To grade or not to grade – that is the question

What happens when a teacher focuses on feedback instead of marks? In the latest People for Education podcast, find out what happens in a Toronto classroom when a teacher experiments with evaluating her grade 7/8 students through feedback instead of marks. You may be surprised by what the students had to say… Listen to the podcast. Grants for parents announced Province funds projects and programs to support parent involvement The province spends approximately $6 million annually to support parent involvement. School boards receive about $3 million to fund Parent Involvement Committees and school councils, and a further $3.1 million in funding is provided through Parents Reaching Out Grants. Applications for Parents Reaching Out Grants are now open. Grants are available for individual school councils, or for parent organizations, school boards, non-profit organizations, and post-secondary institutions working with parents.These grants support programs or initiatives that help parents participate in their children’s education—either at home or at school. Apply for a Parents Reaching Out Grant Read more about funding for parent engagement Education unions agree on tentative contract extensions If ratified, contracts will now expire in August 2019 Contracts for teachers and support staff were to expire in August, but they have now been extended for two years. The province has reached tentative agreements with the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF), the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA), the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), the Education Workers Alliance of Ontario (EWAO) and CUPE Ontario. The province has also introduced new legislation to amend some of its policy around provincial bargaining. Help, we’ve got homework Projects and practice and quizzes, oh my! As we enter the heart of the school year, homework issues may be taking centre stage in homes across the province. Before engaging in a homework battle with your child, it may help to a) remember that it’s their homework – not yours, and b) arm yourself with a few facts. Our homework tip sheet addresses some of parents’ most common concerns, and provides tips to support your child. There is also free homework help available in the community and online. The Independent Learning Centre has a free online math tutoring service, led by certified teachers, for students in grades 7–10. Many schools, libraries, and community centres have homework clubs, and high schools often have peer tutors available to help. So, before booking expensive tutoring sessions, find out about the free services available in your community. Education in the news This British school has projects, not subjects, on its timetable. Three new studies show a drop in results when students use vouchers to attend private schools. Education needs to be much more than getting the answers right on a standardized test. The case for school choirs: singing in groups improves mental health. This article in the Guardian asks: Is homework worth the hassle? Canadian school board cancels field trips to US following travel ban. Follow People for Education to keep up on the latest news:      Upcoming Conferences and Events March 4: Master of Education Information Day at OISE. March 6: Education Forum: How High School Choices Affect Your Future. March 31: Nominations close for OTIP Teaching Awards. April 4–5: Ontario Healthy Schools Coalition Conference. April 19–20: Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Conference. April 28: Canadian Centre For Gender and Sexual Diversity’s third annual Ontario Educators’ Conference. Please support our work You can support People for Education by making a donation today. People for Education is a registered charity, Charitable No. 85719 0532 RR0001.

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