Loss Grief and Growth Education Project

1. Loss Grief and Growth Education Project Introduction for Funeral Directors who will be teaching LGG

2. Developed with sponsorship from:

3. The story... “…had it not been for the hard work and dedication of teachers I never would have made it to college….” Yves Berthiaume

4. “We need to address the needs of kids” • Tours of the funeral homes

5. “The most frequent question from teachers: “How do I support grieving students?”

6. Curriculum development • With sponsorship OFSA & OBFS • Teachers from across Ontario developed curriculum • “Written by teachers for teachers” • Linked materials directly to Ministry curriculum & Ontario report card

7. Current status • 2009 FSAC assumed leadership • Curriculum Services Canada (CSC) • “develop a resource for teachers not curriculum” • June 2010 LGG is launched nationally

9. Loss Grief and Growth • honors the relationship between students and teachers • acknowledges that teachers are connected with students before, during and after the crisis is over, after “grief counsellors” have gone….

10. Loss Grief and Growth • honours the role of Funeral Directors as citizens in their communities • recognizes Funeral Directors as a integral members of the interprofessional team with expertise in grief and bereavement

11. Getting Started • Contact your provincial association • Get involved with the provincial Implementation Team • Become familiar with the • LGG resource • Presentation for teachers • References

12. Preparing the ground

13. FSAC • Contacted Ministers of Education – June 2010 • Supporting provincial associations to help them implement project provincially • Pilot projects to support learning for local and national implementation

14. Provincial Teams Approach • School Boards Directors/Superintendents • Principals Associations • Based on unique characteristics in each province, may contact: • Teachers associations/federations • Private school associations • Curriculum departments both provincial and school boards

15. Provincial Teams Depending on the province, contact the following groups and consider posting information on the following websites • PE and Health Education • Association for PE teachers • School Counsellors Association

16. Funeral Directors • Introduce educators to the LGG resource. • Build relationships with your community educators. • Make an appointment with a contact person at the school

17. Funeral Directors cont’d… • Print a couple of copies of LGG (Follow guidelines) • Use meeting time to discuss the resource and • Offer in-service presentations to schools in your community. • Other ideas?

18. Remember that the “school team” includes: • Teachers • Custodial people • Office staff • Support staff

19. Types of Presentations • School staff meeting - 15 minutes • Inservice • After/before school 1 - 1.5 hours • Workshop - ½ - 1 day workshop • At the school • At the Funeral Home • Professional Development Day • Contact the PD Day developers in the schools or in the area office

20. Cont’d… • Follow up sessions • Plan yearly sessions • Just in time sessions • Following death in the community • Offer tours of the Funeral Home for • teachers • students • families

21. Tips for Teacher Presentations

22. Teachers appreciate: • easily accessed resources which will help them teach their students • conveniently scheduled workshops • new knowledge for immediate use in the classroom

23. Clear rationale for learning new material. e.g. Why should I spend time in this workshop?

24. Efficient use of time during a workshop

25. the opportunity to voice their opinions

26. Sustenance is always appreciated!

27. Teachers also appreciate professionalism: • Plan ahead • Be organized • Know your material • Practice

28. When you are preparing • choose the presenter thoughtfully • Presentation skills • Ability to connect with teachers • Comfort with the content • may want to invite colleagues to attend

29. Materials for Teacher Presentation • PPT for TEACHERS • Computer or projector with cords • Flip chart • Poster paper • Masking tape • Markers for flip chart • Markers for small group work – • at least 3 different colours per group

30. Materials continued… • Copies of the LGG document • A form for gathering the names and emails of participants • Name tags • Business cards • Kleenexes!

31. Loss Grief and Growth Education Resource Presentation guide for teachers Access from OFSA & FSAC website

32. How to access LGG resource

33. Accessing the document • www.curriculum.org

39. Thank you!

40. A few thoughts….. about teaching….

41. Connect with self Connect with self

42. Connect with teachers Connect with teachers

43. Connect with their concerns

44. Connect with the work

45. Connect with each other

46. Connect content with practice

47. Connect content and make it simple

48. Connect with simplicity

49. Connect with teachers best predictor of what they will learn is what they already know

50. Our beliefs will influence how and what we teach My personal bias – fun