MPTCA 2016

If the stories we tell about our lives help to shape our identities, we need to consider the stories that our students are sharing about themselves with regards to their experiences in our classrooms. Chris will reflect upon the current status of education and challenge us to work to create the conditions for students’ stories from school to become a more positive narrative - one in which they are aware of their strengths, challenges, passions and identity. He will share views, research, and examples to highlight the power of a learning environment and community in which we key in on the strengths and interest of students. These stories from K-12 show how changing the lens to a strength-based model will not only help build upon those strengths but also provide us with a greater opportunity to support the areas of struggle. Chris will challenge teachers to think about how shifting their assessment and recognition of students makes their time in our schools more meaningful and allows all of us to build positive stories and identity around ourselves as learners and the work we do.