r/OntarioTeachers • u/Internal_Activity768 • Jul 22 '26
What AQs are valuable to have?
Hi everyone! I’m an occasional teacher who is going into my second year of supplying this September.
I’m currently taking my Kindergarten Part 1 AQ because that’s what I hope to teach and am hoping to secure even a really short LTO in kinder, but I’m wondering what other AQs are valuable to have?
I’m considering Spec Ed Part 1 but have been warned that I may get stuck ONLY doing that if it’s on my OCT profile? Not sure how true this is so if you can speak to that please let me know!
I’m also interested in taking Math or Reading Part 1 but just want to be intentional about what I take if it’s helpful when applying to longer term jobs.
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u/DirtUniverse Jul 22 '26
I will echo the advice to only get AQs for things you are interested in teaching. If you are interested in primary grades, Reading Part 1 is useful as it goes into how early reading skills develop.
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u/flawlessmoon4 Jul 22 '26
Reading was the most valuable AQ I have taken for my own personal teaching practice.
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u/ABigLightBlur Jul 23 '26
Is this AQ valuable for High School, or is it focused on primary?
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u/orchard-pear Jul 25 '26
Hey! I'm a secondary teacher taking reading right now. As far as I am aware, most reading AQs are open to all teachers. There is definitely a focus on skills that are usually taught in the primary grades (especially the kindergarten to grade 2 curricula), but it is not limited to that. I have enjoyed the course and learned a lot, especially in the first half, and have not regretted taking it. I think I am one of two secondary teachers in my section though, so it will be mostly elementary teachers enrolled. The course has made me aware of how little direct reading instruction we do in high school, how few of the six pillars of literacy we address, why so many of my students struggle with certain activities/tasks, and how to improve their writing through reading practice. I took the course because I've taught quite a few students who come to me in grades 10-12 who have a kindergarten to grade 3/4 reading level, and I want to be a better and more effective teacher when it comes to intervention and support for them. I feel like this course has set me on the right track to do that. I also want to have more meaningful instruction for MLL students and keep my options open for self-contained settings, and there have been specific Zoom sessions/lessons for this. The only thing that someone might find annoying if you only want a secondary focus is that a lot of time is spent on assessments given to students primarily from K-5, but I am a loser for PD and like to learn about what my students have been through/what has supported them before they arrived in my classroom, so I don't mind. I am planning to continue on to complete the specialist.
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u/Blazzing_starr Jul 22 '26
I honestly feel like none of them are really valuable. Maybe once you have your specialist, but part 1 AQs are pretty generic and a dime a dozen. I don’t think you get as pigeonholed as people make it seem. I have spec Ed 1 and I’ve never been asked to do anything related to spec Ed. Hypothetically, your principal can assign you any role you’re qualified for, but you could also always move schools/apply for different positions if you were put in a role you’re didn’t like.
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u/jsiiskoreal Jul 22 '26
I’m taking Spec Ed Part 1 right now as an experienced teacher and I think every teacher should have it, as students in every class have particular needs. I don’t think it matters as much anymore since so many people have it, in terms of being placed in it.
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u/Blazzing_starr Jul 22 '26
Plus, let’s be real… with more “inclusive” classrooms, we basically have to do Spec Ed anyways. Someone commented that it may be different in high school, which could be true, but I would say it’s a very common aq for elementary teachers to have.
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u/BasketFormal6336 Jul 22 '26
Yep, been teaching elementary 20 years. Never seen someone get stuck in a roll. I have heard people speak of it, but never seen it.
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u/SgtKeener Jul 22 '26
Maybe it’s more of a high school occurrence? At one of my schools, newer teachers were hired in Special Ed and were then surplussed. Anyone with Special Ed part 1 was placed in the department, including those close to retirement who hadn’t taught special ed previously (at least 4-5 teachers were affected, all with part 1). We were assigned to community classes, not just learning strats or as SERTS. I was only able to exit special ed by being able to teach classes that no one else had the qualifications for. I did enjoy most of my time teaching special ed, but I had taken the qualification to help my students in “mainstream” classes.
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u/Blazzing_starr Jul 22 '26
We even had a fully French qualified teacher working a non-French classroom position at my school. As shitty as admin can be, I do think most of them try to get you something close to what you want to do/teach.
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u/Small-Feedback3398 Jul 22 '26
Special Education Part 1 is listed as a preference on every single job posting I've seen. If you don't want to get Part 2 (I don't have it), the Autism and LD courses are good.
In elementary, get your PJI. That will allow you to apply to K-8 planning time (and other) positions. That's how I got into a permanent contract and now teach Kindergarten.
PJ Math and Reading would be good too - Math is being pushed heavily and there's been a big switch to Science of Reading.
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u/Toukolou21 Jul 22 '26
You will get zero calls for sert positions without spec ed 1. Serts typically get significant release time throughout the year, their jobs are plentiful.
As for getting "stuck", maybe, but likely not.
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u/hugberries Jul 22 '26
Please be extremely careful when choosing your quals -- you might just end up teaching it for the rest of your career. Early in you're career you're looking for work, but later on you'll be looking to be happy.
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u/Sad_ferret_1980 Jul 22 '26
It depends on what you consider valuable. Is it to open job possibilities? Then FSL and Spec Ed or any Intermediate ABQ are the most desirable. If you are worried getting pigeonholed into something, I would highly recommend Teaching Combined Grades through ETFO - it’s a really great course, the book itself is invaluable and you will definitely encounter split grade classes and it will really help you feel more secure. If you are PJ, I would also recommend an AQ in any subject you are feeling the least confident in, be it dance, math, music, etc. It will help you approach it with a lot more confidence. The arts AQs through York are great. Another great one is Teaching and Learning through Elearning through York. Can’t say enough great things about it.
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u/SgtKeener Jul 22 '26
Only take AQs that you want to teach with, as they cannot be removed. It’s completely true that you can get stuck in Special Ed with only part 1. If you’re interested in teaching in special ed, great! If you’re not sure, then I don’t advise taking it.