April Monthly Objectives: Reflect. Learn. Grow.

Image from Blessed Brilliant Beautiful

Within Canada, the Council of Ministers of Education Canada, CMEC, identified six global competencies to ensure educational jurisdictions prepare students with the abilities to meet the “shifting and ongoing demands of life, work and learning; to be active and responsive in their communities; to understand diverse perspectives and to act on issues of global significance”. Although different iterations of global competencies exist, such as B.C.’s Core Competencies, Ontario’s 21st Century Competencies, and New Brunswick’s Global Competencies, all provinces and territories have frameworks that intersect the six global competencies identified by the CMEC:

1. Critical thinking and problem-solving
2. Innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship
3. Learning to learn/self-awareness and self-direction
4. Collaboration
5. Communication
6. Global citizenship and sustainability

This April, use myBlueprint’s All About Me and Education Planner platforms to encourage competency reflection in your classroom. Scroll and read today’s blog post to learn more!

K-6 Newsletter (or K-7)

Title: Reflect.Grow.Learn

Core competencies and 21st-century skills are essential for personal and professional development in today’s world. Having students reflect on them is important because it allows them to:

• Identify their strengths and weaknesses: When students reflect on their competencies, it helps them to identify their strengths and weaknesses. This self-awareness is crucial for personal growth and development.
• Set goals: By reflecting on their competencies, students can set specific goals for improving their skills and enhancing their overall performance.
• Enhance learning: Reflection is a key component of the learning process. By reflecting on their experiences and learning, students can gain a deeper understanding of the concepts and skills they have acquired.
• Adapt to change: The world is constantly changing, and new skills and competencies are required to stay relevant. Reflection allows students to assess their current skills and competencies and identify areas where they need to adapt to meet new challenges.

Implementation Ideas for APRIL!

1. Use these resources to encourage competency reflection in your classroom: Reflection Ideas for Student Portfolios (Gr. 1–3) and Reflection Ideas for Student Portfolios (Gr. 4–6)
2. Returning from Spring Break? Help students reflect on their experiences! Check out the My Favourite Spring Break Moment Activity to help students record, reflect and share their learning. Challenge them to identify a competency that was displayed in that experience and then have them reflect on that competency.
3. Help students mindfully build essential competencies — April’s focus is Self-Confidence. Have students watch S1E1 of Competencies without a Classroom and engage them in a discussion using the accompanying slide deck, teacher guide, and student handout

7–12 Newsletter (or 8–12)

Title: Reflect.Grow.Learn.

Self-confidence is an important factor in student success. When students feel confident in their abilities or competencies, they are more likely to take risks, explore new ideas, and persevere through the challenges of life. #Reflect.Learn.Grow.

Here are helpful Education Planner resources to support competency reflection in your classroom:

• Use these resources to reinforce competencies with your students:

Core Competencies Lesson Plan Package (BC specific)

21st Century Competencies Lesson Plan Package

• Use the Journal Reflection Prompts Ideas to further support your students in reflecting throughout their lessons, assignments and projects.

Implementation Ideas for APRIL!

1. New spring webinar offerings have been scheduled: Click here to sign up for a live webinar session!

• *NEW* Webinar: Supporting Special Education Using Digital Portfolios on Friday, April 28th at 12:00 pm ET. Click here to register. For Monday, May 1st at 11:00 am ET, click here to register.

2. Help your students to reflect, learn and grow their essential competencies — April’s focus is Self-Confidence. Through self-confidence, and being open to new experiences, students can follow their purpose and move mountains. Have students watch S1E1 of Competencies without a Classroom and engage them in a discussion using the accompanying slide deck, teacher guide, and student handout

CONTESTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS!

1. Boost Pathways Planning engagement in your schools! The contest begins on Monday, April 3, 2023, and will close on Friday, May 12th, 2023. The winner will be announced on May 19th, 2023.

For more information, click here!

• myBlueprint x Scotiabank Scholarships:

Once again, myBlueprint is excited to be partnering with Scotiabank to support students across Canada with financing their post-secondary education

There is $60,000 worth of scholarships available for students in their final year of high school. For more information and to apply, Click here

• myBlueprint Scholarship Contest

Encourage your grade 12 students to enter our $1,000 myBlueprint Scholarship Contest

Students can see available myBlueprint scholarships in their student accounts: Dashboard > Tasks > Scholarships (Learn more here: myBlueprint $1,000 Scholarship — Terms and Conditions 2022–23)

Join the myBlueprint Community to stay up to date with all things myBlueprint, and interact with educators across Canada sharing implementation ideas and success stories.

Want to learn more? Email support@myBlueprint.ca, sign up for a drop-in webinar or watch our bite-sized video tutorials.