WEEK 2

TIPS FOR TOC’S AND CLASSROOM TEACHERS

Working as a TOC differs from “regular” teaching, but TOCs will use all their training and then some.  A TOC handbook has been put together for the FDTA and is available at the FDTA office.  This guidebook includes general information for the TOC plus some specific information for TOCs in the Elk Valley.  What follows has been taken from the TOC Handbook and relates to expectations and professionalism of both the TOC and the classroom teacher.

 What is expected of the TOC

• Maintain a controlled classroom environment in which to teach and to learn
• To the best of your ability, try to cover what the teacher has planned for the day
• Mark any objective student work done that day unless otherwise instructed by the teacher.  In primary classrooms, most marking can be done while the students work.  Marking subjective student work should only be done if the teacher has left criteria by which to do this, preferably with examples.  You may need to remain after school to complete marking.  Record marks in the teacher’s record book if requested, otherwise leave the marked material on the desk or where the teacher will easily see it when he/she returns.  Do not return unrecorded marked work to the students unless directed to by the teacher.
• Supervise the students in all activities unless they are under the supervision of another teacher.  Do not leave them unattended, whether in the hallway, cloakroom, classroom, at assemblies or between classrooms.
• Report any major incidences or safety concerns about student behaviour to the Administration, with a written copy for the office, the absent teacher a you.
• Plan the next day’s work as best as you can, given that there are resources left that you can find and use.
• Leave a written note for the teacher with details about how the day went and any concerns that were directed to the Administration.
• Put things back where you got them from and leave the room neat and tidy.

What the TOC should expect

• Assistance, support and information, as needed, from school staff and administration.
• A complete plan with enough work for the day and readily available resources necessary to carry it through.
• Students’ names listed who participate in various events such as lunch programs, student helpers, bus riders, etc.
• Information on any discipline “programs” used in the classroom or school.
• Information on students with Special Needs, including who they work with, when, and where e.g. a T.A., District Specialists such as Visual or Hearing Impaired, Speech Therapist, Youth Worker, Learning Assistance, etc. as well as how you should respond to certain situations that may likely happen.
• Resources or their locations needed to complete a day plan for the next day.  (Including a class timetable, a daybook with at least a couple of weeks of previous days’ planning to use for cross-referencing and consistency, texts and other material generally used in the classroom from day to day.)
• The teacher will leave a current seating plan.