It is a pleasure to introduce Terry LaVallee, Assistant Principal and Grade 6 Teacher in Pasadena, NL. Teaching for over 24 years, he is passionate about focusing his classrooms around student collaboration, teamwork, critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving.
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Terry helped to develop one of the first maker spaces in his region. Supporting and building capacity in his school so students can have unique learning opportunities is important to him. He did this by starting the Genius Hour where students are given the opportunity to work on projects they are most passionate about. Inspiring young people by connecting with them, giving them encouragement and essential feedback helps Terry create an environment where students can become the very best version of themselves.
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INTRODUCTION WRITTEN BY JOHN BARRON, NL | BRILLIANT LABS PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Sharing and staying connected is an important part of Terry’s work-life balance. To support this, he is active on social media to support good practices with colleagues who reach out to him for help. Terry shares his work with students locally, nationally and internationally by engaging students where they are, both physically and within their journey as learners. This style of teaching is fostering active and engaged life-long learners. Understanding this connection that is paramount to developing critical thinking, communication, character and citizenship. Let’s chat with Terry and Take:5 tips from our discussion! You've been a teacher for how many years? This is Year 25 in education. Most of those years were in administration as Principal. I have re-invested myself in the classroom directly for the past 4 ½ years. Why did you become a teacher? There’s no simple or easy answer to that. It took me some time to find my calling when I was younger. I studied pharmacy in university, but it wasn’t my calling. Next I experimented with business courses but I was never a blatant selfpromoter; we need entrepreneurs for that! I have no family members who are teachers so it was, to put it bluntly, a process of elimination. I always felt satisfied when I was helping people. I certainly do not regret my decision! 8
Brilliant Labs Magazine Revue Labos Créatifs
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Open your classroom or maker area to students and alike. Working collaborativly helps to inspire learning for both students and collegues.
