Professional Development

If there is one word that describes education today it is change. The fast pace of change is unprecedented and likely will continue. To assist you to turn these changes and the challenges they bring into useful learning experiences for you and your students, ETFO offers an array of professional growth opportunities as well as high-quality, low-cost curriculum resources:

• Survive and Thrive, a free on-line conference for teachers in their first five years, is full of downloadable classroom resources, keynote presentations by experts, useful web-links and much more. 
  
• ETFO developed book club facilitators’ guides for five of our resources: Making Math Happen in the Primary Years, Making Math Happen in the Junior Years, Classroom Beginnings, Teaching for Deep Understanding, and The Class That Reads.  These guides are useful for locals who choose to run a book club for their members during the year.
  
  
• Many locals partner with the provincial ETFO to offer workshops especially for new teachers.  “Ultimate Teaching Strategies for New Teachers” is a workshop full of practical ideas that can be used in every classroom.  “Surviving While Smiling” is a four-part workshop series offered throughout the year focused on topics such as planning, classroom management, creating an effective learning environment, assessment and evaluation, and professional boundaries.  Check with your school steward or local president to see if your local is offering these programs.
  
  
• A variety of credit courses are offered at locations across the province and throughout the year. These courses may be recognized by QECO for category placement. Check with your local president to determine if your course is eligible.
  
  
• ETFO Presenters On The Road program brings a variety of curriculum workshops developed by members for members and delivered throughout the province. Your ETFO local makes this happen.
  
  
• The Principal’s Qualification Program (PQP) is offered across the province in partnership with district school boards. This innovative program is based on building learning communities to support the improvement of student learning.
  
  
• Regional curriculum conferences and ICT courses are offered in cooperation with ETFO locals and school boards.
  
  
• Check the Resources Section of the ETFO website and shopETFO for access to our PD Publications and documents developed by teachers and ready for use in your classroom.

Be sure to check out the calendar and the Professional Development sections of this website for more information on upcoming professional learning opportunities.  Your ETFO steward receives regular mailings with application forms for many programs. Your local professional development chair is an important source of information as is your local president.