis the school has toward empowering students and focusing on deep learning/understanding.

Day two was a switch to a private school, Rundle College. Here I met up with a friend I made from a summer institute in Ottawa a year ago.  Her grade 8 and 9 classes are exclusive users of the "ipad" which makes her class almost paperless. Another WOW. It makes historical research an integral part of every period. Since the week long work shop we attended was about Historical Thinking Concepts I was curious how she was incorporating them into her lessons. I could see the progress for myself! She mentioned that slowly, but surely, a more grounded understanding of the concepts are making their way into everything she does. Her lesson on, "Was the Silk Road the Internet Highway of the Ancient World?" was a perfect example of Historical Perspective, Evidence, and Continuity and Change.

Another school I visited was Hidden Valley where I met Chad Howie and Sarah Beech; they are both finalists for the GG Awards this year! Their work on the 7 Years War and the Battle of 1760 was unbelievable. From teaching the students marching to military tactics and then re-enacting the famous battle of the Plains of Abraham, I was impressed. Again collaboration is the key to their success, both using their different strengths and experiences. Chad is also a huge fan of Indiana Jones and combines this with his knowledge of archaeology to make his social studies classes full of adventure and mystery.
 
Finally, I made it to Vincent Massey Junior High to meet with Craig Harding. And again the theme was the same. Craig works with the two other social studies teachers to plan and develop integrated lessons to make their students thoughtful learners.The section on voyageurs takes up half the library of stations to teach the students about living in the past. At one station the student  study Francis Hopkins' paintings and compare them to journals of voyageurs to understand perspectives in history. 

I must say that my "To Do List" is ever growing and I will have a lot of organizing to do when I get home. Not to mention writing thank you notes to all the teachers who have given me so much to think about.