Edith van der Boom

Headshot of Edith van der Boom

Director, MA (Phil) in Educational Leadership (MA-EL) Program

Associate Professor of Philosophy of Education and Practice of Pedagogy

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Something Worth Considering...

"The growth of any craft depends on shared practice and honest dialogue among the people who do it."

— Parker Palmer

"Authentic education is not carried on by ‘A’ for ‘B’ or by ‘A’ about ‘B,’ but rather by ‘A’ with ‘B,’ mediated by the world—a world which impresses and challenges both parties, giving rise to views or opinions about it."

Paulo Freire

"An account of Christian education that focuses only on the truth of what is taught, and fails to address the meaning molded through how it is taught and learned is at best incomplete."

James K. A. Smith

About My Work

My philosophy of education is rooted in the belief that each student is uniquely created by God and that education should celebrate both diversity and community. I believe that Christian schools need to be places of inclusive education where solid foundations are provided for all students both spiritually and academically. Learning should be an experience that brings joy and a sense of belonging for students in a class that integrates academic and social-emotional learning. I believe that instruction should be engaging and differentiated in a way that both challenges and meets the needs of each student.

The Master of Arts in Philosophy in Educational Leadership (MA-EL) Program at ICS provides educators with the opportunity to develop their thinking and pedagogy through Biblically-based teaching. It allows them to develop the gifts that they have in the context of their practice. The program encourages educators to design innovative classrooms to provide opportunities that develop skills through active learning and connecting skills to a real-life context.

This graduate program embraces a growth mindset in each student’s journey of learning. As such it motivates students to seek out new challenges, to be inspired by the success of others, to persist when they encounter stumbling blocks, and to develop a lifelong love of learning. In doing so, we help students discover how they can best use their God-given talents and gifts in service to the Lord.

Research Foci

Biography

Edith van der Boom, Phd

Associate Professor of Philosophy of Education and Practice of Pedagogy

Director, MA (Phil) in Educational Leadership (MA-EL) Program

BA (Calvin College), MEd (Brock University), PhD (University of Toronto)

I completed my doctoral studies at the University of Toronto in Developmental Psychology and Education. The focus of my research was on examining the differences in reading comprehension skill profiles among struggling adolescent readers based on their status of having a Learning Disability (LD) and/or being an English Language Learner. It was my goal to contribute to the understanding of struggling readers to in turn inform school and classroom practices. 

I have had extensive experience in both the public and Christian school systems in Ontario—as a classroom teacher, a Special Education Coordinator, and a Director of Learning. My work has focused on supporting the implementation of differentiated instruction as a means to create inclusive learning environments, inquiry-based learning, and providing professional development and support through all-day sessions, professional learning communities, and instructional coaching.

Publications & Projects

My Publications

Articles & Reviews

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My Other Professional Activities

Paper Presentations

Roundtable Discussion

Poster Presentations

Most Recent Invited Talks

Files & Podcast Episodes

Teaching

Courses and Syllabi

MA-EL Courses Taught at ICS