Opinions expressed on this blog are my own and do not represent any other organization or affiliation I may have.

Friday 23 December 2011

TTOC Tool Bag

This is a list I composed for new TTOC's

Teacher-On-Call Bag of Tricks

  • Whistle on a lanyard
  • Business Cards
  • Extra Pens, Pencils, Highlighters, overhead pens, chalk, white board pens
  • Notebook / Journal to jot ideas down
  • Print-outs (crosswords, word searches, colouring sheets, Sudoku, activities)
  • A Small bean bag or foam ball (for games)
  • Bag of candy or treats
  • Deck of cards
  • Dice
  • A good picture book
  • Mad Libs Booklet
  • Video
  • Stickers or Stamps and Stamp Pad
  • Book or Magazine
  • Two minute mystery stories
  • Flash cards
  • Guinness Book of World Records, I Spy, Amazing Facts books or printouts
  • Personal Items:
    • Kleenex
    • Cough Drops
    • Water Bottle
    • Lunch
    • Snacks
    • Running Shoes
    • Other Personal Items

Helpful Websites













Tuesday 13 December 2011

Basketball Trivia

Basketball Trivia Game I use as a TTOC to extend a lesson or do review on almost any subject.

1. Split the class into two teams.
2. One person from each team comes up to the front of class and is asked a trivia question.
3. You can have them write the answer on the board, or shout the answer out first.
4. Use their weekly spelling words, French vocabulary, math equation or any question related to what they are learning in class.
5. Whoever gets the correct answer can take a 'basketball shot'
6. You may use a ball and wastebasket or any item safe to throw into any container.
7. You may set up 1, 3 and 5 point lines to shoot the ball from.

I use a hacky sac or stress ball that is small, soft and is always in my backpack / toc bag of tricks.

Example:
1. one student from each team comes up
2. I say "jaune"
3. First one to touch their head (and not shout out answer) I say "go ahead"
4. They say "yellow"
5. Correct, I give them the ball to shoot.
6. Student chooses to shoot from 1, 3 or 5 point line.
7. If they score they get the amount of points they shot from.

Friday 23 September 2011

Stay Informed

Stay informed and keep connected:
-Remember to contact your local’s TTOC rep.
-Attend meetings that your local union may call.
-Connect with the staff rep at the school(s) that you are called out to for any job action updates.
-Check your local’s website for local news related to bargaining updates and information
meetings.
-Call the local union office if you have any questions or concerns, or you are asked to do
something you think is part of the Phase 1 job action. (There are no stupid questions!)
-Locals will be looking for volunteers to help out in the office. Call the local office if you are
willing to help.
-Sign on to MyBCTF (see below) for current updates about bargaining.

MyBCTF
-Check the BCTF portal on a regular basis. Breaking news will be on the website.
-Go to www.bctf.ca and connect through the members-only portal.
-Have you signed up on to MyBCTF?
-Our members-only secure portal is online at mybctf.ca

What’s in it for me?
-timely bargaining updates
-interactive tools, including secure member-only discussion groups
-update your personal information
-easy registration for conferences
-information, articles, videos
-BCTF Advantage Program
-Sign on is easy!
1. At bctf.ca, click on ”BCTF members only”.
2. At BCTF member portal, click “first time here?”
3. Enter BCTF six-digit member number (if known) or name, district number, and district employee
number.
4. Choose a password (and remember it).
5. If you have a problem, call 604-871-2119 or 1-800-663-9163, local 2119, or e-mail
portal@bctf.ca.

Thursday 20 January 2011

Higher or Lower Number games

*Higher or Lower*
A great and easy game that involves math, and works best with late primary and junior grade levels. Tell the class you are going to think of a number between 1 and 100, and their job is the figure out what that number is. They take turns guessing numbers, and you tell them whether your number is higher or lower than the number they guess. You keep going until they have figured out the number. Tell them the goal is to see if they can get the number in under 6 (or pick an appropriate number) of guesses. If using a classroom management strategy that involves points, you can also use this opportunity to give them points if they can figure out the number in under a certain amount of guessing.

You can also allow yes or no questions.

For example:

"is it an even number?"
"is it a multiple of 5?"
"is it #45?"

and so on....