Northeast Teachers Convention of the Alberta Teachers Association

Northeast Teachers’ Convention of the Alberta Teachers’ Association

Friday February 17th, 2012

Education beyond the Classroom:

Teachers as Nation Builders!

Opening Keynote Speakers

Dr. Yong Zhao, Françoise Ruban

Father Tony Ricard

Feature Speakers

Barry Litun, Peter Liljedahl

Special Musical Performance

HOJA

Closing Keynote Speaker

Murray Banks

Mayfield Inn - 16615 109 Avenue, Edmonton, AB

http://netca.teachers.ab.ca

SMALL GROUP SESSIONS (Friday morning)

Friday, February 17th, 2012

9:00 a.m. to 10:10 a.m.

AT OUR BEST EVERY DAY!

Teaching With Passion and Style

An outstanding educator is unique, that wonderful blend of intellect, experience and style! But high stakes testing, teacher accountability and student engagement are challenging even the best of us. Teaching with focus and passion, yet keeping our lives in balance is a challenge and Murray delivers it with a medley of science, humor and inspiration. You’ll love his 10/90 Rule to keep meetings on task, how to focus on the positives with students and when to go to the “B.A.R.”

“You can tell a lot about a person by what they take two at a time, pills or stairs!”

Murray Banks is a highly sought-after speaker in the area of lifestyle and its impact on performance. His success as an educator, athlete, and long-time professional speaker, coupled with his genuine optimism and enthusiasm, make every presentation a starting point for personal and professional growth. He was a top finisher in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii in 1983 and 1984. He is also a six time National Champion in both triathlons and cross-country skiing and is a two time skiing master’s world champion.

Speaker: Murray Banks

Room: Palisades

Chairperson: Stephanie MacKay, Fort Vermilion Local

Engaging Our Community to Support Public Education

Public Education is the foundation of a strong democracy. It is becoming increasingly important for all educators, and especially administrators, to engage all segments of the community to share successes and challenges faced in Public Education in order to ensure support is maintained at a time when fewer people have direct ties to schools. During this presentation, engagement activities that I have found to be effective will be presented. There will also be an opportunity for participants to share strategies that have been successful for them.

Barry Litun serves as the Superintendent for Lethbridge School District, a position he has held since 2006. Lethbridge School District has 8700 students from Pre-School to Grade 12. Barry has been a teacher and administrator in Alberta throughout his career; previously in Red Deer, Whitecourt and Lamont. He has also taught courses for Red Deer College and City University. As the College of Alberta School Superintendents Past President for 2011/12, Barry is completing a four year term on the provincial CASS Executive. He has valued and appreciated the opportunity immensely.

Speaker: Barry Litun

Room: Logan

Chairperson: Terry Gibson, Fort Vermilion Local

Learning Coaches-Collaborating to Help Meet Diverse Learning Needs

Coaching has become a popular and powerful method of professional development for teachers. Educational coaches support teachers’ professional learning at the school level and in classrooms. This session is an introduction to the concept of coaching and is designed to explore and discuss the various types of coaching programs that can be designed and how coaching can be used to address the instructional needs of teachers and schools. It will also explore how coaching programs are designed and the support they require to be effective.

Speaker: Joni Turville

Room: Robson

Chairperson: Kim Pretty, Fort Vermilion Local

Developmental Assets: Making a Difference

Who are the people in your life who have molded you into the individual you have become? These influential people were/are your 'Asset Builders'. Developmental Assets are the essential building blocks for young people's achievement and thriving as well as for their avoidance of high risk behaviors. We have students in our classrooms, on a daily basis, who need us to believe in them and understand the struggles they face. You and I, as educators, don't have to teach developmental assets, but we have the opportunity to. This workshop will provide you with insight, statistics and logistics behind Developmental Assets and begin the process of reflection as to 'how' to make them a daily part of 'you'! Come prepared to be challenged - are you prepared to become an 'Asset Builder' in the lives of your students? Are you prepared to be a difference maker? If not you, then who?

Speaker: Brent Allen

Room: Rundle

Chairperson: Sherrie Buchner, Northland Local

La Robotique a l’élémentaire: c’est possible (K-3)

Que vous soyez au préscolaire ou en 3 année, venez découvrir, en expérimentant, le monde de la Robotique. Un domaine qui fascine autant les petits que les grands et qui, tout en ayant un caractère ludique, développe le langage, la coopération et favorise l’intégration des T.I.C. Cet atelier vise à partage une expérience vécue au préscolaire grâce aux robots Lego WeDo.

Speaker: Maryse Marceau

Room: Emerald

Chairperson: Pennie Zarowny, Greater St. Paul Local

Pour it On! Watercolour

In this hands-on session, experiment with different techniques with watercolour painting. Join award winning watercolour artist, Patricia Coulter, as she shows you several techniques to create stunning visual effects with watercolour. Sponges, credit cards, and plastic wrap are a few of the materials that will be used in this session. You will receive lots of tried-and-true ideas for your classroom and for your own personal enjoyment. Participants will need to pay the chairperson $10.00 to cover the cost of the materials. This session repeats at 10:40.

Speaker: Patricia Coulter

Room: Amethyst

Chairperson: Orysia Stefiuk, Greater St. Paul Local

FNMI Education, Teachers and the ATA

The ATA Committee on First Nations, Metis and Inuit Education Policy and Action Plan needs your input. This session is an opportunity for all teachers to discuss successful strategies & areas of concern, share experiences, identify PD needs and provide advice to the Association concerning FNMI education. This information will be shared with the Committee and used in the development of Association policy and an action plan.

Speakers: Patrick Loyer

Room: Morraine

Chairperson: Shelly Hamelin, Northland Local

ADHD In the Classroom: What Can a Teacher Do?

Educators are regularly faced with the responsibility of teaching children who have ADHD. Often, educators feel that these students are not able to effectively engage in learning as a result of attention, concentration and hyperactivity difficulties. This session will review the characteristics of ADHD and then discuss how educators can proactively design the classroom environment to set-up children with ADHD for more success in the regular classroom. The goal of this session is to empower educators with strategies that can be easily incorporated into their classroom.

Speakers: Coranne Johnson

Room: Maligne

Chairperson: Deirdre Keller, Aspen View Local

Personal Cosmetology and Esthetics

The new curriculum allows teachers to provide a course in Personal Cosmetology and Esthetics that does not require a Red Seal Certificate. See how you can set up and offer this type of course in your classroom with a regular sink, tables and a whole bunch of storage space. The students enjoy it tremendously and you will too.

Speaker: Peggy Chudzy

Room: Jasper

Chairperson: Karen Kirby, Fort Vermilion Local

Your Pen$ion Matter$

This session will present a general overview of the Alberta Teachers’ Retirement fund (ATRF) and will include the following topics: the structure of the plan, registration and beneficiary requirements, purchasable pensionable service, pension death benefits and refunds, pension calculations, pension options and steps to retirement.

Speaker: Dana Adams

Room: 2205

Chairperson: Adrienne Sprecker, Northern Lights Local

Suicide Intervention

Would you know what to do if someone told you they were having suicidal thoughts? Has suicide affected you? The session is an introduction to suicide intervention and prevention. Increase your knowledge of the risk factors, clues and warning signs for suicide, learn basic skills needed to respond to them, reduce fears and barriers that can prevent reaching out to those at-risk, and prevent suicide as well as increase awareness of community resources and how to connect those-at-risk to these supports.

Speaker: Sandra Copeland

Room: 2207

Chairperson: Murray Lalonde, Aspen View Local

Music and Literacy (Gr. 1-3)

This session is specifically geared toward teachers of students in Grades 1-3, and highlights music, literacy, and movement to support classroom activities. Come prepared to move, and have fun! Participants will leave with ready to use ideas and energizers!

Speaker: Christy Noble and Tracy Sterner

Room: 2204/2206

Chairperson: Lorna Kereliuk, Greater St. Paul Local

Zumba Fitness

As teachers, we often think of all we have to do and add stress to our lives. Sometimes we do not find the time to put our health first. Zumba fitness is one way to put teachers and students in the health zone at the same time as enjoying the activities. Zumba moves can be incorporated into the classroom to get those students up and moving when learning just isn’t happening. Zumba Fitness® is a Latin-inspired dance-fitness program that blends international music to form a "fitness-party". Zumba participants in this session will learn choreographed steps to Latin-inspired songs creating a fun fitness routine that can be done in a gymnasium, classroom or at home. Participants will need appropriate shoes, clothes they can move (and sweat in) and a water bottle. This session repeats at 10:40.

Speaker: Karie Becker

Room: TRADE Centre Mezzanine Room

Chairperson: Dawn Thompson, Fort Vermilion Local

SMALL GROUP SESSIONS – Half Day Workshop

Friday February 17th, 2012

9:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.

Titanic Exhibit – Telus Science Centre

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition - this is the story of the most famous ship in the world, a story that has been told and retold, but never before like this. Real artifacts- recovered from nearly 4 km below the ocean- tell Titanic's fateful tale along with the stories of the souls who journey with her into history.

The Exhibition has been designed with a focus on the legendary RMS Titanic's compelling human stories as best told through almost 200 authentic artifacts and extensive room re-creations. Perfume from a maker who was travelling to New York to sell his samples, china etched with the logo of elite White Star Line, even the Ship's whistle -- these and many other authentic objects offer haunting, emotional connections to lives abruptly ended or forever altered.

THIS SESSION IS COMPLETELY FULL. SORRY!

Please contact to register for this session. Participants need to pay $10.00 to the chairperson to cover the cost of the bus. NETCA will pay the admission costs. Meet the bus outside the front doors of the Mayfield Inn at 9:00 a.m. This session is a half day workshop!

Speaker: Telus Science Centre

Room: Offsite Tour

Chairperson: Breana Malcolmson, Greater St. Paul

Alberta Aviation Museum Tour

Discover how Northern Alberta's rich aviation history was made in your community, making Edmonton: “The Gateway to the North” See the incredible progress of technology in the past century of flight. Take a guided tour with a group for an interactive journey through the culture of flight, from the days of wood and fabric to the Jet Age of today. Adventure….excitement….romance….

Speaker: Dave Heathcote

Room: Offsite Tour

Chairperson: Kevin Ottenbreit, Northland Local

Tour the Edmonton Waste Treatment Plant

Back by popular demand from last year’s convention! The Edmonton Waste Management Centre is the world's largest collection of modern, sustainable waste processing and research facilities, including a modern recycling plant, North America's largest co-composting facility, an e-waste recycling facility, and a waste-to-biofuels facility scheduled for operation in 2012. The Centre also houses a teaching theatre, classrooms and research facilities. This is a must see!

Speaker: Edmonton Waste Treatment Plant

Room: Offsite Tour

Chairperson: TBA

CTS – 3D Printing: The Future is Here Now!

This session is for CTS teachers. Join Jared and Terry in this hands-on workshop to learn about one of the most exciting new technologies to come to schools- 3D printing. Participants will be given an overview of how they can incorporate 3D printing into their CTS programs, including costs and materials needed. An introduction Google Sketchup will be given with resources and project ideas that will be shared. Session participants will also learn how to model and print in 3D with a Makerbot (http://makerbot.com) or other 3D printers.

Note: this session is a BYOL session. Participants will need to bring their own laptop with Google Sketchup 8 already installed on it.

Speaker: Jared Nichol and Terry Kaminski

Room: 2201/2203

Chairperson: Cole Landers, Aspen View Local

I’m the Boss of Me so that My Teacher Doesn’t Have to Be

Current research suggests that the most effective teachers work with small groups to effectively meet individual student needs. This session will explore ways and resources that show how to develop each student’s understanding of what being an independent learner looks like, feels like and sounds like. Session participants will explore how to develop and set criteria and expectations with students for independent learning activities in Language Arts and Mathematics using curriculum- based I can statements. Participants will understand how the use of critical self- reflection and accountability are a large part of becoming an independent learner. This session is a half day workshop.