Resource

At Angus McKay, the resource team supports students who experience learning challenges during some portion of their time in elementary school. The goal of the resource program is to assist in the development of the most appropriate teaching and learning strategies. As a member of the school team, the resource teacher helps to ensure that the learning needs of the students are met and the classroom teacher is supported and assisted in meeting those needs. As a result of the unique needs of students, the resource teacher’s role and responsibilities will differ in focus and priority from year to year and will also reflect the goals of the school plan.

Students referred to the resource program are observed and assessed so that their needs can be determined and appropriate support can be developed and provided. Supports are based on recommendations made in consultation with the classroom teacher and other members of the planning team. Programming may include the resource teacher working directly with a student, working directly with a group of students, team-teaching with the classroom teacher and using volunteers, student tutors or educational assistants.

The resource teacher consults and collaborates as a team member to ensure that the learning needs of students are met through Student Specific Plans (SSPs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) and English as an additional language (EAL) programming. This involves:

• Ensuring that a variety of observations and assessments are completed
• Meeting with the school team, outside agencies and parents/guardians to collect data and identify needs
• Assisting in identifying programming priorities and the supports required to meet goals
• Assisting in developing the student specific plan
• Sharing the plan with parents/guardians
• Assisting in evaluating the outcome

The resource teacher also coordinates the development of documentation for referrals to special programs for specialized transportation for outside agencies, for health care plans, for vision/hearing and kindergarten screening programs.