The days are warmer and longer, perhaps making students’ attention spans shorter and less focused. Keep it up, summer is coming!

You went back to work in August 2020 and were thrown into unfamiliar territory. You may have had to teach online, in a hybrid situation, or even in a classroom, but in conditions that you had never seen before regardless of your teaching experience. There were masks and plexiglass; there was slow wifi; there were expectations that seemed impossible to meet. You did it though, you persevered.

You learned about your school board’s LMS and used it to teach. One teacher I met online (how else have I been able to meet you?) said with great spontaneity: “I never thought I’d be using Google Classroom to teach, but here I am.” It was so nonchalant. I was in awe at his flexibility and openness. There was perhaps an element of necessity (emails wouldn’t cut it anymore), but there he was, ready and willing to push the boundaries of his own technological knowledge and learn. He learned for his students and he learned for himself. Good for you, I say.

In that light, let me thank you all for your continued steadfastness in the face of an ever-changing teaching environment that demands performance regardless of the circumstances.  

We see you; we hear you; we are here for you. Have a great summer and see you when the other shoe drops in September.

Marc for the RÉCIT AGE team

The Anglophone Community Après-cours workshops were a great success. Since December, we have had several occasions to participate in these online workshops. Rather than list them all, click here to see the recorded versions along with the resources that were discussed. If you have a penchant for science, you can also click here to see what happened in the Science community this year.

Micheline Ammar has forged her own distinct identity as a provincial math and science consultant. Her website is chock full of useful information and her webinars are highly regarded within the AGE network. She seeks out partnerships with many of our stakeholders like the EPC committee, the First Nations and Inuit school boards, and of course RÉCIT AGE. We are glad to have you on our team, Micheline!

It would be hard to imagine doing our jobs without the English Pedagogical Consultants working group. These hard working people are laser-focused on helping the teachers in their centres. This year has been extremely challenging and difficult. They have shown how the words multitasking and flexibility are truly defined. EPC, where would we be without you? Thanks for being our partners and we hope to continue our fruitful collaboration for years to come. Website

The collaboration between RÉCIT AGE and the Québec SI Network has been a staple for years. It started with a website and has grown exponentially. This year, Karine Jacques from SÉC FGA-FP solidified the partnership with collaborative online bilingual workshops.

When we needed a hand with our busy PD schedule at the beginning of this year, we called on James and Daniel. They answered without hesitation and saved the day. 

The Vocational Training sector has two knowledgeable resources available to them. James and Daniel are upbeat, efficient, and a couple of really good problem solvers. Thanks guys! It is always a pleasure working with you. Have a look at their website; it is worth the detour.

It may not appear to be so, but we spend a lot of quality time on the francophone side of RÉCIT. We participate in weekly and monthly meetings and create podcasts and teacher-facing resources with our French-speaking counterparts. Their website is a treasure trove of information.

If you are looking for a one stop shop for everything FGA, look no further than Carrefour FGA. There is a lot going on in the adult education network in Québec, but Carrefour has its finger on the pulse. Thanks for keeping us in the loop, Carrefour!

We have some summer reading suggestions for you to help you consolidate the knowledge you have gained using educational technology for teaching and learning over the past year.

The Perfect Blend: A Practical Guide to Designing Student-Centered Learning Experiences by Michele Eaton.

View Michelle Eaton on Twitter. 

Balance with Blended Learning: Partner With Your Students to Reimagine Learning and Reclaim Your Life by Dr. Catlin Tucker and UDL and Blended Learning: Thriving in Flexible Learning Landscapes by Dr. Catlin Tucker & Dr. Katie Novak.

Visit Dr. Tucker’s website

On May 26, Curran Katsi'sorokwas Jacobs presented at the FNAESC Conference, organized in part by the fabulous Tracy Rosen. Curran shared the process for the creation of three Indigenous history courses that are centered around Indigenous voices and that promote social justice. You can find the relevant material on the Indigenous Narratives website or watch Curran’s presentation and, while you are at it, explore other conference sessions.

Visit the RECIT-VT website for updates and information. Vocational teachers, consultants, and administrators can also book an appointment with James or Daniel for any PD needs or training requests.

James Burn: JBurn@rsb.ca   @jamesburnedu
Daniel Jordan: DJordan@rsb.qc.ca