SEATCA 2025 - Southeastern Alberta Teachers' Convention: Full Schedule

Schedule for SEATCA 2025 is up!

Reminder...if you put a session into your schedule, this DOES NOT mean you are registered for this session and guaranteed a spot. It only means you are interested in that session during that time block and it will show up in your schedule. Please arrive with enough time before your session to find a spot, especially if you think the session will be popular. MHC does not permit us to go over capacity in classrooms and we are NOT able to move chairs/desks in from other rooms. Please respect the "This Session is Full" sign on the door if you see them displayed.

Please make sure to note if your session requires pre-registration, cash or is off campus!

We have finalized Friday 1:00pm - 2:00pm Keynote. Please watch social media for hints and clues on who it could be to WIN some FUN prizes!

Parking at the College is free to anyone, anytime. This means there is no need to register your car to park during convention. A reminder that there are limited spots so please carpool with others when possible. Also, please ensure you are parking in designated parking areas so you are not ticketed for being illegally parked! Plug in spaces will also be ticketed!

Yoga Revolution is offering $5 classes to teachers on convention days! https://www.yogarevolution.ca/classes/

Thursday

6:00 - 7:00 am Rise and Shine
5:30 - 6:30pm All Levels Flow
7:00 - 8:00 pm PowerFlow

Friday

Rise and Shine 6:00 am - 7:00 am
Gentle Flow 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

LUNCH SPECIALS at the MHC! Plan ahead for some good food and a sit down visit with friends!

THURSDAY

CRAVE BUFFET - TBA
CAFETERIA CORNER - TBA

FRIDAY
CRAVE BUFFET ($16.00) - TBA
CAFETERIA CORNER - TBA

Of course the cafeteria will be open with a full menu! REMEMBER...MHC is CASHLESS!

Please NOTE:

To create an account so you can make a personal schedule, click on the Login or Signup link at the top of the screen. To find out how to make your account private, manage your profile, and get the most out of SCHED, please click on the Information link below.

Message from ATA Conventions regarding inclement weather and safe travels...

“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.”

9:00am MST

L’IA et l’intégrité: guide pratique pour la créativité et l’engagement des élèves

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

Crowfoot Room

Cet atelier vise à outiller les enseignant.es afin d’encourager la créativité authentique des élèves et développer des stratégies d'évaluation efficaces pour faire face aux nouveaux enjeux. Il aborde les barrières principales et propose des solutions pratiques d’enseignement explicite à l’aide de l’IAG.

Speakers

Isabella Larose

I hold a B.A, a B.Ed., and an MBA in marketing and technology, and I've had an exciting journey in entrepreneurship, having started two businesses—selling one and closing the other. Recently, I stepped into the world of education to explore its fascinating landscape, and I’ve... Read More →

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

French & International Languages

Audience Div 3, Div 4

9:00am MST

AI & I: Empowering Student Creativity

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

S154

Unlock the future of writing in your classroom with this innovative workshop. Imagine a space where AI isn't just a tool but a trusted writing partner, enhancing your students' creative processes without overshadowing their unique voices. In this session, you'll dive into cutting-edge activities that harness the power of AI resources like Chat GPT and AI imagery services. Together, we'll explore how these tools can sharpen descriptive language, generate rich literary devices, and expand our students’ knowledge and capabilities. Join in for a journey that combines technology and creativity, ensuring your students emerge as confident writers and thinkers in this technological era!

Speakers

Miranda Krogstad

Presenter / Content creator, YYSpeak

Miranda Krogstad is a TEDx speaker and bestselling author of the book Glass Half Full of Poetry. A spoken word poet, eternal optimist, and workshop facilitator, Krogstad has connected with thousands of writers in dozens of cities across Western Canada. A member of the 2016 national... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
S154 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Literacy

Audience Div 3, Div 4

9:00am MST

Teaching Equitable and Inclusive Texts: Experiences from a high school teacher in the trenches

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

B371

As of late, there is a pervasive call in the English Language Arts classroom to reflect the diverse and intersectional lives of our students. As such, this session focuses on the vital role of diverse literature in approaching intersectionality, diversity, and social justice in the English Language Arts curriculum. It is crucial that we as educators create inclusive and equitable learning environments that reflect the diverse experiences and identities of our students. Integrating diverse literature can profoundly impact our students' understanding of various perspectives, foster empathy, and encourage critical thinking about social justice issues. Research shows that when provided with literature that reflects the diverse, intersectional, and critical lives of our very own students, and they are given a way to express this learning in diverse literacies, they thrive. Teaching diverse literacies is not only paramount for developing critical literacy, it gives students, teachers, and schools the tools to approach systemic marginalization, disrupting harmful histories and stereotypes. In this interactive session, we will delve into text recommendations and effective strategies for incorporating diverse literature into the English Language Arts curriculum.

Speakers

Alisha Sims

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
B371 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Literacy

Audience Div 4

9:00am MST

Food and Foldables

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

S106

Upping student engagement using food and foldables to teach/ reinforce concepts in high school science courses like Biology 20 and Science 30

Speakers

Leanne Rief

Science Teacher, EBHS

I love teaching Science!! That's a good thing as I've been doing it a LONG time :) I have taught in 7 different high schools and taught everything from Biology, General Science, Science 14/24, Fashion, ELL, CALM and even Social Studies. Obviously, Science is my favourite!Hobbies... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
S106 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Science

Audience Div 3, Div 4

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 Fox

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

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

"Pop" goes the cannon: I *have* to teach the classics. Now what?

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

B371

Does your school library stock only the classics? Are funds unavailable to add newer titles to your class's whole-text study collection? A high school English teacher shares how she supplements the cannon with popular culture to help heighten engagement in her classroom.

Speakers

Alisha Sims

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST
B371 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Literacy

Audience Div 4

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

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

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

Whitney Horban/Bernadette Blakey

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

Critically Engaged Language and Literacy Workshop

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

E149

Critically Engaged Language and Literacy Workshops (CELLWs) represent a progressive and disruptive educational model that is specifically designed to enhance literacy by integrating critical thinking, multimodality, and inquiry-based learning. Grounded in critical literacy theory, CELLWs cultivate spaces for students to creatively explore issues such as equity, racism, and inclusion, promoting a deeper awareness of themselves and the broader social context (Piazzoli, 2011; Berriz et al., 2018).

Speakers

Michelle Veroba

Michelle Veroba (she/her/hers) serves as the ELL Student Support Teacher at Brooks Composite High School, where she directs the English Language Learner (ELL) program, drawing on over a decade of experience in supporting culturally and linguistically diverse students. She is actively... Read More →

Rahat Zaidi

Teacher

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
E149 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

EAL

Audience 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

Fluency in the Secondary Classroom

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

B371

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 students’ reading and comprehension skills, and comprehension skills, and is often overlooked. This session will examine 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 to meet your classroom's wide range of needs. You will leave with strategies, tools, and practices to embed with your secondary students immediately.

Speakers

Miriam Ramzy/Michelle Bence

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
B371 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Literacy

Audience Div 3, Div 4, Admin/Leadership

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

Using Algebra Tiles in Junior High and High School Math

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

B372

Through modeling and guided practice, explore how integer tiles support math instruction from junior high and high school setting.

Speakers

Colleen Jenkins

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
B372 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Numeracy

Audience Div 3, Div 4

1:00pm MST

Distance Learning and Flexibility for Students

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

F2005

Ed camp/cafe for distance and flexible teachers to meet.

Speakers

Chelsea Bernhard

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
F2005 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Pedagogy & Educational Research

Audience Div 4

1:00pm MST

Coaching Badminton

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

Wilson Learning Center Gymnasium

Sometimes coaching badminton can be a bit overwhelming! Here are some tips, tricks and drills for running a successful badminton program in your school.

Speakers

Paul Juneau

STEM 9, Grasslands

I am a Southern Alberta born and raised Science teacher who has had the opportunity to teach in various locations in Canada and the world! I love coaching volleyball and I really love coaching badminton. I find that sports are a great way to bond with kids!

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Wilson Learning Center Gymnasium 751 Strachan Road SE, Medicine Hat

Physical Education & Wellness

Audience Div 3, Div 4

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/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

Lego, Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration and Student Success (pre-registration required. Cost optional...please see description)

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

F2004

Learn how you can teach the entire Bio 20 unit of Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration Unit using Lego, to encourage students to create their own models. A complete lego set of over 720 pieces with 9 colour instruction maps, you will assemble your own model of a plant cell under going Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration. The cost for the used/new lego set is $150. In addition participants will learn how to assess the students’ understanding that has shown significant results on standardized tests.
- Bring your own Lego (you will need 514 pieces of 28different elements)
- OPTIONAL: pay $125 includes 514 piece Lego set to keep and coloured 11x17 colour instructions
- e-transfer: plaehpro @gmail.com
-Please pre-register for this session by emailing Carter (plaehpro @gmail.com) and tell him whether you would like to purchase a lego set or bring your own. When the session is full, the session title will state.
- Cap: 25 people

Speakers

Carter Cox

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 3:30pm MST
F2004 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Science

Audience All Divisions, Div 4

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

Writing Outside the Lines: Unleashing Creativity with Untapped Techniques

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

S154

Transform your classroom into a haven for innovative writing with this hands-on workshop. Using an expanded toolkit of literary devices, your students will learn to think outside the box and produce writing that you and others will truly want to read. Dive into the world of defamiliarization, syllepsis, left turns, and twisted idioms, packed with playful activities and prompts. See for yourself how these techniques produce writing that is bright, funny, striking, and a delight to share with the whole room!

Speakers

Miranda Krogstad

Presenter / Content creator, YYSpeak

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MST
S154 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Literacy

Audience Div 3, Div 4

2:30pm MST

Why we use math manipulatives in Junior High and High School

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

B372

In this session, we will actively discuss and collaborate on the reasons, methods, timing, and advantages and disadvantages of using algebra tiles and manipulatives for teaching in junior and senior high settings.

Speakers

Colleen Jenkins

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MST
B372 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Numeracy

Audience Div 3, Div 4

2:30pm MST

Coaching Badminton (Repeat Session)

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

Wilson Learning Center Gymnasium

Sometimes coaching badminton can be a bit overwhelming! Here are some tips, tricks and drills for running a successful badminton program in your school.

Speakers

Paul Juneau

STEM 9, Grasslands

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MST
Wilson Learning Center Gymnasium 751 Strachan Road SE, Medicine Hat

Physical Education & Wellness

Audience Div 3, Div 4

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/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

2:30pm MST

Building Thinking Classrooms In High School Social Studies

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

F2005

This session will focus on how to incoprotate Peter Liljedahl's concept of building thinking classrooms in a high school social studies setting. In this session, we will review the basics of a thinking classroom, explore how to apply this orignal math concept to high school social studies classrooms, and engage with examples of implimentation.

Speakers

Kendra Nadeau

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MST
F2005 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Social Studies

Audience Div 4

2:30pm MST

Virtual Reality in the Classroom

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

Crowfoot Room

In this session we will explore how virtual reality can be used in the classroom. We will look at and use various Apps that can be beneficial in courses such as Science, Physical Education & Fitness, Art, Design, Language Learning, Wellness, and more. Virtual Reality is a growing technology that can enhance the ability of students to not only learn, but experience concepts in the classroom in an impactful and meaningful way. Participants will have the opportunity to try some of the Apps discussed on Meta Quest 2 VR headsets.

Speakers

Brian Sloan

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

Technology

Audience Div 3, Div 4

9:00am MST

Empowering Educators: Tools for a Stigma-Free School

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

F2005

Are you ready to transform your school into a haven of mental wellness and inclusivity? Join us for an inspiring and interactive workshop designed to equip educators with the essential tools and strategies to promote mental health and reduce stigma among students. In this session, Andrea Paquette, President and Co-Founder of the Stigma-Free Mental Health Society, will introduce you to the comprehensive Stigma-Free School Program, which encompasses five key components: 1. Student Mental Health Toolkit: Discover a rich repository of resources, including lesson plans, activities, videos, and more, tailored to enhance students' mental health education. 2. Live Personal Story Virtual Presentations: Experience the power of lived experiences through our engaging virtual presentations. 3. Pro-D Offerings: Enhance your professional development with our targeted sessions aimed at equipping educators with the latest strategies and insights on mental health education. 4. Stigma-Free Clubs: Learn how to establish and support student-led clubs dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and reducing stigma within the school community. 5. Educator's Peer Support Training: Gain access to peer support training tailored specifically for educators. This training empowers you to support your colleagues and create a network of mental health champions within your school. By attending this workshop, you will gain practical tools and insights to make a lasting impact on your students' mental well-being. Don't miss this opportunity to join a movement towards a stigma-free educational environment. Together, we can create schools where every student feels supported, understood, and empowered.

Speakers

Andrea Paquette

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
F2005 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Health & Wellness

Audience Div 2, Div 3, Div 4

9:00am MST

Helping Students Navigate Academic Vocabulary Across Subject Areas

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

E149

Students require specialized skills to be able to cope with the demands of disciplinary text. As students move up in secondary grades, the language of the texts they engage with becomes more specialized and precise, and the language more academic. Academic vocabulary (often referred to as Tier 2 Academic Words) is problematic for students to master, as academic vocabulary can take on dramatically different meanings depending on the usage. As the knowledge students engage with becomes more formalized and complex, so too do the patterns of language that construct that knowledge. This session will take a look at patterns of language and some of the problems with academic vocabulary. Teachers will come away with practical and useful tools that students can use to visualize, organize and structure their thinking to improve their reading, writing and communicating across all subject areas.

Speakers

Karena Hartson

Karena is a secondary literacy consultant who delivers high-level, high-energy professional learning sessions that help teachers leverage their own experiences to support student learning. Teachers attending her sessions will come away with tools and strategies that they can use immediately... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
E149 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Literacy

Audience Div 3, Div 4

9:00am MST

Making sky science memorable and effective

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

S103

In our time together, Rod will provide examples of teaching methods along with visual resources to make learning sky science both memorable and effective. We will become aquainted with space, its size and scale, its contents and our place in the observable universe. Astronomy fills our every day culture. We actually know more astronomy than we realize and Rod will uncover these amazing cultural touchstones. For example, how the artcic gets its name, what the "dog days of summer" really means, or what does a zoo have in common with the zodiac? We will use visuals, hands on demonstrations as well as a PowerPoint presentation.

Speakers

Rod Devries

Rod has been doing astronomy for over 40 years. Teaching various aspects of astronomy is a passion. Making the far away seem near, or making the complex easy to comprehend. Rod used props, pictures and imagination to make space come alive for his audiences. Rod built Eagle Butte... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
S103 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Science

Audience Div 2, Div 3, Div 4

9:00am MST

Forensics 25/35

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am MST

CHHS

This is a share session where those of us teaching Forensics class can share and develop new lessons and ideas. Heather has developed this class as a very hands on experience using Podcasting, Labs and Guest Speakers to try to make Forensics as close to real life as possible but also extremely accessible to all levels of learners. Come with questions, ideas and things to share!

Speakers

Heather McCaig

Heather McCaig is a 26 year teacher in the Medicine Hat Public school division. Heather has taught forensics for a number of years now with her teaching partners. When developing the course her and her partner focused on hands on activities that met outcomes but allowed all levels... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am MST
CHHS 1201 Division Avenue North

Science

Audience Div 4

10:30am MST

Move Over Cigarettes: Vapes and Nicotine Pouches are Hooking Our Youth

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST

F2005

Alberta Health Services health professionals will discuss vaping and nicotine pouch use amongst youth. Participants will learn: • Trends in and prevalence rates of e-cigarette use for school aged youth in Alberta • Best practices for preventing nicotine use • An overview on nicotine pouches • Marketing tactics targeting youth • Grade appropriate prevention education for schools • A summary of available resources for students and teachers to prevent and reduce nicotine use by young people

Speakers

Madelyne Porter

I'm a Health Promotion Facilitator with Alberta Health Services (AHS). I've been working in public health for more than 20 years, mainly focused on child and teen health, school health promotion, and substance use prevention. My current role is with the AHS Tobacco, Vaping & Cannabis... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST
F2005 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Health & Wellness

Audience Div 2, Div 3, Div 4

10:30am MST

Celebrating Intercultural Connection and Inclusion in Physical Education

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST

B371

Join Ever Active Schools as we explore ways to foster inclusivity, enrich learning, and promote a global perspective within your physical education program. This session samples activities from International Games, a resource featuring lesson plans from 9 countries. Learn the process used to develop the student-led resource, and spark ideas for how to celebrate the unique cultures of your school community.

Speakers

Hayley Degaust

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST
B371 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Physical Education & Wellness

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

1:00pm MST

My Students Can’t Summarize! Please Help!

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

E149

The ability to read and summarize a text is an essential skill. A good summary needs to do more than pick out the big ideas and simplify the text. A good summary helps students to identify and analyze key points in the text and then relate those points to the overall structure of the text. Teaching summarization that is linked to text-structure improves both the quality of the written summaries and students’ overall comprehension of the text. Join Dr. Hartson to explore this powerful method of summarizing text. You’ll walk away with examples, graphic organizers, and materials you can use in your class tomorrow.

Speakers

Karena Hartson

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
E149 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Literacy

Audience Div 2, Div 3, Div 4