In the next few pages you will find stories written by ETFO members who are using the arts to provide their students with rich learning experiences, experiences that not only improve their understanding of and appreciation for artistic endeavour, but also improve their literacy.
Literacy has become a priority in Ontario schools: uninterrupted literacy blocks are now part of the daily timetable in many primary and junior classrooms.
This is the first of a four-part history of Ontario public elementary teachers and their federations. We will learn about ETFO and its predecessor organizations, the challenges they faced and the victories they achieved.
Would Boys do Better in School if More of Their Teachers Were Men?
The 2006 ETFO Annual Meeting was the first without elections.
Last year delegates decided to elect leaders for two-year terms;this year they spent four days focusing on Federation business.
It’s spring and the playground at Chatham’s Queen Elizabeth II School is alive with the steady beat of jump ropes slapping the asphalt and the sounds of kids repeating age-old chants: “One potato, two potato, three potato, four…”
“Those young people just don’t understand what we fought to achieve.”
“Those experienced teachers just want to talk about ‘the good old days.”
That’s the sound of generations colliding.
They were deeply involved in the federal election. They met the candidates. They researched party platforms and positions. They argued and debated.
Teaching for Deep Understanding is a call for curriculum reform in Ontario. It is our response to the concerns of our members about the Ontario curriculum. We hope our work provokes deep and thoughtful discussion about the Ontario curriculum that we need.