PDTCA 2025: Full Schedule

The PDTCA Board hopes you have an amazing Convention 2025!
Emergency Procedures Calgary Telus Convention Centre
Emergency Procedures Hyatt
Human Rights Statement
Land Acknowledgement

CALGARY TELUS CONVENTION CENTRE (CTCC) and HYATT - address

Pre-Registration will OPEN February 1, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. and CLOSE February 16, 2025 AT 8:00 p.m.

For Pre-Registered sessions please use the pre-registration link on the pre-registration page at pdtca.org. Adding the session to your Sched schedule does not mean you are pre-registered.

Reason to Create a Profile in Sched
You do not need to create a profile and log in to see sessions in Sched. However, if you want to add yourself to a session to create a schedule or evaluate a session you must be logged in.

Convention at a Glance Link will be available here in Mid-February
Off-Site Addresses are included.

Professional Responsibility
“On the two school days of your assigned teachers’ convention, you have a legal and professional responsibility to attend convention. If you are not able to make it safely to your assigned convention, however, your collective agreement may include impassable roads or inclement weather clauses that you can access. If your collective agreement does not include language specific to road conditions or weather, you may make use of the personal leave clauses of your agreement in most cases. Please be aware that using any of these types of leave may require you to pay substitute costs, forego a portion of your salary and benefits, or report to your school or another work location in your district. Refer to your collective agreement for more information. Should you require any additional information or if you need assistance interpreting your collective agreement, please contact Teacher Employment Services at 1-800-232-7208 or 780-447-9400.”
This information is also found on the Frequently Asked Questions page on the www.ataconventions.ca website. If you have any further questions regarding this, please contact Daniel.Maas@ata.ab.ca.

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09:00 MST

From Striving to Thriving - Support for all Readers in the Room

Thursday February 20, 2025 09:00 - 10:00 MST

Glen 208/209 - CTCC

In today's diverse classrooms, supporting all readers can present both a challenge and an opportunity for educators. In this session, participants will explore evidence-based instructional approaches tailored to meet the diverse needs of learners across the reading spectrum. From striving readers to avid readers, attendees will gain insights into identifying individual student needs, implementing differentiated instruction, and fostering a culture of literacy that celebrates growth for all.

Speakers

Jane Roberts

Learning Specialist, Rocky View Schools

Jane Roberts is a Learning Specialist with Rocky View Schools. With over 15 years of experience in public and independent schools as an educator, principal, instructional coach and EAL program coordinator, Jane works elbow-to-elbow with middle and high school teachers and administrators... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 09:00 - 10:00 MST
Glen 208/209 - CTCC Calgary Telus Convention Centre

Language Arts (TQS 3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12)

Session has participant fee No
Level of content General overview for novice learners
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No

10:20 MST

The ADHD Brain: A Ferrari Engine with Bicycle Brakes

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

Glen 208/209 - CTCC

ADHD is far more than just inattention and hyperactivity. It is an incredibly complex disorder that impacts every area of a child’s life. It’s like they have a Ferrari engine but only have bicycle brakes.

In this session, we’ll explore the most up-to-date and research-based information on ADHD. What is it? Is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder even an accurate name? What are executive functions and how are they related to ADHD? What does the latest research say about brain development and what can we expect of these kids? And why the heck are they so inconsistent?

Speakers

Kendall Delamont

The ADHD Toolkit

Kendall holds a B.A. in Behavioural Sciences, a B.Ed., and is an ADHD Certified Educator. She spent 8 years teaching grade 4 and has since developed The ADHD Toolkit; a series of courses for people with ADHD and the people who love and support those with ADHD. Through her own ADHD... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 MST
Glen 208/209 - CTCC Calgary Telus Convention Centre

Educational Research (TQS/LQS 2), ECE (Pre K-K), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12)

Session has participant fee No
Level of content General overview for novice learners
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No

11:40 MST

Hacking ADHD Motivation

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40 - 12:40 MST

Glen 208/209 - CTCC

We’ve all had those ADHD brains in our classroom who can’t motivate themselves to work without a significant fire under their butt. But we don’t have the time to stand over a child or the energy to intimidate them into finishing their work.

Stop taking away recess, begging or pleading, or sending work home (where it never gets finished anyway). Lean into what actually motivates the ADHD brain to complete tasks. We’ll discuss ways to work with the ADHD brain instead of fighting against it. You’ll empower kids to leverage the skills they do have without adding hours to your own workload.

Speakers

Kendall Delamont

The ADHD Toolkit

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40 - 12:40 MST
Glen 208/209 - CTCC Calgary Telus Convention Centre

Counselling & Student Support (TQS/LQS 4), ECE (Pre K-K), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12)

Session has participant fee No
Level of content Intermediate content
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No

13:00 MST

Move Over Cigarettes: Vapes and Nicotine Pouches are Hooking Our Youth

Thursday February 20, 2025 13:00 - 14:00 MST

Glen 208/209 - CTCC

Alberta Health Services health professionals will discuss vaping and nicotine pouch use amongst youth.

Participants will learn:
• Trends in and prevalence rates of e-cigarette use for school aged youth in Alberta
• Best practices for preventing nicotine use
• An overview on nicotine pouches
• Marketing tactics targeting youth
• Grade appropriate prevention education for schools
• A summary of available resources for students and teachers to prevent and reduce nicotine use by young people

Speakers

Melissa Worrell

Alberta Health Services

Thursday February 20, 2025 13:00 - 14:00 MST
Glen 208/209 - CTCC Calgary Telus Convention Centre

Health & Wellness (TQS 3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12)

Session has participant fee No
Level of content Intermediate content
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No

14:20 MST

How Well Do Your Students Read?

Thursday February 20, 2025 14:20 - 15:20 MST

Glen 208/209 - CTCC

This 1-hour session will explore some of the practical ways in which Grades 7-10 teachers can model and scaffold for readers and writers the skills needed to more actively and meaningfully engage with texts of all kinds. Teachers will come away with tools and strategies that enable students to make visible to us the often-invisible process of comprehending, a process that can’t always be captured by a standardized multiple-choice assessment. Tannis will also provide a brief overview of Pearson’s new Literacy Success Assessment (Grades 7-10), a tool for gaining insights into how our students comprehend and communicate.

Speakers

Tannis Niziol

Throughout her 32-year career as a teacher, administrator, and curriculum consultant in Alberta and Manitoba, Tannis has remained passionate about teaching and learning. She believes all learners deserve access to rich, diverse learning experiences and a safe, equitable space to explore... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 14:20 - 15:20 MST
Glen 208/209 - CTCC Calgary Telus Convention Centre

Language Arts (TQS 3), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12)

Session has participant fee No
Level of content Intermediate content
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No