TVARRIS Job Shopping; January 30th PD Event and Regional Conference offered by ETFO

Happy 2019!!  Welcome back to all ETFOTVOT members.

Job Shopping - 
Word is that TVDSB will reinstate the online job-shopping feature of TVARRIS so stay tuned for details in the near future!
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Registration is open for our 1st PD Event of 2019!
Scheduled for January 30, 2019 at the BMO Centre, 295 Rectory Street in London from 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM.  Dinner is included at no cost for all ETFO-TVOT members

The 2 workshops to choose from are:
1)  Classroom Management for Daily Occasional Teachers
 Elementary Occasional Teachers face many obstacles in their daily work and students who misbehave can make a challenging day even more stressful.  This workshop will discuss why students act out and how we can change our own attitudes and behaviours in order to ensure that both teachers and students can have positive and productive days. Learn effective strategies based on calm and respectful approaches for both preventing and dealing with challenging behaviours. Participants will leave with renewed confidence and be ready to implement proven strategies to use in their daily practice (or LTO assignments)!

2)  Physical Education and Daily Activities (DPA) for Occasional Teachers
In this hands-on workshop you will learn about the benefits of physical activity for our students and engage in games/activities related to Daily Physical Activity and the Health & Physical Education curriculum! Come on out to learn some great activities that require minimal equipment for Occasional Teachers to use in their assignments!
Dress comfortably as we'll be heading out to the soccer field for part of this workshop.

(Workshop # 3 was CANCELLED due to personal reasons of the Presenter.)

Register for one of the two workshops at www.etfotvot.com under Member Services.
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A regional ETFO Provincial conference called Conscious Classrooms Responding to Gender-Based Violence is being offered to Avon Maitland, Bluewater, Simcoe County, Thames Valley, Upper Grand and Waterloo Region locals. This two-day training will be held on February 11-12, 2019 at the Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo, 105 King Street East, Kitchener. Daily OTs will get release time from ETFO Provincial i.e., be paid as if they worked those days.

The Conscious Classrooms Responding to Gender-Based Violence program is for ETFO members who self-identify as women. It is intended to increase critical knowledge about Gender-Based Violence, equip teachers and DECEs with strategies to support students who have witnessed violence and create a space for knowledge sharing.

To register, have your ETFO membership number handy and visit: the ETFO Events Management System at events.etfo.org/upcoming-events
Deadline to register is January 25, 2019.
For more information, contact Punita Bhardwaj at 1-888-838-3836 or by email:  pbhardwaj@etfo.org
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Paid PD Opportunity
Just a reminder for all members (unless you are in a LTO greater than .5), that you are eligible to earn a day of work on a PD Day when you could not normally teach.  Just register via the Employee Portal > Conference Registrations > Elementary Occasional Teacher PD for one of the in-person sessions being offered or any of the online options.  NB: online sessions can be completed anytime at your convenience - check out the details in the portal.

2019 ETFO Member Validation Sticker, Survey on Violence and Employment Insurance

Once again, the 2019 ETFO member validation sticker will be mailed to members' homes in the winter edition of VOICE magazine so check your copy to ensure you do not discard your sticker. Please be aware that the delivery of the magazine may be delayed this year.
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As previously communicated, ETFO is partnering with University of Ottawa researchers Chris Bruckert and Darcy Santor on the Harassment and Violence in Education (Ontario) Survey.

The survey, launched on December 4th, has so far generated a strong number of responses.

In order to ensure that the researchers receive a viable sample size, we are continuing to encourage members to participate via social media and the ETFO general Enewsletter (another message about it will go out on Tuesday in the Enewsletter).  As well, the deadline for the survey has been extended until the end of day on Friday December 21.

Results will be tabulated and a comprehensive report made available to ETFO early in the new year, and the research will be used for public education initiatives.

We encourage you to participate in this important survey ( http://www.edviol.net ).
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Please Note:
Service Canada will no longer be issuing a Reference Code for EI applications for educational employees.

All Records of Employment (for permanent & temporary employees) will be sent electronically to Service Canada by Payroll Services. Employees do not need a hard copy of their Record Of Employment to apply for Employment Insurance. Payroll Services will process the mass Records of Employment for Employment Insurance purposes by the following dates:

Permanent employees: January 2, 2019
Temporary employees: January 16, 2019

If you have any questions, please call the Payroll Help Line at (519)452-2521.
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The ETFO-TVOT office will be closed over the Holiday break (Dec. 22, 2018 to Jan. 6, 2019).
Wishing everyone a safe, joyous and restful break !  See you in 2019 !!!

OPHEA and the Provincial Consultation Process and Be Careful of Comments on Social Media

OPHEA and the Provincial Consultation Process

The Government of Ontario is currently hosting public consultations on a number of key educational components, including the content of the Health and Physical Education curriculum, approaches to health-related topics in the classroom, parent engagement, and physical activity policy. As part of the provincial consultation process educators, parents, students, and stakeholders are invited to provide feedback until December 15, 2018.  This week Ophea (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association) is launching a social media campaign to call on all Ontarians to participate in these provincial consultations. OPHEA strongly encourages everyone to participate in the single largest consultation on the single largets health promotion intervention this province has ever seen.  At a minimum the curriculum needs to meet international standards, Ontario human rights and should align with national guidelines around sexual health education.

For your reference, here are the needed links to participate in the provincial consultation process prior to the December 15th deadline (visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/for-the-parents).

• Online Open Submission (visit: https://www.ontario.ca/form/open-submissions-education-ontario )
• Online Survey (visit: https://registration.fortheparents.ca/  where you'll need to register an email address to have the survey link emailed to you directly)

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Many of you have been getting information from some source that may not have all the facts so please contact this office when you have questions regarding the Collective Agreement. We cannot support entries/comments on Social Media that do not originate from this office.

Registration for January Paid PD is now available!

Registration for January Paid PD is now available in the Employee Portal.  The options include:

                                                    Friday JAN. 18, 2019

Time:  9:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M
- Culturally Responsive Mathematics Education - AM
- Google Classroom for the OT - Jan AM
- Google Sites as a Professional Portfolio - Jan AM
- LGBT2Q+ 101
- Library Learning Commons Tips and Tricks - Jan
- Poverty - Understanding the under-resourced student
- Self-Directed PD Half day - January 18 - with Principal Permission
- Supporting English Language Learners in Grade 1 - 8 Classrooms - Winter

Time:  9:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.
- Self-Directed PD Full day - January 18 - with Principal Permission

Time:  1:00 P.M. to 3:30 P.M.
- Culturally Responsive Mathematics Education - PM
- ELLS: Finding Identity in the Classroom through Math and Technology - Winter
- Google Classroom for the OT - Jan PM
- Google Sites as a Professional Portfolio - Jan PM
- The Blanket Exercise - Winter

The Following Options are available for completion anytime up to
                                             Friday JUN 28, 2019

Time:  2:00 P.M. to 2:10 P.M.
 - 0.5 Online Special Education: Inclusion and Independence

Time:  2:10 P.M. to 2:20 P.M.
 - 0.5 Online Special Education: Learning for All

Time: 2:20 P.M. to 2:30 P.M.
 - 0.5 Online Special Education:  Unpacking the IEP

Time: 2:30 P.M. to 2:40 P.M.
 - 0.5 Online Literacy: Comprehensive Literacy - Reading

Time:  2:40 P.M. to 2:50 P.M.
 - 0.5 Online Math: Building Number Sense in the Primary Years

Time: 2:50 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.
 - 0.5 Online Math: Making Sense of Addition and Subtraction

Time: 3:00 P.M. to 3:10 P.M.
 - 0.5. Online Math: Developing Flexible Addition and Subtraction Strategies

Time: 3:10 P.M. to 3:20 P.M.
 - 0.5 Online Math: Making Sense of Multiplication and Division

Time: 3:20 P.M. to 3:30 P.M.
 - 0.5 Online Math: Developing Fluency with Multiplication and Division

Time: 3:30 P.M. to 3:40 P.M.
 - 0.5 Online Math: Comparing Fractions

Time: 3:40 P.M. to 3:50 P.M.
 - 0.5 Online FSL: Positive Classroom Environment

Time: 3:50 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
 - 0.5 Online FSL: Oral Proficiency
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We look forward to seeing everyone at our Fall General Meeting and Banquet later this afternoon!
 

Fall General Meeting Next Week!, ETFO's Workplace Violence Survey, OTF's AgScape

Our Fall General Meeting and Banquet is 1 week away!!
Don't wait until it's too late.
Register to attend this wonderful festive meal in the Crystal Ballroom at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn,
591 Wellington Road South in London from 4:30 - 7:30 pm. 
All registrants in attendance will receive a free insulated water bottle.  Come meet other Occasional Teachers.
We're looking forward to seeing you there.
Register at www.etfotvot.com
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In a partnership with two professors from the University of Ottawa, ETFO Provincial is presenting a New Survey re Violence in Schools.

On December 4th, we will be sharing a link to a new survey that builds on ETFO's Workplace Violence Survey asking educators (teachers, occasional teachers, PSP/ESPs, DECEs) about a broad range of workplace harassment (e.g., slurs, insults, and put downs) as well as threats, attempts and acts of physical aggression. In addition to documenting educators' experiences, the goal of this new research is to unpack how vulnerability, experience, and institutional response are conditioned by intersecting factors (e.g., gender, ethnicity, dis/ability). To the best of our knowledge, this survey will be the first of its kind in North America.

The survey which focuses on the 2017-2018 school year, includes both closed and open-ended questions and will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Confidentiality and privacy will be taken very seriously. Members will be able to complete the survey without providing identifiable information and will not be asked the name of the school in which they work.

Results will be tabulated and a comprehensive report made available to ETFO early in the new year. The researchers have also indicated that they will be able to provide a "Key Local Findings" report to each ETFO Local describing research results from their area.  All participation by members would be extremely beneficial.

Members will receive a heads up today through the e-newsletter process. The survey will be available next Monday at the following link:  http://www.edviol.net , and will remain open until December 23rd at 11:59 pm.
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From OTF

As the voice of Agriculture in the classrooms of Ontario, AgScape provides factual, balanced, curriculum-linked food literacy programs and resources to Ontario's educators and students.

All AgScape classroom programs and resources are designed to reflect core values in providing factual and non-biased information to ensure a balanced presentation of facts.

Lesson plans and resources in several subject areas for Grades 1-12.

www.agscape.ca/resources

Come Celebrate: OTF's "Making Math Moments That Matter"; The Winners are...

Come Celebrate with Us 

Plans are finalizing for out Fall General Meeting and Banquet taking place at the Lamplighter Inn, 591 Wellington Road South in London, on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 from 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm.
We have a festive meal planned which includes Roast Breast of Young Ontario Turkey with a Traditional Dressing and Cranberry Sauce, and Stuffed Gigantic Pasta Shells along with Ricotta Cheese.

Don't miss out - register at www.etfotvot.com under Member Services!
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Empower your students to become resilient problem solvers in your mathematics classroom. Learn how to use a three-part framework for building easy-to-plan and fun-to-deliver lessons that kids will not only love, but also learn from, regardless of their level of readiness!

In the Making Math Moments That Matter video series, two Ontario teachers, John Orr and Kyle Pearce,  show that we can reach all students in our math classes, regardless of the range of skills in our math classrooms.

The Ontario Teachers' Federation is proud to share this free four-part video series, Making Math Moments That Matter. To watch the first video in the series, go to makemathmoments.com  and register to be notified when each new lesson is released.
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ETFOTVOT Survey Winners
Thank you to the hundreds who participated in our Local Survey.  We are pleased to announce the winners of the $100 Gift Cards:

1. Ha Yoon Kim                                                                  
2. Jessie Vinnons
3. Julie West

Congratulations and the Local will contact these OTs to arrange delivery of their gift cards.

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ETFO Provincial Bargaining Survey
Members have until 11:59 PM on  Sunday, November 25th to complete ETFO Provincial's Central Bargaining Survey.
By Friday, members should receive an email from Strategic Communications (Stratcom) with the link so please check your Inbox (or Spam folder) to ensure you have a chance to participate. If you do not hear from Stratcom and wish to participate, follow the instructions at the link:  http://www.etfocb.ca/contact-us/

One more day for chance at $100; Successful Daily Assignment cont'd; TVOT Fall General Meeting and Banquet

Local Survey Deadline
The deadline to complete the TVOT Collective Bargaining Survey and have your say is tomorrow, November 15th!  Don't miss your chance to provide your opinion AND have a chance to win one of three $100 Gift Cards. Here is the link to the CB Survey -
http://www.surveyshare.com/s/AYAMY7A
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Take a Stand for Your Rights in Ontario
If you have not yet sent a message to your MPP to protect fairer worker's rights, please do so today at http://www.myrights.ca/email_mpp






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More Tips for a Successful Daily Assignment 

What can I do to encourage appropriate behaviour?
First and foremost, be proactive. Preventing discipline problems is easier and more effective than responding to them.  When a well-planned, stimulating learning environment is created, most behaviour problems can be avoided. Student behaviour may appear to be more disorderly when an occasional teacher is in the classroom because some students may take advantage of your lack of familiarity with the rules and routines. In other words, they try to test the established limits.

How can I be proactive?

• Arrive early. (Education Act requires you be there 15 minutes before class)
• Review lesson plans.
• Gather the necessary materials (e.g., photocopy a class set of work sheets).
• Identify potential times for off-task misbehaviour such as transitions or when work is completed. Try to make transitions quickly and smoothly by planning ahead and knowing what comes next. Also, have some prepared activities appropriate for the grade and/or division. These may include puzzles, trivia and word games. When students are busy and on-task, there is a lower rate of misbehaviour. 
• Check the daybook, calendar or memos to see if there will be any alterations to the regular school day (e.g., assemblies, drills).
• Write an outline of the day's activities on the board for students to see.
• Locate a seating plan or be prepared to make one.
• Familiarize yourself with students who have special needs (e.g., behaviour plans, medications safety plan). This information should be in the daybook. If it isn't, check with the school administration or secretary.
• Review classroom rules, routines and expectations.
•  At the start of class inform the students that the regular classroom rules, routines and expectations will be followed.
• Inform students about what you need them to do rather than what they need to stop doing.
• Provide clear instructions before an activity begins, offering students an opportunity to ask questions.
• If unsure about how to approach any of the topics in the plans left for you, seek input and directions from your school administrator and the appropriate board resource consultant.

Occasional teachers who receive a plan for an assignment that includes a sexual health component may wish to seek direction from the administrator about whether the lesson should proceed or whether an alternative lesson should be delivered so that the sexual health component may be delivered by the returning classroom teacher, who may be more known to students.
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Don't put off registering to attend our Fall General Meeting and Banquet.
The setting, delicious food, festive time of year contribute to an enjoyable and informative evening where you can ask questions and learn from your Local Executive.
Registration at:  www.etfotvot.com
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Truth and Reconciliation 
A discussion booklet for the classroom (Grades 5 to 12)
OTF Interaction; Oct. 2018

The Student Voice Series is a resource to support discussions about complex societal issues using the voice of students. In this booklet, you will find student responses to questions and classroom discussions, residential school survivor statements, visuals, and key information from the reports of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Free online lesson plans and discussion questions on Truth and Reconciliation are available for registered imagineaction (a social justice program of the Canadian Teachers' Federation) teachers.   If you're not yet registered as an Imagineaction teacher, visit: www.imagine-action.ca and follow the instructions. It's simple and free.