In the Loop - February 19, 2026

Bad Day

KEY RESOURCES IN LANGLEY 

  • Guide to Key Websites and Resources: Here
  • Instructional Services Website: For all your district-vetted resources K-12!  Check it out!
  • Aboriginal Resources vetted by the District: Here
  • TCS Sites: Key resources are still being placed in these Teams. If you need access to one of these Teams, please email dzurbuchenjonker@sd35.bc.ca.
    • TCS SS-Grade 3
    • TCS Grade 4-8
    • TCS Secondary

DISTRICT LEARNING COMMONS

The DLC is your one stop shop for useful resources to enhance your teaching available to all school staff in the Langley School District. You don’t need to buy everything for all of your lessons yourself! We deliver and pick up all the items you request through district mail twice per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Links to all the info below:

  • View and book online through Insignia Library system | Here
  • Find instructions, an area to check out new resources, request new resources and report lost or damages kits | Here
  • Sign out instructions | Here

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

*NEW!* Follow us on our UDL/Mentorship Instagram! @sd35mentorshipmoments

We post lots of events, teacher tips, UDL strategies, and more!

Interested in Becoming a Mentor? 

We are looking for Mentors in the following areas:

  1. Resource (Middle - LSS family of schools)
  2. Science/Chem 10 (REMSS family of schools)
  3. General secondary - Gr 9/10/12 (REMSS family of schools)
  4. Math/Science 9 (LSS family of schools)

Please email teachermentorship@sd35.bc.ca if you’re interested in becoming a Mentor in any of these areas or for other upcoming Mentees.  
 
New to the District or a New Role? 
If you’re a newer teacher looking for mentorship, please fill out the Mentee Information Sheet on the LTA website. Once completed, please email it to teachermentorship@sd35.bc.ca to join our program! 
 
Upcoming Events: 

Book Club: Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation.  

1) February 24th: 4-5pm TEAMS 

2) April 14th: 4-5pm TEAMS 

3) May 5th 4-6pm SBO HUB 

HONOURING TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

FORED Youth Bursary for Indigenous Youth | Due March 31, 2026 | FORED BC | Email your application to awards@nvit.ca
NVIT Indigenous students can apply for a $500 FORED BC bursary. Students must declare a financial need and obtain high overall grades. They must also write a short paragraph on how traditional ecological knowledge may be or has been applied to environmental resources management in their territory, community or Band decision-making. NVIT's Registration Office must receive applications by 4:30 pm on March 31.

Indigenous Youth Art Contest | For Ages 5-18 | Deadline May 22, 2026 | FORED BC | More info
To celebrate the rich cultural and heritage traditions of the Indigenous people of Canada, FORED is sponsoring its annual artwork, photo and video contest. $150 cash prizes are available for Indigenous youth, aged 5-18. This contest is a wonderful opportunity to find a mentor in the Elder community to pass down this important knowledge to Indigenous youth.
Theme: Indigenous Traditional Knowledge & Medicine
Prize: 4 x $150 prizes with at least one national winner. Group work shares prize.

DISTRICT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Introduction to the Coast Metro Numeracy Teacher Resource Website | On-Demand Learning Feature
The Coast Metro Numeracy website is a completely free resource for classroom teachers from grades K to 7 to access for all of their math and numeracy planning and teaching needs.  The website includes weekly overviews, lesson plan ideas and access to a multitude of excellent math and numeracy resources to help classroom teachers with developing a strong numeracy program in their classrooms.  In this webinar, Christine Wozney, Vice-Principal at R.C. Garnett Elementary School, walks staff through all of the excellent resources available to them and provides tips and ideas on how teachers can use the website effectively to assist their numeracy instruction. For more information about the Coast Metro Numeracy website, please see the Learning Resources section below for access to the website.

Pro-D Opportunities: Workshops and Conferences

To see our full calendar of offerings, visit www.thinklangley.com.

EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Critical AI Perspectives for Educators | UBC | March 3, 2026 |  Register
The Faculty of Education Development and Alumni Engagement and the Teacher Education Office invite you to attend an online webinar on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 with guest presenter, Parth Sarin, AI Practitioner-in-Residence. This webinar will focus on Critical AI Perspectives for Educators. This session is intended to give an overview of Generative AI in education and to provide critical perspectives on the ethical, social, and practical implications of these technologies. Through this lens, participants will explore how AI impacts classroom equity, academic integrity, and the future of teaching, while examining strategies to integrate these tools thoughtfully and responsibly into educational settings.

UBC Dean Community Engagement Series: The value of assessment for B.C. Multilingual learners: Insights from the BC ESL Assessment Consortium | March 5, 2026 | Register
Join Dr. Jan Hare, Dean and Professor, Canada Research Chair (Tier 1), Indigenous Pedagogy, for the fifth annual speaker series putting a spotlight on important questions and significant priorities that are engaging educators today.
This virtual session will feature the ESL Assessment Consortium, including the following speakers: Lee Gunderson(University of British Columbia), Maria Yioldassis (SD 45 West Van), Caz Davidson (SD 43 Coquitlam), Ann Stewart Hunter (SD 39 Vancouver), Janis Sawatzky (SD 35 Langley) and Katerina Vakakis (SD 41 Burnaby).
The ESL Assessment Consortium was established by members of the British Columbia Lower Mainland School Boards. Its purpose is to consider various issues related to the assessment of students who come from homes where the language spoken is not English. Consortium activities include the development of assessment instruments, cross-district cooperation in the development of ESL support levels, and the implementation of assessment research.

Transforming Assessment: Equitable Assessment Practices in the Age of AI | CAFLN Conference | October 1-3, 2026 | Sign Up for Conference Notifications
This year's conference is being held in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The speaker line-up is being finalized and regsitration will open soon.  If you would like to keep informed on conference registration and speaker line-ups, please click on the link above and sign up for conference notifications.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF/STUDENTS/CLASSES

Memory Project Speakers Bureau | Historica Canada | More info | Book A Speaker
Connect your students with the veterans and Canadian Forces members who share personal stories of service, sacrifice, and resilience. Through firsthand accounts, students gain a deeper understanding of Canada's military history and the human experiences behind it. Available in English and French, in person or virtually, the speakers inspire empathy, critical thinking, and meaningful conversations. The Memory Project is where history meets those who lived it.       

LEARNING RESOURCES

Words Matter! | Teaching Vocabulary in the Content Areas | Pembroke Publishers | Free Access until March 2, 2026 | Feature of the month Preview
Happening on Thursday, Feb 12th, this important webinar will explore the newest book called "Teaching Vocabulary in the Content Areas." Author Sandra Mirabelli will provide an in-depth look at morphology, language, and the content areas. She will share tools and strategies for integrating vocabulary instruction into the content areas and research-based practices that help provide targeted literacy instruction. Read the first four chapters online with the free Feature-of-the-month-preview above. 

Featured Lesson Plan: Seven Steps to a Seedling | FORED BC | More info
FORED BC has developed many lesson plans over the years on a variety of subjects for ages 5-9,10-13 and 14-18. Many were contributed by teachers or developed in collaboration with classroom educators. All youth activities — are freely available on the website. Topics include: plants and animals, endangered species, tree identification, oceans, the environment and sustainability, forest fire safety, Indigenous knowledge and classroom adaptions for those with learning disabilities or special needs. This edition's featured lesson plan, Seven Steps to a Seedling, offers instructions on how to grow a tree from a seed for replanting in approved areas.

Coast Metro Numeracy Website | Link
The Coast Metro Math Project/Numeracy Website is an excellent, free resource for K-8 teachers. It contains a ton of great resources and lesson ideas for teachers to use around math and numeracy instruction. The website has recently been supplemented to include Math Practice Questions based on requests from teachers across the province. Teachers can access the website through the link above.   

Critical Thinking Consortium (TC2) Access and Resources | More info
The Langley School District is excited to share that we are now a partner of The Critical Thinking Consortium (TC²), an organization dedicated to fostering critical, creative, and collaborative thinking. Through this partnership, teachers will have access to free resources and tools designed to support your teaching and learning.  
 Here’s how to get started: 
  • Create your TC² account: https://tc2.ca/register Setting up your account is quick and easy, and it’s the key to accessing your benefits. 
  • Explore and bookmark resources: Discover tools and materials that meet your teaching and learning needs and build a personalized collection by bookmarking your favourites. 

Once your account is set up, you'll gain access to: 

PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL READINGS

Canadian Assessment for Learning Network | February Newsletter 
The Canadian Assessment for Learning Network (CAfLN) is a Canadian organization that provides excellent resources and professional development around assessment for educators in Canada.  Educators can purchase a yearly membership which then provides them access to all of their virtual pro-d at no additional cost.  They also produce a monthly CAfLN newsletter that is full of great assessment tools and ideas for educators to apply to their practice.  Above is a link to their latest February 2026 newsletter which provides educators with a glimpse of why a CAfLN membership would be a valuable investment.

TECH TIPS

Mac for Educators K-12 | Apple | February 24, 2026 | Register
Apple technology empowers every educator—and every student—to learn, create, and define their own success. More than ever, educators are using digital content and tools to create interactive, engaging experiences for their students. Educators are reimagining instructional practice and creating powerful digital resources that help students develop deeper understanding and improve engagement. Which means students can connect to subject matter and demonstrate their learning in exciting new ways. Features built right into iPad—such as the camera or HD video recording, Speak Screen, Safari Reader, and many more—let students access information in new ways. And, from email and calendaring to document management, collaboration, and virtual meetings, Mac can make the administrative load lighter and more organized. Each virtual session is designed to show how iPad and Mac and their built-in features enable learning for all students, as well as support existing educator and student workflows. 
For sessions in French, please visit here.

AI For Educators | Ready to teach smarter, not harder? Explore how AI can elevate your classroom in minutes | AI for Educators Learning Module
Discover how artificial intelligence can actually make teaching easier, more creative, and more impactful. The AI for Educators learning module gives you a clear, practical introduction to AI. It cuts through the noise so you can focus on what matters most: supporting students. In this hands‑on, teacher‑designed learning experience, you’ll explore: 
  • The real story behind AI, large language models, and generative tools  
  • How to craft powerful prompts that get amazing results with Microsoft Copilot 
  • Ways to use Image Creator, Word, PowerPoint, Edge, Minecraft, and more to supercharge lessons 
  • Responsible AI practices you can trust—and confidently model for students 
  • Classroom‑tested ideas to save time, boost engagement, and spark creativity 
Whether you’re brand new to AI or already experimenting, this module will help you work smarter, spark curiosity, and bring fresh energy to your teaching. Come explore what’s possible… Your next great teaching idea might be one prompt away. getimage.102d7819781.png

Inclusive Resource Hub - Empower Every Student with Accessible Content | Langley Accessibility Guide
Harness the power of accessibility principles and Microsoft’s Inclusive Technology Tools to create content that supports all learners. Whether you’re designing a PowerPoint presentation, a learning space, or a worksheet, ensure every student feels seen, supported and capable of success. See the link above for how to use the Langley’s Accessibility Guide found on your Inclusive Technology Resource Hub. 

3 Benefits of Using Accessibility Guide: An Inclusive Technology Tool:  
  • Reach Every Learner: Design lessons that accommodate diverse needs, from creating content for screen readers that support visually impaired learners to using the correct color contrasts.  
  • Boost Engagement and Participation: Foster an environment where all students feel confident and able to contribute, with accessible fonts, content layout and structure, to using alternative text.  
  • Simplify Accessibility Practices: Get clear step-by-step instructions on how to make materials and classrooms more inclusive without adding extra stress.    
2 Ways Accessibility Guide Can Support Your Classrooms:  
  • Leverage Microsoft’s Integrated Tools: Tailor lessons to student strengths by unlocking the potential of Microsoft’s accessibility features.  
     
  • Support Differentiated Instruction: Easily implement accommodation and modifications to meet individua learning goals by understanding video and audio sensitives and exploring additional resources.    
1 Tool to Try Now  
  • Explore Langley’s Accessibility Guide: A practical guide empowering educators to create inclusive, accessible learning environments where every student can thrive.