SEATCA 2025 - Southeastern Alberta Teachers' Convention: Full Schedule

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9:00am MST

Safety & Leadership through AMA School Safety Patrol

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

Discover how to implement a School Safety Patrol program in your school to increase student safety and promote leadership, citizenship and teamwork amongst grade 5/6 students. The session will cover the key benefits of the program, including improved school safety and the positive development of students. Information regarding time commitments for staff and students, registration, equipment, and school eligibility will be outlined. We’ll also discuss practical steps for setting up, training, and maintaining an effective committed patrol team. Join us to answer all your questions and learn how to have your school become part of this impactful program that has been part of Alberta schools for 86 years and counting!

Speakers

Shelby Davies

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
S144 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

CTS

Audience Div 2

9:00am MST

Unlocking Literacy: Simple Strategies to Support Struggling French Immersion Readers

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

E149

Grades 1-4 French immersion teachers, struggling readers in French immersion classrooms face unique challenges, especially when learning a second language. In this session, we’ll explore how the brain learns to read and how this understanding can shape our teaching practices. We’ll uncover the overlaps between French and English reading concepts and explore tips to align your literacy instruction with the science of reading.
Through practical examples you’ll discover simple, purposeful strategies that support your struggling readers. Whether you’re short on time, looking to refine your approach or trying to figure out how to meet the number of exposures a struggling reader needs, you’ll leave with actionable ideas and the confidence to make a difference tomorrow.

Speakers

Lanette Daley-Tennent

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
E149 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

EAL

Audience Div 1, Div 2

9:00am MST

Social Emotional Resources that I Love - Elementary

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

E150

Social Emotional Resources that I Love Session Overview: In today's educational landscape, fostering students' social and emotional well-being is as crucial as their academic success. Join me for an engaging and informative session where we'll explore some of my favourite Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs, books, and videos that can help you create a supportive and nurturing classroom environment. Whether you're new to SEL or looking to expand your existing toolkit, this session will provide valuable resources and practical strategies to enhance your teaching practice. This session is designed for elementary school educators who are passionate about integrating social and emotional learning into their classrooms. Whether you're a classroom teacher, school counselor, administrator, you'll find valuable insights and practical tools to support your students' social-emotional development. Session Format: Interactive Presentation: Engage with the presenter through a presentation that includes real-life examples, multimedia resources, and interactive discussions. Q&A Session: Participate in a question-and-answer segment to address your specific needs and challenges related to SEL implementation. Resource Sharing: Receive a comprehensive list of recommended SEL programs, books, and videos, along with tips for integrating them into your teaching practice. Takeaways: By the end of this session, you'll walk away with: A deeper understanding of the importance of SEL in education. A toolkit of high-quality SEL resources to enrich your classroom. Practical strategies for fostering a positive and supportive learning environment for your students.

Speakers

Stephanie Mclennan

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
E150 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Health & Wellness

Audience Div 1, Div 2

9:00am MST

ASL Beginner

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

S108

This is a "hands on," beginner ASL course geared toward educators with little or no experience in ASL. We will start with the ABC's and take you to asking and answering questions, playing games, numbers, and more. You will have the benefit of two instructors, one Deaf and one Hearing, who together will take you through accurate signing as well as explain clearly the logic behind the signs. You will leave excited to practice and show off your ASL!

Speakers

Andy Davies

Ashley Fitzgerald

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
S108 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Inclusive Education

Audience Div 1, Div 2, Div 3

9:00am MST

Making new.LearnAlberta.ca work for you

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

F2005

Did you know you can do so much more than just view curriculum on new.LearnAlberta.ca? This session will explore how you can make new.LearnAlberta.ca work for you. You’ll be guided through new.LearnAlberta.ca where you can view new curriculum implementation supports and find available resources for students, parents and for teachers. Please bring a device to explore new.LearnAlberta.ca.

Speakers

Karla Holt

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
F2005 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Pedagogy & Educational Research

Audience Div 1, Div 2, Admin/Leadership

9:00am MST

Teaching Upstream: Delivering social emotional learning education and skills to children

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

F2002

This session will explore the use of Children's Literature as a vehicle to accomplish PEW outcomes around mental health, skills, and attitudes. In a collaboration with the BEEJ project, the Niwa family, and Medicine Hat College, 4th year education students look to build a stronger, more resilient community through enhanced mental health education. Teachers will be able to look at grade specific unit and lesson plans created by Education students that pair the CASEL framework across five areas of social and emotional competence with physical education and wellness KUSP's in the Alberta curriculum. Education students will also share their anecdotal findings around the execution and implementation of the lesson plans they created. The hope for this session is to empower teachers with ideas, tools, and lessons to help build a resilient child, classroom, and community around mental health education.

Speakers

Jason McLester

Currently Jason teaches in the Arts, Science, and Education Department, as well as for the Collaborative Elementary Education Degree offered at Medicine Hat College through Mount Royal University. He is also a Practicum Supervisor for third and fourth year Education placements. His... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
F2002 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Professional issues

Audience Div 1, Div 2, Div 3, Admin/Leadership

9:00am MST

Computational Thinking 101: Foundations for Every Educator

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

F2003

Unlock the power of computational thinking for you and your students! Discover how computational thinking can enhance problem-solving skills while connecting with storytelling, nature, art, and more. This session provides a gentle introduction to core concepts found in the new curriculum such as decomposition, abstraction, and algorithms. Through exploring a variety of activities, both plugged-in and unplugged, you’ll learn how to seamlessly incorporate these principles into your classroom regardless of subject or grade level. No prior experience in teaching computer science needed! Please bring a laptop, Chromebook or tablet to this session

Speakers

Whitney Horban

Outreach Manager, Telus World of Science

TELUS World of Science – Edmonton is dedicated to fostering life-long learning by creating a vibrant science and technology culture in our region. We offer a diverse array of in-person and virtual school programs. Our programs are connected to the Alberta curriculum and designed... Read More →

Bernadette Blakey

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
F2003 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Science

Audience Div 1, Div 2

9:00am MST

Interconnectedness of Life: A Cree Perspective.

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am MST

F2006

To understand how the Cree culture and Cree people look at and value our world.

Speakers

Darrell Willier

Darrell is from Sucker Creek First Nation of north-west Alberta. He is currently employed with Medicine Hat Public School Division as the First Nations, Metis & Inuit Education Coordinator, since 2018. After graduation, Darrell began his career in 1990.

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am MST
F2006 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Indigenous Education

Audience Div 2, Div 3, Div 4, Admin/Leadership

9:00am MST

Cultivating Creativity in Teaching & Learning

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am MST

S103

This 2 hour session (20 participants) includes visual slide presentations, interactive creative projects, and group discussion/reflection. The creative process can be a tool for cross-curricular or subject focused lesson development, creating arts integrated learning projects, understanding student motivation, and guiding students through critical thinking. The workshop provides each person with a utilitarian sketch book and creative materials, to engage in visual experiments to better understand each step of the creative process. No need to consider yourself an artist to attend!

Speakers

Wendy Struck

Education Coordinator, Medalta Potteries

I am a painter, assemblage artist, object maker, muralist, and educator. I have worked in a variety of art-related positions, including set painter, prototype designer, artist in residence, gallery owner, project coordinator, outreach artist, and art instructor. I attended the University... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am MST
S103 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Art

Audience Div 1, Div 2, Div 3, Div 4

9:00am MST

Wellness through your own Physical Fitness program - what is it possible?!

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am MST

S150

Everyone has the notion, or I call it the “gumption” to start a fitness journey. In this sessions, you will explore some of the reasons why physical fitness has been put on the back burner! Let’s design together a fitness plan that fits YOUR wellness needs. As a recently retired Grasslands educator/administrator for 35 years, I started my own fitness business that helps clients to maintain their physical fitness. With this extra time in my hands, I have been re-ignited and I would like to share this passion with you. I would like to help YOU to figure out your physical fitness towards wellness!

Speakers

Leona Skriver

I am the founder of Skrivercize! Fitness since July, 2023 and a recent retiree from the Grasslands School Division. I strongly believe that everyone’s fitness journey is unique, and should be tailored to their wellness goals. I was an educator for 35 years and hold a Bachelor’s... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am MST
S150

Health & Wellness

Audience Div 1, Div 2, Div 3, Early Childhood

9:00am MST

Grade 4 Work Session

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am MST

S151

Come join other grade four educators to plan using the new program of studies, bounce ideas off each other, and support your students using strategies that other educators find helpful. This session is not a formal presentation. Please come with your computer or other work to get the most out of the planning session.

Speakers

Jordan Sauter

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am MST
S151 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Reflection & Collaboration

Audience Div 2

10:30am MST

Canada Out of the Closet - Stories to Help You Support Queer Students

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST

S146

Travis Boser is an educator, actor, and podcaster. In 2021 he started Canada Out of the Closet, a podcast focused on giving people a space to both share and hear the coming out stories of 2SLGBTQ+ Canadians. These stories have helped people in the closet to find their way out, while also allowing a glimpse into the queer experience for those who have not experienced it themselves. In this session, Boser intertwines his own story into those shared on the show to help other educators discover how they can become authentic allies for the students in their buildings.

Speakers

Travis Boser

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST
S146 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

DEHR

Audience Div 2, Div 3, Div 4, Admin/Leadership

10:30am MST

3 Simple Fixes to Help Struggling French Immersion Readers Thrive

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST

E149

Grade 4-6 French immersion teachers,
Are you looking for practical strategies to help your struggling French immersion readers? This session focuses on three impactful techniques designed to build confidence, eliminate common errors, and boost reading skills in grades 4-6. Learn how to:

Address the persistent -ent mistake
Unlock decoding success.
Leverage letter patterns

Each strategy is grounded in real classroom practice and is easy to implement. Walk away with clear, actionable ideas you can use tomorrow to help your students that seem stuck break free from their reading ruts and achieve measurable progress.

Speakers

Lanette Daley-Tennent

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST
E149 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

French & International Languages

Audience Div 1, Div 2

10:30am MST

APPLE Schools

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST

S106

APPLE Schools (A Project Promoting healthy Living for Everyone in schools) is an innovative school-focused health promotion initiative. It improves the lives of more than 33,000 students annually in over 100 schools across Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario by improving their healthy eating, physical activity, and mental health habits. Join us for an inspiring session that highlights the innovative efforts of two APPLE Schools implementation sites and the dedicated School Health Facilitators driving positive change. Discover real-life examples of how schools successfully integrate Comprehensive School Health initiatives to create healthier, more active learning environments. Learn how to build excitement and generate buy-in among staff and community members, empowering everyone to play a role in fostering a healthy school culture. The Facilitators will share their experiences, insights, and practical strategies for overcoming challenges and facilitating impactful transformations in your own setting. Get ready to be inspired and equipped with the tools to ignite healthy change in your school community!

Speakers

Megan Anderson

Teacher, MHPSD76

Travis Hyde

Teacher, MHPSD76

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST
S106 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Health & Wellness

Audience Div 1, Div 2

10:30am MST

Social Emotional Resources that I Love - Elementary

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST

E150

Speakers

Stephanie Mclennan

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST
E150 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Health & Wellness

Audience Div 1, Div 2

10:30am MST

ASL - Intermediate

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST

S108

This course is geared toward educators with some familiarity with ASL who would like to take it to the next level. After reviewing the basics, we will go deeper into the grammatical and syntactical structure of ASL, directional verbs, locational/spatial organization and narrative organization. Participants will leave this session able to tell a joke or story in ASL.

Speakers

Andy Davies

Ashley Fitzgerald

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST
S108 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Inclusive Education

Audience Div 1, Div 2, Div 3

10:30am MST

Everything but Writing

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST

S154

Before we put pen to paper, there is so much planning and preparation. After the words are on the page, too, the creative process doesn’t have to stop. Brainstorming, outlining, character development, editing, and many other elements involved in the planning and tweaking of the work can be as important and - dare I say - enjoyable as the writing process itself. With tangible tools, tips, and activities to strengthen your students’ writing, this workshop will help them appreciate and master everything but writing.

Speakers

Miranda Krogstad

Presenter / Content creator, YYSpeak

Krogstad is a spoken word poet and educator whose words have empowered students in dozens of cities across Western Canada and beyond. Outside of the classroom, she is a 2-time Canada Council for the Arts grant recipient, a Calgary Arts Development grant recipient, a 2016 national... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST
S154 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Literacy

Audience Div 2, Div 3, Div 4

10:30am MST

Learning With Lego

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST

F2004

ALL students, in all subjects, can benefit from using Lego to learn. Learn about some examples of how Lego is used for Math (elementary), Biology (Blood typing, photo synthesis, cellular respiration, sliding muscle filament theory, diffusion), social studies (historical re-enactments), English (mini-figure videos).

Speakers

Carter Cox

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST
F2004 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Pedagogy & Educational Research

Audience Div 2, Div 3, Div 4

10:30am MST

Multi-Graded Colony Classrooms and the New Curriculum

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST

S140

This session looks to provide colony teachers with planning ideas and a look at some resources for the new math, science and LA curriculums in Alberta K-6. There will be time made for discussion about the challenges the change of curriculum has brought and ways to ease the workload.

Speakers

Nicole Merrick

Elkwater Colony Principal

Currently colony principal at Elkwater Colony. Teaching since 2002. Advocate for multi-graded classrooms, ESL, FSL and second languages for all students.

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST
S140 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Reflection & Collaboration

Audience Div 1, Div 2

10:30am MST

Exploring the New Curriculum Through MakeCode Arcade Games

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST

F2003

Strengthen your students’ problem-solving skills and engage creatively with the curriculum by creating games in Microsoft MakeCode Arcade! This session will provide you with the foundational knowledge to help your students design their own video games, then bring those games to life through block-based coding. Learn how computational thinking skills such as pattern recognition, algorithm design, and debugging are necessary when coding and how to connect games to curricular concepts in any subject. This session explores connections to the Computer Science curriculum for grades 4 and up. A laptop, Chromebook, or tablet is required for this session. Some devices will be available for loan on a first come, first served basis.

Speakers

Bernadette Blakey

Whitney Horban

Outreach Manager, Telus World of Science

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST
F2003 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Science

Audience Div 2, Div 3, Div 4

1:00pm MST

6 Super Strategies for Superb Sex Ed: Best Practices for Teaching Sexual Health

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

S144

Are you stuck teaching sexual health the same way it was taught to YOU as a student? Times have changed, and there are subtle ways to make your sexual health classes more inclusive and impactful. Get the facts on how to answer questions from students with confidence, and ensure that all students see themselves in your lesson. We’ll review 6 great tips that will take your sexual health classes from subpar to superb!

Speakers

Desirea Agar

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
S144 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Health & Wellness

Audience Div 2, Div 3, Div 4

1:00pm MST

Write On: Hands-On Activities To Get Your Students Going

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

S154

While many students have the ability to create Pulitzer-worthy pieces, getting pen to paper can be somewhat of a challenge. Especially in youth, where inhibitions and insecurities are at an all-time high, putting ourselves out there creatively can be daunting. Using a series of prompts and games, however, this workshop will take some of the pressure off of the blank page. Giving students an “in” regardless of their abilities and interest, we will try some hands-on activities that will get the ink flowing from even your most reluctant writers!

Speakers

Miranda Krogstad

Presenter / Content creator, YYSpeak

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
S154 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Literacy

Audience Div 2, Div 3, Div 4

1:00pm MST

Activities that Increase Engagement in Upper Elementary Music

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

S150

This session provides tried and true lessons and activities to engage and excite that sometimes tricky-to-win-over age group of Grades 4, 5 and 6. These activities are simple, adaptable, and effective and were developed over the course of many years in the music room. They can work with classes of any size, in all kinds of spaces, and using any instruments and materials you already have or can easily obtain. You will leave this session with some fresh ideas to spice up your Division 2 music program starting next week!

Speakers

Sara-Mae Dafoe

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
S150

Music & Band

Audience Div 2

1:00pm MST

Bringing Joy into the Elementary Math Classroom

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

S107

Are you wondering how to bring joy and engagement into the elementary math classroom? This session will provide research-based, engaging and easy to implement numeracy structures aligned to the new Alberta mathematics curriculum. We will speak about our journeys in how we structure our math blocks to include number talks, Guided Math Stations, rich math tasks, math manipulatives, spiralized review of concepts and triangulated assessment data. The presenters will speak about how we have implemented these structures in various Grade 2-Grade 6 classrooms.

Speakers

Michael Tschritter

Teacher, MHPSD76

Michael Tschritter is a Grade 4/5 Combined Teacher at Ross Glen School. He enjoys spending time with family and playing sports. His goal is to inspire students to reach their full potential through planning engaging learning activities and collaborating with colleagues to create... Read More →

Shawna Boodhoo

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
S107 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Numeracy

Audience Div 1, Div 2

1:00pm MST

Mico:bit Bootcamp

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

F2003

Does your school have Micro:bits, but you’re not sure how to use them in your classroom? Strengthen your students’ problem-solving skills and engage creatively with the curriculum with Micro:bits! This session will provide you with the foundational knowledge to help your students code Micro:bit programmable devices with block-based coding. Discover how computational thinking skills such as pattern recognition, algorithm design, and debugging play a crucial role in coding. Learn how to use these devices in cross-curricular projects, get hands-on experience with coding, and walk away with a few project ideas to use in your classroom! A laptop or Chromebook is required for this session.

Speakers

Whitney Horban

Outreach Manager, Telus World of Science

Bernadette Blakey

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
F2003 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Science

Audience Div 1, Div 2, Div 3, Div 4

1:00pm MST

Alberta Colony Educators Roundtable Session

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 3:30pm MST

S140

This is a collaboration opportunity for Colony teachers to sit together and discuss the many different aspects of colony teaching. We will be covering topics such as classroom management, teaching practices, resources, and new curriculum, all from the unique perspective of a colony educator.

Speakers

Rebecca and Chris Reid

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 3:30pm MST
S140 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Reflection & Collaboration

Audience Div 1, Div 2, Div 3

2:30pm MST

Inclusive Sexual Health Education: Making sex ed work for all your students

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MST

S144

Traditional sex ed has focussed on heterosexual and cisgender people and relationships, but that leaves out a large group of students. Whether you have some out 2SLGBTQI+ students, or none, your sex ed classes can be inclusive, welcoming, safe, caring and respectful places for students of every gender identity and sexual orientation.

Speakers

Desirea Agar

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MST
S144 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Health & Wellness

Audience Div 2, Div 3, Div 4

2:30pm MST

The Layers of Writing Development

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MST

B371

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. If time permits, we will share simple, easy to implement, classroom practices that support writing instruction.

Speakers

Miriam Ramzy/Michelle Bence

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MST
B371 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Literacy

Audience Div 1, Div 2

2:30pm MST

Activities that Increase Engagement in Upper Elementary Music

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MST

S150

Speakers

Sara-Mae Dafoe

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MST
S150

Music & Band

Audience Div 2

2:30pm MST

Robot Bootcamp

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MST

F2003

Does your school have robots but you’re not sure how to use them in your classroom? Strengthen your students’ problem-solving skills and engage creatively with the curriculum through robotic exploration! This session will provide you with the foundational knowledge to help your students code a robot through block-based coding. Learn how computational thinking skills such as pattern recognition, algorithm design, and debugging are necessary when coding and how to connect robotics to curricular concepts in any subject. Get hands-on experience with a robot and walk away with a few project ideas to use in your classroom! The skills learned in this workshop will be transferrable to whatever robots your school has access to. Devices will be supplied for this session.

Speakers

Whitney Horban

Outreach Manager, Telus World of Science

Bernadette Blakey

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MST
F2003 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Science

Audience Div 1, Div 2, Div 3, Div 4