Being an Occasional Teacher can be challenging. In this section you’ll find a variety of resources to assist you that are not specifically related to the curriculum. Here you’ll find information on everything from coping with stress to Employment Insurance.
A to Z of being an OT
Know Your Local Collective Agreement
The best thing a member can do to ensure that her or his negotiated rights are being upheld is to read, and ponder the implications of, the collective agreement. In practical terms, this is where the answers to many employment-related questions can typically be found, such as: What is the schedule for pay cheques? Do I have to do before school duty? What happens if the buses are cancelled? What is the process for requesting a leave? How much preparation time do I receive? If the grievance process is to be applied, what are time lines to observe? What should happen during my LTO list interview process?
Which local(s) are you a member of? Algoma Occasional Teacher Local, Avon Maitland Occasional Teacher Local, Bluewater Occasional Teacher Local, Durham Occasional Teacher Local, Grand Erie Occasional Teacher Local, Greater Essex County Occasional Teacher Local, Halton Occasional Teacher Local, Hamilton-Wentworth Occasional Teacher Local, Hastings & Prince Edward Occasional Teacher Local, Kawartha Pine Ridge Occasional Teacher Local, Keewatin-Patricia Occasional Teacher Local, Lakehead Occasional Teacher Local, Lambton Kent Occasional Teacher Local, Limestone Occasional Teacher Local, Near North Occasional Teacher Local, Niagara Occasional Teacher Local, Ontario North East Occasional Teacher Local, Ottawa Carleton Occasional Teacher Local, Peel Occasional Teacher Local, Rainbow Occasional Teacher Local, Rainy River District Occasional Teacher Local, Renfrew County Occasional Teacher Local, Simcoe County Occasional Teacher Local, Superior-Greenstone Occasional Teacher Local, Thames Valley Occasional Teacher Local, Toronto Occasional Teacher Local, Trillium Lakelands Occasional Teacher Local, Upper Canada Occasional Teacher Local, Upper Grand Occasional Teacher Local, Waterloo Occasional Teacher Local, York Region Occasional Teacher Local
The answers to many of your questions will depend on your local.
Know Your Local Collective Agreement
Mental Health
This article from the UK offers five simple steps to boost teachers’ mental health, recognizing the impact that workload has on teachers.
Racial Bias in Classroom
This is just a quick, informative, non-threatening article that may offers some OTs a window of perspective when teaching racialized students.
Mindful Teachers: Living, Learning & Teaching with Mindful Awareness
This site includes various blogs from teachers or other professionals that focus on the art of mindfulness. It offers a range of ideas for incorporating mindfulness into the classroom as well as using it as a means of self care.
Mindful Teachers: Living, Learning & Teaching with Mindful Awareness
Food Allergy Canada
Resources for educators to make schools more inclusive and safe for students with food allergies.
EpiPen
This website offers all the information you need about anaphylaxis and the use of EpiPens. Very useful information for teachers in case of an emergency.
20 Tips for Creating a Safe Learning Environment
This article offers meaningful, practical and helpful tips to creating and ensuring that your students, other professionals and yourself feel welcomed, valued and safe in the classroom.
20 Tips for Creating a Safe Learning Environment
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
This site offers great information about the necessity of a scent free environment and the effects that scent may have on individuals with scent sensitivities. It provides ways to address the issue in the workplace, how to draft policies and research to support an argument for scent free places.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Professional Advisory- Safety in Learning Environments: A Shared Responsibility
A professional advisory to inform professional judgement and practice. It is intended for all members of the Ontario College of Teachers.
Professional Advisory- Safety in Learning Environments: A Shared Responsibility
QECO: General Education Chart
This site outlines exactly what you need to acquire in order to move from category A1 to A4 and therefore higher on the pay grid. Very helpful for OTs wanting to maximize their income during LTOs.