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Returning to School During COVID-19
Returning to School During COVID-19
Below are some resources, tips, and ideas to help you and your students transition back to school in this new world.
In all this, please remember to care for and be kind to yourself, just as you would to your students. These are uncharted waters and we're all trying our best to stay afloat - kindness will certainly make that much easier for you, your loved ones, and those we're here to serve.
School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) contains many resources for students, teachers, and the families we serve. It is consistently updating it's resources to reflect our current situation.
Click here to explore some personal resiliency tips for teachers from SMHO.
Supporting Students During COVID-19
Supporting Students During COVID-19
Every day you work to create supportive, inclusive, and healthy classroom environments. You have a special role in nurturing social and emotional growth in students. Having a mentally healthy classroom is good for all students, but especially for those who may struggle with their mental health. These resource ideas will help you to support and bolster mental health.
Below are posters you may want to consider posting in your classrooms or online environments. They serve as reminders for students to stop and reflect on their well being.
"Skills for Students: Social and Emotional Learning" Videos for the Classroom (1 min videos)
Wondering if a student's mental health is a concern? The One-Call Desk Reference can guide you to make key observations, learn, connect with students, ask how you can help, and link to supports when appropriate.
To help you provide messaging to parents and families about mental health: Talking with Parents and Families about Mental Health
WCDSB Mental Health & Well-Being Resources
WCDSB Mental Health & Well-Being Resources
Please visit this page, specifically the Mental Health 101 section near the bottom, to discover more resources. I would recommend the Mindfulness Exercises from Anxiety Canada, or the plethora of wellness tips from the MindYourMind site.
COVID-19 Links and Resources.pdfReturn to Learn: Facilitating Equity, Inclusion and Well-Being at WCDSB
Return to Learn: Facilitating Equity, Inclusion and Well-Being at WCDSB
This video was shared during our late-August PD Days. It reviews strategies in supporting student well-being during this time.
WCDSB Framework for Learning Design
WCDSB Framework for Learning Design
Learning Design begins with addressing student social-emotional needs, organization of the learning environment and setting expectations in every lesson and interaction. This includes pedagogical practices, learning partnerships, learning environment, and leveraging digital. The goal of this framework is to provide educators with pedagogical support to implement these four elements of learning design in their practice.
This framework aims to support all educators in transitioning between learning scenarios (conventional, adapted, remote) as needed. It is a living framework and will be updated as emerging processes, practices, and resources become available.
Teacher Wellness
Teacher Wellness
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Do not leave your mental health to the last minute. And if you do, it's okay. There's always help.
The WCDSB works with Homewood Health to provide counselling services to employees. They have differentiated supports based on your needs without any cost to you.
Please check this PDF for information about how to get support.
New Teacher Newsletter
New Teacher Newsletter
What is it?
What is it?
The New Teacher Newsletter (NTN) will be the main form of communication from the NTIP Consultant to new teachers and mentors. It will be sent out once every 2 week.
It will consist of:
Highlighted resources that you can borrow, keep, win, or use for free
Examples of lessons, strategies, etc. that you can adapt and implement into your daily practice
Professional development, AQ courses, and other learning opportunities throughout our board and broader community
The New Teacher Newsletter gives you a chance to share your amazing, engaging, life-altering lessons (too much?) with other NTIP teachers and mentors!
There are so many exciting things happening at all of your schools, and I’m finding so much of it is driven by new teachers and our amazing mentors. I think many of us would benefit from seeing these ideas, and since release time can be hard to come by, I could go and share what I see with all of you!
Can I add to it?
Can I add to it?
Of course you can! I would encourage you to share with us!
You can email me:
Resources and supports you find online
Opportunities for further learning
Examples of what you are doing in class with your students
Anything that can help your colleagues learn and grow
NTIPodcast!
NTIPodcast!
The New Teacher Induction Podcast is a new form of PD for the WCDSB. You can listen to previous sessions, workshops, and conversations with educators in our board about various topics that you need to know as a beginning teacher. You can stream or download from any device, as long as you are using your WCDSB account.
NTIP Book Inquiry
NTIP Book Inquiry
Need a little guidance when reading through a resource? We can help!
You can complete an inquiry on your own or in a group. Once you're done, you can complete a brief feedback/reflection form to receive a certificate to add to your portfolio.
More books will be periodically added. Please let us know if you have suggestions!
Report Card Writing
Report Card Writing
This folder contains resources for Report Card Writing for Elementary and Secondary.
I strongly recommend all NTIP teachers review the Report Card Writing Resources for NTIP Teachers doc first. It is an organized list of the necessary resources to write report cards.
I strongly recommend all NTIP teachers review the Report Card Writing Resources for NTIP Teachers doc first. It is an organized list of the necessary resources to write report cards.
Elementary teachers: I would recommend you review these slides that provide a brief overview of what you are to report on each term. I have also done a recorded session on these slides and more that can be found here.
This StaffNet page contains instructional videos and PDFs on writing report cards in ASPEN.
You my not need all of these resources right now, but they'll always be here waiting for you!
ASPEN
ASPEN
Aspen is our boards online tool for collecting and storing student data. It is where we take attendance, write report cards and IEPs, create schedules, and can become a tool for parent communication, classroom seating, and more.
2020-2021 is our first year using Aspen. There will be growing pains! But be patient and kind with yourselves and others as we all learn this new tool.
To explore the ever-growing list of Aspen supports and tutorials, click here. Note: this does not include Report Card support - that is linked in the section above.
All Things MATH!
All Things MATH!
Our Numeracy Consultants, Ministry of Edcuation, and other partners have NUMERous resources to guide you math path. (I'm so funny).
More Math resources can be found here, including webinars on the 2020 Math Curriculum, Knowledgehook support, and links to other resources.
This doc will continue to grow. If you have something to share here, please send it to matthew.figueiredo@wcdsb.ca
2020 Math Curriculum
2020 Math Curriculum
The new Math curriculum has arrived.
Please click here to access the new web-based version of the curriculum.
You can view by grade, strand, compare grades, and see examples for each specific expectation.
If you would like more guidance understanding the curriculum, please review the slides below. (These were given for all staff to review on the Sept 2nd PD Day)
WCDSB Kindergarten Site
WCDSB Kindergarten Site
Our WCDSB Kindergarten site hosts various supports and resources to assist both new and experienced teachers.
Special Education Resources
Special Education Resources
To access Special Education Resources:
To access Special Education Resources:
Go to StaffNet - also found on the My Apps page when you open a browser on a WCDSB computer
Under "Top Sites", click Student Services - here you can explore all documents, supports, and resources related to Special Education
Further Spec Ed Supports:
Further Spec Ed Supports:
For assistance navigating the Spec Ed StaffNet Page, click here for a site map.
To review information on the IEP process (including gathering data, writing an IEP, etc.), click here for a brief slideshow. You can review the slides above while listening to the Spec Ed episode of our NTIPodcast by clicking here.
For assistance writing IEPs:
For assistance writing IEPs:
Click here to watch a tutorial video by our Special Education Liaisons.
Click here to watch a brief video on writing Alternative Report Cards.
NTIP Resource Library
NTIP Resource Library
WCDSB has numerous physical resources for beginning teachers. You are welcome to borrow them for the length of you time in NTIP, or until another NTIP teacher requires that resource.
NOTE: Due to COVID19, we are investigating the safest way to get resources to you. Please bear with us as we navigate forward.
WCDSB Policies & Procedures
WCDSB Policies & Procedures
If you are ever unsure about what rules to follow in our teaching profession, refer to the documents in the page below or click here to open in a new tab.
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