This year, your BC English Language Arts Professional Specialist Association is adding a new book club – a BYOB club! We chose Medicine Walk. One focus for our group in the coming months is place-based learning. In the spirit of literature from our territory, we offer Richard Wagamese’s novel, set in the interior of BC. Watch this space as we will reveal more details about the twitter talks we’ll have in March.

Buy the book now, and we’ll talk soon.

Our ‘Conferences’ tab has now been updated. Click on Conferences above to find information about the 2014 BCTELA conference Cultivating Passionate Learners such as links to download the conference brochure and register for your sessions.

Congratulations to all the wonderful young writers that submitted their work to our contest. Here is the list of winners in the poetry category for this year. Thanks as well to the teachers that support our Voices Visible contest, including the volunteer educators that participate in all aspects of the production of the book!

• Timmy Yang, Grade 2. Spawning Salmon. Teacher: Don Blazevich, Burnaby.
• Ellie Carr, Grade 2. I am From. Teacher: Don Blazevich, Burnaby.
• Jonathan Xiong, Grade 2. Raining Weather. Teacher: Don Blazevich, Burnaby.
• Henri Yan, Grade 2.The Last Day of a Salmon’s Life. Teacher: Don Blazevich, Burnaby.
• Brodie Bailey, Grade 2. Beginning of Life. Teacher: Don Blazevich, Burnaby.
• Zee He, Grade 3. Cherry Blossoms. Teacher: Don Blazevich, Burnaby.
• Danielle Shouldice, Grade 3. Bumble Bee, Teacher: Don Blazevich, Burnaby.
• Gabriel Motea, Grade 3. Where are the Tresures of Bees? Teacher: Don Blazevich, Burnaby.
• Gabriel Motea, Grade 3. Adult Salmon. Teacher: Don Blazevich, Burnaby.
• Ella GoGrade 3. Alevin Stage. Teacher: Don Blazevich, Burnaby.
• Mobena Kyaw, Grade 3. Spawning Salmon. Teacher: Don Blazevich, Burnaby.
• Hikari Asaoka, Grade 5. Sun. Teacher: Celia Brogan, Vancouver.
• Jaclyn Riddell, Grade 7. Little Maple Tree. Teacher: Celia Brogan, Vancouver.
• Jaclyn Riddell, Grade 7. Shadows.Teacher: Celia Brogan, Vancouver.
• Jaclyn Riddell, Grade 7. Music From the HeartTeacher: Celia Brogan, Vancouver.
• Naomi Toma, Grade 7. Starry Stars. Teacher: Celia Brogan, Vancouver.
• Erin Usher, Grade 7. Magic. Teacher: Karen Todd, North Vancouver.
• Erin Usher, Grade 7. The Fishy Box. Teacher: Karen Todd, North Vancouver.
• Heidi Doner, Grade 7. Imperfections. Teacher: Mrs. Moore, Duncan.
• Naomi Onstad, Grade 8. Maybe. Teacher: Teacher: Pamela Smith, Burnaby.
• Elizabeth Wignall, Grade 8. Teenagers. Teacher: J. Nixon, Victoria.
• Kane Cruz, Grade 8. Blue. Teacher: Teacher:Pamela Smith, Burnaby.
• Shaina Rowand, Grade 8. Depression. Teacher: Mrs. N. Hryciuk, Langley.
• Janel Munro, Grade 8. Guitar Lune. Teacher: Mrs. N. Hryciuk, Langley.
• Alexandrea Pont, Grade 8. Self Portrait. Teacher: Mrs. N. Hryciuk, Langley.
• Jacob Thom, Grade 9. The Alpha Wolf. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Alison Neale, Grade 9. Butterflies. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Anna Leach, Grade 9. Rowing. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Jaedyn Howe, Grade 9. Before a Cup of Coffee. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Jaedyn Howe, Grade 9. Prairie Highway, Young Girl. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Emma Reader-Lee, Grade 9. Iceberg. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Michelle Illing, Grade 9. Yhite and Wellow. Teacher: Ms. Sampson, Victoria.
• Erin Libera, Grade 9. Speed. Teacher: Ms. Sampson, Victoria.
• Eyanna Moore, Grade 9. Hidden SinsTeacher: Vickie Milne, Victoria.
• Kyle Lee, Grade 9. So Far, So Powerful. Teacher: Vickie Milne, Victoria.
• Julie Norton, Grade 9. Trapped. Teacher: Vickie Milne, Victoria.
• Skyler Watson, Grade 9. Frozen Tears of an Angel. Teacher: Vickie Milne, Victoria.
• Chase Johnstone, Grade 9. Earth. Teacher: Ms. Sampson, Victoria.
• Shaye Tudor, Grade 9. Deep Underneath. Teacher: Vickie Milne, Victoria.
• Brynn McNeely, Grade 9. Nobody Knows. Teacher: Vickie Milne, Victoria.
• Jay Creasey, Grade 9. Black Sunshine. Teacher: Vickie Milne, Victoria.
• Jacob Branton, Grade 9. Manhattan Skyline. Teacher: Vickie Milne, Victoria.
• Tyler Termehr, Grade 9. Pantoum Poem. Teacher: Vickie Milne, Victoria.
• Taylor Collombin, Grade 9. Suffocating. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Lauren Montgomery-Stinson, Grade 9. Recollection. Teacher: Vickie Milne, Victoria.
• Sarah Darcel, Grade 9. Homeless. Teacher: Vickie Milne, Victoria.
• Matteo Ferraresso, Grade 10. The last gasp of the pine. Teacher: Ms. Ferreira, Burnaby.
• Helen Luo, Grade 10. Before They Came. Teacher: Joanna Panas, Richmond.
• Janina Ritzen, Grade 10. A Song of Life and Love. no teacher name, Surrey.
• Mia Dunbar, Grade 10. No food means no money. Teacher: Brooke Haller, Ashcroft.
• Antonia Frappell, Grade 10. When I Lost My Lucky Stars. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Mitchell Hughes, Grade 10.Triathlon. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Reid Lukaitis, Grade 10. Faded Photograph. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Prabhjit Bhangu, Grade 10. The Fallen Mother. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Abby Vidal, Grade 10. A Lifetime of Fears. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Elaha Anwany, Grade 10. In My Mother’s Land. Teacher: Pamela Smith, Burnaby.
• Katrina Baker, Grade 11. Asteria. Teacher: Mrs. Wieler, Chilliwack.
• Cassidy Harms, Grade 11. Fine China and Mushy Peas. Teacher: Mrs. Wieler, Chilliwack.
• Cassidy Harms, Grade 11. The Place Where Coats Soar. Teacher: Mrs. Wieler, Chilliwack.
• Hayley McMillan, Grade 11. Perplexities. Teacher: Iain Fisher,Surrey.
• Emma Sibble,  Grade 11. Letter of Love. Teacher: Angela MacPherson, Chilliwack.
• Anna Gorby, Grade 11. Computer Class. Teacher: Angela MacPherson, Chilliwack.
• Anna Gorby, Grade 11. I Hear Black Creek Singing. Teacher: Angela MacPherson, Chilliwack.
• Anna Gorby, Grade 11. The History of the Smile. Teacher: Angela MacPherson, Chilliwack.
• Anna Gorby, Grade 11. Relationships. Teacher: Angela MacPherson, Chilliwack.
• Celina Phillips, Grade 11. “Mirror Image”. Teacher: Kyla Haddon, Sicamous.
• Meghan Jackson, Grade 11. The Salad. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Nick Scholz, Grade 11. My Grandfather’s Tie. Teacher: Kimberly Tait, Victoria.
• Nick Scholz, Grade 11. Christmas in Victoria.Teacher: Kimberly Tait, Victoria.
• Emily Jordon, Grade 11. Spring Cleaning. Teacher: Kimberly Tait, Victoria.
• Kyus Hicks, Grade 11. Memorial Park in the Rain. Teacher: Terence Young, Victoria.
• Sophie Butterfield, Grade 11. Braids. Teacher: Terence Young, Victoria.
• Michelle Song, Grade 11. Fortune Teller. Teacher: Terence Young, Victoria.
• Michelle Song, Grade 11. Posterity. Teacher: Terence Young, Victoria.
• Sophie Butterfield, Grade 11. Selfie. Teacher: Terence Young, Victoria.
• Michelle Song, Grade 11. Busker by the Monastery. Teacher: Terence Young, Victoria.
• Sophie Butterfield, Grade 11. Banana Bread. Teacher: Terence Young, Victoria.
• Queenie Zhang, Grade 11. Berth 5. Teacher: Terence Young, Victoria.
• Queenie Zhang, Grade 11. Eve. Teacher: Terence Young, Victoria.
• Rachel Klassen, Grade 11. Broken Inside. Teacher: Kelley Inden, Fort St. James.
• Rhiannon Gammon, Grade 11. Grandma’s Hands. Teacher: Kelley Inden, Fort St. James.
• Cheyenne Sabo, Grade 11. A Poem About Bullying. Teacher: Kelley Inden, Fort St. James.
• Holly Moniz, Grade 11. A Toonie is Too Much. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Emma Smith, Grade 11. Jewels on the Wing. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Alexandra Santos, Grade 11. “is it cheating if”. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Mia Brooker, Grade 11. Truth behind Vampires. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Luke Collombin, Grade 11. Things I Can’t Take Credit For. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Stephanie Tuck, Grade 11. Training Wheels. Teacher:Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Stephanie Tuck, Grade 11. Spice Girls. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Cecilia Shang, Grade 11. New Year’s Eve Cruise. Teacher: Terence Young, Victoria.
• Cecilia Shang, Grade 11. Zeng Xiangshu:The East is Red. Teacher: Terence Young, Victoria.
• Bryn MacDonald, Grade 11. Death by BMW. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Victoria.
• Claudia Kobetitch, Grade 11. What The Experts Say. Teacher: Regina Melczer, Coquitlam.
• Tova Durden, Grade 11. The Low Road. Teacher: Colin Cameron, Vancouver.
• Tova Durden, Grade 11. Guess Who Doesn’t Give a Damn. Teacher: Colin Cameron, Vancouver.
• Halie Thibodeau, Grade 11. How a Feather Falls. Teacher: Mrs. Wieler, Chilliwack.
• Royce Sam and Daniel DeMerchant, Grade 12. Who Will We Blame. Teacher: Kelley Inden, Fort St. James.
• Andrew Kowalchuk, Grade 12. I Do. Teacher: Kyla Hadden, Eagle River Secondary, Sicamous.

Congratulations to all the wonderful young writers that submitted their work to our contest. Here is the list of winners in the prose category for this year. Thanks as well to the teachers that support our Voices Visible contest, including the volunteer educators that participate in all aspects of the production of the book!

• Thomas McGowan, Grade 8. Breaking The Wall. Teacher: Polly Dobie, Point Grey Academy, Vancouver.
• Brittany Machado, Grade 8. Storms Don’t Last Forever. Teacher: Pamela Smith, Byrne Creek Secondary, Burnaby.
• Jenny Jeong, Grade 8. Chin Up, Smile. Teacher: Polly Dobie, Point Grey Academy, Vancouver.
• Jorry Luz, Grade 8. Look. Teacher: Pamela Smith, Byrne Creek Secondary, Burnaby.
• Jenny Tea Choi, Grade 8. A Bliss In Progress. Teacher: Pamela Smith Byrne Creek Secondary, Burnaby.
• Bryanne Lane, Grade 9. The Lurkers. Teacher: Cindy Thompson, Maple Ridge Secondary, Maple Ridge.
• Hannah MacQuarrie, Grade 9. Eulogy To Larry. Teacher: Cindy Thompson, Maple Ridge Secondary, Maple Ridge.
• Leanna Volkmann, Grade 9. Just A Note. Teacher: Cindy Thompson, Maple Ridge Secondary, Maple Ridge.
• Georgia Masaki, Grade 9. Slaughter. Teacher: Cindy Thompson, Maple Ridge Secondary, Maple Ridge.
• Katie Watson, Grade 9. Happily Not So Ever After. Teacher: Cindy Thompson, Maple Ridge Secondary, Maple Ridge.
• Rebecca Trembath, Grade 9. Flash. Teacher: Cindy Thompson, Maple Ridge Secondary, Maple Ridge.
• Sophia Dobischok, Grade 9. The Second Layer. Teacher: Cindy Thompson, Maple Ridge Secondary, Maple Ridge.
• Helena Ribeiro Lopes Pinto de Almeida, Grade 10. Lightning, Thunder and Memories. Teacher: Polly Dobie, Point Grey Academy, Vancouver.
• Ali Casey, Grade 10. Peppermint. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Claremont Secondary, Victoria.
• Emerson van der Linden, Grade 10. Secret Tears. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Claremont Secondary, Victoria.
• Brett Bennett, Grade 10. The Trumpet Player. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Claremont Secondary, Victoria.
• Katrina Baker, Grade 11. Yellow Wheelchair. Teacher: Jen Wieler, Sardis Secondary School, Chilliwack.
• Kimberly Goryk, Grade 11. Annabelle. Teacher: Jen Wieler, Sardis Secondary School, Chilliwack.
• Acacia Welsford, Grade 11. Sickness In A City In Spring. Teacher: Kimberly Tait, St. Michaels University School, Victoria.
• Queenie Zhang, Grade 11. Jugular. Teacher: Terence Young, St. Michaels University School, Victoria.
• Sophie Buttefield, Grade 11. Stone. Teacher: Terence Young, St. Michaels University School, Victoria.
• Michelle Song, Grade 11. Quitting. Teacher: Terence Young, St. Michaels University School, Victoria.
• Sydney Playfair, Grade 11. Lost Thing. Teacher: Kelley Inden, Fort St. James Secondary School, Fort St. James.
• Claudia Kobehtch, Grade 12. Unjustified Forgiveness. Teacher: Regina Melczer, Pinetree Secondary School, Coquitlam.
• Laura Woods, Grade 12. Virgil. Teacher: Terence Young, St. Michaels University School, Victoria.
• Mia Brooker, Grade 12. The Water Balloon Slingshot. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Claremont Secondary, Victoria
• Lauren Marchant, Grade 12. Lavender. Teacher: Susan Stenson, Claremont Secondary, Victoria.
• Breanna Northway, Grade 12. The Creek. Teacher: Kyla Hadden, Eagle River Secondary, Sicamous.
• Justin Lin, Grade 12. Being Sincere Is Important. Teacher: Pamela Smith, Byrne Creek Secondary, Burnaby.
• Anya Paloposki, Grade 12. Rain. Teacher: Melinda MacKinnon, Lake City Secondary, Williams Lake.
• Kai Newman, Grade 12. Jumpers. Teacher: Kimberly Tait, St. Michaels University School, Victoria.

It’s finally here! The conference program is now available! GET IT HERE.

Have a look, select your sessions, and REGISTER NOW.

Please help us get the word out: tweet this post far and wide; print the brochure and leave a few copies in your staffroom; and talk to your colleagues and ask if they’re coming.

You may have noticed that we have reduced this year’s fees.  We wanted to honour the sacrifices BC teachers made this past June and September.

We are so excited about our speakers and sessions this year.  The title of the conference is Cultivating Passionate Learners and what better way to do so than to come together as colleagues and share ideas and the things that make us passionate learners?  Our featured speakers this year include Dr. Jeffrey Wilhelm, Faye Brownlie, Leyton Schnellert, Sharon Jeroski, Kathleen Gregory, and many more!

Registration closes Oct 20th so don’t delay; we look forward to seeing you in October!

*please note: unfortunately, the following sessions have been cancelled: A4, A5, B8.  There are still many more from which to choose!

Cultivating Passionate Learners is the title and theme of this year’s BCTELA provincial conference. You can register now by following this link!

In an effort to make our conference as accessible to all teachers as possible, we have reduced this year’s conference fees: regular BCTF members will pay $125.  For special fee pricing, please refer to our official brochure (coming SOON)!

“What are sessions this year?” you may be asking. Our beautiful brochure will be out any moment, but for now here are the session titles:

A1: Re-Framing Curriculum and Instruction as Inquiry with Dr. Jeff Wilhelm (K-12)
A2: Cultivating Passion (K-5)
A3: Literacy Development in a Play-based Classroom (K-12)
A6: It’s a Text-based, Online, Self-publishing World: Let’s teach our students to write like pros (4-9)
A7: “She Only Gave Me a C!” Effective strategies in formative assessment to help students improve (4-12)
A8: Watching Women Die: Gender & violence in the media (5-12)
A9: Collaborative Lesson Study (K-12)
A10: A Collaborative Approach to Understanding by Design (UbD) in Order to Meet Students’ Individual Needs in the English Classroom (5-12)
A11: Happiness is… Passionate, Personal Inquiry(9-12)
A12: Game On! (9-12)
A13: Can You Guide for the Side and Still Accomplish the Learning that is Intended? Engaging and supporting diverse learners using inquiry (4-7)

B1: Inquiry in the Primary Grades: A space for students to be creative (k-5)
B2: Getting the Word Out: English Practice writer’s workshop
B3: Exploring Core Competencies: Communication, thinking, and, personal and social competence in BC schools (K-12)
B4: Middle Mosaic (4-9)
B5: Texts that Talk to Each Other: Conversations between diverse and essential questions (5-12)
B6: Cultivating Compassionate Learners (5-12)
B7: Non-Fiction Literacy: Whose job is it anyway? (9-12)
B9: Self Identity in the Global Village (9-12)
B10: “Help!” : Engaging Strategies that Support Inclusion (4-12)
B11: Reading Strategy Instruction: Moving from assessment to instruction (K-12)
B12: Integrating Diverse Texts into the Clssroom to Increase Engagement and Learning (9-12)

*gaps in the session numbers indicate cancellations

The unusual start to the school year has impacted our provincial conference a bit but NEVER FEAR: the conference is still on!

Cultivating Passionate Learners: the 2014 BCTELA provincial conference will be on Friday, October 24th (PSA Day) at Terry Fox Secondary in Port Coquitlam.

Our keynote is none other than Dr. Jeffrey Wilhelm!  If that’s not enough, after the keynote address we have an amazing line-up of workshops from which to choose. It’s going to feel so good to connect with colleagues from across BC and beyond to share our passions for language arts after this hectic and emotional September.

We have shortened this year’s conference to one day (Friday) and have reduced the fees.  I strongly encourage you to talk to your colleagues and come as a group so you can continue to explore the ideas and insights you’re sure to have.

If you’re on Twitter, follow us (@BCTELA) and watch this website for the details about specific sessions and the registration link.  Both will be coming soon, likely within the week.

So, What’s the Story?

BCTELA is excited that Jeffrey Wilhelm will be our keynote at the 2014 provincial conference in October.  In honour of his visit we will be reading So, What’s the Story? So, What’s the Story? discusses the power of narrative in understanding ourselves and the world around us.  It includes ideas for understanding and  teaching many different forms of narrative.  We’re looking forward to reading it!

Ways to participate:

Twitter Chats:

• July 25th, 9 am – Chapters 1-4
• August 26th, 2 pm – Chapters 5-6
• September 20th, 9 am – Chapters 7-9
• Use the hashtag #bctelabook

Join us at the conference, October 24-26 in Coquitlam, BC.

Looking forward to chatting with you all!