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

Adding the session to your Sched schedule does not mean you are pre-registered.
Pre-Registration will OPEN February 1, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. and CLOSE February 16, 2025 AT 8:00 p.m.

How to pre-register - Check the infographic For Pre-Registered sessions please use the pre-registration link in the session description.

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

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.

09:00 MST

Inclusive Classrooms for Neurodivergent Students

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

Macleod Hall C - CTCC

“If you’ve met one person with Autism, you’ve met one person with autism” – Dr. Stephen Shore.

Session attendees will gain a better general understanding of autism and neurodiversity through a neuro-affirming, strengths-based lens. We will provide fast facts about autism and neurodiversity, and discuss how these differences can show up in educational environments like the classroom. This foundational information will then guide us into discussing some key realistic and attainable strategies that support all students.

We will use an audience engagement tool called Slido, so participants will need access to a device (smartphone, laptop, etc.)

Speakers

Amy Tatterton

Amy Tatterton is the Director of Learning and Connection at The Sinneave Family Foundation. Amy provides leadership to the foundation's various learning activities and community engagement initiatives. This work helps Sinneave fulfill its mission of reducing barriers and enhancing... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 09:00 - 10:00 MST
Macleod Hall C - CTCC

Inclusive Education (TQS/LQS 4), 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

10:20 MST

Math Therapy: How to Help Students Overcome Their Fear of Math!

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

Macleod Hall C - CTCC

Did you know that anyone who thinks they're "not a math person" typically has math trauma they haven't worked through, and that most adults never move on from negative experiences with math? This crash course in math therapy will dive into what math trauma is, how it’s different from math anxiety, why math trauma is at the root of all math-related anxiety, and provide you with practical steps you can implement in your classroom right away to help students (and teachers!) heal their math trauma. Add "Math Therapy" to your list of teachable and change the lives of your students far beyond the classroom!

Speakers

Vanessa Vakharia

Known as the Lady Gaga of math education, Vanessa is the founder and director of The Math Guru, a super cool boutique math & science tutoring studio in Toronto that's changing stereotypes about what math education looks like. She is also the host of the Math Therapy podcast, author... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 MST
Macleod Hall C - CTCC

Mathematics (TQS 3), 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

Communication Skills to Disarm Angry Parents

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

Macleod Hall C - CTCC

Working with parents can be tricky. In this session, teachers and admin will learn 4 key communication skills that can disarm heated discussions, come to a resolution, and be able to create a collaborative approach to the student's academic success.

This session identifies traps to watch out for that can needlessly escalate anger or large emotions and teaches a 6 step Empowerment Model communication approach that allows for collaboration, responsibility, and clear communication that disarms.

Speakers

Connie Jakab

CEO, Jakab Co.

Connie Jakab is a Speaker, Author, and the CEO of the Jakab Co. She has been working in mental health and resilience for over 25 years in schools, researching how to bring students falling through the cracks closer. She is also the author of the Bring Them Closer series for parents... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40 - 12:40 MST
Macleod Hall C - CTCC

Fostering Effective Relationships (TQS/LQS 1), 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

13:00 MST

How to Help Students with Anxiety, ADHD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, and Autism

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

Macleod Hall C - CTCC

These may all seem like very different issues, but there are simple strategies that teachers can use to help students who struggle with any of these. Many teachers are feeling lost in how to teach students who are struggling. They don’t need more information, but practical tools that allow them to engage students like this on a daily basis.

This session will give the background they need to know about how these students work, as well as 5 practical tools that will result in the teacher feeling more confident and successful in reaching their students who are struggling.

Speakers

Connie Jakab

CEO, Jakab Co.

Thursday February 20, 2025 13:00 - 14:00 MST
Macleod Hall C - CTCC

Inclusive Education (TQS/LQS 4), 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

14:20 MST

Help, I’m a teacher with ADHD!

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

Macleod Hall C - CTCC

Maybe you’ve always known about your ADHD, or maybe you’ve just been diagnosed. Maybe you don’t even have a formal diagnosis yet—the fact remains that having ADHD is hard. Having ADHD as a teacher can be especially challenging.

Learn how to unlock your brain’s natural teaching superpowers and gather strategies to face your most common challenges (like the mounds of papers stacked on your desk).

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 14:20 - 15:20 MST
Macleod Hall C - CTCC

Professional Issues (TQS 6) [emerging topics - teacher career, ECE (Pre K-K), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12) | retirement, ECE (Pre K-K), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12) | wellness], 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

09:00 MST

6 concepts pour une édudcation émancipatrice en français (9:00-11:20)

Friday February 21, 2025 09:00 - 11:20 MST

Macleod Hall C - CTCC

Note: the following session would be presented in French specifically for the francophone association:

Plusieurs programmes d'études des sciences humaines au Canada intègrent un cadre conceptuel tiré des travaux de Peter Seixas et Tom Morton sur les 6 concepts de la pensée historique (https://histoirereperes.ca/les-six-concepts). En revanche, il n'existe aucun cadre conceptuel équivalent pour les cours de français langue première ou français langue seconde. Comment une approche conceptuelle pourrait-elle nous permettre de développer une vision beaucoup plus ambitieuse et optimiste de ce que les élèves peuvent faire, être et accomplir en apprenant le français? Cet atelier présentera un cadre de 6 approches à la langue, qui sont:

- historisante
-fondée sur le lieu
-fondée sur une compréhension des droits
-soulignant la production de sens comme l'effet d'une négociation consensuelle
-prônant la résilience communicative,
-ludique et célébratoire

À travers une série de récits et d'exemples concrets, l'atelier argumentera que l'intégration d'un tel cadre conceptuel nous permet non seulement de répondre à nos engagements en matière d'éducation autochtonisée, anti-raciste, anti-oppressive et SOGI-inclusif , mais également de créer une expérience d'apprentissage inspirante, voire émancipatrice, pour nos jeunes.

Speakers

Elizabeth Rush

Elizabeth Rush is a public school teacher, community translator, and language justice activist. Growing up on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations,  Elizabeth... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 09:00 - 11:20 MST
Macleod Hall C - CTCC

French & International Languages (TQS 3), 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 French
Is Pre-registration required No

11:40 MST

Return To The Falls, The Story of Residential School Survivor Elder Betty Ross, Film /Teachers Guide (11:40-14:00)

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40 - 14:00 MST

Macleod Hall C - CTCC

“Return to the Falls” is a 1 Hour DocuDrama following the harrowing life story of Elder Betty Ross who held
the sacred teachings of her father like a torch helping her survive the residential school system. This movie
forges its own path as a hybrid of dramatic, cinematic reenactments of Betty’s childhood journey of
unimaginable hardships and euphoric moments of freedom combined with present day footage of Betty as
she returns to the falls for the first time in more than 70 years. This riveting and educational film was
created to reach audiences from Grade 5 - 12. Along with the film we will share some of the Teachers
Guide information to show how this new film is a must to help tell the story of our nations past. ***This
educational film is not graphic in any way and focuses more on how Betty's journey of light, forgiveness and
reconciliation can be embraced by all.

Speakers

Eppo Eerkes

At the cutting edge of his craft, director Eppo Eerkes is known as being a strong and innovative visual storyteller, with an ability to spot and draw-out the real-life drama behind any situation. The power of his gift is to gain trust and connect with the character or actor to reveal... Read More →

Guide Fleury

Guide Fleury is an Indigenous educator with an extensive background as a support worker to the publicity and PR of various nations including Samson Nation. Further bio to come.

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40 - 14:00 MST
Macleod Hall C - CTCC

Indigenous Education (TQS/LQS 5), 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

Helping Teens Feel Happier

Friday February 21, 2025 14:20 - 15:20 MST

Macleod Hall C - CTCC

Mercedes and Anastasia Korngut are two teen sisters who started their company, Small Bits of Happiness, two years ago. Their mission is to help individuals of all ages find more happiness in daily life. As two teens, they understand firsthand the difficulties of teenage-hood, including not only the hormonal changes that we undergo, but the added stressors of war, post-pandemic life, and beyond. The two have designed a series of teen-designed wellness products. In this session, the two will be discussing how teens can find happiness in the turmoil of teenage-hood, filled with war, post-pandemic life, and teenage struggles. Additionally, the sisters are discussing how teachers can help support their students in daily life, building these happy habits, and practicing wellness.

Speakers

Mercedes Korngut

Co-founder and CEO, Small Bits of Happiness

- Digital learning platform for building happiness habits- Happiness-wellness products designed by teens for students. Including an activity box featuring 100 unique, simple, and fun things to do to feel happier daily, learn what brings students happiness, and connect a classroom... Read More →

Anastasia Korngut

Co-Founder and COO, Small Bits of Happiness

Anastasia Korngut is 14-years-old, and started Small Bits of Happiness with her sister, Mercedes, two years ago. Small Bits of Happiness is a company with the mission of helping individuals of all ages, especially teens and pre-teens, find more happiness in daily life and build... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 14:20 - 15:20 MST
Macleod Hall C - CTCC

Health & Wellness (TQS 3), 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