THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

August 26, 1999

Teacher Education Office
Faculty of Education

Ms Marcia Braundy
6087 MacDonald Street
Vancouver, BC

2125 Mam Mall
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4
Tel: (604) 822-5242

Fax:(604) 822-8227

V6N 1E5

Dear Ms Braundy:
We look forward to your participation in the teacher education program this year. A series of
sessions is planned during the week of Monday, August 30th to Friday, September 3rd for
orientation to the 1999-2000 program. Please plan to attend the general orientation session
scheduled for August 30th, and the other sessions relevant to your teaching responsibilities.
Changes in direction and policy will be presented in these sessions.
Teacher Education Program Orientation: This is a general orientation to the teacher

education program for all persons working with the program. The orientation is
scheduled for Monday, August 30 at the University of British Columbia’s Botanical
Gardens, 6804 SW Marine Drive from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
There is no charge for parking at the Botanical Gardens.
Education 418: Extended Practicum (Year 2 of the 2-year Elementary Option). All

Faculty Advisors supervising students in the second year of the 2 year program (Fall,
1999) are invited to attend a meeting on Monday, August 30 in Scarfe 155 from
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. [Dr. Sydney Craig, Program Coordinator, Elementary and Middle
Years Practica].
Education 310 and Education 311: Principles of Teaching: An orientation meeting to
prepare laboratory leaders for the course is scheduled for Tuesday, August 31, and
Wednesday, September 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the University of British
Columbia’s Botanical Gardens, 6804 SW Marine Drive. Lunch will be provided. [Dr.
Anna Kindler, Coordinator, Principles of Teaching]

Education 316: Communication Skills in Teaching: This meeting is for all Instructors
and Laboratory Leaders and will be held on Thursday, September 2 at the University of
British Columbia’s Botanical Gardens, 6804 SW Marine Drive from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m. Lunch will be provided. [Ms Heather Walker and Ms Debbie Gregg, Coordinators,

Communication Skills in Teaching].
All Faculty Advisors working in Projects/Options in the 12 month Elementary and
Middle Years programs (CITE, PBL, Surrey, Delta, Langley, PIP and Middle Years)

are invited to attend an important meeting to be held at the University of British
Columbia’s Botanical Gardens, 6804 SW Marine Drive from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
on Friday, September 3. Lunch will be served at noon. Meeting chaired by Dr. Sydney
Craig and Dr. Marion Porath.
Enclosed is some additional information that will acquaint you with the Faculty of
Education. The thick, multicoloured package contains the material we send to all students

interested in teacher education at UBC. In it you will find information about the requirements for
the teacher education programs and an overview of these programs. I hope you will take the time
to read this material; it provides information that you will find helpful in carrying out your
responsibilities and responding to questions about the Faculty's programs. "Courses and Dates" is
a partial list of some of the courses and practica in the teacher education programs. It provides
detailed scheduling information that will help you to get a sense of the timing of some courses
and school experiences.

The coming academic year should be an exciting one. Over the years the Faculty has
offered different options to students preparing to teach in British Columbia. During 1999-2000
we will continue to offer options that have been developed in previous years.
In the elementary 2-year version, the Faculty will continue to provide students with the
opportunity to acquire broad preparation for teaching in the elementary classroom as well as
specialized preparation in one of six areas: Early Childhood Primary, English as an Additional
Language, Humanities, Mathematics and Science, Special Education, and The Expressive Arts in
Education.
Those preparing to teach at the elementary level in the Faculty's 12-month version will
have a number of different pathways to common program objectives. The Elementary Integrated
Option, offered to a cohort of 36 students who take much of their course work together with an
instructional team, and experience their practica in partner schools in Delta, continues to promote
the development of strong generalist teachers for elementary schools. The Community ofInquiry
for Teacher Education (C.I.T.E.) was a new initiative in 1997. It offers a cohort of 36 students
the opportunity to meet the program's objectives by taking their classes together with an
instructional team, and experience their practica in selected partner schools. C.I.T.E. emphasizes
curricular integration, community involvement, and opportunities for student-based inquiry into
teaching and learning.

The Problem-based Learning Option began in 1998. This option uses tutorial and
resource approach to identifying and addressing issues of professional practice. This option is
available to 36 students who will work in groups of 9 students throughout the program. The
Primary Integrated Option, offered to a cohort of 36 students who take much of their course work
together, is designed to emphasize preparation for teaching grades K-3.
As you know, the faculty has pursued partnerships with teachers' associations and school
districts in the conduct of the practicum. The Surrey project will continue to use a sponsor­
schools approach to the practicum, expanding to offer 36 students the opportunity to undertake
their course work in Education 310 and Education 316 as well as their practica in the Surrey
School District. Practicum projects in Langley School District will begin their second year.
The Faculty will also continue to offer the French as a Second Language Option to
applicants who have satisfactory French language skills and who wish to develop the knowledge
and skills to introduce French as a second language in classrooms, and the French Immersion
Option to those fluent in French who teach the school curriculum in primary or intermediate
grades in the French language or in bilingual schools.
In 1999-2000, we will once again offer 72 students the opportunity to enroll in the middle
years version of the teacher education program. Our collaboration with the Coquitlam School
District and the Coquitlam teachers will continue and our more recent collaboration with the
Chilliwack School District will continue as well.

Those preparing to teach at the secondary level will also have a variety of options from
which to choose. In addition to the French Second Language and French Immersion options, the
Faculty will offer students preparing to teach particular subjects at the secondary level the
opportunity to study certain of their courses together. Those preparing to teach art will enroll in
the Secondary Methods in Art Education, those preparing to teach mathematics will enroll in the
Secondary Mathematics Integrated project, and those interested in technology studies education
will enroll in the Technology Studies Integrated Option.

A cross-disciplinary experience is offered to students interested in Secondary
Mathematics, Science and Technology. To students with an interest in teaching English and
social studies from a perspective that emphasizes the humanities and a commitment to exploring
issues of social justice, the Secondary Humanities and Social Justice option is offered.

As you can see, the Faculty of Education continues to offer a variety of different
pathways to the common goal of preparing excellent, beginning classroom teachers. Regardless
of the program version or option that they have chosen, all students meet the same requirements
and address the same program content.
Should you have any questions at all about any of this material or your responsibilities,
please do not hesitate to contact me at 822-6045. The year ahead will be a demanding and, I hope
a rewarding one for all of us. I look forward to seeing you on Monday, August 30th. Please
RSVP to Christina Elliott, Teacher Education Office Receptionist at 822-5242. Please also
inform Christina if you have particular dietary needs.
Sincerely yours,

Marion Porath, Ph.D.
Associate Dean

Encs.
cc:

Dr. Nancy Sheehan, Dean, Faculty of Education
Ms June Lythgoe, Director of Professional Programs, TEO
Dr. Sydney Craig, Program Coordinator (Elementary and Middle Years Practica), TEO
Ms Suzanne Windsor-Liscombe, Program Coordinator (Secondary Practica), TEO
Ms Peggy Speidel, Administrative Manager, TEO
Ms Christina Elliott, Receptionist, TEO

TEO/Orientation99/ltr.doc/07-99/dh