GETCA 2025: Full Schedule

Welcome to GETCA 2025! We are excited to see you soon...

9:00am MST

'Give me a Break' How to become an unbreakable teacher in a complex system (45 minutes-1 hour

Thursday February 27, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

Let’s face it, education system is a complex mine field at times. Within that complexity educators are seeing an increase in individual case complexity too. My view is that if we do not look after our educators, we cannot look after our children. Educators are being expected to manage more and more complex behaviour. As well as tooling teachers up with recourses and training to understand how to manage that, we must support teachers in how to become masters of themselves in that complexity and challenge. When we become a master of the controllable variables, everything changes and that is what I want to remind us all of today.

Speakers

Dr LJ Ducksbury

Dr LJ is a practicing Educational and Child Psychologist who specialises in working with children and young people up to the age of 25, for the last 15 years. A great deal of her work is aimed at supporting practitioners in navigating the complexities of the education system and everyone... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
ECC - Hall D

Classroom Management, Classroom Management

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Room Details ECC - Hall D (Edmonton Convention Centre (ECC), Theatre Max capacity for 2000 people)
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9:00am MST

Class Meetings, Classroom Culture, and Creating Authentic Questions

Thursday February 27, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

ECC - Salon 3

Start your class period off strong with engaging class meetings! In this session, Kevin shares innovative ways to create interactive class meetings, growing classroom culture, and how to create authentic and engaging questions. He will outline his "Morning Co-host Show," filled with easily implementable ideas requiring little to no prep. This session also includes tips and resources for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), including the importance of a journal and taking time to play games that build culture. Participants will also explore how to create authentic questions that will help teachers formulate engaging questions for their units of study.

Speakers

Kevin Butler

Multiple sessions both days

Kevin began his teaching career over 2 decades ago in a suburban public school on Long Island, New York. He later moved to California, where he consulted for a startup charter school in Hollywood. For seven years, Kevin taught fifth grade at an independent school in Los Angeles and... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
ECC - Salon 3

Classroom Management, CALM/Health/Life Skills

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Room Details ECC - Salon 3 (Edmonton Convention Centre (ECC), Max capacity for 170 people)
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9:00am MST

Future Stewards: Building Critical Thinkers for a Sustainable World

Thursday February 27, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

Centre High - Room 306

Join Inside Education for an engaging and interactive session where we will equip teachers with essential strategies to foster stronger critical thinking skills, informed stewardship, and a deep understanding of natural resource education among their students. We will demonstrate how experiential learning opportunities benefit all learner levels and leave you feeling empowered to teach across a diversity of literacy and numeracy skills. This session focuses on sharing practical, hands-on approaches and activities that Inside Education integrates into each program, empowering students to critically navigate and evaluate diverse perspectives while inspiring ethical decision-making through real-world environmental issues.

Speakers

Inside Education

Inside Education is an Alberta-based, environment and natural resource education charitable society. We have been supporting teachers and inspiring students to think critically about natural resource topics since 1985! With our full suite of no-cost teaching resources, youth summits... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Centre High - Room 306 Centre High

Classroom Management, Biology/Physics/Chemistry/Science

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Room Details Centre High - Room 306 (Centre High, Max capacity for 35 people)
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9:00am MST

Rethinking Challenging Behaviour - An Introduction to Collaborative Problem Solving®

Thursday February 27, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

Westin - Strathcona

Working with children and teens who demonstrate challenging behaviours can be difficult, stressful and complex. Collaborative Problem Solving® (CPS) is a compassionate, evidence-based, trauma-informed approach that provides a philosophy and tools to address challenging behaviour. CPS is used in schools and programs across North America and has been demonstrated to build skills and relationships with students while reducing challenging behaviour. This is an introduction to CPS. This session helps educators reflect on their understanding of challenging behaviour and interventions to support students with challenging behaviour. Participants will learn about how the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach describes why people demonstrate challenging behaviour and how CPS can address these behaviours. This session will help educators decide if CPS would be an effective approach to include in their practice and provide the information and resources to learn more. If you would like more information about CPS prior to the session, please visit https://thinkkids.org/.

Speakers

Matt Sticksl

Matt Sticksl is a teacher, parent and Think:Kids CPS Certified Trainer in Collaborative Problem Solving®. For the past two and a half years he has been teaching in a Student Services role in a K-9 school with the Calgary Board of Education. Prior to this, he taught for eight years... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Westin - Strathcona Westin Hotel

Classroom Management, Diversity/Equity/Anti-racism

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Room Details Westin - Strathcona (Westin Hotel, Chairs Max capacity for 100 people)
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9:00am MST

The New Teacher’s Toolkit: Navigating the Complexities of Contemporary Classrooms

Thursday February 27, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

ECC - Salon 8/9

If you have been a teacher for five years or less, this is the session for you! The New Teacher's Toolkit presents you with tangible toolkit tactics that you can take and use in your class immediately. The new teacher's toolkit unearths the realities of being a new teacher and navigating the current realities of the classroom including: Equity and Culturally Responsive Practices; The First Days of Teaching; Planning and Lesson Design; The Learning Environment; Instructional Practices; Assessment Practices; and Well-Being and Balance. Bring your questions, and be ready for a dialogue! No question too small, no issue too large. We are here to learn from each other!

Speakers

Sarah Adomako-Ansah

Manager, Education Outreach, Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Sarah Adomako-Ansah is a teacher from Edmonton, Canada. She taught for eight years in grades three through six before beginning a secondment with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, located in Winnipeg, Canada. As the Educator in Residence, she created an educational program to... Read More →

Dr. Vince Bustamante

Author, Corwin Press

Vince Bustamante, Ed.D., is a Calgary-based instructional coach, curriculum content developer, and author. Formerly focused on school improvement, Vince now specializes in working with teachers, leadership teams, schools, and school districts in implementing high impact strategies... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
ECC - Salon 8/9

Classroom Management, General Interest/Wellness

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Room Details ECC - Salon 8/9 (Edmonton Convention Centre (ECC), Max capacity for 560 people)
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10:20am MST

Art Therapy and Emotional Regulation

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

Centre High - Room 301

In this engaging 60-minute session, participants will discover how simple art exercises can effectively regulate the emotions of both students and staff. Through a hands-on approach, attendees will have the opportunity to practice three straightforward techniques during the lecture, facilitating experiential learning. These methods are designed to be easily integrated into daily routines, making emotional regulation accessible for individuals of all ages. By the end of the session, participants will not only understand the theoretical underpinnings of these exercises but also gain practical skills they can immediately apply in their educational environments.

Speakers

Jennifer Seniuk ATR, RCAT, CCC

Art Therapist/ Owner, Belly Eye Art Therapy Inc.

Jennifer Seniuk is a registered Art Therapist in both the United States and Canada, and a dedicated counsellor who has committed her career to helping others through creative expression and therapeutic practices. Based in Alberta, she specializes in conducting workshops for school... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
Centre High - Room 301 Centre High

Classroom Management, General Interest/Wellness

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Room Details Centre High - Room 301 (Centre High, Max capacity for 35 people)
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10:20am MST

Empowered Teaching and Learning: An Intro to Positive Discipline in the Classroom

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

Westin - Chairman

Join this experiential workshop that provides proven tools and strategies to: 1. Clarify your long-term teaching goals for your students 2. Strengthen your relationship with your students 3. Minimize power struggles with your students 4. Increase responsibility and capability within your students 5. Build a stronger, and therefore more peaceful, community within your classroom What is Positive Discipline? A research-based approach stemming from Adlerian Psychology that teaches educators to be kind and firm at the same time, so that students learn to think for themselves, become more responsible, develop capacity, and have greater respect for themselves and others. Positive Discipline helps educators foster belonging and significance within children, foundational anchors for humankind. More information can be found at www.positivediscipline.org

Speakers

Kimberly Lecky

From being in international education for over 20 years, Kimberly cares deeply about social inclusion; the privilege of working with people coming from many different backgrounds has cultivated in her an immense appreciation for the unique human spirit, honed her ability to consider... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
Westin - Chairman Westin Hotel

Classroom Management, CALM/Health/Life Skills

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Room Details Westin - Chairman (Westin Hotel, Chairs Max capacity for 50 people)
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10:20am MST

Executive Functioning 101: Tools for Empowering Young Minds

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

ECC - Salon 17/18

This session, led by a speech-language pathologist, is designed to empower educators with a deeper understanding of executive functioning and its impact on student learning and behavior. Executive functioning skills—such as perception, attention, organization, self-regulation, and working memory—are critical for academic success but are often challenging for many students. Through interactive discussions and practical strategies, participants will explore how executive functioning difficulties manifest in the classroom and how these challenges may appear as behavior problems or lack of effort. Educators will learn how to identify signs of executive functioning deficits, implement effective support strategies, and create a classroom environment that fosters the development of these skills. By the end of the session, teachers will leave with a better understanding of executive functioning and the toolkit of evidence-based techniques to enhance overall classroom behaviour and help all students reach their academic potential. This session is ideal for early childhood and elementary teachers.

Speakers

Rae-Anne Kerr

Registered Speech Language Pathologist, Calgary West Speech Language Pathology Inc.

Rae-Anne Kerr has been a Speech-Language Pathologist for over 16 years and is passionate about meeting kids where they are at and supporting their individual needs. Rae-Anne owns a private practice in Calgary, Alberta and has a team of exceptional SLPs working for her. She specializes... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
ECC - Salon 17/18

Classroom Management

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Room Details ECC - Salon 17/18 (Edmonton Convention Centre (ECC), Max capacity for 50 people)
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10:20am MST

Let’s Make a Visual Journal: Bookbinding and Promoting Metacognition Through Visual Journaling

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

Westin - Leduc

Students learn best by regularly utilizing metacognitive strategies to help process their thinking. When students use words, pictures, and symbols to represent their understanding and to reflect on the hefty concepts that they are presented within their daily classroom spaces, they are more likely to retain ideas and apply their learning later. While a significant portion of this full-day session will focus on making various types of journals from scratch, much of our attention will be on showing how teachers can apply metacognitive journal writing strategies in the courses they teach. In the end, all attendees will be able to develop skills for utilizing metacognitive strategies in their respective classrooms, regardless of the subject area they teach.

Speakers

Darrin Wilson

Teacher, MidSun School

Darrin has worked within the CBE since 2008, focusing mostly on teaching English language arts, visual arts, and drama to middle school students. He was the Art Representative and is currently President-elect for the ATA’s Fine Arts Council. He has a Diplôme d'Études Collégiales... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
Westin - Leduc Westin Hotel

Classroom Management, Art

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Room Details Westin - Leduc (Westin Hotel, Chairs Max capacity for 70 people)
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10:20am MST

MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND OUR KIDS

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

Westin - Yukon

We hear much about how social media is impacting our kids. In this presentation I give evidenced based research on how social media and the mental health of our students are linked, and how educators can navigate our students world of technology with practical tips that educators can easily apply.

Thursday February 27, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
Westin - Yukon Westin Hotel

Classroom Management, General Interest/Wellness

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Room Details Westin - Yukon (Westin Hotel, Chairs Max capacity for 100 people)
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11:40am MST

On the CASE to Understand Behavior

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST

ECC - Salon 19/20

Understanding the WHY behind student behavior is essential for effective intervention. This session will explore the four functions of behavior: connection, access, sensory, and escape. You'll learn to identify key motivations and utilize data collection methods to assess the effectiveness of interventions. Discover how to transform behavior challenges into opportunities for growth and deeper connections in the classroom!

Speakers

Baylee Aboussafy

Teacher & Business Owner, Edmonton Public Schools

A special needs curriculum coordinator for Edmonton Public Schools who loves ALL things complex behavior!

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
ECC - Salon 19/20

Classroom Management, General Interest/Wellness

Company English
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Room Details ECC - Salon 19/20 (Edmonton Convention Centre (ECC), Max capacity for 50 people)
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11:40am MST

Strategies to Build Student Resilience with Students who have Experienced Trauma

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST

ECC - Salon 5/6

This session will provide staff with practical strategies on trauma-informed practice that focus on establishing safety, building relationships, the importance of play, and teaching social emotional skills. Using these strategies will help participants set up their learning spaces and connect with students in meaningful ways.

Speakers

Candice Larson and Shane Hewitt

Candice Larson and Shane Hewitt are dedicated educators and mental health advocates with a combined 40 years of experience supporting students with diverse learning needs. Shane and Candice have worked tirelessly to create supportive learning environments that prioritize students... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
ECC - Salon 5/6

Classroom Management

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Room Details ECC - Salon 5/6 (Edmonton Convention Centre (ECC), Max capacity for 144 people)
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1:00pm MST

Breakthrough! Navigating the Art of Deescalation

Thursday February 27, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST

ECC - Salon 19/20

Is there a behavioral problem in your classroom that you feel like you can't solve? Or maybe multiple behaviors that you have "tried everything" but you're stuck? Join me to explore effective deescalation strategies for challenging behaviors. You’ll learn practical techniques that you can use right away to help bring calm back to your classroom. We’ll discuss how to assess specific situations and tailor your approach to meet each student’s needs. Let’s turn those tough moments into opportunities for growth!

Speakers

Baylee Aboussafy

Teacher & Business Owner, Edmonton Public Schools

A special needs curriculum coordinator for Edmonton Public Schools who loves ALL things complex behavior!

Thursday February 27, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
ECC - Salon 19/20

Classroom Management, General Interest/Wellness

Company English
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Room Details ECC - Salon 19/20 (Edmonton Convention Centre (ECC), Max capacity for 50 people)
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1:00pm MST

Inclusion Made Easier - Practical Strategies for Struggling Learners

Thursday February 27, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST

Westin - Strathcona

Inclusion does not have to be difficult! This engaging session will provide teachers with a smorgasbord of instructional tips and tools designed to engage struggling and reluctant learners. You will also be introduced to some universal teaching strategies that work well for all students. Come learn practical tactics and effective approaches that work with struggling learners. While many of these strategies come from the field of inclusive education, they will benefit all students!

Speakers

Danny Bateman

Danny is currently an instructor of pre-service teachers at Concordia University of Edmonton. As an experienced and esteemed public speaker, he delivers teaching strategies and inspiration using entertaining experiences and actionable content. He has delivered hundreds of successful... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Westin - Strathcona Westin Hotel

Classroom Management, Diversity/Equity/Anti-racism

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Room Details Westin - Strathcona (Westin Hotel, Chairs Max capacity for 100 people)
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1:00pm MST

Decoding the Psychoeducational Assessment: What Does it All Mean?

Thursday February 27, 2025 1:00pm - 3:20pm MST

Westin - Chancellor

Psychoeducational (or ed psych) assessments are important pieces of information for teachers, but so much of the data is often told in a different language. How do we decode the assessment reports and use them to inform planning for students? This session will give teachers a better sense of the data sources and information within an ed psych, and how they can apply it to supporting their students within the classroom and the larger school. The goal of this session is to leave teachers feeling more confident in understanding how to use ed psych data.

Speakers

Jill Stankov

Registered Provisional Psychologist, Thrive Teen Therapy

Jill Stankov is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with Thrive Teen Therapy in Edmonton. Armed with 5 years of teaching experience and a Masters in Counselling and Applied Psychology Jill left the junior high classroom for counselling private practice in 2022. Her main areas of... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 1:00pm - 3:20pm MST
Westin - Chancellor Westin Hotel

Classroom Management, Leadership

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Room Details Westin - Chancellor (Westin Hotel, Chairs Max capacity for 50 people)
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1:00pm MST

Discover the Secret to Building Unshakeable Self-Trust Today!

Thursday February 27, 2025 1:00pm - 3:20pm MST

ECC - Salon 11/12

If a student doesn’t trust you, would you want to know? Students may lack trust because of previous experiences with authority. Did you know student trust in the teacher is a critical but overlooked factor in student success? Here's your chance to face trust issues in a fun, enlightening, safe, and effective way. Learn the four-step process for building your self-trust, intuition, and assertiveness. Gain self-awareness and sensitivity to the conditions that give rise to the possibility of overstepping professional boundaries—in class, online, and any learning or supervisory situation. Bonus Take Away: With self-trust, master personal success and experience serendipity—or happy coincidences. Even with life’s unexpected twists and turns, your life can still be a joyful ride!

Speakers

Monique MacKinnon

Monique MacKinnon strengthens individuals’ and companies’ influence and impact by applying and teaching them how to grow their intuitive foresight, insight, and decision-making skills. Areas of successful client work include workplace adaptation and modernization; health and wellness... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 1:00pm - 3:20pm MST
ECC - Salon 11/12

Classroom Management, General Interest/Wellness

Company English
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Room Details ECC - Salon 11/12 (Edmonton Convention Centre (ECC), Max capacity for 600 people)
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1:00pm MST

Kinder CALM

Thursday February 27, 2025 1:00pm - 3:20pm MST

Saville Centre - Gym 5

Kinder-calm Learn how to teach young children how to regulate through breathing and mindfulness techniques and why it is important for them to learn these tools. This workshop offers educators a lesson plan to follow offering your student a 4 week progressive mindfulness practice. It is geared towards Kindergarten and grade 1 students. As caring adults, we have a tremendous responsibility and opportunity to teach children these tools for social/emotional health.

Speakers

Sara Morris

Since early 2011 Sara has dedicated years sharing the gifts of yoga with children and teens and had the honour of certifying over 100 inspiring children's yoga teachers in Canada and the United States as she facilitated the highly acclaimed YogaKids certification program in 2017-2020... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 1:00pm - 3:20pm MST
Saville Centre - Gym 5

Classroom Management, Early Childhood (Pre-K)

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Room Details Saville Centre - Gym 5 (Saville Centre, )
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1:00pm MST

Early career MADNESS? 10 Ways to Make Things Easier Starting Monday

Thursday February 27, 2025 1:00pm - 3:40pm MST

Westin - Devonian

Early career MADNESS? 10 Ways to Make Things Easier Starting Monday No matter how excellent your Education professors were, there’s no way they could get you ready for all the unending demands of being a teacher. Every teacher who does survive (!) the first few years of the job has to be lucky: the right school, the right colleagues, the right resources, and the right guidance. But what if you aren’t lucky enough to be lucky? What if you could really use some help right now so the rest of this year, and all of next year (and the years after that) feel 25%, 50% or even 100% better? Join ten-year veteran teacher and now educational consultant Malcolm Azania for a lively interactive session to learn (and even innovate upon) ten strategies for making your job easier so you can help your students succeed and become the teacher you want to be without working 50 hours per day!

Speakers

Malcolm Azania

President, Project Saqqara

Having taught English in Edmonton high schools and junior high schools for a decade, Malcolm Azania is an award-winning novelist, award-winning print journalist, radio host-producer, television host and associate producer, sketch comedy writer, video game writer, poet, and community... Read More →

Thursday February 27, 2025 1:00pm - 3:40pm MST
Westin - Devonian Westin Hotel

Classroom Management, Retirement/New Teachers

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Room Details Westin - Devonian (Westin Hotel, Tables Max capacity for 180 people)
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9:00am MST

Engage to Empower: Motivational Strategies Beyond Rewards

Friday February 28, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

Westin - Strathcona

Are you hoping to reignite your students’ curiosity and empower them to take ownership of their own learning journey? In this session, we'll dive into strategies to move beyond ineffective, traditional motivators like guilt-driven pressures and external rewards. Instead, we’ll equip you with fun and practical ways to spark authentic engagement and enthusiasm for learning through creative, hands-on activities and dynamic classroom experiences.

Speakers

Christine Gonkowicz

Grade 1 Teacher, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Christine has dedicated most of her career to teaching in early education, with a focus on intervention. She has completed graduate studies in Early Childhood Education and is Forest-School certified, applying effective strategies such as play-based learning, inquiry-based learning... Read More →

Sara Kovick

Sara Kovick is a dedicated Elementary Educator and certified Forest & Nature School Practitioner. She has completed graduate coursework in Inclusive Education, assessment, and educating diverse learners. She applies her professional knowledge to integrate innovative, strengths-based... Read More →

Friday February 28, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Westin - Strathcona Westin Hotel

Classroom Management, Classroom Management

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Room Details Westin - Strathcona (Westin Hotel, Chairs Max capacity for 100 people)
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9:00am MST

Engagement and Academic Games

Friday February 28, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

Westin - Centennial

Teachers must captivate students' attention to facilitate effective learning. This session doesn't require every lesson to be action-packed but emphasizes the need for intentional engagement. Kevin will guide attendees through several of his favorite engagement activities and academic games, applicable to any grade level or content area. Participants will experience these activities firsthand, leaving with hands-on manipulatives and samples. Please bring a device that connects to the internet.

Speakers

Kevin Butler

Multiple sessions both days

Friday February 28, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Westin - Centennial Westin Hotel

Classroom Management, General Interest/Wellness

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Room Details Westin - Centennial (Westin Hotel, Tables Max capacity for 140 people)
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10:20am MST

Clarifying Engagement: A Tangible Breakdown for Classroom and Student Success

Friday February 28, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

ECC - Salon 3

Engagement is often an elusive yet critical component to educators. We know it is essential, but what does it mean, exactly? What does it look like? This session will break engagement into six+1 categories, offer tangible insights and practical tools, and empower educators and students. Join me as we unravel the intricacies of engagement and chart a course toward enhanced classroom dynamics and academic achievement.

Speakers

Brian Miller

MS Principal, Great Falls School District

Brian is the principal at North Middle School in Great Falls, Montana, and a published writer, international speaker, and podcaster (Schurtz and Ties). He is dedicated to building healthy school cultures, developing quality educators, and improving education. He has taught in rural... Read More →

Friday February 28, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
ECC - Salon 3

Classroom Management, Classroom Management

Company English
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Room Details ECC - Salon 3 (Edmonton Convention Centre (ECC), Max capacity for 170 people)
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10:20am MST

Lights, Cameras, TEACH - Engagement, Culture, and Relationships!

Friday February 28, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

Westin - Centennial

And...Action! While teachers don't train to be entertainers, capturing students' attention is crucial! This session explores the importance of engaging students in active learning for effective 21st-century teaching. Participants will discover how to transform their lessons to create authentic learning experiences and incorporate quick activities to get students moving. Engage in interactive activities and learn how to apply them in your classroom. Kevin will discuss the significance of building a positive classroom culture and share strategies to make students feel safe, included, and heard. He will also provide his favorite resources suitable for any grade level or subject. The session concludes with a reflection on Kevin’s personal WHY, emphasizing the importance of remembering our motivations in the teaching profession.

Speakers

Kevin Butler

Multiple sessions both days

Friday February 28, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
Westin - Centennial Westin Hotel

Classroom Management, Leadership

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Room Details Westin - Centennial (Westin Hotel, Tables Max capacity for 140 people)
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11:40am MST

Empowering Educators: Targeted Transition Strategies for Students with FASD

Friday February 28, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST

ECC - Salon 15/16

Drawing on our extensive experience and the latest research in neuroscience and education, we will explore the impact of FASD and provide actionable strategies that educators can immediately implement in their classrooms. Our interactive session will present evidence-based strategies tailored to address the unique needs of our learners with FASD during critical transition periods, such as moving between activities, grade levels, or school environments. You will discover practical tools and techniques, including: 1. Personalized Transition Plans: Learn how to craft individualized plans that address specific challenges and strengths, facilitating smoother transitions and reducing anxiety. 2. Visual Supports and Schedules: Explore the use of visual cues and structured schedules that help students understand and anticipate transitions, fostering a sense of security and predictability. 3. Collaborative Strategies: Engage in discussions on fostering collaboration among educators, specialists, and families to create a cohesive support network that promotes successful transitions both in and out of the classroom. 4. Mindfulness and Self-Regulation Techniques: Discover how incorporating mindfulness practices can empower students to manage stress and build resilience during challenging transitions. Join us for this engaging session and become a catalyst for change in supporting our students with FASD!

Speakers

Tsion Abate

FASD Instructional Coach, WRaP 2.0

With over 20 years of experience in educational leadership and health promotion, Tsion Abate moves conversations beyond the basics to dig deeper. She explores the nuances of daily school experiences and challenges associated with teaching students with FASD. She has worked in developing... Read More →

Angela Kemble

Angela Kemble has been the Executive Director of the Northwest Central Alberta Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Network for 6 years. Prior to that she was an FASD Success Coach in the Aspenview School Division. She holds a Masters in Business Administration and a Human and Social Development... Read More →

Friday February 28, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
ECC - Salon 15/16

Classroom Management, CALM/Health/Life Skills

Company English
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Room Details ECC - Salon 15/16 (Edmonton Convention Centre (ECC), Max capacity for 50 people)
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11:40am MST

The Carrot and the Schtick: Consequence Focused Classroom Management Strategies

Friday February 28, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST

ECC - Salon 19/20

Are you looking for new ways to engage difficult students? Are you seeking strategies for curbing challenging behaviours? Do you ever just want to hear from others about what helps them steer their challenging students back on track? Then come to this session and learn all about consequence focused classroom strategies used in mainstream and BLA classrooms. We will review specific techniques used to clearly communicate with students what they are doing correctly, what they aren’t, and what they can do to be empowered to focus on their studies and stop being disruptive(!).

Speakers

Nathan Treloar

Elementary Teacher, EPSB

Nathan Treloar is a Grade 4 teacher at Bessie Nichols School. He is a coach of the school's eSports Club and Tabletop Gaming Club. He loves games in all their many forms. He uses games in his teaching practice as a way to bring together diverse groups of students. He also values how... Read More →

Friday February 28, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
ECC - Salon 19/20

Classroom Management, CALM/Health/Life Skills

Company English
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Room Details ECC - Salon 19/20 (Edmonton Convention Centre (ECC), Max capacity for 50 people)
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1:00pm MST

Accessible Classroom Economies or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Points

Friday February 28, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST

ECC - Salon 19/20

Are you looking for new ways to engage difficult students? Are you seeking novel strategies for teaching Numeracy and Life Skills curriculum? Do your students love (the idea of) money? Then come to this session and learn all about how to run a classroom economy in your classroom that will take little setup, is not demanding to maintain, and can operate within the strictest of budgets. (Seriously, I run mine spending NO money, and my students love it.) Classroom economies, in the context of this presentation, describe methods of classroom management that feature a points/currency based reward system that gives students choice in how they want to be celebrated for showing positive behaviour at school. This session will describe the speaker’s successes and experiences running classroom e economies in mainstream classroom and Behaviour and Learning Assistance (BLA)/Connections program settings. Why is this session relevant to Teachers?: - Teachers will develop their classroom management skills by expanding their knowledge of classroom economies. - Teachers with experience running classroom economies will learn beneficial tips and strategies for running efficient and effective classroom economies. - The use of Class Dojo and Classcraft app will be reviewed. Participants will have a chance to earn points themselves, and it will be fun!

Speakers

Nathan Treloar

Elementary Teacher, EPSB

Friday February 28, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
ECC - Salon 19/20

Classroom Management, CALM/Health/Life Skills

Company English
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Room Details ECC - Salon 19/20 (Edmonton Convention Centre (ECC), Max capacity for 50 people)
Tags English

2:20pm MST

Discipline & Classroom Management as a Substitute Teacher

Friday February 28, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST

Westin - Consulate

This session is guided by the following focusing questions; What is effective classroom management? How is effective classroom management different for a substitute teacher compared to a contract teacher? How can substitute teachers create and reinforce learning environments that enable all learners to thrive?

Speakers

Alexander (Alec) Walker

Alexander (Alec) Walker is a substitute teacher with the Edmonton Public School Board. He currently volunteers with the Substitute Teachers Committee of Edmonton Public Teachers Local No. 37 of the Alberta Teachers Association. Previously, Alec served two terms (four years) as EPTL's... Read More →

Friday February 28, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST
Westin - Consulate Westin Hotel

Classroom Management, Retirement/New Teachers

Company English
format Chairs
Room Details Westin - Consulate (Westin Hotel, Chairs Max capacity for 45 people)
Tags English