I am an explorer.
As an explorer, the most rewarding journey I take, is the journey I go on with my students every year as I help facilitate their discoveries in new learning and possibilities.
As an explorer, the most rewarding journey I take, is the journey I go on with my students every year as I help facilitate their discoveries in new learning and possibilities.
I want my students to leave my classroom at the end of the year feeling that they have gone on a journey where they discovered new possibilities, felt awe and delight in the world, learned more about the issues and problems we are facing, and have a sense of empowerment and responsibility.
Professional learning:
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Design the Shift: ConocoPhillips Innovation Incubator.
A cohort of educators that will explore design thinking as an approach to leadership, teaching and learning. (2019-2020 school year). |
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THE WEEK LONG STUDY TOUR HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO COVID. WE MET ONLINE AS AN EDUCATOR GROUP .
Reggio Emilia Study Tour March 15- 20, 2020. This experience provides participants with an overview of the Reggio Emilia educational project, a particular teaching approach that has been developed in Reggio Emilia, Italy. We will be looking at the history of the approach, including its socio-cultural context. Its values and pedagogical principles will be explored. This week-long study tour to Reggio Emilia that will include lectures, cultural encounters, and visits to the infant/toddler, preschool, and elementary classrooms. |
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I attended the Teachers Institute on Canadian Parliamentary in Ottawa from February 23 to 28, 2020.
A very full learning experience as an educator! During the week in Ottawa I was able to videoconference with my students and share about the democratic system. It inspired me to continue taking up Service Learning Projects as so many politicians I met reminded me that: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead. |
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Bhutan Classroom Instruction.
Helping build the capacity of Bhutanese students and teachers while experiencing life in a mystical Himalayan country that few people get to visit. During a summer classroom placement, I helped elementary school children to improve their English reading skills. I also mentored Bhutanese teachers. Summer 2019. |
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Journal Editor and Executive Member on Board of Directors For GEOEC (Global, Environmental, Outdoor Education Council for Alberta). An interdisciplinary specialist council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association. Our mission is to provide resources, and to promote quality professional development for Alberta teachers.
https://www.geoec.org/ I think that, like the experts that I can connect my students to, connecting my students to the land outdoors is very important. They learn so much from getting outside, building the understanding of the environment they live in. I bring my students outside as much as possible as we explore the environment around us. |
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Lead teacher at Edgemont School in FinS (Fish In School) raise and release program. 2017
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Inside Education Agriculture and Innovations PD tour of Alberta. (March 2019)
The program explored the agricultural sector as a key component of sustainable natural resource development in Alberta. This one-of-a-kind education program created networks, and inspired conversations, ideas, and classroom connections with outstanding Alberta Teachers. This PD had a profound impact on me personally as I learned so much about agriculture. I now am attempting to grow some of my own food! I also was impacted by connecting with such amazing educators and feel motivated to have a greater teaching impact through connecting with my community. |
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In 2018, (thanks to the Royal Canadian Geography Society), Adam Shoalts a RCGS Explorer-in-Residence came to share about his latest expedition. I was able to coordinate grade 5 students from 3 schools to come share in his talk about his recent trip in the Arctic. The students not only have a deeper understanding of what exploration, geography, and cartography is, they themselves wanted to engage in discovering the waterways of our own local community.
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Canadian Geographic Teacher of the Month. (March 2019)
https://www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/geography-teacher-month-alison-katzko |
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National Geographic Certified Teacher.
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National Geographic Educator-Explorer Exchange Cohort
Explorer partner Zeb Hogan, a Giant Fish Ichthyologist and conservationist. (2018-2019) This competitive opportunity that matches educators and explorers on a one-to-one basis for an entire school year. Pairs collaborate to create unique learning experiences for students, inspired by the explorer's work. The pairs also engage in two-way professional development and mentorship with the goal of growing as educators, as explorers, and as effective collaborators. Pairs collaborate to create unique learning experiences for students, inspired by the explorer's work. The pairs also engage in two-way professional development and mentorship with the goal of growing as educators, as explorers, and as effective collaborators. I feel that my exploration with students every year, needs to be grounded in meaningful, real world learning. When we take up a task, I want my students to do what a geographer, scientist, or explorer would do for their jobs. I want students to consider real world problems, and issues, collect data and engage in research. Therefore, experiences for my students to talk to people engaging in these fields (such as talking to scientists and geographers through Explore by the Seat of Your Pants), creates that meaningful, purposeful learning that sparks excitement in students. |
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Artist creating a community arts project (called Stories of Ranchlands). Recipient of a 15,000$ public arts project funding. This project allowed community members to share their stories about a place and participate in a community art installation that reflects these stories.
http://www.storiesofranchlands.ca/ |
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Indigenous Land Based Learning Series Cohort
Monthly meeting with Knowledge Keeper Lesley Tait and Indigenous Learning Team to spend time outside to learn about the plants and stories of the land. (2018-2019) |
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In 2018-2019 I attending monthly Land Based Learning Series (through the Calgary Board of Education) where I spend a day outside with local knowledge keepers. I was able to bring back and share knowledge (I had learned through pedagogical approaches, articles, and stories) to my school through Professional Development workshops (in partnership with my School Learning Leader and Barb Horsefall). I was also able to share the Canadian Geographic Indigenous Peoples Of Canada Giant Map and Atlas. I gave PD to CBE teachers and shared the map at a Mount Royal Geography Week with Lynn Moorman. Our school was recognized for our journey of lifting Indigenous work. |
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Feature classroom in Canadian Geographic's Energy Diet Challenge.
2019 our class did an outstanding job in the Challenge and won the Challenge Assignment Prize. I also run the school science fair bring students to the Calgary Board of Education Science Fair where students from our school have won high standing in their divisions. I also bring students to the Young Writers Conference held in Calgary for a weekend, where students are able to meet renown authors and take writing workshops. |
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Leader in Community Walks.
Through janeswalkYYC and Calgary Foundation, I have been able to lead community walks sharing local stories about the geography, history, and plants of the neighbourhood I live in. Veronica (our community associations president has often co-hosted). |
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Participant in Multiple Workshops around coding and design thinking.
Recipient of Fair Change Learning's Microbit sets for classrooms. |
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Grant recipient for Water and Energy Professional Development Tour from Inside Education. Energy and water connection tour of oil sands in Northern Alberta (valued over 1500$) July 3- 7, 2018.
Learning how water and industry are connected at the oil sands in Northern Alberta. I was able to talk to a variety of people with multiple perspectives of the issues related to water and energy. One of the biggest take-aways I personally had was the importance of our own daily choices and how they do have influence over the economy and environment globally. It is incredibly powerful to see students feel that their choices make a global difference. |
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Grant recipient for Grasslands Conservation Tour from Inside Education
Tour of southern Alberta’s conservation of the grasslands. Visiting greenhouses, conservation sites, and farms. Talking with Elders, ranchers, parks, representatives and scientists. (May 31-June 3, 2018) |
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I'm so proud of my grade 5 students who presented at @EsriUC with Dr. Lynn Moorman of Mount Royal University. We used GIS to discover the watersheds, frog research data, and waterways. To be able to speak so eloquently about their learning- demonstrates so much to the importance of authentic tasks in learning! (2019)
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Student Teacher Advisor and Mentor
Though ATA grants to mentor teachers new to the profession; as well as through supporting student teachers through the Mount Royal and UBC. |
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Grant Recipient of Open Minds Program at Arts Commons (2018-2019)
Funding to bring 5, grade 5 classes on week long field trips. https://cbe.ab.ca/ccom/Pages/Home.aspx |
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Canadian Geographic Summer Institute for Indigenous Perspectives in Ottawa. Learning about the Indigenous Peoples Atlas and Giant Floor Map Resources. (July 9-11, 2018)
In 2018, I was fortunate enough to participate in the Canadian Geography’s Summer Institute, where I learned about the amazing resources around the Indigenous People’s of Canada Atlas, and Giant Map Resources. These resources instilled in me the importance of how connected to the land indigenous peoples’ are, and how the physical geography and environment we live in is an important teacher. I have been sharing them through workshops in Alberta. Yearly I organize giant floor maps to visit our school where it is set up in the learning commons. All students in our school, as well as the after school care use. |
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World Travels (July -March 2013) and (2004-2016) and volunteering.
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