[Replicable Practices] Hey You, Opportunity is Knocking so GetInvolved.ca

What do you need to graduate from an Ontario High School?

In addition to the 18 compulsory, students must complete the following: (PDF)

• 12 optional credits
• 40 hours of community involvement activities
• the provincial literacy requirement

Where can I find opportunities to complete the 40 hours of community involvement activities?
  
Getinvolved.ca is a companion website linked to a TVO television series. On TVO, Get Involved is 25 documentary shorts celebrating people from 7-70 who are making a difference in their schools, in their community and through their work. They are stories of inspiration. The website was created was created to transform that inspiration into action.

Hey You, Opportunity is Knocking so GetInvolved.ca

[Replicable Practices] What are essential skills? Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

One of the most difficult tasks I have yet to successfully overcome is the task of convincing my students there is a greater purpose to understanding concepts taught within a lesson.

Before I get into a specific lesson using the resources listed within this post I ask my students to navigate through the Workplace Skills site and the Essential Skills site. Once they had a period to do so I often ask a very general question such as "What did you discover?" 

Taken from What are Essential Skills:

The Government of Canada conducted extensive research to examine the skills people use in the workplace. From this research and through interviews with workers, managers, practitioners and leading researchers, over 350 Essential Skills Profiles have been developed for various occupations. The essential skills that people need for learning, work and life. They are used in the community and in the workplace, in different forms and different levels of complexity.

[Replicable Practices] Choices Into Action

I recently discovered the Choices into Action: Guidance and Career Education Program Policy, 1999 (PDF) via the Ontario Ministry of Education site. It is a document that can be found under the Administrators Policy and Reference page. The reason why I chose to blog about this as a Replicable Practice is because guidance is no longer an area that specifically contained with the guidance offices of a school or the guidance counselor. It needs to be addressed by the classroom teacher as well. Just think what the ultimate goal is that we have as teachers for our students. Taken directly out of the document:

Choices Into Action describes the purpose and importance of Ontario’s guidance and career education program, its content, and its unique approach to teaching and learning. It describes the approaches that principals and teachers are expected to take when teaching students how to develop their learning skills, interpersonal skills, and knowledge and skills in the area of career planning. It also outlines program planning strategies, accountability measures, and the roles and responsibilities of all involved – principals, teachers, students, parents, and community partners.

Choices into Action: Guidance and Career Education Program Policy, 1999