SP1: Teaching and Learning for Change in Urban Schools, 2013-2014

Cohort Description

SP1 will examine how issues of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, language, and culture matter in terms of student achievement and engagement within urban schools and school communities. Moreover, this cohort will prepare teacher candidates to identify and challenge systemic barriers to access, opportunities, and outcomes in order to promote equity and inclusion in urban secondary schools.

 Program/Curriculum

• Instructors across SP1 work together to explore critical issues that impact on urban students' achievement and engagement at school.
• SP1 works closely with TDSB and TCDSB schools and community organizations to ground learning within a specific community context.
• Candidates visit and become familiar with a variety of schools, each delivering programs in different ways to a diverse urban population.
• The TES course is taught over a full day to allow for classroom observations, participation in school staff meetings and professional learning communities, and involvement in extra-curricular school and/or community activities.

Practicum

Additional Field Experience Expectations

Who Should Apply to SP1?

Applicants should display an open readiness and willingness to commit to pursue the six SP1 Principles listed below. In the space provided on the Cohort Selection and Candidate Information Form, please explain (200 words maximum) why you would like to be in SP1.

Be sure to make explicit reference to the following SP1 Principles in your response. As well, please indicate your SP1 site school preference: Bloor Collegiate or Winston Churchill Collegiate.

SP1 Principles

• SP1 focuses on school communities in order to help teacher candidates understand the history, the challenges, and the strengths of urban communities with a focus on immigration and other demographic factors such as race, ethnicity, language, and social class.
• SP1 focuses on preparing teacher candidates to take an active role in transformative school change, critical reflection, anti-oppression education, collaborative inquiry, and the promotion of social justice.
• SP1 bridges OISE/UT and our partner schools to establish collaborative teaching, learning, and research opportunities.
• SP1 prepares teacher candidates with strong critical content, culturally, linguistically and racially affirming pedagogies, and an understanding of respectful school cultures.
• SP1 is committed to high expectations as demonstrated through beliefs and practices for teacher candidates, instructors, and all students in schools.
• SP1 works with teacher candidates to understand the importance of differentiated and engaging pedagogies in order to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of all students in their classrooms. 

 Further Info

Please contact SP1 Coordinator:

Kurt McIntosh