2020 - Session Descriptors

2020

SESSION DESCRIPTORS

Collaborative & Proactive Solutions: Fostering the Better Side of Human Nature in Classrooms and Families - Dr. Ross Greene

Dr. Ross Greene’s evidence-based Collaborative & Proactive Solutions model – as described in his books The Explosive Child and Lost at School -- has transformed the understanding of treatment of kids with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges in countless families, schools, and therapeutic facilities. With the release of his most recent book, Raising Human Beings, Dr. Greene has turned his attention to all kids, with a particular focus on teaching the skills that define the better side of human nature: empathy, appreciating how one’s behavior is affecting others, resolving disagreements without conflict, taking another’s perspective, and honesty. These skills have never been more important, and research indicates that solving problems collaboratively and proactively teaches these skills with any kid. And – despite academic initiatives that have made it harder for educators to be the socialization agents they’ve always been -- that’s something that parents and educators have boundless opportunities to teach, model, and practice every day.

Well Aware - Stewardship in Education - Dr. Patrick Carney

Audience: K to 12 Educators

Join Dr. Carney for this innovative session that will help you to meet the many demands of the coming year.

The return to school in any year is a time of increased stress for everyone—students return after two months away from school, you have a new class, and maybe even a new grade or position. This year that stress is greatly increased as we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and as educators have an important role to play in furthering conversations and action to increase equity.

In this professional learning session, Dr. Patrick Carney, author of Well Aware: Developing Resilient, Active, and Flourishing Students, explores the concept of stewardship in education. Stewardship is the mindful and responsible management of what has been entrusted to our care. For many of us, the idea that we need to begin with ourselves—to develop and maintain self-care strategies—will be unfamiliar.

Unfamiliar but necessary as Dr. Carney will illustrate: to care for others we need to start with ourselves, and then for our team, and finally for our students and their families.

Diversity Education - Dr. Jac J. W. Andrews

It is about you, me and us!

Supporting Challenging Behaviors in the Classroom - Kimberly Barthel

This 45 minute introductory online presentation will encourage participants to become increasingly curious about what lies behind the challenging behaviour they see in their students. Dysregulation is becoming increasingly prevalent in many settings, and in educational environments we know this impacts teaching, learning and classroom dynamics. Strategies will be discussed that focus on best practices from the perspective of supporting every student to become their best self.

The Neuroscience Behind Shanker Self-Reg® - Dr. Stuart Shanker

Recent research in neuroscience and physiology has profoundly altered our understanding of the mechanisms behind a child’s response to stress, and has also reinforced what physicians have intuitively understood for generations: that children’s physical and mental health are inextricably intertwined. This session will introduce you to the brain science to support student self-regulation for your classroom.

Google Docs - Anna Gillis

An in depth look into Google Docs. This session will focus on creating, sharing, and collaboration with Google Docs.

Reading Comprehension Assessment Tool (RCAT) Training - Brigitta Goerres

This session will provide ELA teachers with a pathway of how to increase student achievement on Reading Comprehension Assessments as well as ease the stress and anxiety students often experience when faced with writing these assessments. The types of questions on Reading Comprehension assessments require specific skills. The skills can be categorized into 5 areas: Identify and Interpret Ideas and Details; Interpret Text Organization; Associate Meaning; Make Connections; Evaluate. During this session teachers will unpack each reading comprehension skill and understand the curriculum outcomes, which align to each skill; review assessment questions which are aligned to each skill; understand and practice aligning assessment questions to each skill; and write assessment questions that assess each skill. The RCAT (online reading comprehension assessment tool) will be presented as a formative tool providing teachers with valuable reports about student performance in reading comprehension.

Engaging in Numeracy and Connections in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Traditional Games - Melissa Purcell

Did you know that First Nations, Métis, and Inuit traditional games are great ways to make connections to numeracy? Traditional games can provide entry points to deeper understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing and further connections to the land. Get ready to learn about resources for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit traditional games and how to create authentic learning experiences.

Re-assessing Math Assessment. (Division 4) - Dave Martin

Let x be the number of classes in a semester, y be the complexity of the classroom, and z be your sanity. How does one maximize z while addressing the constant increase of y and the limited number of x? Dave Martin will share his success story of how he challenged many traditional practices of teaching high school math which resulted in more students with deeper understanding of essential concepts.

Rooted in research, come and learn how to implement high effective teaching strategies while at the same time addressing "redos, rewrites, and retests". The series will focus on possible ways to start your own journey towards an "Outcome Based" classroom which can truly challenge the comforted and comfort the challenged.

Problem Solving in Math (Division 1) - Renée Michaud

Problem solving is an important mathematical process. If problem solving is a cause for concern in your context, this workshop aims to answer some of your questions such as: What is problem solving? What are the different models of problem solving? What are the possible approaches that can help students become successful in problem solving? How can we help students who have difficulty with the language of instruction? What are some ways to differentiate problem solving?

Senior High English Language Arts Poetry Unit - Scott Randall

This session will look at the poetry selections that I use in the ELA 10-20-30 courses and how I approach teaching this unit.

Google Apps and Tools - Anna Gillis

In this session we will discuss the tools available in the Google Suite. We will showcase the basic features of Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides and Google Drive.

Project Based Learning - Andrea Fletcher

This workshop will review the critical components of project-based learning in the Alberta context, discuss effective teaching practices and learning strategies, and provide a template for designing a new project or modifying an existing one. Project-based learning makes it possible to integrate a program of studies with the provincial competencies for student learning while students engage, create, explore and reflect on their learning.

R&R - Reference and Regulate - Catherine Crowe

Catherine Crowe, Speech-Language Pathologist will be presenting an Introductory Session and Workshop based on the principles of ‘Reference and Regulate’ program by David Loyst and Associates. Please see the following link for information regarding this program:

http://www.randrforautism.com/index.php?page=17

Participants will view a live webinar detailing the overview of the Reference and Regulate program, it’s stages, and the importance of sensory regulation for learning and relationship building for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The webinar will also cover some key features of ASD and the connection between these and difficulties experienced later in life with social skills.

Following the webinar participants will have the opportunity to discuss social referencing within their roles in the schools, discuss intervention strategies, and how to incorporate social referencing activities and Reference and Regulate principles throughout the school day.

Effective Classroom Practice that Honors Indigenous Knowledge - Holly Crumpton

This session will focus on concrete examples of what it looks like in the classroom when we apply foundational knowledge about First Nations, Metis and Inuit.

Making Meaning Across the Curriculum, Grades 4-12 - Tannis Niziol

This session puts a spotlight on the importance of making meaning across the curriculum and on the belief that the deliberate development of students’ literacy skills is a shared responsibility. The Language Arts teacher, although a crucial driver of literacy learning, is but one member of the academic team whose role it is to embed authentic literacy --reading, talking and writing to know and understand -- in her subject discipline. Teachers will be given a few practical techniques and resources they can apply in their classrooms tomorrow.

Problem Solving in Math (Division 2) - Renée Michaud

Junior and Senior High School Math - Alicia O'Donnell

This session will allow teachers to come together to create assessment items that align with diploma style formatting and incorporate directing words. This will allow students to become familiar with formatting and assessment expectations prior to grade 12.

Google Classroom for Beginners- Anna Gillis

An introduction to Google Classroom that will get you started in using the application. We will discuss what Google Classroom is, how to access it, how to navigate within the app, and how to use its basic features.

Let's Talk about Identity, Power and Privilege - Dr. Arief Ebrahim

Understanding race, racism, privilege and oppression requires concerted effort toward uncovering the daily hierarchies and power structures that surround our complex identities. For educators, promoting social justice is central to our daily work with students. Addressing specific issues such as privilege is difficult and uncomfortable for most people, for a variety of reasons. This workshop will help teachers explore these issues and provide them with ideas for student exercises and activities.

Culturize – Every Student. Every Day. Whatever it Takes (ADMIN) - Jimmy Casas

Eradicate Average! CULTURIZE Your School. Average schools don't inspire greatness--and greatness is what our schools need if we are going to produce world-changing learners. In this presentation author and education leader Jimmy Casas shares his 4 Core Principles - Champion for All Kids, Expect Excellence, Carry the Banner and Merchant of Hope, to maximize student learning and remind us that every child deserves to be a part of something great. Jimmy draws from his personal experiences as a struggling student and his insight from working in an inner city school to remind you of your purpose and reignite your passion as an educator. This session will inspire you to go do whatever it takes for all students to be successful!

Developing Language Skills through Math Activities (Division 1&2 French Immersion) - Renée Michaud

Il est important que les élèves en immersion développent et utilisent la langue française dans toutes les matières possibles. Cet atelier a pour but de visiter des activités mathématiques qui favorisent le développement de la langue tout en atteignant les résultats d’apprentissage de math. Nous verrons aussi comment encourager vos élèves à davantage parler français lors des activités qui leur sont familières.

K-12 Indigenous Story Books and Novel Studies - Richard Van Camp

This session will include piles of resources for everyone including a list of his books, K through 12, with a breakdown of why each book matters for which grade. Richard will also share with you his Elder interviews, his reclaimed star knowledge initiative and his reclaimed community calendar project as spring board exercises for any grade.

To purchase Richard' anthology titled "This Place: 150 Years Retold", visit: https://www.portageandmainpress.com/product/this-place/

Google Classroom Intermediate/Advanced - Anna Gillis

Building from the beginner session, this session will introduce and demonstrate the more commonly used features.

Building a Trauma-Sensitive School with Technology - Daniel Maas

How has trauma affected some of our students’ readiness to learn and participate as we return to both face to face and online classrooms? What are some examples of how can teachers use the technology platforms and tools available to them to support a trauma-sensitive classroom? This session will share key ideas about trauma-informed practice from two authors, Kristin Sauer and Dr. Jody Carrington, and will address these questions and more as we empower teachers and school leaders with the basics in building trauma-sensitive learning environments combined with commonly used classroom technologies.

Junior/Senior High School Math/Science PLC - Christopher Quattrociocchi

This is a space to share and collaborate on fun activities that may pique the interest of students in our math and science classes, as well as best practices for student success in virtual classrooms.

Language Through Play, Grades K-1 - Catherine Crowe

Catherine Crowe, Speech-Language Pathologist (R.SLP) will discuss the different types and different stages of play, which are often impaired in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The presenter will then discuss an overview of possible interventions and suggestions for improving play skills in this population, as well as typically developing children. Strategies for facilitating language skills through play will be discussed throughout.

Mentoring the ADHD Student - Les Redick

Teachers and support staff are led through a discussion on how ADHD presents itself through the school years. Educators are shown what behaviors to look for in ADHD children and given strategies on how to manage their students ADHD symptoms.

I will speak to topics like: Disorganization, Irrational Behavior, Poor Social Skills, Poor Problem Solving/Time Management, Homework Issues, Video Game use and how to talk to parents about medications.

Structured Word Inquiry - Peter Bowers

Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) is the phrase I used to describe the instruction I used in the vocabulary teaching study (Bowers & Kirby, 2010) that showed generative vocabulary learning and provided the basis for my teacher resource “Teaching How The Written Word Works”.

SWI builds on the simple premise that literacy instruction should accurately reflect how our writing system works. In SWI we apply the principles of scientific inquiry to study how English spelling actually works.

The amazing thing is that when we take that scientific approach, it becomes evident that English spelling actually makes perfect sense. To give you a window on what structured word inquiry is about you may want to look at the document at THIS LINK as an overview of the theory, practice and research related to SWI. The WordWorks YouTube page is filled with a wide variety of videos that you may find useful to explore too.

Most of them have devices, why not use that? - Andrew Bullen

Given recent changes in education with COVID, student engagement has been a major concern. Using devices that students already have and are familiar with can help boost engagement both in and out of the classroom.

Google Drive - Anna Gillis

In this session we will demonstrate how to share and manage documents in the cloud.

Enhancing Teacher Practice Through Andragogy (ADMIN) - Maureen Ference

This fun and active workshop looks at andragogy (a system of ideas, concepts and approaches to adult learning) and helps participants build capacity and confidence to develop learning that is engaging and memorable. By understanding how we, as adults, learn best we can better understand how learning experiences can be improved for our students. The strategies, concepts and techniques used will have immediate application for teachers in any learning environment.

CANCELLED - We Learn from the Sun - David Bouchard

A fresh, new look at the Seven Sacred Teachings through a book that is applicable to primary students. Don't kid yourself. The story and the teachings will resonate with all.

Illustrated by Metis artist Kristy Cameron and published by Medicine Wheel Publishing, We Learn from the Sun is already a best seller and will soon be a classic among Indigenous resources.

Revisiting Read Alouds, Grades K-3 - Kelly Gibbs

The read-aloud process has tremendous benefits for literacy learning. Reading texts – both fiction and non-fiction – is the most critical activity for building the knowledge necessary for successful reading. Participants will review the benefits of read aloud, reflect on their own read aloud practices and add new ideas to this important process.

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