SP10: Regional Cohorts, 2012 – 2013

Cohort Description

Teacher candidates may wish to choose a Regional Cohort based on the general location of their sessional address during the academic year. This common geographic element among classmates promotes growth, community and collegiality within each cohort. These cohorts focus on the themes and issues facing schools/school boards in the particular regional areas.

For each specific regional cohort (ie: Toronto East, West, South, North/York/Durham), see separate descriptions below, under the subheading "Which Regional Cohort Should I Select?"

Note:  All classes in Regional Cohorts are held at OISE campus, unless otherwise stated.
 

Program/Curriculum

As in every SP cohort, teacher candidates in all regional cohorts take their three foundations courses together: Teacher Education Seminar, Psychological Foundations of Learning & Development and School & Society. The two Curriculum & Instruction courses ("teachable subjects") and Related Studies are taken with other instructors and teacher candidates across the intermediate/secondary program.
 

Practicum/Internship/Additional Field Experience Days

As in all SP programs, there are two different practicum sessions with associate teachers on practical issues of teaching and learning, within the teacher candidates' selected curriculum areas. Both of these practicum sessions normally take place in your designated regional cohort area, in two different schools. Teacher candidates also have opportunities to complete their field-based internship in these partner schools from late April to the end of May.

Finally, teacher candidates may expect to spend 3 – 4 additional days prior investigating critical issues for regional schools/school boards or observing/assisting mentor teachers on practical aspects of teaching in these regions.
 

Which Regional Cohort Should I Select?

You have the following choices of regional cohorts:

SP10 Regional - TORONTO EAST

 Choose this SP if you want to be part of a cohort partnered with selected schools in the "east" end of Toronto (Scarborough) that share a philosophy of creating positive learning communities for learners with diverse backgrounds. Many of these schools support teacher professional development that focuses on instructional strategies to maximize student learning and development. As a result, one of our focal points in SP10 foundation courses is 'instructionally intelligent' and collaborative learning. SP instructors communicate regularly and work collaboratively to establish program coherence in an effective learning community. Field partnership energies are devoted to supporting school and/or department-based initiatives, and teacher candidates dedicate 15-20 hours to such projects. Year-end internships in SP10 cohort schools are possible, so that successful teacher candidates have the potential to graduate having developed networks in four different schools in the Toronto East region.

 

SP10 Regional - TORONTO WEST

Choose this SP if you want to be part of a cohort partnered with selected schools in the "west" end of Toronto and Etobicoke. This cohort explores the six themes that make up the Teacher Education Seminar with an emphasis on exploring and developing teaching strategies based on a holistic framework. Core program topics such as professionalism, school reform, school law, assessment and evaluation, special education and equity will be approached from an integrated and interdisciplinary framework that seeks to cultivate creativity, sustainability, mindfulness, community building, healthy living and mental-physical-spiritual wellbeing. Candidates will explore Toronto west based school partnerships and community partnerships that foster these ideals. Select emphasis will be placed on technological applications to both inspire creativity and reduce our impact on the environment. 

 

SP10 Regional - TORONTO SOUTH

Choose this SP if you want to be part of a cohort partnered with selected schools in the “south” end of Toronto. This cohort explores the six themes that make up the Teacher Education Seminar with an emphasis on exploring and developing teaching strategies based on an understanding of the character and qualities of urban downtown schools. Through their practice teaching placements, teacher candidates become familiar with our partner schools which range from large urban “inner city” schools with many “at risk” students to smaller more community based schools which have a less diverse student population. Particular thematic attention is given to overall “student success” including issues surrounding ELL (English Language Learners) students in the mainstream classroom classroom management, differentiated instruction, teaching in integrated inclusive classrooms where there are diverse learners and the role that factors such as class, immigration, race, language and culture play in student achievement.

 

SP10 GTA - Toronto NORTH/YORK/DURHAM

Choose this SP if you want to be part of a cohort partnered with selected schools in the North end of Toronto, or York and Durham Public and Catholic District School Boards. As with all "Regionals", practicum placements aim to assign teacher candidates to schools as close as possible to where they live, within the limits of existing partnerships. This cohort covers all of the theoretical aspects of the themes of the course Teacher Education Seminar but has a large focus on the practical application of what is learned in both Teacher Education Seminar and related courses. A considerable amount of time is spent on classroom management issues, teaching in integrated inclusive classrooms where there are diverse learners, and how to differentiate instruction for students with special learning needs and English as a Second Language. Additional field experience days are devoted to a problem-based unit that focuses on the integration of all aspects of the program and its practical application to specific and different types of schools in the various school boards.