OTF Connects, brings teachers together to share and learn through online webinars and social media.

Our new online community, OTF Connects, brings teachers together to share and learn through online webinars and social media.

Click here for more information and to register.

The Teacher Voice on Assessment (TVA) project, funded by the Ministry of Education, involved two phases and occurred at the secondary level. Phase 1 was primarily research and included an online survey to gather the views and perspectives of the frontline secondary classroom teachers. The survey was posted early in 2010 and remained active for approximately three months. Over 6000 secondary teachers from boards across Ontario completed the online survey, which included many anecdotal comments at the end. The quantitative data from the survey, along with the qualitative data obtained from the anecdotal comments and through interviews with a sampling of teachers, provided the content of a detailed research report and formed the basis for the development of the resource.
 
During the 2010-2011 school year, Phase 2 of the TVA was initiated, resulting in a wiki-like web site for secondary classroom teachers. During Phase 1, the research team heard repeatedly that secondary teachers are looking for a web-based ‘library’ where they are able to find resources such as subject-specific rubrics, exemplars, question banks, checklists, published material (with
author’s permission) and other classroom assessment tools. The resources posted are all aligned with Growing Success, the new Ministry policy document for assessment, evaluation and reporting.
 
While using this site, teachers are encouraged to:
 
•         upload and share their own resources,
•         collaborate with colleagues on other resources and
•         contribute to the development of an online resource library.
 
To use the site, please click on the link below. You will be required to create a log-in using your board email address. Drop-down menus are used to select resources by subject, grade level and whether they are to be used as Classroom Resources or for Teacher Learning.
 
http://www.connect2assess.ca/

The Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) is strongly committed to bullying prevention and to ensuring that every student in Ontario has a safe environment in which to learn and develop.

We are pleased that the Ontario Government is moving forward in promoting the safe schools agenda through the Accepting Schools Act.

Francine LeBlanc-Lebel
OTF President

Find what you need...fast! OTF is pleased to present OTF Teacher Resources.

Teacher Resources-Web Resources is a portal to a multitude of resource links. Here you will find valuable information on a variety of organizations including links to their Internet sites and resources to assist you in your planning and professional development.

Teacher Resources- Lesson Plans is designed to assist you in your everyday classroom planning with access to hundreds of lesson plans. The lessons can be searched by Subject, Level, Grade, Focus and Keyword.

Teacher Resources - Web Resources

Now available!   OTF's first electronic Professional Learning Newsletter announcing OTF's Professional Learning offerings for the 2011-2012 school year. Share and learn with your colleagues!

Newsletter-Fall 2011 - PDF

TORONTO, November 28, 2011 - Ontario is the only Canadian jurisdiction whose students were above the national average in all three subjects tested - reading, mathematics and science - on the 2010 Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP).

Pan-Canadian Assessment Program, 2010: Ontario Report - PDF

Check out the winter issue of Interaction for the latest OTF news.
November 16, 2011 -- Vol.14, #2 -PDF

Nominate them today for the Prime Minister's Awards!

Guidelines and nomination forms for the 2011-2012 Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education and Teaching Excellence are now available, with nominations NOMINATION DEADLINE EXTENDED Until January 9, 2012.

Awards are up to $5,000 and national winners participate in an all expenses-paid trip to Ottawa.

New for 2011-2012
One certificate will be awarded to a full-time Early Childhood Education Director. There is special recognition for a space educator offered by the Canadian Space Agency.

Spread the word and help ensure that more outstanding Canadian educators receive the recognition they deserve.

Visit www.pma.gc.ca for more information and to download the nomination package.

The Ontario Teachers' Federation, in co-operation with the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, has commissioned Pollara to undertake a poll of members.

During the next couple of months you may be contacted by Pollara to solicit your participation. 

We would appreciate your co-operation in this project.

Pension Update - Polling of Members - PDF

Social Media and Teacher Learning: February 3-4, 2012.

The Social Media and Teacher Learning conference will bring together both practitioners and academics to discuss emerging trends in the use of social media - in the preparation of beginning teachers, in teaching practice, and in engaging students. It will also examine system impact and concerns brought about by the ubiquitous use of social media in today’s schools.

Deadline for registration is December 31, 2011. For event details and registration, please see: https://event-wizard.com/SMTL/0/welcome/

The official Twitter hashtag for the conference is #otfoade. The Social Media and Teacher Learning Facebook page can be found at OTF/OADE Conference 2012.


Call for Papers
The conference will focus on the use and impact of social media in education and learning. Specifically, presentations will be concerned with the following subthemes:
•    Social media and student engagement
•    Social media and teacher learning
•    Social media and teaching practice
•    Social media and equity
•    Social media and school systems


Individuals submitting proposals are asked to reflect on one or more of these themes in their papers or presentations. All conference presentation proposals must be submitted by Tuesday, November 15, 2011. For more information, click here.

Last spring, the Canadian Education Association (CEA) produced and released a series of podcasts hosted by Stephen Hurley (English) and Pierre Poulin (French), highlighting interviews with teachers on a variety of relevant and timely topics. Classroom teachers from across Ontario and Canada share their vision, ideas and practices about teaching and learning today. The latest podcast, entitled “Compensating teachers in Canada: Is there merit in another model?” is available here.

The podcasts are intended to be a resource for classroom teachers. They include philosophical discussions about what it's like to be a teacher, whether teachers are teaching in ways they aspire to teach, the pros and cons of merit pay and other teaching-related discussions, all from the teachers' perspectives.

To view the CEA podcasts, please click here:   http://www.cea-ace.ca/video

Is there a crossing guard in your neighbourhood who deserves recognition? Safe Kids Canada and FedEx Express Canada wish to recognize the contributions of crossing guards to children’s safety.
Hundreds of men and women across Canada work hard each and every day to keep children safe while walking to and from school and to keep parents assured that their children are crossing the busy streets safely. Crossing guards are always at their intersection, ready for duty and prepared to help children navigate an intersection and protect them from speeders or aggressive drivers. It’s a tough job and they deserve recognition.

That is why Safe Kids Canada and FedEx Express Canada want to recognize the contributions of three special crossing guards across Canada. The winning crossing guards will each receive an engraved plaque and the winning schools will each receive $1,000.

One of the schools from last year’s contest had the following to say about their winning crossing guard:
“Eighty-two year old Doris (also known as Grandma) maintains order and safety at her corner. There are many buses and speeding cars making the crossing very dangerous. We depend on her for our students’ safety. Last year, we had a particularly bad ice storm which coated all the roads in a thick layer of ice. Doris slowly hobbled to the school, carefully on the slippery sidewalks, and then to her station, risking her own safety to make sure others are safe.”École
St. Avila, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Students, teachers and parents may nominate a great crossing guard who deserves to be recognized. Note that the contest closes on November 25, 2011.

Include in your nomination information about how the crossing guard keeps children safe and is a good role model. Don’t forget to include photos or pictures.

For contest details and nomination forms, go to the award web site Safekidscanada.