Hanover School Division implements new learning plan for teachers, union supports it

The Hanover School Division has implemented a new learning plan for its teachers, which will guide how they teach but not stifle creativity, according to senior administration.

“We’re very excited about rolling this out,” said superintendent and CEO Joe Thiessen. “We got input from principals, (the) senior admin team worked on this, we talked with some other senior admin leaders in other divisions as well just to bounce ideas around, and this is where we landed. We felt this was a really good place for us to take forward what we have been doing and move it forward in a grounded research practice.”

The new learning plan has been a year in the making. It is based around Barak Rosenshine’s 10 Principals of Instruction, which is already being taught in university education classes. Rosenshine’s principles direct teachers to review old material prior to teaching something new and then making sure the student understands what they are learning before moving on to the next topic or idea. Thiessen said the new plan is not meant to stifle creativity in the classroom and teachers are allowed to teach their subjects as they wish.

“It’s an extension of what we have been doing (already). We have done deeper learning in our division for a number of years. This takes some of the core competencies of that and extends that forward,” said Thiessen.

The superintendent said at the heart of the plan is the division’s belief that all students are important, that all students can learn, and that parents know their children are cared for and challenged, supported, and provided opportunities to learn and grow.

“It’s kind of built around the theme of caring educators. Consistent practices and engaged learners. Consistent practices are grounded in science and some foundational work there,” said Thiessen.

One of the aspects of the plan is directing teachers to continue using the six global competencies (citizenship, connection to self, collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and creativity) that are grounded in Rosenshine’s Principles, cognitive science, and the Manitoba curriculum.

Hanover Teachers’ Association president Kevin Martens said he is in favour of the plan and likes the fact that it covers the next five years, rather than “moving the target from year to year.” He said the six competencies are taken by the plan and moved from being theoretical to practical and adding Rosenshine’s principles just reinforces the teaching that is already taking place.

“For them as a division to put forward a doc that goes, ‘Okay, we recognize that this is the best teaching practice and we’re going to just make sure we’ve got everybody pulling in the same direction.’ I like the plan.”

A favourable outcome for students will be that they will have consistency in the way they are taught as they move into each successive grade and subject. While Martens couldn’t say whether the plan will raise students’ grades, he said it will make sure the student understands what is being taught before the teacher moves on to another topic or complexity of the subject.

The Hanover Teachers’ Association has about 700 members teaching more than 9,000 students in the Hanover School Division.