During the year our teachers came together, with our curriculum consultant Carrie Bourne, to collaborate and co-plan literacy activities, lessons, and learning in their classrooms. We reflected on the strengths of our classrooms and the areas destined for growth. Next, we discussed and co-created plans to help foster a love of reading and strengthen foundational reading skills. This process included check-ins with teachers and other opportunities to collaborate and share with other staff.

Whiteside once boasted a depth and breadth of literacy resources and books; however, one common thread through our collaboration and planning sessions was the need to update our classrooms to reflect the current learning needs and interests of our students. Recognizing this need the school gathered financial resources at the school, district, provincial, and federal levels to assist in (re)building our classroom libraries, shared materials, and resource rooms.

Together teachers and staff researched and explored a wide variety of options to build our resources. Once books and resources were identified as inclusive and consistent throughout the school, we set off to purchase and build. As a result of this process, our classrooms and learning spaces have more robust libraries and shelves filled with engaging resources.