PDTCA 2025: Full Schedule

THE PDTCA BOARD HOPES YOU HAVE AN AMAZING CONVENTION!
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES CTCC
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES HYATT
HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENT
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

CALGARY TELUS CONVENTION CENTRE(CTCC) and HYATT - address and driving directions

PRE-REGISTRATION WILL OPEN ON JANUARY 11, 2024 AT 8:00P.M. and CLOSE FEBRUARY 11 AT 8:00 P.M.
We have decided to start pre-registration on January 11th to make sure everyone is informed of the start time and has time to check out the sessions as the first week back to school can be quite hectic.
FOR PRE-REGISTERED SESSIONS PLEASE USE THE PRE-REGISTRATION LINK BELOW THE SESSION DESCRIPTION IN SCHED. Adding the session to your Sched schedule does not mean you are pre-registered. The number in the title shows how many will be allowed to attend the session. We do allow more names to be added, but they will be on the waiting list. This is explained on the pre-registration page.
https://www.pdtca.org/pre-registration.html

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.

9:00am MST

French Immersion: Diving into the New Curriculum

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

Glen 209 - CTCC

Are you a K-3 French Immersion teacher who is implementing the new FILAL (French Immersion Language Arts and Literature) curriculum? Are you feeling a bit insecure, or maybe even lost and confused? Do you find yourself looking for resources, answers, and support? This session is for you. We will spend time talking about the reality of implementing the new FILAL curriculum. For those who teach English as well, we can also touch on how FILAL fits in with the ELAL curriculum.
Please note, this is a collaborative session. The facilitator is not a curriculum specialist, but a Grade 3 FI teacher. She will facilitate a session where K-3 FI teachers can get together and share, brainstorm and learn from each other.

Note: Bringing a laptop a login for new.learnalberta.ca is highly recommended for this session.

Cette session sera présentée en français.

Speakers

Marie Grenon

Marie Grenon is a grade 3 French Immersion teacher with Rockyview Schools and has been teaching FI for nearly 20 years. She has worked in Middle schools and elementary schools, as well as for Alberta Education. She holds a Masters Degree in Modern Languages from the University of... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Glen 209 - CTCC

French & International Languages (TQS 3), Div1 (Gr 1-3) | Curriculum & Pedagogy (TQS 3), Div1 (Gr 1-3)

Session has participant fee No
Level of content General Overview for Novice learners
Presentation Language French
Is Pre-registration required No

10:20am MST

Timesavers for Teachers

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20am - 12:40pm MST

Glen 209 - CTCC

We graduated from University of Alberta 12 years ago now, and have been in a variety of roles. Through our combined experiences, we have implemented various time saving techniques as well as utilize websites to help maintain an overcome the mountain of expectations of our profession. We've put into practices several things that help us stay sane and caught up with the ever growing "MUST DO!" list. Connecting Google Classroom with outside websites like Pear deck, GoNoodle, ZipGrade, Flippity, Orange Slice, Classroom Economy and Microsoft OneNote. All of these websites and tools help keep us organized, and foster a greater sense of student ownership and participation in our student's learning. With this session, our hope is that we help teachers (new and experienced) who would like to implement simple and engaging systems into their teaching. We feel like this session would be most beneficial to new educators that are just entering into their career. The last part of the session will be playing and experimenting with these websites and sharing beneficial resources - breaking up into smaller groups to have some collaborative time! We promise that you will walk away with something wonderful to use with your students on Monday morning. **PLEASE BRING TECHNOLOGY TO THIS SESSION!!**

Speakers

Laura Laderoute

C.P. Blakely School

We are teachers with Rocky View and Chinook Winds since 2009. Between us both, we have taught every grade from grade 1 to 9. Being organized, sharing our wealth of resources and knowledge and creating effective methods that save us time are our jams!

Meaghan Wright

We are teachers with Rocky View and Chinook's Edge since 2009. Between us both, we have taught every grade from grade 1 to 9. Being organized, sharing our wealth of resources and knowledge and creating effective methods that save us time are our jams!

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20am - 12:40pm MST
Glen 209 - CTCC

Curriculum & Pedagogy (TQS 3), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9) | Assessment (TQS 3), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9)

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

1:00pm MST

Gizmos: Solve Real-World Problems Using Gizmos STEM Cases Division 2 Teachers

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST

Glen 209 - CTCC

ExploreLearning's STEM Cases are interactive online case studies that place students in the role of a STEM professional to solve a real-world problem using critical thinking skills. We will walk through a STEM Case and reflect upon the role of the teacher during the experience. Learn how to monitor student progress and results and facilitate student learning throughout the process. All K-6 teachers have full access to ExploreLearning STEM Cases. Teachers are encouraged to bring a device.

Speakers

Lindsay Beaulieu

Implementation Coordinator, ExploreLearning

Lindsay Beaulieu has previously taught in Alberta and has witnessed the impact of Gizmos on student understanding. She has used Gizmos in the classroom since she began teaching. She enjoys working with educators to provide meaningful professional development for all Alberta educa... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Glen 209 - CTCC

Science (TQS 3), Div2 (Gr 4-6)

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

2:20pm MST

Gizmos: Build Conceptual Understanding Using Online Math Simulations Aligned to the New Curriculum

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST

Glen 209 - CTCC

Gizmos online simulations can inspire your grades 4-6 students to think like mathematicians. Explore how using online math simulations can build conceptual understanding in students through modelling and inquiry. Learn how Gizmos can be used to support curriculum across multiple grades by participating in a modelled mathematics lesson using online simulations. Incorporate simulations immediately into your classroom! Gizmos are available to all teachers on the New Learn Alberta Curriculum Site. Teachers are encouraged to bring a device.

Speakers

Lindsay Beaulieu

Implementation Coordinator, ExploreLearning

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST
Glen 209 - CTCC

Mathematics (TQS 3), Div2 (Gr 4-6)

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

9:00am MST

Gizmos: Build Conceptual Understanding Using Online Math Simulations

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

Glen 209 - CTCC

Gizmos online simulations can inspire your students to think like mathematicians. Explore how using online math simulations can deepen conceptual understanding in students through modelling and inquiry. Engage in a modelled mathematics lesson using online simulations to experience how Gizmos can support your lessons. Investigate Gizmos resources that you can incorporate immediately into your classroom! Gizmos are available to all teachers on the New Learn Alberta Curriculum Site. Teachers are encouraged to bring a device.

Speakers

Lindsay Beaulieu

Implementation Coordinator, ExploreLearning

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Glen 209 - CTCC

Mathematics (TQS 3), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6)

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

10:20am MST

Gizmos - Explore How Online Science Simulations Support Scientific Literacy 7-12

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

Glen 209 - CTCC

ExploreLearning Gizmos are award-winning, interactive simulations that bring research-proven instructional strategies to life and make learning fun! This session introduces the pedagogical approach of CER, claim-evidence-reasoning, to promote scientific literacy. Participate in a modelled lesson using online science simulations to experience firsthand the strengths of a CER approach. Explore and use the simulations currently available on the New Learn Alberta Curriculum Site. Teachers are encouraged to bring a device.

Speakers

Lindsay Beaulieu

Implementation Coordinator, ExploreLearning

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
Glen 209 - CTCC

Science (TQS 3), 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

11:40am MST

Gizmos: Using Online Simulations to Explore Science Concepts

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST

Glen 209 - CTCC

Encourage curiosity and wonder with exploration of science concepts using online simulations. Join us to learn how the explore-before-explain approach builds deep conceptual understanding. Use phenomena to spark interest and engagement in your students. Best practices for teaching with Gizmos are modelled. Time will be provided to search for and investigate Gizmos that support your New Science Curriculum. Gizmos are available to all teachers on the New Learn Alberta Curriculum Site. Teachers are encouraged to bring a device.

Speakers

Lindsay Beaulieu

Implementation Coordinator, ExploreLearning

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
Glen 209 - CTCC

Science (TQS 3), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6)

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

1:00pm MST

Ukulele 101

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST

Glen 209 - CTCC

If you are just getting started with ukulele in your classroom or studio, this session is for you! Learn tips, tricks and money-saving hacks to kick-start your program. Ukulele for Children author Christina O'Brien will walk you through some ways to get started and cover all of the basics such as tuning options, instrument storage ideas, classroom management, warm-up activities, free online resources, and why she NEVER starts with C, F and G chords. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion too.

This "Ukulele 101" session continues seamlessly into "Ukulele.Simplified" right after it. Stay for both to get lots of hands on time with the ukulele and the material presented.

There will be some ukuleles on site for participant use during the presentation. Be sure to get there early to snag one!

Speakers

Christina O'Brien

Music Teacher and Book Author, Ukulele for Children

With plenty of teaching experience in the classroom and studio, Christina has been able to blend the individualized lesson approach with large group instruction, ensuring that every student can feel success with a part in each song that she teaches or arranges. Christina completed... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Glen 209 - CTCC

Music & Band (TQS 3), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9)

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

2:20pm MST

Ukulele. Simplified

Friday February 21, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST

Glen 209 - CTCC

No strumming required…(but you can if you want to!) Ukulele for Children author Christina O'Brien will present some ideas to make teaching ukulele easy and accessible for all learners and all teachers! The tried and true UFC method emphasizes music reading on the treble staff, group music making, and tons of creativity. Teachers who are new to teaching ukulele or already have lots of experience, will walk away from this hands-on session with plenty of fresh ideas to incorporate ukulele in their teaching, as well as some reproducible handouts.

If you're new, or fairly new to teaching the ukulele at school, be sure to attend "Ukulele 101" right before this session as "Ukulele. Simplified" builds on the previous basics taught in "Ukulele 101."

There will be some ukuleles on site for participants to use. Make sure you arrive early to snag one!

Speakers

Christina O'Brien

Music Teacher and Book Author, Ukulele for Children

Friday February 21, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST
Glen 209 - CTCC

Music & Band (TQS 3), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9)

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