Falk Teachers at the 2023 International Association of Laboratory Schools Conference

Outside of the Jackman Institute of Child Study Laboratory School at the University of Toronto

In April 2023, four Falk faculty members traveled to Toronto to attend the International Association of Laboratory Schools (IALS) conference. The annual conference, entitled “Designing Cultures of Learning: The Essential Purpose of Lab Schools,” was hosted by several of Falk’s peer laboratory schools in Ontario, Canada, some of which have been close collaborators in IALS and partner institutions of Falk Laboratory School for many decades, including the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study Laboratory School (JICS), The University of Toronto Schools, the Mabin School, and the George Brown College School of Early Childhood Lab Schools. Amy Strada, Derek Werderitch, Katrina Jacobs and Tricia Finn each presented work at the IALS conference, attended workshop sessions and listened to keynotes about subjects including indigenous perspectives on the mission of lab schools, thoughtful land use for school settings and promoting gender inclusive school climates.

Exploring Lake Ontario and “Turtle Island” 

During the conference, Falk Lab School Kindergarten teacher Amy Strada and WonderLab teacher Derek Werderitch co-presented on a multi-age project between 6th grade and Kindergarten, wherein the 6th graders designed and built wooden play structures for the Kindergarten terrace during the 2021-2022 school year. Amy and Derek deconstructed the rich and enduring educational benefits and the conditions for learning that occurred in this unique multi-age exchange between Falk’s Kindergarten and Middle School Humanities classes. Falk’s Research Coordinator, Katrina Jacobs, presented work about teacher-researchers as a driver of Falk’s school culture, and she also co-facilitated conference-wide research conversations for all IALS members. Learning Support teacher Tricia Finn presented a workshop about approaches to writing with students who are on the autism spectrum. 

Amy and Derek presenting “Building Bridges in the Pandemic Age: How a Mixed-Age Project Restored Our Connected School Culture and Left ‘Living Artifacts’ Behind.”

As a highlight of the IALS conference, Amy, Derek, Katrina and Tricia were able to spend time touring and shadowing local educators at the hosting Toronto lab schools. For example, Amy spent half of a day in the Kindergarten classroom at the Mabin School, a progressive independent school that combines many similar values and traditions as Falk School with the lab school mission of JICS and the University of Toronto Schools. During this experience, Amy shadowed two Kindergarten teachers, including: exploring their daily schedule, philosophy of teaching and pedagogy; delving into their recent schoolwide exploration of a structured literacy curriculum; learning about their work with ‘habits of mind’ and Relationship-Based Education; and touring the school environment with a group of visiting educators to get a deeper view of the interaction between their lab school and progressive missions, which are so parallel to Falk’s own. These kinds of professional development opportunities are truly invaluable because observing other school settings that include innovative teaching practices, novel approaches to daily routines, and creative learning environments & materials can provide a rich opportunity for reflection and action when returning to one's home school. As a teacher, suddenly new ways of seeing begin to emerge. Teachers bring back new approaches to pedagogy, learning environments and daily classroom life - a whole new lens, full of possibility, curiosity and ideas to experiment with.

Scenes from the Mabin School, Toronto, Ontario

During the poster session presentations, the Falk teachers were able to engage with many wonderful presenters, but one presenter stood out in particular—an inspiring figure to many teachers, students and families at Falk School, Dr. Pam Armstrong!

Dr. Armstrong has published a book, Entering a Child's World: Narrative Pedagogy in Early Childhood Art Education, this past year (published under her maiden name that some former students and families may remember, Dr. Pam Krakowski). Dr. Armstrong’s wonderful book is an engaging collection of stories, many of which derive from her long career as the treasured K-4th grade Art Teacher at Falk School. Dr. Armstrong’s poster at the IALS conference shared some of the stories, themes and threads of her book with the larger lab school community. It is amazing that, even in her retirement, Dr. Armstrong continues to tirelessly promote the creativity, invention, world-building and storytelling of Falk School’s students to the world! It was a wonderful treat for all of the current Falk faculty members attending the IALS conference to see Dr. Armstrong and catch up with her, as we wish her congratulations and continued success on her book publication!

Top: Dr. Pam Armstong and Ms. Strada.

Bottom: Detail from Dr. Armstrong’s poster presentation, related to her recently published book, which includes many stories from her years as Falk School’s Art Teacher, Entering a Child's World: Narrative Pedagogy in Early Childhood Art Education