Sharon Minhas
1065 Connelly Way SW
Summary
Over 20 years' experience in the education profession as classroom teacher and consultant for the district, with an extensive literacy background. Currently supporting students and teachers as an 'English as an Additional Language' (EAL) consultant. Effective at supporting schools/teachers in creating appropriate programming for their EAL students and students in need of literacy intervention, through ongoing conversations, classroom observations, assessments and data analysis.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
District Teacher Consultant
Edmonton Public Schools
03.2016 - Current
- Provide English as an Additional Language & Literacy support to 35 schools within our district, ranging from grades Kindergarten to grade 12
- Provide EAL support to teachers both in the classroom, and those teaching online (during the pandemic)
- Complete initial language assessments for students new to Canada, or those experiencing challenges in acquiring English and not progressing as expected
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members (Speech and language pathologists, Occupational therapists, Behaviour consultants, Reading specialists, Psychologists) to provide support and programming strategies for students who are not progressing in their language development and/or are facing challenges
- Present and facilitate online and in-person Professional Development sessions to teachers and Educational Assistants throughout the year (EAL and Literacy related)
- Present and facilitate an ongoing professional development series with multiple sessions throughout the school year titled ‘Language and Literacy,’ in collaboration with speech and language pathologists and literacy consultants
- Co-created the district resource ‘EAL Tip Sheets’ to provide strategies and programming ideas for Kindergarten- Grade 9 teachers
- Asked to present an EAL Professional Development session through the Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium to a school district outside of
- Create and present school specific professional development to support EAL programming and strategies to use in the classroom
- Collaborated with Intercultural Consultants to support newcomers and their families
- Part of the EAL cohort team
- Supported Professional Development through the ‘Community of Practice’ EAL PD sessions
- Part of the province’s HLAT (Highest Level of Achievement Testing) writing prompt review committee
- Part of EAL Guiding Document team; Providing input and co-created the District’s document
EAL Junior High Sheltered Classroom (grades 7-9)
Edmonton Public Schools
09.2015 - 06.2016
- Classroom (grades 7-9)
- Set up and created a program to support literacy development and English language acquisition
- Supported school staff with integrating students into option classes, supporting with initial English language placement
- Collaborated with staff to provide programming when integrating EAL students into mainstream core subject classes
- Provided one-on-one and small group literacy intervention programming for students in grades 7-9
- Provided staff mentorship and support in relation to ESL strategies, programming supports, and literacy assessments
- Mentored co-teacher with programming for students (EAL & Literacy focus)
Elementary Teacher
Edmonton Public Schools
09.2003 - 06.2016
- Teaching a variety of classrooms ranging from Kindergarten-Grade 3
- Literacy Intervention support for students in grade 3 & 4
- Literacy Meaningful Applied Phonics (MAP) training & programming for teaching within the District’s Cogito program
Education
M.D. - Elementary Education
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB07.2012
Bachelor of Elementary Education - Special Education
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB12.2003
Affiliations
- Supporting Oral Language Development series with Dr. Suzanne Adlof (Learning Disabilities of Alberta) 2023
- Orton Gillingham Associate Practicum: Aug 2023-present
- Orton Gillingham Associate Training: 2023
- Orton Gillingham Classroom Educator Training: 2023
- Slant System Dyslexia Webinar: 2023
- Literacy Matters Conference: 2023
- Spotlight on Structured Literacy Webinars (International Dyslexia Association): 2023
- Reading League Summit 2023
- Reading League Illinois: Various sessions around structured literacy 2022/2023
- Literacy Hub: Various sessions around structured literacy 2022/2023
- Really Great Reading Science of Reading workshops: 2022/2023
- PaTTAN Literacy Symposium: 2022
- Shifting Linguistic Landscapes Conference (University of Calgary- Keynote: Dr. Ofelia Garcia)- 2021
- Various Webinars through Saddleback Education in relation to ESL and Literacy Best Practices- 2020/21
- Carol Salva: 7 Steps to a Language Rich Interactive Classroom: 2019
- Dr. Georgiou (University of Alberta): presentation on moving literacy forward: 2018
- Diane Staehr Fenner: Unlocking English Learners' Potential: 2018
- English as a Second Language Conference (Various sessions related to EAL and Early Literacy Skills): 2018
- TESOL Conference in Seattle: (Various sessions related to EAL and Early Literacy Skills) -2017
- Kathy Nawrot: Literacy Coaching: The Role of the Literacy Leader- 2016
- Leading Through Quality Literacy Programming Series- 2016
- Literacy for the 21st century: part of a school team who attended ongoing AISI sessions (2009-2014)
- Differentiated Instruction- Elementary teacher leader sessions (2008-2009)
Certification
Reading Rockets Certified Literacy Teacher 2023
Orton Gillingham Associate 2023
Orton Gillingham Classroom Educator 2023
Alberta Education Leadership Quality Standard (LQS) Leadership Certification- 2019
Hanen Learning Language and Loving It 2018
Jolly Phonics 2017
Balanced Literacy 2008-2011
Firm Foundations Phonemic Awareness Program 2011
Literacy Meaningful Applied Phonics 2007
Accomplishments
Design and deliver numerous presentations centered on English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners and their literacy development throughout the school year to either specific schools or to the district as a whole, focusing on the following topics:
- Strategies to support EAL learners in the classroom
- Supporting EAL learners in content area classrooms (grades 7-9)
- Various literacy sessions created and presented in collaboration with the literacy curriculum department (focus on EAL learners)
- Hanen: Language and loving it sessions
- Language and Literacy Project: multiple ongoing sessions throughout the year
- Supporting newcomer students with literacy development
- Educational assistants: supporting students with literacy development
- Lead Teacher Community of Practice; ongoing sessions to support teachers with programming and strategies throughout the year
Timeline
District Teacher Consultant
Edmonton Public Schools
03.2016 - Current
EAL Junior High Sheltered Classroom (grades 7-9)
Edmonton Public Schools
09.2015 - 06.2016
Elementary Teacher
Edmonton Public Schools
09.2003 - 06.2016
M.D. - Elementary Education
University of Alberta
Bachelor of Elementary Education - Special Education
University of Alberta
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