Crosstown Option, 2013 – 2014

Primary/Junior

The Crosstown Primary/Junior Option is in partnership with the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board.  We share a special relationship with the TDSB Early Years Department and selected kindergarten teachers and their classrooms.

Program Description

Classes will take place at OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education) from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Crosstown option classes will help prepare Teacher Candidates to teach in Kindergarten, Primary and Junior Classrooms.  We also support a focus on Early Years learning as well as creating an understanding of the importance of building a community of learners within classrooms.  This will be reflected in all Crosstown Option teaching and learning experiences.  The use of cooperative learning strategies will be modeled throughout the course of the year with explicit teaching of how to assist groups of learners to move through the stages of inclusion, influence, and community.  Throughout the program, Teacher Candidates will develop the attitudes, knowledge, and strategies necessary for implementing an inclusive program that meets the needs of all students in diverse classrooms.

Special Focus 

While committed to Primary and Junior certification, Teacher Candidates in the Crosstown option will also have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of teaching pedagogy related to Early Years.  Opportunities will be provided for learning about the developmental stages of early learners and instructional strategies suited for young children.  Teacher Candidates will have opportunities to observe children in selected Kindergarten classrooms where emphasises on intentional play, inquiry, integrated curriculum and programming will be highlighted.

Major Projects

The research by Dr. Charles Pascal has prompted changes in school structures to support Early Childhood education and beyond.  To complement this new vision, Teacher Candidates will have the opportunity to spend additional time in a kindergarten classroom in order to learn more about child development at this stage.  Teacher Candidates will complete documentation panels based on observations of how students learn in a kindergarten setting. This assignment will showcase childrens' learning as well as Teacher Candidates' professional learning about teaching practice in Kindergarten. Teacher Candidates in the Crosstown Option are required to spend an additional 21 hours in selected kindergarten classroom settings for ongoing observation and learning about young children. This additional time will be built into the daily calendar.

Practicum Experiences

One four-week practicum placement will be in a primary classroom (K-Grade 3) setting and the other four-week practicum placement will be in a junior classroom setting (Grades 4-6).  If you are enrolling in the Religious Education Learning and Believing in Catholic Schools course offered at OISE, one of your four-week placements will be in a Catholic School.

Principles

The Crosstown Option has a focus on and commitment to:

1. Understanding the importance of the Early Years within a larger context of Kindergarten, Primary, and Junior learning;
2. Emphasizing the importance of partnerships and collaboration in school communities;
3. Learning about the importance of play, arts, integrated curricula, and culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy, as well as the importance of observation and how observation informs teaching practice;
4. Upholding high expectations for Teacher Candidates, for instructors, and for all students in schools;
5. Developing Teacher Candidates' skills to be able to program for all students to ensure that the needs and interest of all students are met;
6. Embedding Anti-oppression education and inclusive practices;
7. Emphasizing lifelong learning as a professional responsibility.

Further Info

Contact: Mini Dindayal or Bev Strachan

Special Features: This option is preparing Teaching Candidates for Primary/Junior certification.

Location of Practice Teaching Schools: Our Crosstown partner schools are located throughout the Toronto area (Central, North, South, East and West) and are associated with the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board.