ECEC2017: Sparking Creativity in the Rockies: Full Schedule

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14:00 MDT

Social Stories

Speakers

Monique Koleyak

Early Learning Strategist for the Calgary Board of Education

Resource Links for Creating Visual Supports pdf

Visual Handout pdf

Thursday November 2, 2017 14:00 - 15:15 MDT
David O'Brien Room

19:30 MDT

Social Mixer

Tonight is an opportunity for delegates to network, share ideas and socialize by choosing a topic based table in EdCamp style. Board games will also be available this evening for further socializing and networking. Light appetizers and a cash bar.

Thursday November 2, 2017 19:30 - 22:30 MDT
Riverview Lounge

Social Event

07:00 MDT

Breakfast

Breakfasts are a continental buffet and included in registration fee.

Friday November 3, 2017 07:00 - 08:00 MDT
Riverview Lounge

Meal

08:30 MDT

Keynote: Let the Fire Burn ~ Nurturing the Creative Spirit of Children

Children are here to help us birth a new world. They are coming into this planet with higher levels of awareness and perception than we had, and with unique gifts, talents, needs and desires. These inner qualities make up their unique imprint or creative fire, and point to a purpose for being here that can only be found in their heart.

Children are not here to re-create the tried and tested. Rather, in this critical time in humanity's evolution they are here to offer something new and needed—to lead us down unprecedented innovative paths, elevating and transforming our existing paradigms and models, and leading us to healthier, happier and more productive ways of living.

And we as adults have an important role to play in this. The question is: Are we listening? Are we paying attention? Are we availing ourselves to the power and potential of their creative fire?

In this fun and inspiring keynote, you will: better understand the creative fire that lies in each one of us, and why it is more important than ever to listen to it; learn why children are so deeply connected to their creative fire, and how the fire speaks through each child; understand the Rascal that lies within each child, and the purpose it serves; discover how play fosters creativity, and why it is the gestation period for the ideas and innovation our world needs; gain a better appreciation for how children are our wise and powerful teachers, inviting our own inner child and creative fire to come out and play; discover why children are here to help us birth a new world, and why the expression of their gifts and talents is essential to the future of our planet.

Speakers

Vince Gowmon

Vince Gowmon is the founder of Remembering to Play Events, and the author of Let the Fire Burn ~ Nurturing the Creative Spirit of Children. He leads keynotes, playshops and webinars for organizations, conferences and communities on topics such as Leadership, Communication, Creativity, Community Engagement and Play. His events are fun and interactive, leaving people inspired... Read More →

22 Keys to Intuitive Living pdf

15 Ways to Support Children to Play with their Intuition pdf

Principles of Intuition & Logic pdf

The Gift of Empathy docx

Friday November 3, 2017 08:30 - 09:45 MDT
Alberta/New Brunswick

Keynote

10:15 MDT

The Body and The Brain Case for Movement and Practical Ideas in the Classroom

An engaging and active presentation on the importance of
movement in the classroom for brain development, attention, regulation, physical skills,
health, physical literacy, and learning. The presentation would also include key success
factors for implementation, and practical ideas to use in the classroom right away.

Speakers

Kevin Van Es

Physical Therapist, Calgary Board of Education

Mr. Van Es is physical therapist who has spent the last 15 years of his career working in pediatrics in the public and private school system. Mr. Van Es has a keen interest in bridging current research with the classroom through creating sustainable and innovative models and strategies... Read More →

Joanna Kruger

Physiotherapy Consultant, Calgary Board of Education

I'm a physiotherapist with 15 years experience working in schools in Calgary, and I'm keen on promoting Physical Literacy and movement in schools!

Friday November 3, 2017 10:15 - 11:30 MDT
Rob Ritchie Room

All

10:15 MDT

Fabric Art

Learn Fabric Art with the basic stitching techniques from the grade 1-3 curriculum. Come away with ideas and projects to use in the classroom. There will be a progressive demonstration of beginner to advance techniques so all age levels can complete grade level work even if they have never done Fabric Art before. This is a hands on session so come prepared to be creative and sew.

Speakers

Lani Loewen

Friday November 3, 2017 10:15 - 11:30 MDT
Champlain

Fine Arts, Art

10:15 MDT

Songs and Literacy Prek-Grade 3

Do you feel uncomfortable doing music. Do you feel you can't sing. This session will give some wonderful and easy resources for your class to sing and experience music through songs and Literacy. Books that are familiar and then experience song with it is very exciting for children. Children do not know if you can sing or not, they enjoy the experience and use the first instrument they received, their voice. Come for lots of ideas. Come to experience books in a musical style. Great assembly ideas for your class as well.

Speakers

Danece Workman

Friday November 3, 2017 10:15 - 11:30 MDT
Theatre

Fine Arts

10:15 MDT

Visual Journals

Using Visual Journals for curriculum is a passion of mine. It gives the chance for children to explore their learning through the arts. It allows for different entry and exits points and its an amazing way to assess student understanding using nonverbal representation. This session will be hands on and highlight many different techniques and share ideas based on grade one and two curriculum that can be adapted for different grades. During this session I will:  teach different backgrounds using a variety of mediums  teach folds and cuts that can easily be recreated by students  discuss increase in engagement by students “publishing” their own book  share ideas and curricular connections that teachers can immediately implement into their lesson plans  allow some “play time” for teachers to use what they have learned in my session to create pages that they could share with their students

Speakers

Emily Hellyer

Grade 2 Teacher, Calgary Board of Education

Friday November 3, 2017 10:15 - 11:30 MDT
David O'Brien Room

Fine Arts

10:15 MDT

Using Visuals to Support Positive Behaviour in Early Learning Classrooms

Join us in expanding your professional understanding around the “when, where, how and why” of the everyday use of visuals and social stories in your classroom. Explore Universal, Targeted and Individual strategies to: increase participation in classroom transitions and routines; develop social skills and problem solving strategies; plan for engaging topics of exploration; support communication; build opportunities to reduce and prevent challenging behaviours; and design environmental cues to support classroom management.

Websites Explores

Speakers

Monique Koleyak

Early Learning Strategist for the Calgary Board of Education

Sandra Patton

Strategist, CBE

Visual Handout pdf

Resource Links for Creating Visual Supports pdf

Friday November 3, 2017 10:15 - 11:30 MDT
Alberta

Inclusive ED

10:15 MDT

Introduction To Inquiry

What can we do to protect nature? This framing question was the driving force for a group of primary classes exploring the ‘big ideas’ of stewardship, sustainability, and global action. Attend this session to discover how teachers and students learned together during an introductory inquiry exploring the importance of nature and the impact of human actions on the environment. Investigate resources and processes that helped the young inquirers become more aware of leading environmental issues and concerns, how to make sustainable choices, and how to take action to bring about positive change both inside and beyond the classroom.

Speakers

Susan Jackson

National Literacy Consultant, Scholastic Education

Sue is an enthusiastic and innovative speaker, author, consultant and educator. Prior to her role as Scholastic's National Literacy Consultant, Sue was a Learning Coordinator for the Thames Valley DSB in London, ON where she assisted teachers with the implementation of literacy initiatives... Read More →

Friday November 3, 2017 10:15 - 11:30 MDT
New Brunswick

Inquiry

10:15 MDT

The Gift of Empathy ~ Meeting People In Their Reality

We are very good at fixing people and solving their problems. When we do, we take people away from their experience and impose our own feelings and ideas onto them. Empathy is a gift people are hungering for. It has the power to transform relationship conflict into openness and respect, and to create greater trust in future conversations. In this fun and interactive playshop, explore where you would like to offer more empathy to your students, peers, friends and family; and explore where you would like receive more empathy as well. Learn specific skills that will help you connect before you correct — engage the human being — and meet them in their reality.

Speakers

Vince Gowmon

15 Ways to Support Children to Play with their Intuition pdf

22 Keys to Intuitive Living pdf

Principles of Intuition & Logic pdf

The Gift of Empathy docx

Friday November 3, 2017 10:15 - 11:30 MDT
Ivor Petrak

Keynote

10:15 MDT

Story Workshop

What do wooden blocks, glass beads, and simple pompoms have in common? These are all examples of Loose Parts. These are also examples of common everyday items that can be found easily and used to approach language and literacy through a Pedagogy of Play. When we provide open-ended thinking tools such as Loose Parts, we open opportunities for learners of all ages to play with ideas in ways that provoke creativity, flexibility, and problem solving. Loose Parts offer learners unending possibilities through their ability to be used as models of metaphorical thinking. Loose parts firmly place the learner at the center of meaning making and position each learner as someone who is capable and has something unique and valuable to offer our world. This experiential session will invite participants to experience how Loose Parts support thinking and communicating. Practical examples showing how Loose Parts can be used to support progress towards key learning outcomes from Programs of Study will be shared. Participants will be supported to uncover and transfer new understandings and possibilities about Loose Parts as thinking tools into their own learning contexts. How might loose parts support a playful approach to literacy learning? We invite you to come play and uncover possibilities together!

Attached is the ppt. and here is a link to the resource we shared from Fairy Dust Teaching:
https://fairydustteaching.com/2016/10/loose-parts/

Speakers

Jaime Hatchette

Heather McKay

Literacy Specialist, Calgary Board of Education

Heather has taught in public and private schools in Calgary, Alberta (Canada) over the last 20 years. She is currently serving K-12 students and schools through her position as a literacy specialist with the Calgary Board of Education. Heather continues to be drawn to the wonder of... Read More →

Story Workshop pptx

Friday November 3, 2017 10:15 - 11:30 MDT
Oak Room

Language Arts

11:30 MDT

Lunch

Boxed lunches are included in registration. Sandwiches for each boxed lunch were ordered during registration.

Friday November 3, 2017 11:30 - 12:30 MDT
Riverview Lounge

Meal

12:30 MDT

Provincial Curriculum Update

These are exciting times for Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K–12) education! Alberta Education is leading the development of new K–12 provincial curriculum (programs of study) in six subject areas to ensure that all students are provided with an education that enriches their lives and prepares them for future careers in a diversified economy. This work includes meaningful input from Albertans, including parents, throughout the process.

This session will provide:

 findings from Alberta Education’s Early Learning K-4 Literature Review;

 information/highlights related to the K-4 curriculum development process;

 opportunities to give advice to curriculum developers and provide an early childhood
voice to the process.

Speakers

Janice Comrie

Education Manager, Alberta Education

Janice has been a passionate and involved early childhood educator, collaborator, leader and advocate in Alberta for 30+ years. Currently working on early childhood initiatives at Alberta Education. ECEC and Conference 2018 committee member.

Dr. Vera Janjic-Watrich

Senior Manager, Alberta Education

Vera has been an advocate for young learners for her entire career. She recently completed her doctorate in elementary education with a focus on language and literacy and has been a sessional instructor at the University of Alberta. Current passions include students' self-efficacy... Read More →

Friday November 3, 2017 12:30 - 13:45 MDT
Alberta

All

12:30 MDT

Clay Projects

Learn how to use clay to create projects from grade K to 3 using the different levels of curriculum. Start with the basics of rolling, pinching, pulling and how easy it is to set up and clean up when you know what to do. Clay does not have to be messy or difficult as a classroom teacher. Come prepared to create your own exemplar and maybe get a little dirty.

Speakers

Lani Loewen

Friday November 3, 2017 12:30 - 13:45 MDT
Champlain

Fine Arts, Art

12:30 MDT

The Blanket Exercise: Part 1 of 2

The Blanket Exercise is a participatory workshop in which educators will experience over 500 years of history by taking on the roles of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Standing on blankets that represent the land, they will walk through time and explore the impacts of colonization, treaty-making and modern legislation. The Blanket Exercise is concluded by a facilitated debriefing in which participants have the opportunity to discuss the experience as a group. By engaging participants on an emotional and intellectual level, this workshop is a powerful tool for increasing empathy and understanding.Part 1 of 2

Speakers

Kendra Silk

Teacher, Redeemer

Kendra Silk is a fine arts teacher in Canmore, AB. Her personal work has a tremendous ( almost shameful) amount of colour and is designed to share joy. Kendra has taught for 14 years and has a Master in Education from the University of Calgary where she focused on Sustainability and... Read More →

Shane Spriggs

Specialist, Calgary Board of Education

Shane is a Specialist on the Indigenous Education Team within the Calgary Board of Education. He has been teaching for the last 16 years within an elementary setting. He is a proud Metis who's roots are in the Duck Lake area of Saskatchewan. Follow on twitter @sbspriggs

Friday November 3, 2017 12:30 - 13:45 MDT
Norquay

FNMI

12:30 MDT

Spark SHIFT LAB Risky play and authentic challenges

Children are drawn to risky play in its various forms. But risk taking isn’t just exhilarating, it is critical to development and helps children build skills around stress management and decision making. Drawing from a design thinking approach, we’ll use this session to unpack assumptions we may have about children’s abilities and interests, flip these assumptions and explore how we can design authentically challenging risky play experiences for early learners. Examples of risky play in informal education environments will be shared as inspiration, and participants will leave with ideas to try and the philosophy behind why these play experiences matter.

Speakers

Erin Dumenko

Paid Programs Coordinator, TELUS Spark

Erin Dumenko has worked in informal education for the last six years at both the Calgary Zoo and TELUS Spark. In her current role she works primarily to design messy, playful, skills-based learning experiences for TELUS Spark Campers and is passionate about supporting kids in building... Read More →

Meghan Durieux

Public Programmer, TELUS Spark

Friday November 3, 2017 12:30 - 13:45 MDT
Frontenac

Inquiry

12:30 MDT

Geography & Culture in K-3

Getting beyond places and names, and integrating cultural geography more effectively into your social studies, world studies, or geography program, can be a real challenge, especially if your students are 4 to 9 years old. This workshop presents age-appropriate ideas and strategies for merging history, geography, and broad multi-cultural concerns into a balanced, three-dimensional package, presented mostly through cooperative learning activities in which students, working in small groups, teach and learn from each other. We’ll look at read-aloud and read-yourself books, listening and writing assignments, a variety of activities, and several web-sites.

Speakers

David J. Smith

David J. Smith is a classroom teacher with over 25 years' experience teaching Primary and Middle School English, geography, and Social Studies. He is author of a unique method of teaching students to draw maps of the entire world from memory, now published by Peter... Read More →

Friday November 3, 2017 12:30 - 13:45 MDT
Rob Ritchie Room

Keynote, Social Studies

12:30 MDT

Interactive Read-Aloud

Interactive Read Alouds are an essential component of joyful literacy-rich learning
environments. Picture books offer our students the opportunity to learn more about
themselves and the world around them. When we intentionally use rich texts and explicit reading comprehension strategies, paired with a variety of materials, we introduce students to a multitude of languages to make meaning and communicate with.
This experiential session will lead participants through examples of how favourite picture
books, research-based reading comprehension strategies, and creative materials, can be
used as in primary classrooms. Part of the session will include an opportunity to engage in supported and collaborative task design so participants have a bank of practical ideas to take back to their classrooms.

Document they used in their session:

Ppt: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VY34N-VOguFK-UaOBWdkbe0dvf95IxPO/view?usp=sharing

Comprehensive Literacy Guides:
https://arpdcresources.ca/comprehensive-literacy-guides-k-6/?utm_content=buffer6f8dd&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Speakers

Jaime Hatchette

Heather McKay

Literacy Specialist, Calgary Board of Education

Interactive Read Aloud pptx

Friday November 3, 2017 12:30 - 13:45 MDT
Oak Room

Language Arts

12:30 MDT

Say What You Wanna Say! Empowering Student Writers

“I can’t write....” “I have no ideas!” “How do you spell?” “I don’t know what to do!” Do you have students with a fixed mindset about writing? Attend this dynamic workshop to learn how to develop a growth mindset in writers. Explore practical classroom supports, lessons, mentor texts, and demonstrations to help motivate and fully engage learners in the writing process. Discover ways to empower writers to set goals, communicate, and reflect on their growth and learning.

Speakers

Susan Jackson

National Literacy Consultant, Scholastic Education

Friday November 3, 2017 12:30 - 13:45 MDT
New Brunswick

Language Arts

12:30 MDT

Understanding and Supporting Language and Speech Development in the Classroom.

This session will provide an overview of communication, which consists of
speech and language; areas of receptive and expressive language as well as
speech sound development; and how teachers can support early learners in
their classrooms

Speakers

Kate Plante

Supporting Language and Speech Dev in the Classroom Nov 2017 pdf

Friday November 3, 2017 12:30 - 13:45 MDT
Theatre

Language Arts, Speech & Language Development

12:30 MDT

Never Say Ugh to a Bug

Develop a new appreciation for small animals as an entomologist. Examine a variety of living and preserved specimens. Explore behaviour, habitat, adaptations and food sources. Discover and compare the benefit and beauty of small crawling and flying animals. (Grade Two)

Speakers

Diane Smit

Program Coordinator, Scientists in School

Friday November 3, 2017 12:30 - 13:45 MDT
David O'Brien Room

Science

12:30 MDT

Cultivating Intuition – The Heart of Healthy & Productive Decision Making

Intuition is your birthright. As children you freely connected to your intuition so naturally that you didn’t even know it was intuition. It was an everyday awareness permeating your existence that you were intimately connected to and a part of. Life felt magical and your environment was filled with endless possibilities. Over time, however, due to social conditioning you disconnected from this sense of presence and wonder and the gifts it has to offer. In this fun and interactive playshop, reclaim the wisdom of intuition and magic of your inner child. Learn to trust your inner resourcefulness, expand your range of choice, bring greater ease to your decision making, and deepen your connection to others. Bring greater awareness to how you hear and respond to the deeper needs of children, and support them to stay connected to their intuition. Walk away feeling a deeper sense of Self and inspired to make new, empowering decisions. Please note: This is a two part session. A break will be provided during the afternoon.

Speakers

Vince Gowmon

15 Ways to Support Children to Play with their Intuition pdf

22 Keys to Intuitive Living pdf

The Gift of Empathy docx

Principles of Intuition & Logic pdf

Friday November 3, 2017 12:30 - 15:15 MDT
Ivor Petrak

Keynote Breakout

14:00 MDT

Aligning Early Childhood Development Outcomes: Links between Education, Schools and Local Community Action

The presenters will highlight how the work of the First 2000 Days Network (‘the Network’) and
the Early Childhood Coalitions Alberta (ECCA) through the work of a group of 13 Calgary & area-
based Coalitions supports Early Childhood Educators.
The Network and ECCA work to align efforts to support Early Childhood Development between
community-based coalitions with the broader community, including school jurisdictions, local
schools, teachers and parents.
In Calgary & Area, the 13 Community Coalitions are an integral part of the First 2000 Days
Network. Several of the Coalitions have utilized their funding via Human Services and the
collection of Early Development Instrument (EDI data) to develop expertise, actions and
strategies to engage schools, teachers and parents to support improved ECD outcomes.
In supporting the Early Childhood Teachers in the school jurisdictions it is imperative that we
share how their efforts in administering the EDI have provided a catalyst for community action
and the resources and strategies developed to enhance the opportunity for all children to reach
their full potential as they enter kindergarten.

Speakers

Phil Carlton

engagement Liaison, First 2000 Days Network

Former Director with Calgary Board of Education. 4 years as Director of UpStart a United Way of Calgary and Area. Child and Youth Initiative focused on Early Years, School Completion and Aboriganal Education. Now Engagement Liaison with First 2000 Days Network focused on bringing... Read More →

Krista Carter

Friday November 3, 2017 14:00 - 15:15 MDT
Theatre

14:00 MDT

Aligning Early Childhood Development Outcomes: Links between Education, Schools and Local Community Action

Speakers

Phil Carlton

engagement Liaison, First 2000 Days Network

Krista Carter

Friday November 3, 2017 14:00 - 15:15 MDT
Theatre

14:00 MDT

Basics of Print Making

Learn the basic of printmaking, while creating your own print-blocks. Discover how to use card stock, Styrofoam, paper and ink to make art. New this year is multi-colour printing. There will be a natural progression shoWing how printmaking can change from kindergarten to grade 3. Come prepared to make your own projects.

Speakers

Lani Loewen

Friday November 3, 2017 14:00 - 15:15 MDT
Champlain

Fine Arts, Art

14:00 MDT

Visual Journals

Using Visual Journals for curriculum is a passion of mine. It gives the chance for children to explore their learning through the arts. It allows for different entry and exits points and its an amazing way to assess student understanding using nonverbal representation. This session will be hands on and highlight many different techniques and share ideas based on grade one and two curriculum that can be adapted for different grades.
During this session I will:
 teach different backgrounds using a variety of mediums
 teach folds and cuts that can easily be recreated by students
 discuss increase in engagement by students “publishing” their own book
 share ideas and curricular connections that teachers can immediately implement into
their lesson plans
 allow some “play time” for teachers to use what they have learned in my session to
create pages that they could share with their students

Speakers

Emily Hellyer

Grade 2 Teacher, Calgary Board of Education

Friday November 3, 2017 14:00 - 15:15 MDT
Oak Room

Fine Arts

14:00 MDT

The Blanket Exercise: Part 2 of 2

Speakers

Kendra Silk

Teacher, Redeemer

Shane Spriggs

Specialist, Calgary Board of Education

Friday November 3, 2017 14:00 - 15:15 MDT
Norquay

FNMI

14:00 MDT

Inquiry-based Teaching: Igniting a Sense of Wonder

Inquiry-based teaching builds on students’ inherent sense of curiosity and wonder, drawing students into a search for meaning. But how do you foster, encourage, and facilitate opportunities for wonder? How do you plan for students’ questions yet address curriculum outcomes? How do you guide students through the inquiry process? Attend this session to examine techniques and approaches to ignite and extend a sense of wonder in young learners. Explore how to effectively scaffold inquiry learning over the school year; beginning with an emphasis on comprehending texts and documenting new learning, moving to co- researching opportunities within expert groups and then to self-directed inquiry projects.

Speakers

Susan Jackson

National Literacy Consultant, Scholastic Education

Friday November 3, 2017 14:00 - 15:15 MDT
New Brunswick

Inquiry

14:00 MDT

Spark SHIFT LAB Once Upon a Problem – Using literacy connections to inspire design challenges

Open-ended design challenges are a great way to spark creativity and practice problem solving skills with students. Kids literature contains a limitless supply of imagination provoking worlds and situations that kids can explore and expand on while feeling safe to question what is possible and really get creative. This session will introduce some of the ways we have used kids literature to encourage exploration of science, technology, engineering, art and math at TELUS Spark. Then participants will dive into the story of Little Red Riding Hood and get creative as they roll up their sleeves and work together to design and prototype alternate solutions to one of the story’s problems.

Speakers

Erin Dumenko

Paid Programs Coordinator, TELUS Spark

Meghan Durieux

Public Programmer, TELUS Spark

Friday November 3, 2017 14:00 - 15:15 MDT
Frontenac

Inquiry

14:00 MDT

Using 'If the World Were A Village' and 'This Child Every Child' in the classroom.

A look at the numerous ways teachers all over the world have used David Smith's books for group activities to enrich children's learning about the world. The content covers many dimensions of Geography Education today, providing exposure to and experience with a large range of ideas and practices.

Speakers

David J. Smith

Friday November 3, 2017 14:00 - 15:15 MDT
Rob Ritchie Room

Keynote, Social Studies

14:00 MDT

Play and Problem-Solving in K-3 Mathematics

Speakers

Jo Towers

Friday November 3, 2017 14:00 - 15:15 MDT
Alberta

Math

14:00 MDT

Life's Like That (Cancelled)

"Discover the life story of a variety of small animals including their changing needs and environmental relationships. Meet living animals and examine preserved specimens. Learn what an owl has eaten by dissecting an owl pellet. Take away a new appreciation for the beauty and fragility of life. Grade Three

Speakers

Diane Smit

Program Coordinator, Scientists in School

Friday November 3, 2017 14:00 - 15:15 MDT
David O'Brien Room

Science

15:30 MDT

Annual General Meeeting

Please join us for our Annual General Meeting.

Friday November 3, 2017 15:30 - 16:30 MDT
New Brunswick

Meeting

19:00 MDT

Spark Your Creativity: Mixed Media Magic

A FUN EVENING CLASS OF PLAY AND CREATIVE EXPLORATION

Each participant will create their own unique mixed media art piece on canvas using a variety of mediums and techniques. We’ll explore how a simple one word theme can inspire a multitude of beautiful expressions. You’ll be guided by your “Inner Picasso” (Don’t worry, there’s one in all of us!) and the creative team of Artists from InFused Glass Works & Co.

Friday November 3, 2017 19:00 - 21:00 MDT
Alhambra

Social Event

21:00 MDT

Dance

Come and dance the night away. Unique food bars will be set-up and there will be some prize draws completed for those in attendance. Open to all.

Friday November 3, 2017 21:00 - Saturday November 4, 2017 00:00 MDT
Alhambra

Social Event

07:00 MDT

Breakfast

Breakfasts are a continental buffet and included in registration fee.

Saturday November 4, 2017 07:00 - 08:00 MDT
Riverview Lounge

Meal

08:30 MDT

Keynote: Can 1+1=3? Geographic Literacy for 21st century children and their teachers.

How do we understand where we are in time and place? What methods can teachers use to help students read maps, graphs, and charts, to acquire and process the information they contain, and to understand not only where they are, but where others are, who their neighbors are, where people live, why, and how? This presentation provides a framework for understanding what we need to know about the spatial organization of the people, places, and environments of the world around us and the places we live.

Speakers

David J. Smith

Saturday November 4, 2017 08:30 - 09:45 MDT
Alberta/New Brunswick

Keynote

10:00 MDT

Nature Based Activities for the Early Years

Children today spend less time exploring the outdoors then they did a generation ago. Come and see how you can be part of restoring this vital aspect of childhood! This session will explore how nature-based experiences for young children can facilitate physical literacy, the development of the various sensory systems, and build a nature connection. Devon brings her experience as a paediatric physiotherapist with a passion for outdoor play as a tool for overall development. This session will take place outside. Devon will take you on a walk on surrounding trails and demonstrate a variety of ways to engage young children in the benefits of nature-based play! This session is designed to assist you in enhancing outdoor learning experiences for both children and their adult educators.

THE WEATHER IS LOOKING CHILLY FOR THE WEEKEND! PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE DRESSED TO SPEND AT LEAST 1 HOUR OUTSIDE.

Speakers

Devon Karchut

Physiotherapist, Nature Play Ltd

Devon is the director of TimberNook of Greater Calgary, and loves nothing more than spending time outdoors with children! She has been a pediatric physiotherapist for 13 years and truly believes that authentic play outdoors is not only the key to optimal gross motor development, but... Read More →

Saturday November 4, 2017 10:00 - 11:15 MDT
Outdoors ( Meet in the David O'Brien Room)

10:00 MDT

Mindfulness for Educators and Children

Bringing Mindfulness to Educators/Children:

 Introducing Mindfulness to Educators as a personal practice for clarity, presence,
planning and preventing emotional fatigue.

 A how-to guide to introduce mindful concepts, vocabulary and physical practice to
children of all ages for building a strong foundation of personal awareness,
communication with others and overall wellbeing.

Presentation will include:

 Usable materials for in-class/1:1 interactions

 Scientific research on the benefits/purpose

 Interactive practice

Speakers

Tamara Hackett

Founder, Sweet Clover Studios

Hi! I am Tamara and I have been working with children of all abilities for over 15 years. Within that time, I also became trained as a Meditation Teacher and Mindfulness Educator and saw the difference that incorporating Mindfulness made in my personal ability to manage all of the... Read More →

ECEConferenceGuide pdf

Saturday November 4, 2017 10:00 - 11:15 MDT
New Brunswick

All Mindfulness

10:00 MDT

Clay Projects (Repeat)

Speakers

Lani Loewen

Saturday November 4, 2017 10:00 - 11:15 MDT
Champlain

Fine Arts, Art

10:00 MDT

Project Based Learning:Part 1 of 2

Project-based learning (PBL) is one of the most effective ways to embed Alberta’s vision
for education. PBL is a student-centered, inquiry-based approach that helps students
engage with learning outcomes based on Alberta curricula. This workshop will present
a holistic model for PBL, developed by the ATA, and provide a planning template,
discuss effective teaching strategies for implementation and identify resources for
follow-up. Teachers should come to this workshop with a project idea in mind so that
they can begin to collaboratively design a project based on the Alberta model. The
PBL approach, modeled in this workshop, makes it possible for teachers to integrate
the provincial competencies for student learning into the classroom curriculum while
students engage, create, explore and reflect on their learning.

Speakers

Danielle Nelson

Association Instructor, The Alberta Teachers Association

Danielle is an Association Instructor and is a teacher with Elk Island Public.

Saturday November 4, 2017 10:00 - 11:15 MDT
Alberta

Inquiry

10:00 MDT

Spark SHIFT LAB Junior Architects – Inspiring students to create & connect in their community Host: Junior Architects

This hands-on building session is based off a K-3 school program offered at TELUS Spark. We start with an inspiring story of a budding young architect, and use it as a segue into exploring structures in our own communities and their importance. Participants will then work in groups using materials provided to create a near-life size structure they would want to see in their community.

Speakers

Erin Dumenko

Paid Programs Coordinator, TELUS Spark

Meghan Durieux

Public Programmer, TELUS Spark

Saturday November 4, 2017 10:00 - 11:15 MDT
Frontenac

Inquiry

10:00 MDT

Critical Literacy in the Elementary Classroom

Stories offer mirrors to see ourselves within and windows to learn about the world through. Storying is the process by which stories are shaped and told over time. Stories are connected
to power and sometimes when a single story is told often enough, it becomes the “story” of a nation, group or person. Not all students see themselves in the texts within our classrooms
though. Restorying or ‘bending texts’ is the reshaping of narratives to better reflect a diversity of perspectives and offers our students a pathway to write themselves into narratives.
This experiential session will invite participants to play with text through restorying elements such as identity, place, mode, perspective, metanarrative and time. Participants are invited to
bring their own iPad with the Book Creator app installed and three of their favourite picture books, if able to. Some supplies will be available for collaborative restorying.

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/Critical_Literacy.pdf

Speakers

Jaime Hatchette

Heather McKay

Literacy Specialist, Calgary Board of Education

Critical Literacy pdf

Saturday November 4, 2017 10:00 - 11:15 MDT
Norquay

Language Arts

10:00 MDT

Noticing and Wondering in the Mathematics Classroom: Making Sense of Problem Solving

This session will introduce a simple approach to problem-solving that helps students in developing flexible problem-solving, estimation and mathematical modeling skills. Participants will actively engage in a series of mathematical tasks to explore how “I Notice, I Wonder” structure can be adapted to different contexts and learning or assessment intentions.

Speakers

Svetlana Pavlova

NoticeWonder ECEC pptx

Saturday November 4, 2017 10:00 - 11:15 MDT
Oak Room

Math

10:00 MDT

Documentation

During our time together, we will explore Dewey’s idea “that we learn more from reflecting on our experiences than from the actual experiences themselves.” By bringing mindfulness into our daily practice, we can use documentation to sharpen and focus our attention; as Malaguzzi says, to “find clarity and dispel the fog… yield[ing] a great deal of information about the thoughts of the children.” (Malaguzzi, 1998). Documentation can act as a tool for professional collaboration, and as a means to collaborate with children as co-constructors of curriculum and community. We will explore the notion that documentation is a tool for generating questions and expanding the possibilities for next steps for student learning. Finally, we will look at documentation as a means to foster metacognition as an integral skill for orchestrating one’s learning.

Speakers

Vanessa Fraser

Strategist, Early Learning, Calgary Board of Education

Collectively, Vanessa and Heather have been educators in Kindergarten for over 17 years, and spent 5 of those glorious years team-teaching. Now, Vanessa works as an Early Learning Strategist with the CBE and Heather continues to work the front-lines in a full-day Kindergarten program... Read More →

Saturday November 4, 2017 10:00 - 11:15 MDT
Theatre

Multiple Disc.

10:00 MDT

Concept-based Physical Education

Exploring the world of physical education through a concept based lens. By removing the barriers of sports-based instruction, a new way of emphasizing locomotor/non-locomotor skills through fundamental movements of sports and leisure activities will be explored. Food for thought have you ever wondered how the motion of an underhand throw is connected to bowling, volleyball, badminton, softball, etc.?

Speakers

Amber Mrak

Teacher, Rocky View Schools

Adam Turner

Teacher, Rocky View Schools

Saturday November 4, 2017 10:00 - 11:15 MDT
Ivor Petrak

Physical Education

10:15 MDT

Developing Literacy Through Coding

This session will have participants explore a coding literacy project with ScratchJr - a coding program for prereaders and beginning readers. Please bring your laptop.

Speakers

STEMLAB Dr. Gina Cherkowski, Anna Cherkowski and Prabina Bhandari

CEO, STEM Learning Lab Inc

Dr. Gina Cherkowski, Founder and Director of Learning Contact: gina@stemlearninglab.com Dr. Gina Cherkowski is a Co-founder of STEM Learning Lab (SLL) and is the Director of Learning. Dr. Cherkowski holds a PhD in Mathematics Education as well as in Culture Studies in Education... Read More →

Saturday November 4, 2017 10:15 - 11:30 MDT
Rob Ritchie Room

Multiple Disc.

11:15 MDT

Lunch

Boxed lunches are included in registration. Sandwiches for each boxed lunch were ordered during registration.

Saturday November 4, 2017 11:15 - 11:45 MDT
Riverview Lounge

Meal

11:45 MDT

Community partnership/Community engagement

Breaking down walls of a school by building partnerships with various stakeholders to create sustainable community engagement. Areas of focus will include exploring grant support and applications, project days provided by various companies, building reciprocity between school and stakeholders (give and take, social media acknowledgement), making learning visible for both school and stakeholders, building a brand.

Speakers

Amber Mrak

Teacher, Rocky View Schools

Adam Turner

Teacher, Rocky View Schools

Saturday November 4, 2017 11:45 - 13:00 MDT
Ivor Petrak

11:45 MDT

Basics of Print Making (Repeat)

Speakers

Lani Loewen

Saturday November 4, 2017 11:45 - 13:00 MDT
Champlain

Fine Arts, Art

11:45 MDT

Building Community-Managing Behaviours

Classroom behaviours, such as wandering around the room, agression, distrubing another's property, disruptive noise, disrespect, inappropriate verbalization and inappropriate tasks during a lesson are common behaviours in an early childhood classom that needs help! When children aare engaged and feel successful in a well-designed classroom, behaviours decease and learning increases for children of all abilitieis and backgrounds.This session will answer the questions, "How can I design better to assist the learning needs of every child?" Participants will learn how differentiation, inquiry, and the RTI model meet the learning needs of young children. Learn how to teach and reinforce positive behaviours that help create a safe and engaging learning community for ALL children in the eary years.

Speakers

Georgina Chiles

Amber Cooke

Saturday November 4, 2017 11:45 - 13:00 MDT
New Brunswick

Inclusive ED

11:45 MDT

Is HE a GIRL?! Exploring Gender Identity in the Early Years

Gender identity is often thought of as a ‘teenage issue’, but research shows that most children begin building concepts about gender as early as two years old. The messages we send through toys, books, and media have huge ramifications as children build a sense of self and others. We will explore ideas around adult role-modeling, the ‘spaces’ we create, and the sometimes difficult questions and conversations that arise as children explore gender identity. We hope to build community with our colleagues by sharing experiences and problem-solving for a brighter future for ALL students.

Speakers

Vanessa Fraser

Strategist, Early Learning, Calgary Board of Education

Heather Miller

Saturday November 4, 2017 11:45 - 13:00 MDT
Theatre

Inclusive ED

11:45 MDT

Project Based Learning: Part 2 of 2

Speakers

Danielle Nelson

Association Instructor, The Alberta Teachers Association

Danielle is an Association Instructor and is a teacher with Elk Island Public.

Saturday November 4, 2017 11:45 - 13:00 MDT
Alberta

Inquiry

11:45 MDT

Literacies On the Land

The natural world offers rich opportunities to build literacies outside of classroom walls.
Approaching the world as a text opens up new pathways to literacy and authentic contexts for
reading, writing and speaking. A place-based approach to literacy learning offers children the
opportunity to discover personal connections between the world, the word and themselves.
During this outdoor session we will read the world, write in the wild, write in the wild and
explore discussion protocols that support academic talk. Please dress for outdoors and bring
a journal to write in.

Speakers

Jaime Hatchette

Heather McKay

Literacy Specialist, Calgary Board of Education

Saturday November 4, 2017 11:45 - 13:00 MDT
Outdoors (Meet in Norquay Room)

Language Arts

11:45 MDT

Storytelling With Loose Parts

Using the framework of Story Workshop*, we will explore how to support
playful literacy in the Kindergarten and Grade One classrooms. The
session will offer educators practical examples of how loose parts can
foster creativity and storytelling by inviting children to find and tell
stories from their real and imaginary lives. Storytelling plays an integral
role in language development and supports children to see themselves as
storytellers and authors of their own ideas.
The first part of the session will be dedicated to the theory behind the role
of play in literacy and language development. We will cover the elements
of playful literacy, ie. mind set, invitation to play, provocations, loose
parts, along with examples of literature that encourages storytelling. The
specifics around task design and what it means to ‘capture’ an idea or
story will also be addressed. Afterwards, participants will have the
opportunity to experience hands-on, practical examples using a variety of
materials. The last part of the session will focus on documentation and
the role documenting plays in supporting the overall process. Included will
be a range of documentation tools to support teachers and students.

Speakers

Danielle Hildebrand

Sandra Patton

Strategist, CBE

Saturday November 4, 2017 11:45 - 13:00 MDT
David O'Brien Room

Literacy

11:45 MDT

Body-Scale Math: Exploring Mathematics through Movement.

This session introduces the series of activities that will encourage participants to explore mathematical concepts such as number, symmetry, polygons, patterns, math operations, without paper and pencil. Participants will work together to solve problems and experience how active math learning supports the development of communication and social skills. Working with the concepts in different representations and contexts allows students to develop deeper understandings and flexibility with concepts applications.

Speakers

Svetlana Pavlova

Moving Math ECEC pptx

Saturday November 4, 2017 11:45 - 13:00 MDT
Oak Room

Math

11:45 MDT

Learning Early Math Skills Through Robotics

Early spacial and math skills can be explored through robotics. This session will give participants hands-on experience in exploring these critical skills. Please bring your laptop.

Speakers

STEMLAB Dr. Gina Cherkowski, Anna Cherkowski and Prabina Bhandari

CEO, STEM Learning Lab Inc

Saturday November 4, 2017 11:45 - 13:00 MDT
Rob Ritchie Room

Multiple Disc.