In this section you’ll find information that will assist you in your role as an Occasional Teacher. It isn’t subject specific but is related to Ontario’s Schools. This is where you’ll find information about classroom management, character education, and safe schools to name but three topics.
Classroom supports
Education World’s Activities for the First Day of School
Are you looking for the perfect way to get to know your students and help them get to know one another? This collection of teacher-tested icebreakers will do just that. And for OTs, one of these can be the perfect intro to an assignment in a new group at any time of year!
Education World’s Activities for the First Day of School
The Calm Schools Initiative
The Calm Schools Initiative is offering every teacher in the world free access to Calm, the mindfulness app that hundreds of thousands of people all over the world use every day. The organization’s stated aim is to empower teachers with mindfulness tools and resources they can use to help kids learn this new skill.
Classroom Organization
Despite a teacher’s best intentions, a cluttered classroom environment could be distracting students from learning. Drawing on the growing body of research, the author discusses how visual, layout, and wall colour may have a negative impact on students’ moods.
Teach Mental Health
Through a partnership with Faculties of Education from St. Francis Xavier University, Western University and University of British Columbia, TeenMentalHealth.Org has built a comprehensive mental health literacy learner resource for pre-service and practicing teachers. Available to faculties of education, teachers and other educators who are currently in schools are also welcome to take the course.
Share My Lesson
A U.S. based resource, funded by the American Federation of Teachers, this website provides a huge repository of free lesson plans and teacher PD resources. Lessons are organized by divisions, grade, and subject area so you can easily find something for your classroom. A robust section of professional development webinars provided opportunities for self-directed PD. Sign up using LinkedIn, Facebook, or Google+ credentials.
Boundaries Are More Effective Than Rules
The subtlety of the differences between boundaries and rules makes it easy to discount the impact each can have on the emotional climate in a classroom and the quality of the relationship between teachers and students. However, teachers who endeavour to shift from the win-lose familiarity of rules to the win-win prospects of boundaries report a significant decrease in conflicts and power struggles in their classes, and far greater success in reaching kids previously deemed difficult, unmotivated or, in some instances, even dangerous, than with any strategy previously attempted.
Boundaries Are More Effective Than Rules
Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) Indian Residential School, designed to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. As a spokesperson for the Reunion group leading up to the events, former student Phyllis (Jack) Webstad told the story of her first day at residential school when her shiny new orange shirt, bought by her grandmother, was taken from her as a six-year-old girl. September 30th is now recognized across Canada as a day to commemorate the loss and suffering experienced by children who attended Residential Schools.
365 Days and Ways to Celebrate Black Canadians
ETFO’s latest project, the 365 Black Canadian Curriculum, is part of a compilation of equity resources for elementary educators. These resources, which support Black Canadian history in Ontario schools on a daily basis, include: a calendar; primary, junior and intermediate lesson plans; a workshop for staff; and a poster. With this resource, educators will have historically factual information to support the learning of issues concerning race and discrimination, while ensuring safe learning environments for students to discuss these topics in a respectful and reflective manner, while also exploring the realities of Black Canadians.
365 Days and Ways to Celebrate Black Canadians
Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting repository on EduGAINS
This section of the EduGAINS website houses ministry developed resources to support assessment in Ontario schools, including policy documents, teacher resources, videos, supports for planning, and more.
Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting repository on EduGAINS
ETFO Webinars: Truth and Reconciliation
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario welcomes the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Final Report and Calls to Action. In response to the importance of educating Canadians about residential schools and eliminating educational gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians, ETFO will continue to support ETFO members in their journey of learning about and understanding their history of Canada and its relationship with First Nation, Métis and Inuit people, and the steps towards reconciliation. ETFO has two Truth & Reconciliation webinars for members on the residential schools and reconciliation. These webinars were streamed live in April 2016 for members and have been recorded for the learning of all.
ETFO Webinars: Truth and Reconciliation