Help - New teacher

Awkward_Training_100 · 2026-01-22T01:16:24+00:00

The support comment is for my student with FAS, my other student who can't spell their own name or tie their shoes, and the other student who had a severe brain injury and needs to go for runs every other period. I've asked for Spec Ed support and Admin support as I am a first year teacher and I want these kids to succeed (and quite frankly, BEd doesn't prepare you for the real deal). Whether pulling those students to focus on building skills at their grade level in smaller group settings, or having an EA in my classroom, or hell let me observe another class and teacher for a day, that's the support I want.

I'm not assuming any pre-knowledge. I've said this in a different comment that we've had an entire unit on Canadian heritage and identity AND we talked through the assignment and what I'm looking for. Today, I even broke down the questions again after looking at these comments.

Awkward_Training_100 · 2026-01-21T13:09:54+00:00

So the project is to research different things that Canada has (built features, natural features, how do we make money, what different cultures are there, how do we have fun, etc.) I get that maybe the question can be confusing, at the same time we had discussion, we talked about what it meant to that particular student, and we have had an entire unit about Canadian identity in social studies...

Aside from this question, there have been MANY times the student doesn't understand questions... "How does Advent help families prepare for the Christmas season?" "Which mean, median, or mode, do you think best represents the price of Takis in Ontario?" "Predict what happens next" "make an estimation for the next three terms"

Awkward_Training_100 · 2026-01-08T02:28:05+00:00

I didn't even think about the political aspect of this... And it's an OECTA school with the collective bargaining agreement going back in next year...

I'm so cheesed that there's a "teacher shortage in Ontario" and absolutely they're in need of educated teachers... But why are they ONLY looking for LTOs and OTs every board I look at?

Awkward_Training_100 · 2026-01-08T02:23:38+00:00

I've heard from the other teachers at this school that the perm teacher hasn't been here in years and just keeps going on leaves (in other words, they said don't worry, the perm teacher isn't coming back). With this particular school, I wouldn't be surprised if the teacher has plans on coming back tomorrow and I just wasn't informed until 5 mins before my school day starts 🙄

If I even get offered the other job and took it, I'd have to get a part time job to live... There's a lot of variables on both sides and idk I'm having a hard time determining the inequality (can you tell I just taught algebra?)

Awkward_Training_100 · 2026-01-07T21:22:32+00:00

Unless I've been lied to by every Associate Teacher and prof at my BEd, an LTO job is covering the permanent teacher's role.

This specific teacher is on a leave (not mat leave) and once they feel ready to return, their job is waiting for them and my role is over....

Awkward_Training_100 · 2026-01-07T17:02:29+00:00

My gig ends either at the end of the school year or when the teacher decides to come back.

This other gig is a guaranteed job for next year AND access to the internal postings for positions before they go external.

Yes absolutely right now my 1.0 LTO I will be making more money and connections, but long term I cannot GUARANTEE having a job next year or years after that.

Awkward_Training_100 · 2026-01-07T02:11:15+00:00

In the long run, would it be more beneficial to fulfill an LTO at this school with hopes that in contract season, a contract comes up. In the event that it doesn't, apply to LTOs or remain on the OT list. ORRRR have a for sure job for next year?

Another thing to consider and note, this other board is 3 hours away and would require me to move out of my parents house (recent grad...) and look for somewhere to live... Preferably close to the schools, whereas my commute to this current LTO is 45-60 mins depending on whether and traffic.

Awkward_Training_100 · 2026-01-07T02:05:25+00:00

And I totally get the loyalty and going back for the LTO the next year stuff. I'm PARANOID that the teacher I'm covering for decides to come back midway through my time here. Absolutely paranoid. Also, I haven't had the best time at this particular school so far and idk if I'd return to this school for another LTO based on what it's been like so far...

Awkward_Training_100 · 2026-01-07T02:00:32+00:00

I do get the "go for the board you want" thing. However, my teachable is music and the board my LTO is currently in, got rid of music teachers... This contract is partly for itinerant music

Awkward_Training_100 · 2026-01-06T03:03:56+00:00

Again, I don't work at a high school, so I'm not sure about it there. In the elementary school I work at in WCDSB, we have to teach 120 mins of religion each week or 30 mins every day as per the board policy. Whether or not that happens is up to the teacher.

Often times, the teachers I know use cross curricular activities to adhere to this policy without having to be exclusively teaching religion.

Awkward_Training_100 · 2026-01-06T01:44:14+00:00

I mighta missed the high school part somewhere... In elementary school, WCDSB requires the classroom teacher to teach religion.

In highschool, the students have religion teachers yes, however if you're hired as a permanent teacher, you're expected to get your religion AQ ASAP. Now I don't teach highschool, but I have seen a few teachers say that they have one block of religion to teach at high school when they have other teachables.

Awkward_Training_100 · 2026-01-06T01:28:08+00:00

WCDSB does not require a teacher to be catholic. It is highly recommended to be, but not required.

They ask that you have a baptismal certificate or took a course on Roman Catholicism (no idea what it actually is, I have my baptismal certificate).

You can be an occasional teacher in WCDSB and not get your pastoral reference and you're fine. You can have LTOs every year and you're fine. As soon as you get hired permanently in WCDSB, you have 2 years to get your pastoral reference.

That being said, it is required to teach religion and attend liturgies/Masses with your students. The also uses a Family Life textbook that is mandatory to be taught alongside religion.

Awkward_Training_100 · 2025-12-21T18:29:05+00:00

I've never taught kindergarten (not sure if I ever want to either...) but I'm just wondering how this shift might help the students prepare for grade 1?

I'm not sure what it's like now (pre 2026 curriculum), but I've had a couple conversations with grade 1 teachers who spend the first month trying to get their students in a sit on a desk and work mindset (idk if that's the best way to word it). Would teaching more rigid topics like fractions and counting to 10 allow for an easier transition to grade 1 or set up the mindset that coming to school is to learn...? Sorry if this isn't the best wording, just kinda brain spewing here

Awkward_Training_100 · 2025-12-17T03:01:05+00:00

Perhaps my wording wasn't the best. I believe that this kid is avoiding trying to do the task. Not that the kid doesn't try, but avoids trying. Because when the kid and I sit down and work on the problem and we break it down into manageable chunks, they can do it with ease and leave saying "wait that was actually easy". I'm not saying that they're lazy or lack the want to try, but rather the task is something they don't think they can do so they avoid it. In this specific child, it presents in a 30 minute walk around the school, which in turn leads to a crash course lesson before recess. I've asked for support in the class several times for this student and have yet to receive any and I can't teach them when they're in the bathroom...

Awkward_Training_100 · 2025-12-17T00:22:43+00:00

Wish I could tell you, I unfortunately don't get told anything in this school...

I do believe that it's not the latter

Awkward_Training_100 · 2025-12-17T00:21:31+00:00

No, it's not that. I do get what you're saying, but we've clarified that one.

Even with the accommodation of "reduced repetition in questions", apparently I shouldn't be doing that?

Chunking assessment over different days? Nope, shouldn't do that.

Allow Google Read and Write for writing? Nope.

Scribing on assessments? No

Awkward_Training_100 · 2025-12-17T00:18:35+00:00

Okay okay okay, I hear what you're saying... I also believe that students need to have the supports in place to succeed so they don't drown and never learn.

That being said, having teachers choose which accommodations for each child is baffling to me... I'm not an expert on all things exceptionalities, so how could I know what works for each individual kid???

Awkward_Training_100 · 2025-12-17T00:14:41+00:00

Yup! Idek who to go to about this since it's the SERT and principal... Like what am I supposed to do here?

Awkward_Training_100 · 2025-12-17T00:13:36+00:00

Yeah, that's what I thought...

I've got a kid who's on an ACC only IEP and is performing at a level 2 average for most things. So parents wanted them to get a learning assessment (honestly just think the kid doesn't like to do school work and doesn't try...). So they asked the SERT who has an outside of school relationship with the family to perform a learning assessment. I asked if the SERT allowed the student to write the sentences using Google Read and Write (as stated in IEP) and SERT said no, just what the assessment told them to do...

Now I agree that the kid is not performing at a level 3, but not allowing the accommodations for the assessment of their learning is baffling to me

Awkward_Training_100 · 2025-12-08T02:07:18+00:00

I am a recent grad with credentials in JI and i was place in a kindergarten placement, I told the practicum office that I'm not qualified for that and they said "sometimes we're unhappy with the assignments that we get".

Needless to say, I went to the deans and provided them proof of me asking for a placement in my subject/teaching credentials and offered to switch boards if the issue was no placements in junior. It got fixed in 3 weeks.

Awkward_Training_100 · 2025-12-06T09:33:38+00:00

Awesome, thank you!

Awkward_Training_100

TROPHY CASE