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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, July 30, 2010 · 12 Teachers head back to class this summer By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Some 100 teachers are back in Oakville classrooms this week, but they are not there to teach, but to learn themselves. The teachers are at Emily Carr Public School, each one learning one of three possible programs offered at the school. The programs are a few of the 70 or so provided province wide by the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario at its 2010 Summer Academy. The local programs began Tuesday and concluded Thursday. The three programs offered locally are: · One aimed to develop an understanding of how students with learning disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder, can better function within a classroom setting in order to learn best. · Another focused on the use of technology and the integration of art and European Engineering Combined With Traditional Workmanship literature in mathematics. · And lastly how to teach, plan and manage a combined-grades classroom and successfully balance literacy and numeracy programs and engage Grades 1-4 students. The majority of the teachers are local, however, some have traveled from beyond the Greater Toronto Area to take part in one of the aforementioned programs. Teacher Sue MacVicar-Stewart, who is instructing the special education class, said she has about 25 teachers in her class. "The real strength of this is that it's teachers who are actually providing the in-service," she said. "So, it's teachers that are in the classroom and are providing their experience and sharing their expertise. Also, the teachers get to choose their topics." MacVicar-Stewart is a teacher at the Toronto District School Board. She said because teachers can choose the topic they learn, they can pick the one better suited for their, or their school board's, needs. "I'm looking at students who have autism, ADHD and learning disabilities and better understanding that learner and the needs in the classroom and what instructional strategies we can use, what we can actually do in the classroom to help those students learn better." NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER TEACHER BECOMES STUDENT: Halton teacher Alicia Halfpenny takes notes while learning how to more effectively teach students with learning disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder in a class at Emily Carr Public School on Tuesday. "Building on the Brightest Ideas Around Glass" 905.849.0266 * Award Winning Worldwide Leader in Hot Tubs presents the $2.00 DAILY SERVICE PRICE INCLUDES NEW HST TAX Morning and afternoon departures to Fallsview Casino *After $10 Casino Rebate Government Photo ID required From Carpool Lot Guelph Line, North Service Minimum 5- hour stay required. Valid government-issuedRd identification photo Morning & Afternoon From Hopedale Mall WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY EVERY EVERY SUN, TUES, THURS, FRI & SAT 2000 Appleby Line (Millcroft Shopping Centre) Burlington Sale ends this Holiday Weekend *Dealer pays HST Full finan cing from /mth. Oac se e store fo $79 r details and Players Advantage Club Card required to redeem offers. Offers subject to change without notice. Offers cannot be combined/substituted. Must be 19 years of age or older to board coaches for casino. Void where prohibited. 2379 Trafalgar Road (Winners Plaza) Trafalgar Ridge Plaza, Oakville T.I.C.O. #50007535 OMCA Member 1-800-838-1789 FOR RESERVATIONS CALL www.casinocoach.ca · www.frontlinetours.ca 168 CLARENCE ST., PORT COLBORNE, L3K 3G5 905-315-7800 www.t hes undancespas tor e.com 905-257-5006