Know Your Employer

Successful occasional teaching often begins with the preparation that takes place before the assignment. There are a number of things that you can do to prepare for success in this role.

Do research about board initiatives and foci. This information is readily available on the school board website. This knowledge will help you make sense of the programs and initiatives that are in place in the schools. School board websites provide information about:

Board mission statement
Director’s message
Provincial assessment (EQAO) results
School Community Council
Maps
Code of conduct
Child care
News
Registration information
Parent resources
Transportation information
Special education
Programs offered
Information for new Canadians

Board strategic direction
Policy and procedure
Online learning
Extra-curricular and student opportunities
School year calendar
Safe school initiatives
Scholarships and awards
Character development
Curriculum and report card information
Student resources
Notice of special events and meetings
List of schools

Visit school websites to learn about each school. This will provide you with the knowledge necessary to fit your skills into the practices of each school to which you are assigned. Each school in the board will be aligned with the board’s initiatives, but the form that these initiatives take in each school may be quite different. It is a good idea to create index cards containing information about each school so you can refresh your knowledge about the school prior to arrival. School board websites provide information about:

School mission statement
Provincial assessment (EQAO) results
Safe school initiatives
School profile
Newsletters
Special events
Course calendar
Support services

Principal’s message
School Community Council
Transportation
Extra-curricular opportunities
School year calendar
Code of conduct
Library resources
Bell schedule

Know Your Employer

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Be Prepared

Teach in Ontario