Professional Profile Laura Mann’s

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Introduction My name is Laura Mann. I am a teacher, mother, life-long learner, community-member, and global-minded citizen. I value collaboration among colleagues and seek opportunities to learn from others. I am dedicated to evolving as a teacher, learner, and individual. My practica experience, education course-work, and being a mother to an energetic, creative, and curious 4-year-old make me aware of the diverse, complex, and unique needs of children. I have learned and continue to learn an enormous amount from raising my boy to be a thoughtful, kind, inquisitive, and confident citizen of our world. It is my belief that education, in all its forms and at all its levels, serves the entire person for his/her entire life. As a teacher, I strive to create an environment where education is valued, open, and fun. The purpose of education is to provide students with meaningful opportunities to explore; discover; make connection; and generate deep, curious questions about themselves, each other, and the wonders of our world. It also aims to provide students with an ability to be critical about the “not-so-wonderful” and feel capable of making creative and critical change where change is due. Education is learning how to effectively, compassionately, and responsibly be in, and with, our world. Thank you for taking the time to review my professional profile.

Philosophy I value… -Differentiated learning and UDL -An inclusive classroom community -Cooperative learning -Student-centered teaching and learning -Use of technology in the classroom by teacher and students -Cross-cultural curriculum, resources, and instruction -Assessment for/of/as learning -Classroom management which promotes respect and dignity for self and others -Clear, compassionate, and open communication -Collaborative teaching and learning opportunities -Life-long learning -Cultivation of creativity -A reflective professional practice “Good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher.” -Parker J. Palmer, The Courage to Teach “My role as a “progressive” teacher is not only that of teaching mathematics or biology but also of helping the students to recognize themselves as the architects of their own cognition process.” -Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of Freedom “Culture is activity of thought, and receptiveness to beauty and humane feeling. Scraps of information have nothing to do with it. A merely well-informed man is the most useless bore on God’s earth.” -Alfred North Whitehead, The Aims of Education

Education Bachelor of Education Vancouver Island University 2009 Bachelor of Arts Anthropology and English University of Victoria 2004 Diplôme Secondaire en Immersion Française Nanaimo District Secondary School 1995

Practicum École Hammond Bay School, SD #68 2 e année, Immersion Française Oct Dec Ballenas Secondary School, SD#69 Grades 9, 10, & 11 Sept May 2009 Parksville Elementary School, SD#69 Kindergarten/Grade 1 Sept May 2008 Departure Bay Elementary School, SD#68 Grade 7 Sept May 2007

Professional Development Highlights BCTF Day, Oct Anti-Discrimination Workshop Gordon Neufeld Workshop, Aug The Power to Teach NVC, Nanaimo BC, May 2009 Non-Violent Communication Workshop Barrie Bennett, Duncan BC, Mar Instructional Intelligence & Concept Attainment WestCAST, Victoria BC, Feb Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Ways of Knowing Boy Smarts, Vancouver BC, Oct Barry MacDonald TRIBES Training, Squamish BC, Aug hour Basic Training Certificate BCSLC, Richmond BC, Feb Student Leadership Conference

Work Education-related Researcher & Project Lead, VIU History Project Department of Communications and Public Relations July Present ESL Instructor VIU, Department of International Education Summer 2007 & Summer 2008 Olympic Project Volunteer PacificSport January - April 2008 Lecture Dirigée École Quarterway School Fall 2006 & Fall 2007 Volunteer Grade 1 Teacher and Librarian Development Aid from People to People, Denmark Feb Dec 1996

ePortfolio Click here to link to my ePortfolio

Jennifer Coomes K/1 Practicum Sponsor teacher, 2007/08 Lynn Haley Field Experience Supervisor, 2009 Dr. Harry Janzen Dean, Faculty of Education, VIU Kirsten Moss Teacher & Personal Reference Toni O’Keeffe Director of Communications and Public Relations, VIU Mary O’Neill Faculty of Education References

Contact Blueback Rd. Nanaimo, BC V9V 1N