Seven Principles for Teaching

#1: Put Learners at the Centre

The learning environment recognizes the learners as its core
participants, encourages their active engagement and
develops in them an understanding of their own activity as
learners.
  • Learners are the central players in the environment and therefore activities centre on their cognition and growth.
  •  Learning activities allow students to construct their learning through engagement and active exploration.
  •  This calls for a mix of pedagogies, which include guided and action approaches, as well as co-operative, inquiry-based, and service learning.
  •  The environment aims to develop self-regulated learners who:
    • develop meta-cognitive skills
    •  monitor, evaluate and optimise the acquisition and use of knowledge
    •  regulate their emotions and motivations during the learning process
    •  manage study time well
    •  set higher specific and personal goals, and monitor them.

See how Yukon educators
​Put Learners at the Centre!

Click the blue buttons below to see examples of learners being put at the centre.
How to support students, especially those considered vulnerable, in developing their abilities to ask for the adaptations and support needed for success.
Amanda Cann and Barb Bergsma
Vanier Catholic Secondary School
How students become more confident, motivated, independent learners by practicing the design process hand-in-hand with traditional Gwich’in ways.
by Nicole Birkeland and Aaron Bailey 
Chief Zzeh Gittlit School
How to help students become independent, self-regulated learners engaged in 21stcentury learning.
by Jane Macarthur
Elijah Smith Elementary School
How to support students in becoming more engaged with their learningthrough choice and passion.
Amber Allison
Takhini Elementary School
How to build a strong new French Immersion program within a dual-track school.

Note: this inquiry focused on fostering a learning network of a team of professionals working on their own inquiries. Professional learning opportunities were offered that developed field-based pedagogical skills, a shared vision, a common vocabulary, a commitment to student literacy learning, and a reliance on sharing practices and resources.
Nicole Doré
Selkirk Elementary School
How an all-staff learning network uses the inquiry process and ongoing professional conversation to develop growth mindset across the school community.
Trine Dennis, Kim Thompson, Jeff Cressman, Tamara Boiteau
Selkirk Elementary School
How to improve students' self-monitoring behaviours during reading to increase self-correction.
by Andrea Webber & Meghan Adamsky
Selkirk Elementary School
How to benefit from integrating Education Assistants into a school-based teacher inquiry team, with a focus on literacy in primary French immersion. 

Comment bénéficier d'une intégration des EAs avec une équipe d'enseignants dans le cadre d'une démarche d'enquête centrée sur la littératie avec des élèves d'immersion de niveaux élémentaires.
Pascal St. Laurent et Véronique Boivin
Yukon Education and Selkirk Elementary School
How to effectively use my role as a specialist teacher to engage colleagues in ADST. This is two-fold: support student learning needs and interests as 21stcentury learners, and promote ADST to the staff for their professional practice.
Valerie Ireland
Jack Hulland Elementary School
How to facilitate students' use of high-quality digital resources with increased academic integrity, skills and creativity.
Michel Emery
FH Collins Secondary School
How to empower students to take charge of their learning, set goals, and communicate learning to their parents.
Kim Ramsey
Grey Mountain Primary School
How to improve student assessment methods and better communicate this to parents.
Sharon MacCoubrey
Whitehorse Elementary School
How a school-based learning network uses the inquiry process to help students self-manage and enhance their learning, by focussing on project-based learning and best teaching practices.
Sabrina Bouayad, Julie Bourdeau, Val Long, Valérie Théoret
Whitehorse Elementary School
How to connect a myriad of secondary school support strategies and services to ensure student success.
Camille Luks and Nicole Cross
Porter Creek Secondary School
How to take a collaborative approach to embedding Yukon First Nations ways of knowing and doing across the curriculum.
Monique Levesque
Selkirk Elementary School