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.

10:20am MST

Creating a Culture of Respect for Gender and Sexual Diversity

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

Telus 103 - CTCC

Learn practical strategies for creating more inclusive school environments and safer spaces for gender and sexually diverse clients and co-workers.
Deepen your understanding of the differences between sex, gender, and sexual orientation, and discuss the impacts of homophobia, transphobia on 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. Develop skills and tools to support 2SLGBTQ+ students and staff, work with parents and address questions and push-back.

Speakers

Prax Li

With a background in biomedical sciences and anthropology and years of experience working with vulnerable young people in the child welfare system, Prax Li (he/him) joined Centre for Sexuality as a WiseGuyz facilitator delivering an evidence-informed gender transformative health promotion... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20am - 12:40pm MST
Telus 103 - CTCC

Diversity Equity & Human Rights (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 General Overview for Novice learners
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No

1:00pm MST

Les problèmes écrits versus la résolution de problèmes - 1ère à 6e année

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

Telus 103 - CTCC

Cet atelier a pour but de faire la distinction entre les problèmes écrits et la résolution de problèmes. Chacun a sa place, bien sûr, mais leur raison d’être diffère. Nous allons voir comment insérer et utiliser ces deux activités pédagogiques dans votre pratique afin d’en tirer le maximum. Nous allons vivre quelques aspects de Thinking Classroom de Peter Liljedahl.

Speakers

Renée Michaud

Consultante en mathématiques/Math Consultant, RLM Consulting

Renée Michaud is an independent Mathematics Consultant. She provides professional development to a variety of schools and school districts in French and in English in Western Canada and beyond. She has presented various math sessions at Alberta Teachers’ Conventions over the past... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Telus 103 - CTCC

Featured Speakers and Special Events, Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6) | Mathematics (TQS 3), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6) | Curriculum & Pedagogy (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 French
Is Pre-registration required No

2:20pm MST

Financial Literacy for Retiring Teachers

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

Telus 103 - CTCC

Getting ready to retire? Then join us as we explore a retirement financial literacy program specifically designed for teachers. As we recognize the valuable contributions of our educators, it is imperative that they are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their retirement planning and financial well-being. The primary objective of this session is to provide comprehensive support and education to teachers, enabling them to make decisions about retirement planning, investment strategies and financial management. By empowering teachers with the knowledge and tools to navigate their retirement options effectively, we aim to enhance their financial security and overall well-being during their post-teaching years. This session will cover essential retirement topics such as pension plans, retirement savings accounts, tax implications and investment strategies. Through the course of this presentation, we will address teachers’ unique circumstances, including their current financial situations, retirement goals and helping them understand their financial needs.

Speakers

Belinda Cartwright

With a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Lethbridge, Belinda has been working for the Rocky View School Division for the past 25 years. Belinda began teaching English and Social studies at the middle school level in Airdrie and then moved to teaching high school... Read More →

Roselyn Patayaikorn-Fithen

David Patayanikorn-Fithen

David had an 18-year career with both Edmonton Public and Rocky View Schools. His primary focus was science but he ventured into math, physical education, and CTS. His last five years were in the role of assistant principal where he opened up two new schools. His expertise in school... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST
Telus 103 - CTCC

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

9:00am MST

Our version of Outcome Based Approach to teaching Math and Science Gr. 9-12

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

Telus 103 - CTCC

With the diverse learning needs of our students in part due to large gaps from Covid, we took the time with a number of our Math 9 outcomes to organize the concepts into Acceptable, Proficient, and Mastery categories which guided our assessment and instruction in our classroom. We would like to share our journey and insights and how we have applied our version of outcome based learning to other subjects and levels of math and, project based assessments.

Speakers

Dr. Jeff Bailey

As an educator, astrophysicist, and advocate for transformative teaching methods, I bring a blend of scientific expertise and a passion for creating authentic learning experiences for high school students.Prior to my teaching career, I conducted research as a post-doctoral fellow... Read More →

Christine Crane

Christine has been teaching Gr. 7-12 math and science for at least 25 years give or take. In her years of teaching, she has continually strived to meet the diverse needs of her students in order to set them up for success either the following year or as life long learners. Working... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Telus 103 - CTCC

Mathematics (TQS 3), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12) | Science (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

11:40am MST

The magic of the Triple Play: How teaching reading is like coaching players for that perfect play

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

Telus 103 - CTCC

Executing the perfect triple play in baseball requires an excellent set of core skills, but also an intuitive sense of the game, knowing what to do, when to do it, and why. Reading, like baseball, is complex. Leaders in education and literacy, join us in this session as we delve into what the research says about developing the five pillars of reading. Then, get your game on and participate in hands-on activities that, through artful teaching, put reading skills back into meaningful contexts in powerful ways. As leaders in education, you will come away from this presentation with a sense of how we need to teach reading, what we need to teach, and why. Step up to the plate, and let’s play ball!

Speakers

Michelle Bence

Consultant, Layers of Literacy

Michelle is an enthusiastic educator with over 18 years of teaching experience. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Calgary, examining the connection between oral language development and early literacy acquisition.

Dr. Miriam Ramzy

Director of Student Learning, JrK-6, Foothills School Division

Miriam works with the Foothills School Division, supporting the implementation of new curriculum. Miriam has her Ph.D. from the Werklund School of Education; her passion is supporting teachers in building powerful literacy classrooms where all learners experience success.

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
Telus 103 - CTCC

School Leadership (LQS 1-9), ECE (Pre K-K), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12) | English Language Learning (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 General Overview for Novice learners
Presentation Language English
Is Pre-registration required No

1:00pm MST

The Layers of Writing Development

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

Telus 103 - CTCC

Join us for an overview of the Layers of Writing graphic! During this session, we will share the research pertaining to the layers, the principles that can guide how we structure our programs, and how the writing process can help situate writing instruction in a purposeful environment.

Speakers

Michelle Bence

Consultant, Layers of Literacy

Dr. Miriam Ramzy

Director of Student Learning, JrK-6, Foothills School Division

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Telus 103 - CTCC

English Language Learning (TQS/LQS 4), Div1 (Gr 1-3), Div2 (Gr 4-6) | Educational Research (TQS/LQS 2), 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

2:20pm MST

Fluency in the Secondary Classroom

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

Telus 103 - CTCC

Join us to uncover the essential role of fluency, specifically prosody and phrasing, in developing secondary students’ reading abilities. Fluency is one academic key in developing older student’s reading and comprehension skills, and is often overlooked. This session will look at how to structure and plan for fluency practice through both ELA texts and within the content areas. We will talk about deep and wide reading, and ways to structure fluency practice through the lens of differentiation and meeting the wide range of needs in your classroom. You will leave with strategies, tools, and practices to embed with your secondary students right away.

Speakers

Michelle Bence

Consultant, Layers of Literacy

Dr. Miriam Ramzy

Director of Student Learning, JrK-6, Foothills School Division

Friday February 21, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST
Telus 103 - CTCC

English Language Learning (TQS/LQS 4), Div2 (Gr 4-6), Div3 (Gr 7-9), Div4 (Gr 10-12) | Curriculum & Pedagogy (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