How many teachers' dollars are needed to support classroom learning?

Please comment here to let other teachers know approximately how much of your own money you spend in a year to support learning in your classroom. This would be when teachers use their own money to pay for any materials used by students in the classroom or the school. 

Thanks. 

Teachers vote to stop the FSA

Teacher in BC's public schools have voted 85% in favour of a plan to protect the interests of their students with a boycott of the standardized provincial Foundation Skills Assessment tests given to grades 4 and 7 every year. This is a call on the government to move the test to random sampling, where neither students nor schools can be identified, and so that the right-wing think tank The Fraser Institute cannot publish a school ranking based on such narrow criteria. 

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE Teacher PROFESSIONAL AUTONOMY?

Please take a moment to send an email to John with an example of what you consider to be professional autonomy.
What does it look like?
What does it mean to your students?
What does it mean to you?
Thanks for your time. we need your ideas. post a comment here.

When will they learn? BCTF press conference

We are having fun!

making clasrooms more sustainable

How to make it more sound, the greening teacher
The HSTA encourages teacher input to this section. If you have easy ideas on ways for classrooms and schools to reduce our use of precious resources and our impact on the earth, please share here with your colleagues by clicking on comment below. Thanks, John

How to make it more sound, the greening teacher

Tired of throwing away whiteboard markers?
At MPCS, all teachers will soon be using a set of refillable whiteboard markers from Ecosmart Stationery.
About three years ago, I was given a sample set of refillable whiteboard markers to try out in my classroom. I have been using the same set ever since and haven't thrown out any markers during that time. When my marker runs dry, I open the little bottle of ink and refill it.
A few weeks ago, I finally ran out of the blue refill ink and sat down to order a new bottle. Instead of ordering right away, I decided to bring them to the staff meeting to see if other teachers would want to try them out as well. After that, our principal, Sharon Broatch, said I could order a set for each teacher. Yes, the first one-time cost is high but the long-term cost in both money and social/environmental responsibility is cheap!
The markers come in chisel tip or bullet tip, and the tip is reversible, so if it wears out, you can just start again with the other end. They sell replacement tips, too (in case you’re hard on them)! The company is down in Richmond BC, so delivery is quick, and greener!
Donna Watson, Staff Rep and greening teacher at MPCS
You can also find more information and a link to Ecosmart Stationery on the HSTA website: bctf.ca/hsta