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Weekly Video Message from the Chair

Hello everyone, I hope you had a great first week and are looking forward to the second week of practicum.
 Here is a link to this week's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCg8q3eQByY

Not much of this message is new, but it bears repeating, including reminders about social media, lesson plans and feedback.

Enjoy yourself. Catherine Hannon and I will be visiting a few Simcoe County schools with the Dean of the Faculty of Education, John O'Meara, so don't be surprised if we poke our heads into your classroom!

Frances

Teaching in England

ODYSSEY Info Session

Weekly Video Message from the Chair

Hello everyone. I've been asked to pass on good wishes to you from the Wellness Centre. If at any time during your placement you feel that you need to talk to someone, contact the Centre by phone at (705) 330-4008 ext. 2115. You can also contact the counsellor Jim Wylie by email at counsel2@lakeheadu.ca.

Here's a link to this week's message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEpcBwKxJUY

There's not much more for me to say this week except have a great time this week as you begin your practicum. We are here to support you. Be familiar with your Practicum Guide, keep in touch with your Faculty Advisor, and as the weeks pass, submit your lesson plans in good time to enable your AT to provide you with feedback.

You'll meet some memorable children in the coming weeks, and I hope you'll remember that they are the reason we all do what we do.

We'll be thinking about you!

Frances

Heritage Place Library Hours During Placement Period

Dear Bachelor of Education Students:

The hours of the Heritage Place library & commons are reduced slightly during the placement period. The full hours are listed below (and are also available on the Orillia library homepage), but in general, your best opportunities for visiting the Heritage Place library during the placement period are Monday and Wednesday evenings before 7:00pm, and on Saturdays, between 12:00pm to 4:00pm.

The hours for the fall 2014 placement period are: 

Mondays =  8:30am to 7:00pm

Tuesdays = 8:30am to 4:30pm

Wednesdays =  8:30am to 7:00pm

Thursdays = 8:30am to 4:30pm

Fridays = 8:30am to 4:30pm

Saturdays =  12 to 4

Sundays = Closed

Best of luck on your placements.

Orillia Library Staff

Teacher Candidate -Week One Communication

Hello!

Some of you may have already met your Associate Teacher and others of you will meet your AT tomorrow or first thing Monday. You will be eagerly awaiting that first day on your placement on Monday! Here are some brief reminders for you for the first few days of your placement:

 By the first day we ask you to do the following tasks for the Education Office:

• confirm your Associate Teacher's receipt of the Welcome package that was sent by Julie Howell or Rosa Fabiano
• confirm the GRADE your AT is assigned (if it is different than what currently appears in the Portal)
• confirm the number of students in grades 3 and 4 if your AT has a 3/4 class (so we know what division to call this placement)
• confirm the number of grade 6 and 7 students if your AT has a 6/7 class (the class has to have a majority of grade 6 students to be called a junior placement for this P/J program)
• confirm your AT's email address (if it is different than what currently appears in the Portal)

Getting this information as soon as possible from you will reduce any Associate Teacher login issues as we approach week #3 when you and your Associate Teacher will be eager to submit the Formative Assessments.

Teacher Candidate Communication-Weekly

I will be sending out brief weekly reminders to you throughout your placement. Dr. Helyar will continue to share information with you on her Sunday night  videos and my notes will be attached as well. Thank you for managing your emails throughout your placement.

Professional Development Day and Teacher Candidate Responsibilities/ Teacher Candidate Absences

During this placement period school boards will be having a professional development day and it is typically the student-teacher-parent conference time. If  your host school board has evening conferences and your AT is  not expected to be at school for a half day on the PD day, you can follow the same schedule as your AT, if you are with your AT in the school for the evening session. If you are not with your AT in the evening session then you are expected to be in the school all day on the PD day. You can be involved in lesson and classroom preparations for the upcoming weeks for that half day that your AT is not in the school. If you have any questions about this expectation please email your Faculty Advisor. The Associate Teachers have been given this information. 

It is the expectation of the Ontario College of Teachers that you are in their placements for 25 days, so any absences do need to be added on to the end of the placement and you need to be teaching up to 100% if you are permitted by the associate teacher to stay until Dec. 15 to make up one day. Making up any more than one day will need to be discussed jointly with the faculty advisor, the associate teacher and myself to ensure that the expectations are met in your placement. Please ensure that you have emailed your Faculty Advisor if you are absent during your placement.

 Professional Development Workshops During the School Day and Teacher Candidate Responsibilities

If your Associate Teacher is attending a professional development workshop and would like you to attend, that is permitted. I have asked the Associate Teachers not to have you attend more than one workshop during in-school time during your placement, however, as you have only 25 days in your placement to develop your planning, teaching and assessment skills and the more you can be in the classroom with the students at this point in your education,the better. Working alongside an occasional teacher for a day is a wonderful experience for you too!

Teacher Candidates Not To Be Left Alone in Classrooms with Students/ Supervision Duty Responsibilities

Thank you for not being alone with the students in your classroom or anywhere else in the school. You are to be supervised by OCT certified teachers at all times during your placement when you are with students, including during nutrition breaks. You are to do supervision duty  when your Associate Teacher is scheduled for such duty, and not remain back in the classroom. We appreciate your Associate Teacher giving you the full range of teacher duties to experience when out on your placement. 

Associate Teacher Communication

I will be sending out weekly communication to the Associate Teachers to remind them about upcoming expectations for the week(s) ahead. As with you, they can email their Faculty Advisor and/or me if they have any questions or need clarification on something.

We wish you the very best on your first placement. Please remember that we are here to support you in your professional journey. Work hard and have fun.

Weekly Video from the Chair - November 2nd

Hello everyone, here's my video for this Sunday night. Among the things I talk about are various Full Day Kindergarten professional development opportunities, safe winter driving, the four keys to success on placement, and what to wear to school next Monday as your placement begins.

Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxX_qOY7q00

Have a great week!

Frances