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Three Opening Keynote Presenters
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
9:00 a.m. to 10:10 a.m.- Group A
Aspen View, FortVermilion, Greater St. Paul
10:45 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. – Group B
Lakeland Catholic, Northland, Northern Lights
Real Learning First Through the Fourth Way
The current reliance on tightened testing regimes that rely on elaborate goals and targets driven by the obsessive belief that more data will improve schools, commonly known as the Third Way, has narrowed the curriculum and diverted teachers and policy makers from innovation and risk-taking. Our students deserve better. The Fourth Way releases schools from the bureaucratic grip of government control where professional responsibility precedes and supersedes accountability. Parents become more involved in their children’s education, community members become more visible and vocal in schools, and the public engages more often in determining the purposes of education together rather than simply consuming the services that are delivered to them.This Opening Keynote session repeats at 10:45.
Dennis Shirley is currently a Professor of Education at the Lynch School of Education at BostonCollege. Dr. Dennis Shirley's work in education spans from the micro level of assisting beginning teachers to the macro level of designing and guiding large-scale research and intervention projects for school districts, states, and nonprofit agencies. Dr. Shirley recently collaborated with Andy Hargreaves on a study of the SpecialistSchools and Academies Trust Raising Achievement Transforming Learning Project, which raised pupil learning results in over 200 schools in England at double the national rate in a 2-year period. The findings of that research have been presented in Hargreave's and Shirley's first collaboratively authored book, The Fourth Way.
Speaker: Dennis Shirley
Room: Palisades
1st Chairperson: John Traynor, Aspen View Local
2nd Chairperson: Vince Spila, Lakeland Catholic Local
Gender Communication - Introduction
This interactive session is a light-hearted, non-blaming, approach to complex communication issues. Find out how subtle communication signals have more impact than the literal content of words. Learn that childhood play patterns are still alive and operating in both the students and the adults in your world. You will see the classroom and the staff room from a new place after this session. Teachers have enthusiastically recommended this session to colleagues across Canada. This delightful presentation is guaranteed to be an eye opener and make you smile! This Opening Keynote session repeats at 10:45.heir jobs." We need people who will pull together to get the job done." -Brenda Robinson
Carol Boothroyd has earned her reputation as one of the best in the business. She is a dynamic trainer and keynote speaker who travels coast to coast, teaching and inspiring audiences. She has worked with thousands of people over the last 18 years, bringing professional insights, skills and energetic humour to her fast paced and entertaining sessions. Her seminars focus on working and communicating with others. Carol teaches at UBC, UNBC, the Justice Institute, BCIT, CoastGuardCollege. Carol’s workshops are well known to be refreshingly practical, interactive and guaranteed to be lots of fun!
Speaker: Carol Boothroyd
Room: Robson/Rundle
1stChairperson: Shane Ennest, Northern Lights Local
2nd Chairperson: Lucille Townsend, Greater St. Paul Local
Real Learning in Complex Systems: How Important is Diversity Anyway!
When we explore what it takes to education our future champions, we quickly discover that centralized control can be very problematic. This session will highlight the key characteristics of complex systems such as our education system and look at the role of diversity (different idea, people, communities) as an essential component to Real Learning away from standardization and centralization. This session will also explore the darker side of reality, when we always find ourselves caught in mob; where diversity is absent. This Opening Keynote session repeats at 10:45.
Dr. Philip McRae is an Executive Staff Officer with the Alberta Teachers’ Association. He is also an Adjunct Professor within the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta where he earned his Ph.D. He was the Director of the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) at the University of Alberta from 2005-2009. Phil has worked in many secondary and post-secondary educational contexts while living and teaching in the Middle East (United Arab Emirates), Asia (Japan), and Europe (Spain). In Alberta, he worked with the LethbridgePublicSchool District and on the Blood (Kainai) Reservation. Phil is the past winner of the Alberta Excellence in Teaching Finalist Award, the University of Alberta’s Queen Elizabeth II Doctoral Scholar Award, and the Alberta Teachers’ Association Educational Research Award.
." We need people who will pull to
Speaker: Dr. Philip McRae
Room: Logan
1stChairperson: Donna Wesley, Aspen View Local
2nd Chairperson: Melanie Lefebvre Lakeland Catholic,
FIRST SMALL GROUP SESSIONS – Thursday morning
Pool B - Lakeland Catholic, Northland, Northern Lights
Pool A – delegates are in one of the opening keynote sessions
9:00 a.m. to 10:10 a.m.
SECOND SMALL GROUP SESSIONS – Thursday morning
Pool A – Aspen View, FortVermilion, Greater St. Paul
Pool B – delegates are in one of the opening keynote sessions
10:45 a.m. to 11:55 a.m.
The Right Stuff for Boys (And Your Girls Will Like it Too)
Brains, testosterone, culture...... everything has to come together in the classroom for boys to love it, participate whole-heartedly and learn more. The gap between boys’ performance in reading and writing at grade three exists but now it grows wider from grades four to ten. What TOP ten brain-based strategies will make a difference? What do we as educators do to make the classroom boy friendly without making it girl unfriendly? These successful cross-subject strategies will involve, motivate, and enhance the achievement of boys while still being exciting for girls. Participants will leave with a comprehensive handout of ideas for grades three to nine. This session repeats at 10:45.
Speaker: Diane Cruchley
Room: Emerald
1stChairperson:Rick Kobylnyk, St. Paul Local
2nd Chairperson: Kevin Ottenbreit, Northland Local
Current Issues in Education – President of the Alberta Teachers’ Association
The president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, Carol Henderson, will present a review of current issues in education. Issues that are likely to affect teachers and schools as a result of government decisions and actions will be discussed. This session repeats at 10:45.
Speaker: Carol Henderson
Room Amethyst
1stChairperson: Randy Proskiw, District RepresentativeNE
2nd Chairperson: Randy Proskiw, District RepresentativeNE
Addressing Aboriginal Learning Outcomes
Whether or not one teaches aboriginal students, it is becoming increasingly important for all teachers to know about aboriginal history and culture to address curriculum outcomes. This session is designed to help all teachers increase their awareness of these issues so that they can better teach aboriginal learning outcomes. Participants will receive Education is Out Buffalo: A Teachers’ Resource for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Education in Alberta.This session repeats at 10:45.
Speaker: Patrick Loyer
Room Maligne
1stChairperson: Stuart Robson, FortVermilionLocal
2nd Chairperson: TBA , Northern Lights Local
A Rose that Grew From Concrete
This presentation focuses on what happens when students start to fall between the cracks in schools. Based on teaching and interviews of at-risk students in senior high school, including a number of aboriginal students, young people’s experiences, needs, and personalities are highlighted. The qualitative analysis that comes from these interviews gives a fresh, objective viewpoint for teachers, administrators, and policy makers to consider.This session repeats at 10:45.
Speaker: Diane Wishart
Room: Morraine
1stChairperson: TBA, Lakeland Catholic Local
2nd Chairperson: Terry Gibson, FortVermilion Local
Educate Your Future Champions with Brain Gym
Brain Gym is a program of physical activities that enhance student learning, performance and engagement. This session will introduce some Brain Gym activities that will integrate body and mind to bring about rapid and often dramatic improvements in productivity, concentration, organization, memory, reading, writing, listening and coordination. Audience participation in this session will help you learn some strategies that you can introduce to your “Future Champions”.This session repeats at 10:45.
Speaker: Ester Kupsch
Room Banff/Jasper
1stChairperson: Cynthia Marten, TBA Local
2nd Chairperson: Barry Rasmussen, FortVermilion Local
Through the Seasons (Primary Education)
This session includes different themes and ideas for primary students. Included are management ideas to add to your bag of tricks. Our ideas include everything you think you may need from September to June to help improve literacy and math skills. Teachers will walk away feeling re-energized and inspired with these new and engaging ideas. This session repeats at 10:45.
Speaker: Suzanne Thibault
Room: 2201/2203
1stChairperson: Carrie Fox, TBA Local
2nd Chairperson: Janet Bailey, Northland Local
What’s Your Game Plan?
Come prepared to play dice and card games that help students understand and master the operations, numerations, place value, concepts and more. Excellent home ideas, reproducible game boards and strategies for building a math games component into your program will be shared.This session repeats at 10:45.
Speaker: John Felling
Room: 2204/2206
1stChairperson: TBA, FortVermilion Local
2nd Chairperson: Leanne Miller, TAB Local
Believe: Every Student is a Writer
Senior High School students discover a deeper understanding of literature when they attempt to create their own original works. Join Dr. Weis in a practical exploration of key literary techniques that can easily be used to guide students as they blend theory and creatively to produce a completed short story. Come prepared to do some writing as we look at specific issues: the use of “deep-focus” to develop setting, dialogue as dynamic tool for characterization and action and the choice of point of view and voice as crucial factors in narrative flow.This session repeats at 10:45.
Speaker: Dr. Lyle Weis
Room: 2205
1stChairperson: Marshall Hartlen, TBA Local
2nd Chairperson: TBA, Aspen View Local
What is all the Talk about Math 10C?
In this session we will look at the new Alberta 10-12, Mathematics Program of Studies. We will examine the changes, discuss the “front matter” and explore some of the outcomes using activities that can be used in your classroom. This session repeats at 10:45.
Speaker: Ron Lindsay
Room 2207
1st Chairperson: TBA, FortVermilion Local
2nd Chairperson: TAB, Lakeland Catholic Local
Teacher Man, Teacher Ma’am - If I Knew Then....
Every teacher has the potential to be a superhero to a student. You will sing the song (to the tune of Spiderman), perhaps the wear the T-shirt, be actively involved, and learn that the job of teaching can be one of the most rewarding careers in the world. By tying together the lessons learned and experiences only educators can appreciate, each audience member will be sure to come away being proud to be “a Teacher!” This session repeats at 10:45.
Speaker: Jock Mackenzie
Room 2208/2210
1stChairperson: Cindy Kotel, TBA Local
2nd Chairperson: Allan Spelrem, FortVermilion Local
Physical Education Recipe- Second Edition
If you need quality PE lessons that meet the expectations of the program of study, then this workshop is for you! Ever Active Schools gas gathered five Division I units, five Division II units and five Division III units and have packaged them into an easy to follow and use resource. Participants will come away from this workshop with quality lesson plans and strategies for physical education and an understanding of the ABCD’s of PE. Visit to order this must have resource. This session repeats at 10:45.
Speaker: Ever ActiveSchool
Room: Mezzanine Room, Trade Centre
1stChairperson: TBA, Northland Local
2nd Chairperson: TBA, Greater St. Paul Local
Personal Pension Interviews – 15 Minute Interviews – Thursday and Friday
Personal interviews with a representative of the ATRF will be available. Pension matters of a personal nature may be discussed. Please bring any recent ATRF communications with you, such as a Contributor Record and/or a Pension Estimate. If you are planning to retire in the near future, please bring both the originals and copies of your birth certificate, your marriage certificate, and your spouse's birth certificate where applicable. Prior to Convention 2010 delegates may register for a pension interview at the ATRF website.
Speaker: Dana Adams, ATRF
Room:Please ask at the registration desk.
SMALL GROUP SESSIONS(Thursday afternoon)
Thursday, February 12th, 2009
1:30 p.m. to 2:40 p.m.
One of Our Champions
Comeand meet one of our champions who attended ThorhildElementary School. Mr. Leslie Nielsen attended school in the Aspen View School Division and has agreed to come back and spend an afternoon with the present administrator of ThorhildElementary School, Donna Wesley. This is a casual session where Ms. Wesley will interview Mr. Nielsen on his incredible journey and his life experiences. There will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions of Mr. Nielsen. This session repeats at 2:55 p.m.
Speaker: Leslie Nielsen
Room: Palisade
Chairperson: Fred Kirby, FortVermilion Local
Wop May Story!
TBA.
Speaker: Gord Steinke
Room: Logan
Chairperson: TBA, Lakeland Catholic Local
Journaling and that Jazz
In Language Arts and across the subjects, journals help meet two of the biggest challenges in improving grade 4-7 writing – building FLUENCY and developing Voice. But...how do you keep your journal program fresh and engaging for students long enough to build fluency and voice? Diana Cruchley has developed 24 unique strategies in a “ready –to-go” package you can duplicate for your students. Each package provides a model for more examples you can to add to your repertoire. Leave with an entire year’s program and a detailed handout in this engaging and practical workshop. This session repeats at 2:55.
Speaker: Diana Cruchley
Room: Emerald
Chairperson: TBA, Northern Lights Local
Getting into the Action - Research that Matters
This session will explore the kinds of teaching and learning that will be critical to success in a 21st century landscape of accelerating change. Good classroom assessments improve learning and support teaching by motivating students to learn better, by helping teachers make important instructional decisions and by involving students meaningfully in setting goals for their learning.
Speaker: Gaylene Schreiber
Room: Amethyst
Chairperson: Albert Van Domselaar, FortVermilionLocal
Winning Strategies for Struggling Students (Elementary)
Alberta schools are built on the concept that all students can learn, regardless of their abilities. While many students are coded as having special needs, the criteria and resources to support their learning differ from district to district. This means that some students who are coded in one district may not be in another. It is our intention to focus on those students who have learning difficulties but are not necessarily coded. When teachers use effective accommodations and learning strategies designed to help struggling learners, they also enhance the learning capabilities of all students—those who are coded and those in regular and gifted programs. In other words, this workshop is for everyone!
Speaker: Allan Spelrem
Room: Maligne
Chairperson: TBA, Aspen View Local
One World Drums
Drumming has been used throughout time and culture to bring community together and clearly communicate ideas. Join Roger Duncan and feel the strength of this communication. Learn the basic technique as well as language that you can use in your classroom to create a sense of community in the classroom and the school. You will laugh and learn all at the same time.
Speaker: Roger Duncan
Room: Banff/Jasper
Chairperson: TBA, Greater St. Paul Local
Interactive Health
This activity-based workshop will showcase interactive and cross-curricular lessons developed by EverActiveSchool for Grades 1-9 Health. Participant will also be exposed to online and print resources that are directly related to the lessons and enhance the K-9 Health and Life Skills Program.
Speaker: Ever Active Schools
Room: 2201/2203
Chairperson: TBA, Lakeland Catholic Local
Play on Words – Literacy Games
Are you a teacher who is seeking multi-sensory integrated language activities? This game workshop incorporates the use of unique literacy dice and letter tiles. There are many practical take home ideas for use in the classroom. Game boards are provided. This session repeats at 2:55.
Speaker: John Felling
Room 2204/2206
Chairperson: Anna LaPlante, Northern Lights Local
Essay Writing – The Basics
This session will give teachers the opportunity for a detailed perusal of the types of questions and assignments that will appear in the Social Studies 30-1 diploma examination. Participant will also be able to see examination blueprints and rubrics.
Speaker: Jock Mackenzie
Room: 2205
Chairperson: TBA, Greater St. Paul Local
Grade Six Math – New Curriculum
TBA
Speaker: Ron Lindsay
Room: 2207
Chairperson: TBA, Greater St. Paul Local
Making Music, Literacy and Movement Fun for the Little Ones
Come prepared to move and have fun! Participants will leave with ready to use ideas and energizers! This session is specifically geared toward teachers of students in ECS and grade one. It highlights music, literacy and movement to support classroom activities. Christie Noble has just recently retired, but spent 30 years teaching for the Edmonton Public School Board. Ten of those years were spent at MayfieldSchool, working with Special Needs Early Education students on a regular basis. She developed and implemented a music/literacy program for the Early Education Program.
Speaker: Christie Noble
Room: 2208/2210
Chairperson:TBA, Lakeland Catholic Local