The Teacher Hotline

Send us a textHave you ever wondered how we can better support our multilingual learners in the classroom? What if we could create a more inclusive environment where every student, regardless of their language background, could thrive? How would that impact their engagement and academic success?Today I bring in: Education Specialist and Advocate from Ensemble, Katherine Hamilton. Katherine has extensive experience in supporting multilingual students and has been a pivotal figure in developing strategies to enhance their learning experiences. With a wealth of knowledge in educational practices and cultural responsiveness, Katherine shares invaluable insights and practical tips for educators.We talk about:Effective strategies for supporting multilingual learnersThe importance of leveraging students' native languagesHow to foster a culturally responsive classroomPractical tips for creating an inclusive learning environmentAnd so much more!Tune in to discover how we can better support our multilingual students and transform our classrooms into more inclusive spaces.Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textToday we got a hot episode that was recorded back in June! It's about teacher burnout and why teachers are leaving the profession! Kind of a bummer way to start the school year, but I thought it was a good conversation to have so we don't burn out. Maybe we can prep ourselves and have a better understanding heading into the school why teachers have left the classroom in prior years.Today we bring in Tyler Boyle, an Acclaimed TedX Speaker, Educational Consultant, and Award Winning Teacher. Tyler was in the classroom for 20 years that was marked by prestigious accolades including the Prime Ministers Award of Teaching Excellence. His expertise as a Meditation Mentor is distinguished by his groundbreaking program, Dreamwalkers Meditations, which has been instrumental in alleviating classroom chaos, enhancing emotional intelligence, and elevating student engagement in classrooms.  Amongst many of his current roles, he is also known to be a keynote speaker and has presented at many conferences Learning and Teaching for Tomorrow, Provoking Curriculum Encounters, and the Ontario Healthy Schools Conference.We talk about:Why did an award winning teacher leave the classroom?Is money, working conditions the main reasons why teachers leave?How much money do teachers need to make to be satisfied?Tyler's 8 "C's on why teachers leaveCheck him out and check out this episode!Website: https://www.dreamwalkersmeditations.com/CBC News Article: Teacher shortages are leaving educators with no 'good options' — and they say students are paying the priceSPONSOR: VISUALPINGWebsite: https://visualping.io/Visualping is the free web detection monitoring tool that watches and alerts you to changes on the sites that matter most to you. Forget clicking the refresh button over and over—Visualping instantly informs you about item restocks, price drops or promotions, and new opportunities at your dream workplace.Over 2.3M users stay in the know with Visualping. Create a free account today at visualping.io.Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textWelcome back to another school year teachers!To kick off the school year, I wanted to talk about the upcoming mandatory Financial Literacy test that high schoolers need to past to get their diploma! Hey, I'm all for it! But what in the world is on it? We all have so many questions, so today we bring in Gary Rabbior, President of the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education. Gary has lead the foundation since 1981. He has developed school curriculum for a number of provinces and written a wide variety of resources including “Money and Youth” which has over 740,000 copies in circulation and “Money and Monetary Policy in Canada” with the Bank of Canada. He has created a number of major financial literacy projects and programs including the “Building Futures” and “Talk With Our Kids About Money Day” programs.Today we ask the questions:When is this test happening?What is the passing rate on this test?What is going to be on this test?Who is responsible for prepping the students on this test?What information are we trying to get from this test?I hope everyone had a great summer and good luck to the start of the school year!Resource:Canadian Foundation for Economic EducationSupport the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textReady to unlock the secrets of teaching at the college level? Join us for a fun conversation with Mikayla Lachance, a communications professor from Northern College, who shares her journey to becoming an accomplished college educator. Discover what it takes to thrive in this rewarding profession as she discusses the qualifications needed for various programs and sheds light on the differences between teaching at the college, university, and high school levels.Ever wondered what the daily life of a full-time college professor looks like? Mikayla gives us an insider’s view, from managing class schedules and lesson preparation to the personalized attention given to students at a smaller college. You’ll learn how to structure engaging lessons, handle classroom management challenges, and create a supportive educational environment. She also recounts her transition from part-time to full-time teaching, providing a comprehensive look at the responsibilities and rewards of the role.Finally, navigate the future of education with our discussion on integrating AI in the classroom. Mikayla shares her experiences with tools like ChatGPT, exploring their benefits and the importance of ethical use. We also touch on the perks and challenges of the profession, including the joy of supporting a diverse student body and the potential for career transitions. Whether you’re an educator or an aspiring college professor, this episode offers invaluable insights into the multifaceted world of teaching at the college level.SPONSOR: VISUALPINGWebsite: https://visualping.io/Visualping is the free web detection monitoring tool that watches and alerts you to changes on the sites that matter most to you. Forget clicking the refresh button over and over—Visualping instantly informs you about item restocks, price drops or promotions, and new opportunities at your dream workplace.Over 2.3M users stay in the know with Visualping. Create a free account today at visualping.io.Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textCongrats Teachers! Summer time baby! Kick back, relax, and pour yourself a glass of wine. Party time!I know the school year is a marathon and July can be a time of reflection for some teachers on how the year went. A popular question is "have I made a difference?"Today I bring in Sam Demma, a best selling author, and one of the most in demand keynote speakers in the education sector. His work and interviews have been featured in The Globe & Mail, CBC, and CTV. He has been recognized as Starfish Canada’s Top 25 Under 25. Sam’s multimedia platform, The High Performing Educator, has spotlit over 250 educators, and his bestselling debut book, Empty Your Backpack has been called “a must-read for young dreamers.”Today we talk about:What strategies or practices can teachers adopt to remind themselves of their importance and impact daily?How can school admin and colleagues support teachers in feeling more appreciated and recognized in their efforts?Are there systematic changes within the education system that could help improve teachers feeling value and self worth?Enjoy the summer folks!Instagram: @sam_demmaWebsite: https://samdemma.com/SPONSOR: VISUALPINGWebsite: https://visualping.io/Visualping is the free web detection monitoring tool that watches and alerts you to changes on the sites that matter most to you. Forget clicking the refresh button over and over—Visualping instantly informs you about item restocks, price drops or promotions, and new opportunities at your dream workplace.Over 2.3M users stay in the know with Visualping. Create a free account today at visualping.io.Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textBonjour!Has anyone ever thought about sending their kids to French Immersion? Maybe you have but don't know where to start. What are the benefits of French Immersion? Are there any drawbacks? To answer all of these questions, we have two French Immersion teachers: Lucie -Maude and Aliza from Ontario and Alberta to talk about French Immersion education. We talk about:Is there an admission process? Do my children need to know french before hand?What are the benefits of being bilingual?Does French Immersion hurt a students ability to learn the English language? Can students with learning disabilities be admitted to French Immersion schools?...and so much more! Listen and share with all your friends!One more month left before summer holidays! ☀️SPONSOR: VISUALPINGVisualping is the free web detection monitoring tool that watches and alerts you to changes on the sites that matter most to you. Forget clicking the refresh button over and over—Visualping instantly informs you about item restocks, price drops or promotions, and new opportunities at your dream workplace.Over 2.3M users stay in the know with Visualping. Create a free account today at visualping.io.Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textI'm a night owl and would love to start work at 11am if possible! Im sure your students wouldn't mind as well! Have you ever thought about what school would look like if we started classes later? Would students be more engaged? Would there be less lates? Would students be more awake and excited for school? Today I bring in: Physiologist, Scientist, and CEO of Wells Performance, Dr. Greg Wells. Currently Dr. Well's serves as a scientist at Hospital for Sick Children. He has 60 papers published in scientific journals and the author of 5 best selling books including his most recent publication: Powerhouse - Protect your Energy, Optimize your Health, and Super Charge Your Performance. He also hosts his own podcast called Dr. Greg Wells Podcast that you can stream on all platforms.We talk about:How many hours of sleep do teens/children need?Do "Night Owls" and "Early Worms" actually exisit?Are naps actually helpful? Are sleep aids harmful for students? (ie. melatonin) Should we start classes later? and so much more!Go check out Dr. Greg Wells podcast!Website: https://drgregwells.com/SPONSOR: VISUALPINGVisualping is the free web detection monitoring tool that watches and alerts you to changes on the sites that matter most to you. Forget clicking the refresh button over and over—Visualping instantly informs you about item restocks, price drops or promotions, and new opportunities at your dream workplace.Over 2.3M users stay in the know with Visualping. Create a free account today at visualping.io.Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textBullying has been around since the beginning of time. No one's been able to crack the code on how to stop and prevent bullying from happening across schools in the country. In fact, bullying has now evolved with the introduction of social media in the past decade. So what can educators and schools do?!So today we bring in Alain Pelletier, a anti-bullying youth speaker. Alain has spoken to over 750 schools, and has spoken at over 1200 conferences on the subject of bullying. Today we talk aboutt:How do we properly define "bullying"? What role can teachers and school play in the prevention of bullying?What age does bullying start?Why do bullies bully other students at school?What role do parents play in all of this?Go check out Alain and book him in your schools! Check out his website below for more information on how to do so.Website: https://www.alainpelletier.ca/SPONSOR: VISUALPINGVisualping is the free web detection monitoring tool that watches and alerts you to changes on the sites that matter most to you. Forget clicking the refresh button over and over—Visualping instantly informs you about item restocks, price drops or promotions, and new opportunities at your dream workplace.Over 2.3M users stay in the know with Visualping. Create a free account today at visualping.io.Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textWe're back baby! Season 3! Here we go. We are now going to go to a monthly format. Life is crazy, so we'll try this new format and see how it goes. We kick things off by revisiting my old stomping grounds at Western University. Have you ever thought about transitioning to teaching at the university/college level?! You should highly consider it! I highly recommend it! I had the best time of my life teaching at Western University back in the day. I even got my own office! Today, I bring in Emma Giroux, a Business 1220 Lecturer at Western University Main campus. She's been a Lecturer there for two years. Previous to this role, Emma graduated from the Ivey Business School at Western. In this episode we talk about: What qualifications do you need?How many students in a class? Whats marking like? Do you deal with parents?How do you deal with academic integrity issues?What's it like teaching in a large classroom?Check it out! I loved talking with Emma, and you'll love her too! Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textHaving tough conversations with students is all part of the job. Teachers can have conversations ranging from grades all the way to mental health. But what about the guidance counselors?! They face a lot of tough conversations behind closed doors that teachers don't see. So in todays episode we want to explore those conversations and how to have them! So today I bring in Sam Layton, a Guidance Counselor that’s works in the private School system. Before going into Guidance, Sam taught subjects ranging from English, Drama, Music, Phy-sed,  and ESL. She also has some teaching experience in New Zeland, and Korea before teaching full time in Canada. Sam received her teaching degree in New Zealand at the University of Canterbury.Click on this episode to check out what kind of challenges a guidance counselor faces and how to deal with them like a pro!Oh! And Sam is the host of her own podcast called Popcorn Cinema! Go check it out on all streaming platforms!Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textHave you ever thought about teaching at a university? Have you ever thought about teaching in a teacher education program? We'll you'll want to tune in to this weeks episode! Today I bring in Liz Coulson, an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of The Education Studies program in the Department of Language Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). For over a decade, Dr. Coulson was an instructor and secondary practicum coordinator in the Bachelor of Education and Master of Teaching Programs at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).In this episode we talk about:What qualifications do you need to teach at a university?Whats the difference between "Sessional Lecturer", "Contract jobs" "Tenure "Stream Faculty"? Whats the difference between being an Assistant Professor and a Professor role?What are the biggest difference between teaching adults versus high school or elementary?What should teachers do to begin the process of working at a university?and much more!Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textBuilding off last weeks episode, we are going to dive deep into the jobs of our school leaders. This week we are taking a look at the High School Principals role.After all my years in education, I still have no idea what the heck these people do! Are they just shaking hands and kissing babies? Who knows! Today I bring in John Marinelli, Principal of St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in London, Ontario. John has been a Principal for 6  years. Previous to this role, he was a Vice Principal for 7 years and also taught Social Sciences, Business studies and even in Guidance for 15 years. John received his bachelors of education from Western University.In this episode we talk about:What are the responsibilities of a High School Principal?What are some soft and hard skills required to do the job?What are some of the hardest and most rewarding parts of the job?Are the working hours different than a teacher?What should listeners know if they want to become a High School Principal?and much more! Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textHey incoming teacher candidates! This episode is for you!If you are planning to apply to different teacher education programs and not sure which one you should go to,  you'll want to check out this episode. On today's episode, we check out University of Toronto - Ontario of Institute of Education (OISE) Master of Teaching program (not Masters of Education! There is a difference!) We bring in my current student teacher Ava Skuse. Ava is a first year student at OISE and gives us a bit of insight into the program. We talk about:What mandatory courses do they make you take at OISE? Her thoughts on the professors at the schoolHow much is tuition, textbooks  and other fees?How many practicum's does OISE offer in this program? What has been Ava's expierence? What is this research paper that OISE makes you do in this masters program?What's the difference between the Masters of Teaching and Masters of Education program?Hope this episode is useful! Good luck everyone!Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textHave you ever thought about going into school leadership? Perhaps a High School Vice Principal is opening up and you have your eyes on it? Do you have any idea what the job entails?Well, look not further and listen to this episode! Today I bring in Candace House, Vice Principal at Waterloo Region District School.  Candace has been in this role for 5.5 years. Before this she was an English teacher and was department English Head in the TSDB for 7 years. Before this Candace had a long career in software development and consulting before making a career change in her 40s.  Candace decided to go back to school and get her B.Ed from OISE.In this episode, we talk about:Whats the big difference between the Vice Principal and Principals role?What are the most common challenges in the VP role?Is it possible for administrators to lose touch in the classroom?How does compensation work for a VP? Are they on a different grid?What should listeners know about the job before applying?and so much more!Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textOk folks, so this is a big one! If you got an Elementary LTO job interview coming up, you need to click this episode! Super juicy with all of the questions from the TDSB with a former VP panelist coaching you through some of the answers!Today we have Linda Taillefer, a Educational Consultant and retired elementary school Vice Principal in the Toronto District School Board. She has been a VP for nine years. Before going into a school leadership position, she was a French Immersion teacher for 19 years. Linda received her B.Ed from Laurentian University. On this episode, we talk about:What are some of the questions that the TDSB will ask applicants?What are the panelist looking for in your answers?Does gender, race, and identity impact your chances of landing a job?Wow! You definitely don't want to miss this! Share this episode and help out your fellow friends!Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textAfter all these years in education, I'm just finding out now what is a Montessori school! This entire time I thought it was some sort of Religious school. Wow, I was so wrong.If you're thinking about applying for a job at Montessori school or maybe even sending your kids to a Montessori school, you'll want to check out this episode!Today we bring on Carolyn Reid and Rachel Marks, both Academic Heads at Toronto Montessori School in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Rachel has been at TMS  for 25 years now and is the Head of their Elementary School and has been in the role for 5 years. Rachel also received her B.Ed from McGill M.Ed at Queens University. Carolyn has been at the school for 35 years and is the Head of their Toddler and Children House. She's been in this role for over 20 years. Carolyn received her degree in Early Childhood education from Ryerson, and her Primary Montessori Training from AMI.In this episode, we talk about:What is a Montessori School? How is it different than a traditional public school?How does a Montessori Toddler program differ from traditional day care?Is Montessori more "challenging" then your traditional schools?How much does Montessori cost?Should I send my child to a Montessori school?...and so much more! Click subscribe and give it a listen folks!Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textImagine living with students and then waking up the next day and teaching those same students. This happens everyday at all boarding schools and its the norm! I work at a boarding school, and its a different beast. I don't work directly in boarding, but I know a few people that do. Today I bring in Andrew McNiven, a Business Teacher from Ridley College in St. Catharines, Ontario. Andrew has worked at Ridley for 12 years and works with the student boarders at the school as Head of House on campus and has been in this role for five years and worked as an Assistant Housemaster for 5 years prior to this role. So 10 years in boarding!  In this episode, Andrew will try to answer all your questions regarding boarding, including:What are his responsibilities?What's the difference between being Head of House vs an Assistant role?Is privacy and maintaining your own life outside of school possible? What are the major challenges and perks of working in boarding?How do teachers get compensated?and much more! Check out this episode if you are interested in boarding schools. You'll hear all about it!SPONSOR: SPACESSpaces is a new platform backed by 15+ years of educator feedback, designed to document the process and progress behind Student learning in your classroom. Join the Spaces community to connect with educators across North America, gain access to free teacher-created resources, help educators who are just starting out in their journey and learn new things from teachers who have been there before. Visit community.spacesedu.com today to join."Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textAs a kid growing up in an Asian household, the dream for my parents was for their children to become a doctor. My brother helped my parents achieve that dream. I failed miserably. I couldn't even make it out of grade 10 chemistry! So many students and parents want to become doctors, but in reality have no idea what the job entails! Are people just chasing the title of "doctor" for prestige? Are they misinformed by what television shows them? This episode dives into the realities of becoming a doctor and what the journey looks like. Today I bring in my good friend, Dr. Andrew Lim. Andrew is a Radiation Oncologist who specializes in treating cancer. Andrew did his undergraduate training at St Francis Xavier, in a degree in Physics. He went on to do his medical training at Western University. He then began his residency training in General Surgery in Alberta before deciding the speciality was not a fit for him. He transferred over to the Radiation Oncology and he is  now working at the University of Southern California  as a Radiation Oncologist and the Director of BrachytherapyOn this episode we discuss:What does medical school look like?When do you choose your speciality?What are the most popular/least popular fields? Differences between working in the U.S vs Canada?Something Andrew wished he knew about the job when he was youngerIf you're interested in medicine, you'll love this episode! SPONSOR: SPACESSpaces is a new platform backed by 15+ years of educator feedback, designed to document the process and progress behind Student learning in your classroom. Join the Spaces community to connect with educators across North America, gain access to free teacher-created resources, help educators who are just starting out in their journey and learn new things from teachers who have been there before. Visit community.spacesedu.com today to join."Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textEver think about making a career change as a teacher into the world of guidance? Look no further! So today I bring in Adrienne Tolton, a guidance counsellor from Garth Webb Secondary School in the Halton District School Board. Adrienne has been a guidance counsellor for four years. Before guidance, she was a teacher 18 years teaching Math and Science in Ontario and Internationally. She got her B.Ed from OISE at the University of Toronto.Today we talk about:What qualifications and training do you need to become a guidance counsellor?What are the general responsibilities of a guidance counsellor?What is the hardest part of the job?Is compensation different for a guidance counsellor versus a teacher?What type of person makes a great guidance counsellor?plus more! Check out this episode and don't forget to follow the podcast!SPONSOR: SPACESSpaces is a new platform backed by 15+ years of educator feedback, designed to document the process and progress behind Student learning in your classroom. Join the Spaces community to connect with educators across North America, gain access to free teacher-created resources, help educators who are just starting out in their journey and learn new things from teachers who have been there before. Visit community.spacesedu.com today to join."Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae

Send us a textEver wonder what the heck the folks in HR are looking for before submitting your resume? How can school boards possibly sift through all those resumes and pick the right candidate? Oh and once you get an interview, now you need to prep for that gauntlet! On todays episode, I hope to peek behind the curtain and help with the job application process. Today I chat with  Majella Hillsdon, our Chief People Officer at Appleby College. Majella has been at Appleby for 17 years. In this episode we talk about:Resume - What makes a strong resume? Do buzzwords matter? Does experience matter? Cover Letters - What are they? Are they a nice to have or need to have in an application?Interviews - What do interviewers look for in an applicant? What are common questions? How can candidates be successful in these interviews?Social Media - Is HR trolling our social media pages?!Check us out! You're going to want to hear what she has to say!Links:Appleby College - Career Opportunities SPONSOR: SPACESSpaces is a new platform backed by 15+ years of educator feedback, designed to document the process and progress behind Student learning in your classroom. Join the Spaces community to connect with educators across North America, gain access to free teacher-created resources, help educators who are just starting out in their journey and learn new things from teachers who have been there before. Visit community.spacesedu.com today to join."Support the showInstagram: @theteacherhotlineFacebook: @theteacherhotlineTwitter: @ronaldhae