SEATCA 2025 - Southeastern Alberta Teachers' Convention: Full Schedule

9:00am MST

ASL Beginner

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

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

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

Autism 101

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

S159

Autism 101 gives the opportunity to gain a basic overview of autism and neurodiversity. It is an introduction to what autism is and gives information on how autistic individuals may interact with others and the world around them. More specifically, the presentation covers the following topics: • Overview of Autism • Characteristics of Autism • How Sensory Processing Works • Sensory toolbox • Language to Use • Introduction to Visual Supports

Speakers

Alarie Guhle

Aut

Douglas Parsons is the Training and Resource Manager for Autism Edmonton. He lends his expertise in providing learning opportunities for the Autistic community (and those wanting to learn about Autism) around the world. Under his management umbrella is the Housing portfolio where... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST
S159 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Inclusive Education

Audience All Divisions

1:00pm MST

Autism 201

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

S108

During this presentation, we dive deeper into what Autism is and share practical strategies that can help you interact with and support autistic individuals. The presentation also covers the strengths and challenges experienced by many autistic people and how to respond to create accommodating environments. Lastly, we unpack what might trigger a meltdown and how to help de-escalate a situation. Autism 201 is a follow up session to Autism 101. By joining this session, you will be able to: • Expand your knowledge of Autism • Dive Deeper into Common Autism characteristics and how you can support • Identify the impact of sensory differences and respond to the sensory needs of autistic individuals • Explore environmental accommodations • Learn about co-existing disabilities • All behaviour is a form of communication • Discuss meltdowns including triggers, relationships recovery and repair as well as de-escalation techniques

Speakers

Alarie Guhle

Aut

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 3:30pm MST
S108 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Inclusive Education

Audience All Divisions

9:00am MST

Complex Communication Needs & Augmentative or Alternative Communication

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

S145

Do you have non-speaking students in your ECS classroom? Do you have students who are currently unable to effectively communicate via speech? Do you have students who have been recommended or provided augmentative or alternative communication (AAC)? Do you want to know more about AAC in general? This session is for you! Understanding complex communication needs, understanding the why and how of AAC, as well as practical ideas and resources will help build confidence and success within your classroom for both you and your complex communicators.

Speakers

Jennifer Roth

Jenny is a registered speech language pathologist with 10 years of experience in public education and 5 years in private therapy. She currently works for Grasslands Public Schools (Brooks, Alberta) and owns a private speech and language company (Speech With Miss Jenny). She has a... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
S145 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Inclusive Education

Audience Early Childhood (PK - K)

9:00am MST

Executive Functioning and ADHD

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

F156

Ever wonder why so many children with ADHD struggle with tasks like planning, organization, and self-control, and feel unsure how to support them? As a classroom teacher, I saw these challenges in many students and became even more invested in understanding them when both of my own children were diagnosed with ADHD. In this engaging session, we’ll dive into the critical connection between ADHD and executive functioning (EF), focusing on essential skills such as response inhibition, working memory, emotional control, flexible thinking, sustained attention, task initiation, planning and prioritizing, organizing, time management and goal-directed persistence. You'll leave with practical strategies that can help not only children with ADHD but any student struggling with EF skills and gain the insights and tools you need to help all learners succeed both at home and in the classroom.

Speakers

Kayla Young

Optimal Learning Coach, Medicine Hat Public School Division

I have been teaching since 2009, with experience in elementary schools across Edmonton and Calgary, where I focused on supporting students with special needs and learning disabilities. In 2021, I joined MHPSD as an Optimal Learning Coach, where I have had the privilege of guiding... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
F156 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Inclusive Education

Audience Div 1, Div 2, Div 3

10:30am MST

Tools for your technology free colony classroom

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

F2006

Teaching in a tech free environment can be a challenge. Discover some useful tools to organize and run your multi-graded colony classroom.

Speakers

Jenna Gabert

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST
F2006 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Inclusive Education

Audience Div 1, Div 2, Div 3

10:30am MST

Universal language strategies for late, delayed, and emerging communicators

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

S145

Early learning classrooms are filled with students who are not using speech to communicate, or just beginning to use language to communicate, or use language that is disordered. This session will dive into some of the reasons we are seeing a rise in delayed and disordered language. More importantly practical language strategies for teachers, assistants, and families to use with these children, to support emerging language understanding and use, both in and out of the classroom, will be taught.

Speakers

Jennifer Roth

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am MST
S145 299 College Dr SE, Medicine Hat, AB

Inclusive Education

Audience Early Childhood (PK - K)