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.

09:00 MST

Intro to Building Thinking Classrooms

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

Macleod Hall E2 - CTCC

Have you heard of Thinking Classrooms? Interested in experiencing and seeing if it’s an interest to you? Join us for an active session of problem solving, storytelling and pedagogy as we dive into Liljedahl’s Thinking Classrooms! This session is targeted to those new to Thinking Classrooms, but of course all are welcome to join! This session will focus on Liljedahl’s first two toolkits of implementation.

Speakers

Landry Forand

Learning Specialist, RVS

Landry Forand (he/him) serves as a Learning Specialist within the Rocky View School Division, where he collaborates with educators, classrooms, and schools spanning from kindergarten to grade 12. With a keen focus on numeracy, assessment practices, and Thinking Classroom pedagogy... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 09:00 - 10:00 MST
Macleod Hall E2 - 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

10:20 MST

Curriculum in Building Thinking Classrooms

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

Macleod Hall E2 - CTCC

Excited about Thinking Classrooms but struggling with curriculum implementation? Don't worry! Join us for a session where we delve into methods for designing and deploying curricular tasks. While our primary focus will be on mathematics, we'll explore how these strategies can be applied across various content areas. Geared towards participants familiar with the fundamentals of Thinking Classrooms, this session offers actionable steps to propel your practice forward.

Speakers

Landry Forand

Learning Specialist, RVS

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 MST
Macleod Hall E2 - CTCC

Curriculum & Pedagogy (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 English
Is Pre-registration required No

11:40 MST

Reimagining Assessment (+Assessment in Building Thinking Classrooms) (11:40-14:00)

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40 - 14:00 MST

Macleod Hall E2 - CTCC

Assessment is pivotal to student learning, extending far beyond conventional tests and products. In this session, we'll emphasize its significance, exploring assessment in its broader context. We'll delve into the practical aspects of triangulation—employing diverse assessment methods to gain a holistic view of student progress. Furthermore, we'll equip participants with essential skills for curriculum mapping and share strategies to streamline the assessment process for teachers in grading and reporting while optimizing student learning. Join us for an engaging session that offers a fresh perspective on assessment professional development, promising valuable insights for all attendees.

Why (+Assessment in Building Thinking Classrooms)?
While this session is intended for all teachers, no matter their current practice and experience, it should be a keen interest to those currently engaging in Building Thinking Classrooms and wanting to improve their assessment practices.

Speakers

Landry Forand

Learning Specialist, RVS

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40 - 14:00 MST
Macleod Hall E2 - CTCC

Assessment (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 English
Is Pre-registration required No

14:20 MST

Hands-on Learning for Grade 8 Science Teachers

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

Macleod Hall E2 - CTCC

I will share two successful projects that I have developed for the grade 8 science curriculum that students love. The first will be an extension of the Body Systems Unit which includes independent student prep work at home and 4-5 days of in class hands-on work. Students will be directed and work independently throughout this project, and the results are spectacular. The second project will take students through the process of water sampling techniques that engage students in some big picture thinking that promotes critical thinking based on scientific data they collect in the field. Both projects are engaging and are highlights of their science programs in grade eight.

Speakers

Steven Kotowich

Teacher, Westmount Charter School

I have been a teacher for 27 years who has loves to be outdoors. In that time, I have been leading all types of outdoor activities with students ranging from day hikes to backpacking trips, snowshoeing to cross country skiing. If it gets students active and outside of a classroom... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 14:20 - 15:20 MST
Macleod Hall E2 - CTCC

Science (TQS 3), Div3 (Gr 7-9)

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

11:40 MST

The Brain, Body Behavior Connection (11:40-14:00)

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

Macleod Hall E2 - CTCC

BRAIN GAMES!
In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to learn about brain and body functions through “brain games” that are designed to encourage understanding, create empathy and explore strategies related to successful interactions in the classroom with people of varying abilities .
Join Pam and Danna in an exploration of the brain , body and how their functioning leads to behaviors that are often difficult to understand. You will leave this workshop inspired to make a difference, excited to share your learnings with others and determined to be a creative responder!

Speakers

Danna Ormstrup

Executive Director, Foothills Fetal Alcohol Society

Danna currently holds two very exciting roles. She is the Executive Director of the Foothills Fetal Alcohol Society, a nonprofit Society that provides services to rural communities in Southern Alberta, as well as being one of 10 Instructional Coaches in the province of Alberta with... Read More →

Pamela Henheffer

Before coming to the Foothills Fetal Alcohol Society Pam Henheffer worked for 28 years as Assistant Manager in a family based Residential Program for Children In Social Services. Pam and her husband of over 40 years Alan were also Directors of their own Supported Independent Living... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40 - 14:00 MST
Macleod Hall E2 - 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 Intermediate content
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No