PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT / TEACHER RESOURCES
The Ontario Teachers Federation (OTF)
OTF has a section dedicated to Lesson Plans and Professional Development and much more!
Check it out!
CLICK HERE: OTF LESSON RESOURCES
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TECHNOLOGY in the CLASSROOM
I have had the privilege to watch this fabulous young teacher in action in his own classroom and as a Professional Development leader in the Halton District School Board.
Check out Cameron Steltman's video series on YouTube
Click here: Camerons Videos
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INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
MEL ROBBINS on Personal Development and Guidance Counseling
SIR KEN ROBINSON ON DIVERGENT THINKING
Sir Ken was a renowned educational professor and presenter.
His presentation on "Creativity" was the most watched TED Talk in history.
This presentation is on Divergent Thinking
He wonders if we are being educated out of our ability to think creatively.
He supports student centered, inquiry based collaborative learning groups.
He wonders if our academic institutions are keeping up and developing learning environments that are preparing our students for the future.
Click here for the video on Divergent Thinking
Posted also to the Inspirational Leaders Tab
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TEACHING IN ONTARIO TODAY
IT'S A CHANGING PROFESSION
This is an interesting article that looks at the demographic changes in Ontario's Education System.
Have a look at this interesting content that shows data from 1998 to 2015.
It would be interesting to see what is happening in 2025 and beyond.
Click Here For the Article: The Changing Demographics of Teaching in Ontario
Here is the link for reference:
https://pourparlerprofession.oeeo.ca/publications/professionally_speaking/2017-12/2017-12-Feature-Story-3-PS.asp
Posted to this website in March 2025
Also posted to the 21st Century Education Tab
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IS THERE A PENDING ONTARIO TEACHER SHORTAGE COMING BY 2027?
YES!
Check out this CBC article that outlines the reasons behind the present teacher shortage in Ontario (Oct. 2, 2024)
What is the Ministry of Education doing about this?
Click Here for the Article: Teacher Shortage to Worsen
Here is the link for reference:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-teacher-shortage-ministry-of-educaiton-1.7339837
If you have a passion for teaching young people, now is a great time to apply for teachers college.
I have posted parts of this article below for easy access.
Ontario is staring down a teacher shortage as retirements and student enrolment are both on the rise, and the Ministry of Education expects the situation will start to get even worse in 2027.
Many school boards in Ontario and elsewhere are experiencing challenges recruiting and retaining enough qualified teachers, the document says, and in Ontario the issue is particularly felt in areas such as French and tech education.
"Modelling projects that student enrolment over the coming years is expected to increase along with teacher retirements, while the supply of new teachers is to remain stable, absent intervention," the briefing says.
"These factors are projected to result in a growing gap between the number of teachers needed and the number of teachers available. This (projected) gap is expected to widen beginning in 2027."
Word of teacher supply and demand struggles is not new to the unions representing Ontario's teachers, who say one of the main issues is working conditions, including violence in classrooms, too few special education supports, and not enough money for classroom supplies.
"The conditions in the classroom are deteriorating," said Karen Brown, president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario.
"We have members within their first five years just leaving the profession ... It's troubling that this government knows that there are some issues with retention and recruitment and that they're actually not wanting to address them."
A spokesperson for Education Minister Jill Dunlop said in a statement that the government has introduced a number of measures, including halving processing timelines for domestic and international applicants, allowing second-year teaching candidates to work as supply teachers, and replacing seniority-based hiring with a merit-based system for quicker recruitment of staff.
A decade ago, Ontario had a teacher surplus, with an unemployment rate of nearly 40 per cent for teachers in their first year after becoming certified.
In 2015, the then-Liberal government made teachers' college two years instead of one and admission rates plummeted from more than 7,600 in 2011 to 4,500 in 2021 — and now early-career unemployment is at "statistically negligible levels," according to the Ontario College of Teachers.
It may be time to review that program, said Karen Littlewood, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation.
"I'm sure they're filling the two years with lots of meaningful teaching and learning, but maybe we need to look at compacting it," she said.
"That recruitment and retention issue is real, it's not a 2027 thing. It is a now thing, and it's a getting worse thing, which actually kind of makes it astounding that there's no evidence this government is doing anything substantive about it."
The briefing document says that in particular there is an "acute shortage" of French-as-a-second-language teachers in Ontario, "as in other provinces and territories." Demand is rising for French immersion and extended French programs, the document says.
The requirement to complete a two-year, "academic, not employment-based program and move from rural or remote areas" is also a barrier to getting more Indigenous teachers, the ministry briefing document says.
Demand for Indigenous language courses is rising, with eight per cent and 14 per cent increases in enrolment in elementary and secondary courses, respectively, between 2017-18 and 2019-20, the document says.
When it comes to tech teachers, the shortage has led the government to implement a rule allowing teachers with general qualifications to teach new, mandatory tech education courses.
THE ROLE of TECHNOLOGY in the ELL CLASSROOM
The benefits of implementing technology into the ELL classroom.
Check out this HMH article to find out what you can do!
Click Here: The Role of Technology in the ELL Classroom
Added to this website Feb. 4th, 2025
Also added to the ELL Tab
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CONTENT, PROCESS, PRODUCT and LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
What are the four elements of differentiated instruction?
How do you address the learning needs of students requiring accommodations or modifications?
Check out this fabulous website to learn more!
Click Here: Content, Process, Product and Learning Environment
Added to this website Feb, 4th 2025
Also added to the Differentiation Tab
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WHO IS THAT GREAT TEACHER WHO INSPIRED YOU??
Who do you want to be like when you become an educator?
Where would you be without that one GREAT teacher that inspired you?
Maybe you had more than one! I hope you did.
If that teacher does not know that you really appreciated them in your life why not look them up on Google or Linkedin and let them know.
I dedicate this video to the GREAT TEACHERS I had who inspired me and motivated me throughout my academic journey.
Some were in high school, others were in University. Some were even educational colleagues.
THANK YOU TO:
Barb Sproule Singleton: Grade 13 English, Lord Elgin High School, Halton District School Board - You inspired me to go to university when I was lacking confidence to apply. If it were not for you I may not have taken that step. You made learning English fun, engaging and relevant. You took the class to live theater and ballet. You developed positive relationships and inspired your students to chase their dreams. You were one of the most impactful teachers in my life. I can not thank you enough.
Bryce Legget: Grade 13 Physical Education, Lord Elgin High School, Halton District School Board - Bryce taught me courses in anatomy and physiology as part of my Exercise Physiology Course. You inspired me to go on into Physical Education at McMaster in 1974. I eventually became a physical education teacher in Halton as a result. You were classy, confident and professional. You were an outstanding builder of relationships and an inspiring leader. I ran a golf tournament for all of the Halton High Schools while taking that course which taught me a lot about leadership and the impact I could have on students and the school system. a "lightbulb" moment in my life! You became an outstanding leadership role model. Thank you so much for making me believe in my potential.
John McLennan: Physical Education Teacher at Nelson High School and senior basketball coach, Halton District School Board - John was my Physical Education and Health teacher for several years. He recruited me to play basketball after he watched me play pick up ball after school. John became my role model in life. He had the leadership qualities I admired. John was athletic, confident, and had high expectations of his athletes. I eventually coached basketball in Halton and in the city of Burlington because of his influence. He was the coach and educator I looked up to and wanted to emulate. Thanks for being my motivator in life.
Frank Grebenc, Al Slater and Larry Zavitz: History Teachers at Nelson High School, Halton District School Board: You all made learning fun. You were engaging educators. I minored in anthropopogy at McMaster University because of Frank Grebenc.
Harv Collison: Harv was my first Associate Teacher at Tuck School, Halton District School Board. He became a future teacher colleague and administrative colleague. Harv was a great Associate Teacher. Very supportive and an awesome instructional role model. As an administrator he was the one who put my name forward for administration in 1998 and trained me for that role. I am forever grateful to this great educator.
Bev Bowra: Principal of Sir Ernest MacMillan School, Halton District School Board - Bev was one of my most outstanding principals. He was my leadership role model. He knew how to develop positive relationships with all of the school and community stakeholders. He was skilled at developing grade teams. He was the most inspiring leader that looked after staff morale. He made his school environment fun for students and staff. He was a visionary leader. He was the leader I emulated my leadership career after. Thanks for being the best and for years of support.
Fred Moyes: Anatomy Instructor at McMaster University, Hamilton - Dr. Moyes would take coloured chalk and draw what looked like photographs on the chalkboard. He made learning anatomy so interesting. It was his course where I realized I may have some talent in this area. To my surprise, I placed third out of 425 students on one of his exams. This was an academic turning point for me. I had never placed so high on any exam in my life. Fred took me under his wing, and gave me the opportunity to teach anatomy labs at McMaster for Physical Education students and then supported me in becoming an anatomy instructor at Sheridan College. How Unbelievable. I could never have dreamed when I was young that I would ever do this! He inspired me to go on to apply for Medicine or Education. I accepted my acceptance to teachers college in the anatomy lab at McMaster. He influenced my whole career trajectory. Thank you sir, for all of the support and guidance you gave me during those university years.
Cheryl Ende: ELL / ESL Course Director, Faculty of Education, Brock University, St. Catharines - Cheryl was an incredible educator. She was academically inspiring, collaborative, and a team player who developed other leaders. Cheryl was the my university instructor role model. She took me under her wing and put me in charge of teaching ELL / ESL Additional Qualifications for teachers. This lead to me taking new teacher candidates and established educators on one month international teaching blocks to China. This became my passion and I am still working on these initiatives today. Cheryl was the consummate educator that I wanted to be like. Thank you for believing in me and for giving me these opportunities.
CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO
FAMOUS INDIVIDUALS WHO MET THE TEACHERS THEY WERE GRATEFUL FOR!
CLICK HERE FOR: "A Teacher's Impact Lasts A lifetime"
Posted to this blog and the INSPIRATIONAL LEADERS TAB
Nov. 2024
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