Supporting your children with Math with Dr. Marian Small (November 26, 2012)

On November 26, 2012, Dr. Marian Small, former Dean of Education at the University of New Brunswick, spoke about "Supporting your children with Math." She focused on how and why some approaches to mathematics teaching have changed in the last few years and some have not. Dr. Small compared what's happening with math in Ontario education to what is happening elsewhere. She also helped parents and caregivers understand how they can best support their children's learning of math by providing approaches and activities they can use with their children at home at various grade levels.

A professor of mathematics education for many years, Dr. Small is a regular speaker on K-12 mathematics throughout Canada and the US. She is also an author on seven text series at both elementary and secondary levels in several countries, including Canada and the U.S. She has written over 80 publications for mathematics students and teachers, including sources to help teachers work more effectively with struggling students and ask better questions of all students. She now lives in Ottawa. She is also a former school trustee and a parent.

CHEO Connects "Mental Health"  (October 15, 2012)
 
On October 15th, CHEO, in partnership with the OCDSB, hosted a free information session for parents on the subjects of suicide, depression, and bullying. The event was a two-hour Q&A session with a panel of experts focusing on warning signs, practical tips and “how to” talk to your teen. The panel discussion was moderated by Alex Munter, CHEO’s president and chief executive officer. Members of the panel included: Dr. Ian Manion, Dr. Clare Gray, Dr. Phil Ritchie, and Dr. Neil Gottheil. For more information about the CHEO Connects Series please visit the CHEO website.

Engaged Parents, Happy Students: Strategies for Weaving Student Success and Well-Being with Sir John Jones (October 3, 2012)

Thank you for visiting our creative initiative displays, engaging in rich conversations, and listening to the dynamic presentation by Sir John Jones, world renowned education specialist who focuses on student engagement. This event, in collaboration with the Parent Involvement Committee, was part of our ongoing "Lead The Way" series focused on harnessing the creative capacities of all people within, and connected to, the OCDSB family. The goal of this leadership initiative is to maximize our opportunity to reach and teach every child in our care.

Promoting Critical and Creative Thinking with Professor Garfield Gini-Newman (September 12, 2012)

Thank you for joining us for another amazing session with Professor Garfield Gini-Newman. Professor Garfield Gini-Newman explored some of the key findings in brain research that shed light on learning and shared practical tips parents can use to work with their children to help them become good critical and creative thinkers. Hosted by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s Parent Involvement Committee with grant funding from the Ontario Ministry of Education.

Nurturing Critical Thinkers with Professor Garfield Gini-Newman (May 2012)

In an increasingly complex world it is becoming more important than ever that our children are taught the 3 C’s as well as the 3 R’s. The 3 C’s refer to creative, critical and collaborative thinking. Nurturing children’s capacity for effective problem solving is one of the most important ways both teachers and parents can help ensure success in school and beyond. On May 8, 2012, Professor Garfield Gini-Newman explored some of the key findings in brain research that shed light on learning and shared practical tips parents can use to work with their children to help them become good critical thinkers. Hosted by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s Parent Involvement Committee with grant funding from the Ontario Ministry of Education. To view his presentation please click here (pdf) or here (powerpoint).

CHEO Connects! in Partnership with the OCDSB (September - April 2012)

A free information series for parents which provided trusted information and access to local experts. Several evening events rolled out over the 2011/2012 school year -- each covering key physical & mental health topics for a specific age group.

“There is an overwhelming amount of information for parents out there in magazines, websites and on television,” said Michel Bilodeau, president and chief executive officer, CHEO. “CHEO is working to help parents sort through the volume and complexity, and learn about the key physical and mental health issues that impact their kids.”

The OCDSB partnered with CHEO as part of its ongoing Speakers’ Series. For more information please visit the CHEO website.

Dr. Leonard Sax - Facebook Ate My Daughter...and My Son Won't Stop Playing Call of Duty... (Feb. 2012)

Dr. Sax answered the questions that parents of teens are asking today. Should I be my child’s Facebook friend? How much time spent playing video games is too much? What are the effects of growing up in virtual worlds?

Dr. Leonard Sax is a leading expert on the role that gender plays in child development and education. He is the Founder of the Montgomery Center for research in Child and Adolescent Development. He currently works with schools offering insight into the main differences between teaching boys and girls.This was a free information session hosted by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s Parent Involvement Committee as part of the OCDSB's Speakers' Series with grant funding from the Ontario Ministry of Education.

Raising Resilient Children with Dr. Maggie Mamen (Nov. 2011)

A free information session featuring Psychologist Maggie Mamen that addressed ten issues that all parents, staff and community members need to teach in order to raise resilient children.

Dr. Maggie Mamen is an award-winning clinical psychologist and best-selling author who works with children, adolescents and families in a multidisciplinary private practice in Ottawa. Prior to establishing her current practice in 1990, Maggie worked at Carleton University, the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the former Carleton Board of Education. In addition to the best-sellers The Pampered Child Syndrome and Who’s in Charge?, Maggie is the author of Laughter, Love & Limits, and most recently Understanding Nonverbal Learning Disabilities: A Common-Sense Guide for Parents and Professionals. Her latest project is a DVD called ParentPower! Lost and Found: Ten Small Steps to Reclaiming Our Families. She and her husband are the parents of three adult children and the doting grandparents of a little girl who loves mermaids and a little boy who loves trucks.

Each participant received a free copy of Dr. Mamen's book "The Pampered Child Syndrome" and were invited to interact with Maggie after her speech during a book signing. Dr. Mamen also launched her DVD "Parent Power" which was available for purchase during the book signing.

Children and Youth Mental Health: Issues and Ideas for Parents and Teachers with Dr. Michael Baine (Febuary 2011)

In Ontario, 1 in 5 youth suffers from a mental health disorder. Of those only 20% access the services they need. (Children’s Mental Health Ontario). 70% of adults suffering from a mental health disorder experienced the onset in their childhood or teen years. (Mental Health Commission of Canada). Canada’s youth suicide rate is the fourth highest among OECD countries. (OECD)

Michael Baine, an educational consultant whose clients include the Ministry of Education, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, and the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation spoke about key issues relating to children and youth mental health and understanding what mental wellness means. He also discussed promising initiatives in Ottawa around children and youth mental health and where to get information and help. Having worked in education for more than 30 years — as a teacher, a high school principal, and a superintendent — he amassed considerable expertise including Special Education and Student Services, which featured programs for students in care, treatment and custody; substance abuse programs; social work programs and child abuse protocols. Mr. Baine was also the lead consultant on a project to develop and implement a program bringing substance abuse counselors to every Ottawa secondary school.

21st Century Skills - A World of Discovery: What do students need to learn in a rapidly evolving world? (November 2010)

Dr. Barell, an educator and author, is professor emeritus of curriculum and teaching at Montclair State University. During his speech he explored research and strategies for developing and nurturing the curious minds of children. Dr. Barell’s current research involves taking the issues raised in his book “Developing More Curious Minds” and asking how we can work to develop communities of inquiry at home, in school, in places of work and within our democracy. Dr. Barell’s latest book “21^st Century Skills” introduces the framework for student learning in a rapidly evolving global and technological world. To learn more about Dr. Barell, visit his website at www.morecuriousminds.com.

Cultural Proficiency - Closing the gaps with parents and our school communities (May 2010)

Through an interactive conversation, Brenda and Franklin Campbell Jones and Delores and Randall Lindsey explained how cultural proficiency is a journey of self-awareness and understanding that helps us overcome our resistance to change, develop our ability to adapt, acknowledge system barriers and ensure that everyone has access to opportunity without benefiting from a system of privilege and entitlement. Further information on Cultural Proficiency in the school system, including the ability to purchase their books, can be found on the website at: www.campbelljones.org.

When Things Get Crazy with Your Teen - The Why, The How and What to do NOW (June 2010)

Dr. Michael J. Bradley, a licensed clinical psychologist with over 30 years of experience working with adolescents discussed his material and award-winning books, including the best seller entitled Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy! – Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind. Dr. Bradley provided administrators, teachers, instructional coaches, social workers, psychologists and parents with valuable insight on topics such as how the enigmatic teen brain works (and how it doesn’t work), the ten commandments of parenting and the top ways to earn your child’s respect (and the top ways to destroy it). Further information on Dr. Bradley, including the ability to register for an e-newsletter or purchase his books, can be found on his website at: www.docmikebradley.com.

Assessment and Evaluation (December 2009)

Professor Gini-Newman is a teacher, a researcher, and a student advocate. He believes critical thinking is the goal of education – it is not to memorize but to learn; it is not to recite, rather it is to connect with the material and make it relevant. Professor Gini-Newman delivered that message to a group of OCDSB parents, in hopes of encouraging them to let their children makes mistakes, take risks, and in doing so enhance their learning potential. In addition to speaking with parents he also held a workshop for frontline staff and promoted the idea of embedding critical thinking in their classrooms from kindergarten to graduation. He said when you ask why you will be astounded at a child’s ability to think beyond what is on the page, and when you ask how you will be awed by a students unique ideas. Professor Gini-Newman is a social studies lecturer at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and the University of Toronto.

Parental Engagement (September 2009)

On September 16, staff and parents from the OCDSB experienced the opportunity to hear from Dr. Debbie Pushor. Dr. Pushor helped the participants understand the difference between parental “involvement” and “engagement”, what effect parental engagement can have on students’ attitudes toward school, attendance, behaviour, marks, graduation rates, and their sense of personal competence. Debbie Pushor, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan, has been studying the relationship between families and schools for many years, and had some interesting insights to share. An article on Dr. Pushor’s engagement at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board was recently published in the Back to School 2009 issue of the School Advocate. Feel free to read the article at the following link: http://www.school-advocate.ca/

English Language Learners (June 2009)

Staff and parents/school councils from the OCDSB experienced the opportunity to hear and learn from Dr. James Cummins, a Canada Research Chair in Language and Literary Development in Multilingual Contexts at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (University of Toronto). Dr. Cummins provided administrators, instructional coaches, multicultural liaison officers, and parents / school councils with valuable insight on academic language learning among English language learners. Dr. Cummins provided an understanding of the principles of second language education and how to better meet the needs of English language learners. He shared his knowledge about literacy development, assessment tools for English language proficiency, as well as the potential roles of technology in promoting language and literacy development. Further information on Dr. Cummins, including numerous books and articles on this subject, can be found on his websites at: http://home.oise.utoronto.ca/%7Ejcummins/cummins.htm

Boy Smarts (May 2009)

Barry MacDonald, author of Boy Smarts – Mentoring Boys for Success at School and the Boy Smarts Action Study Guide provided administrators, instructional coaches and parents / school councils with valuable insight on real-life suggestions based on research that parents and teachers can trust and use at home and at school. “Boy Smarts offers 100 imaginative and practical guidelines for authentic engagement in meeting boys’ varied learning needs. The common sense approach offers to lay the groundwork for an action plan to mentor boys for school success – a manual for kick-starting boys’ integrity”. Further information on Boy Smarts and Barry MacDonald, including the ability to register for a monthly newsletter or purchase his book, can be found on his website at: www.MentoringBoys.com.