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

Integrating Conservation Agriculture into the Classroom

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

Telus 101/102 - CTCC

Conservation agriculture represents a crucial approach to sustainable farming, particularly in response to local climate and weather dynamics. Explore the principles and practices of conservation agriculture, emphasizing its adaptive strategies in the face of environmental challenges such as droughts, floods, fires, windstorms, and more. By minimizing soil disturbance, maintaining soil cover, optimizing water use, and employing sustainable harvesting techniques like crop rotation and companion planting, conservation agriculture not only enhances agricultural resilience but also supports stable plant and animal populations over time. Attendees will gain practical insights and resources to effectively incorporate conservation agriculture into their teaching, preparing students to become future leaders in sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. By equipping educators with the tools to integrate these principles into their classroom. This session will empower educators with practical knowledge and resources to integrate conservation agriculture concepts into their teaching, thereby cultivating a generation of informed students about agriculture.

Speakers

Nanita Blomquist

Education Manager, Agriculture For Life

Nanita grew up on a farm in central Alberta, where she still resides and farms with her family. With a passion for Agriculture, Nanita completed her B.Sc in Agriculture at the University of Alberta. With over 20 years of experience in the Agriculture industry, Nanita had the opportunity... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 09:00 - 10:00 MST
Telus 101/102 - CTCC

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

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

10:20 MST

Introduction to Structured Word Inquiry

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

Telus 101/102 - CTCC

Why is there a w in "two"? Why don't we spell "does" like "duz"? How can we expect correct spelling from students when English is so full of crazy exceptions? Or is it possible that the English spelling system actually makes perfect sense? This session will introduce Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) and show how we can use it to find logic in spelling by teaching morphology, etymology, orthography, and phonology. These all work together to prove that our spelling system makes sense. Leave with lesson ideas for incorporating these concepts with your students.

Speakers

Amber Cahill

Teacher, Edmonton Public Schools

Amber Cahill is a teacher with Edmonton Public Schools. She has 19 years experience as a classroom teacher and has completed a Master's Degree in Special Education with a focus on Reading, Writing, and Oral Language Disabilities. She has been incorporating Structured Word Inquiry... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 MST
Telus 101/102 - CTCC

English Language Learning (TQS/LQS 4), 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

11:40 MST

Communication Skills to Disarm Angry Parents

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

Telus 101/102 - 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
Telus 101/102 - 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

Telus 101/102 - 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
Telus 101/102 - 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

09:00 MST

Propaganda: Using Canadian War Posters to Develop Critical Thinking

Friday February 21, 2025 09:00 - 10:00 MST

Telus 101/102 - CTCC

Propaganda! If there is one thing that most adults would agree on here in early 2025, it’s this: Never before in world history has propaganda been more ubiquitous and well-designed . . . in fact, the tools of the trade are now so advanced that increasing numbers of thoughtful people are beginning to wonder how much they really ‘know’ and how much of the past they accurately understood. And if that’s the case for adults, how can we expect students to be competent at thinking critically about what they observe, hear, or read?

During this Canadian military history education session, attendees will observe how Canadian war posters from the First and Second World Wars can be used in their classroom to educate about propaganda, engage critical thinking, and further develop digital literacy skills.

All resources referenced during this presentation are downloadable free-of-charge at ValourCanada.ca

Speakers

Aaron Curtis

Teacher, Valour Canada

Aaron Curtis spent his childhood in the Rideau Lakes area of Eastern Ontario, primarily in Lanark, and Leeds & Grenville counties. During the mid-2000s, Aaron attended the University of Calgary where he earned a degree in Archaeology (B.Sc.) and a minor in Earth Sciences. Upon graduation... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 09:00 - 10:00 MST
Telus 101/102 - CTCC

Social Studies (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

10:20 MST

Top 10 Numeracy Activities for Preschool/Kindergarten

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

Telus 101/102 - CTCC

Join our interactive session of our top 10 numeracy activities for the preschool and kindergarten classroom. These activities are easy to implement, cross-curricular, low-cost, and fun! And you will be able to use them in the classroom the next day.

Speakers

Carly Abraham

Carly Abraham has taught math at a junior high and high school level and has gained experience in elementary mathematics as her children have just gone through the elementary years. She has a Masters of Education, specializing in curriculum, learning and teaching. Carly also has experience... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 MST
Telus 101/102 - CTCC

Mathematics (TQS 3), ECE (Pre K-K)

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

11:40 MST

School psychology in the time of reconciliation

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

Telus 101/102 - CTCC

Attendees will be offered medicine in the form of knowledge and cultural considerations when working alongside Indigenous students. This session will be guided by the lived experience of an Anishinaabe Registered Provisional Psychologist (School and Counselling). Art, humour, literature, and land-based teachings will be highlighted as an engagement tool; integrating decolonial/resurgent content into classrooms can be both subtle and approachable. In addition, this session will centre on culturally affirming assessment, academic and therapeutic intervention, and inclusive education practices to best support Indigenous learners. Special attention will be given to the topics of attachment, co-regulation, and the intersection between trauma and learning difficulties. This session is applicable for all school staff who work with a variety of ages and backgrounds.

Speakers

Tishina Shannacappo

Tishina Shannacappo (she/her/hers) is a First Nations (Anishinaabe) Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. She owns Heart Berry Psychology, which is part of the Riverwest Therapy Collective, and offers strength- and heart-based psychological... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40 - 12:40 MST
Telus 101/102 - CTCC

Indigenous Education (TQS/LQS 5), 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

(Pre-Reg MAX 50) Expressive Techniques in Acrylics & Mixed Media (13:00-15:20)

Friday February 21, 2025 13:00 - 15:20 MST

Telus 101/102 - CTCC

Create personally meaningful and expressive works of art, inspired by nature and by using acrylic paint, mixed media and collage techniques. Develop techniques that create rich textural surfaces, glazed and stained fields of color, and aesthetic ways of organizing space. The strength, sensitivity and rhythm of form, line, value, shape, pattern, and color will be examined. The projects presented are suitable for all skill levels and abilities. All the supplies are being provided.

This session has a participant fee of $21.00. Pre-Registration Link

Speakers

Christina Dixon

Art

As a teacher and artist my main goal is to inspire others to love, appreciate, and explore Art and various mediums: oil pastels, watercolors, acrylics, inks, etc. Each medium is versatile in a specific way and the final projects sometime combine a few of them to achieve astonishing... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 13:00 - 15:20 MST
Telus 101/102 - CTCC

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

Session has participant fee Yes
Level of content General overview for novice learners
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required Yes