Where did 2011 go?

Well, here we are, nearing another end of year!  This will be our last Wednesday blog posting for 2011.

We're planning for and excited about various PD events for the rest of the school year.  Some of which include:  Boutique PD at the TVOT offices in the months of January and February, March 7th, 2012, PD at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn and April 20th, 2012, Designated Paid PD Event at Althouse College. 
Once again, registration for the Jan. and Feb. boutique style PD along with the March 7th, Lamplighter events will be accepted via email at tvotpd@gmail.com .  Registration for the April 20th PD will be completed on-line through the Board- (PLEASE AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS AS TO WHEN AND HOW TO REGISTER FOR APRIL 20th at ALTHOUSE).     
Look out for our winter edition of The Supply Line which will have more details about the above events along with pertinent information for you!  Important information is always made available to you in our website: http://www.etfotvots.com/ and on our Wednesday Blog and Twitter account.  It is in your best interest to regularly read these sources.
  
As we all rush around frantically, to complete tasks at work and prepare for some time off, your President and Executive would like to wish you and yours a Happy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!

 

Be a Confident Occasional Teacher

Students most readily accept a confident and prepared Occasional Teacher.  Be enthusiastic, sensitive to the needs of the students and try to familiarize yourself with their routines.

At the office:

• Introduce yourself to the Principal and if needed, seek assistance in a professional manner.
• Be concise and positive in your conversation.
• Show appreciation for the efforts of the secretary and custodian.
• While you are checking out the school, the school is also looking at you.

In the classroom:

• Greet the students at the door to quickly establish a rapport with the class.
• Have an entry activity ready.
• Be upbeat and confident.
• Briefly state your expectations regarding behaviour with some "Just for today" rules.
• Try to follow regular routines as much as possible.

Basics of discipline:

• Be consistent in your enforcement of the rules with reasonable and appropriate consequences.
• Monitor student behaviour at all times.
• Manage misbehaviour immediately using strategies such as:

                         Pausing near trouble spots in the room (proximity
                         management);
                         Pausing in your comments;
                         Calling on a student who is not paying attention to
                         respond, however, call the name before asking the
                         question so as not to embarrass the student;
                         Making lessons participatory as much as possible; and
                         Employing effective and prolonged eye contact.

If you want to be called back, be sure to: 
                        Teach what was outlined;
                        Follow established routines if possible;
                        Record what was accomplished;
                        Mark the day's assignments; and
                        Leave the room as you found it.

TIP:  Wear comfortable shoes.  A teacher on the move is most effective.
TIP:  Record the neat ideas you encounter, such as bulletin boards, displays, discipline procedures etc.
TIP:  Ask for an item from the student in exchange for an item borrowed.  

The EduGAINS Portal

EduGAINS is the portal to resources developed and provided through the Ministry of Education and focused on learning – student learning, educator learning, and researcher learning about student and teacher learning. Go to www.edugains.ca for Math, Literacy and ELL resources such as:

• Classroom-ready resources and supports including curriculum documents and instruction guides to support the Ministry’s “Growing Success” initiative;
• Planning and implementation guides for teachers and professional learning facilitators;
• Theoretical frameworks that underpin resource development and implementation;
• Video interviews and other webcasts;
• Differentiated Instruction Professional Learning Strategy Website
• Videos of classrooms, coaching and professional learning episodes;
• Research tools and papers, both print and digital;
• Board-level implementation plans and advice;
• Registration information for upcoming professional learning activities;
• and, in the case of mathematics, interactive web-based modules for students.

On December 6th, Canadians marked the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women, also the 22nd anniversary of the 14 women slain at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique by a man wielding a semi-automatic rifle.  It is a reality that women face every day."
As teachers, we are gravely concerned about this issue because we see the impact of violence against women on our students, some of whom may witness violence, or become its victim themselves.