BTC 2024 - Calgary: Full Schedule

WELCOME TO THE 2024 CALGARY BEGINNING TEACHERS’ CONFERENCE!

Teachers new to the profession are invited to attend the 2024 Beginning Teachers’ Conference, October 4-5, Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre, Calgary. There is no registration fee. Space is limited; apply early.

School principals, school jurisdictions and local associations work together to provide substitute teacher coverage as per the collective agreement to facilitate the attendance of beginning teachers at the conference. Substitute teacher coverage must be organized and approved in advance. Please ensure you meet with your school principal to discuss release time and obtain the appropriate absence code to attend this conference.

Teachers in charter, federal and private schools must be associate members of the Association to be eligible to attend the Beginning Teachers Conference.

10:15am MDT

Story Time: Using Children's Literature to Teach K-12 Outcomes (K-12)

Friday October 4, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am MDT

Garden Court 1

The focus of this session/workshop will be to help beginning teachers utilize children's literature to teach a range of K-12 outcomes in a variety of disciplines. There will be a short presentation on the importance of literacy across all disciplines and examples of how practicing teachers are incorporating it into everything from high school mathematics to elementary school physical education. Following the short presentation, participants will choose a children’s book relevant to their teaching assignments, explicitly link the book’s content to the broader philosophical ideas, generate essential questions, and design a short lesson plan/teacher resource that they can you use in their classrooms. At the end of the session there will be a gallery walk of all the lesson plans and an opportunity to share and reflect on the workshop.

Speakers

Riley Kostek

Friday October 4, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am MDT
Garden Court 1

Science, Division I, II, III and IV | Language Arts, Division I, II, III and IV | Inclusive Education, Division I, II, III and IV

12:30pm MDT

Brain Architecture 101—Play the Brain Game! (K–9)

Friday October 4, 2024 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT

Garden Court 2

This session is designed to immerse teachers in the fundamentals of brain development - through play! The Brain Architecture Game, designed by scientists and childhood champions, is an immersive and eye-opening activity that really highlights the importance of brain development. Before, during and after play, presenters will introduce important concepts brought up by the game, such as positive vs. toxic stress, how neurons wire & fire, and how teachers can leverage this knowledge to support all students in their classrooms.

Speakers

Jade Oldfield and Charlotte Brenner

Friday October 4, 2024 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT
Garden Court 2

Curriculum and Pedagogy, Division I, II and III | Science, Division I, II and III | Inclusive Education, Division I, II and III

2:00pm MDT

Intro to Building Thinking Classrooms (K–12)

Friday October 4, 2024 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT

Pineridge

Have you heard of Thinking Classrooms? Interested in experiencing and seeing if it’s an interest to you? Join us for an active session of problem solving, storytelling and pedagogy as we dive into Liljedahl’s Thinking Classrooms! This session is targeted to those new to Thinking Classrooms, but of course all are welcome to join! This session will focus on Liljedahl’s first two toolkits of implementation.

Speakers

Landry Forand

Friday October 4, 2024 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Pineridge

Science, Division I, II, III and IV | Math, Division I, II, III and IV | Social Studies, Division I, II, III and IV

9:00am MDT

My Students Drive Their Learning–How to Keep Up to Your Students' Learning! (4–9)

Saturday October 5, 2024 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Garden Court 1

Design a new environmental sustainable tourist destination, that engages public involvement, considers water and energy consumption, land use, and waste production, while covering content from grade 5-8 science curriculum. This is just one example of how to create new and engaging lessons that cross multiple concepts within your grade 5 - 8 science and social studies classes. that reinforce skill, knowledge and abilities through practical, meaningful projects. The projects are designed to draw from past experiences and knowledge, and ignite creative and practical approaches to connecting the science curriculum between grade levels and curricular topics.

Speakers

Paul Bohnert

Saturday October 5, 2024 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Garden Court 1

CTS/CTF, Division II and III | Science, Division II and III | Social Studies, Division II and III

10:30am MDT

Creativity Versus Innovation (4–9)

Saturday October 5, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Garden Court 1

Creativity and innovative thinking are extraordinary skills that reflect successful learning in your classroom. Students that learn and possess these skills demonstrate better retention of information and, confidence in their application of knowledge beyond the curriculum and your classroom. This session will focus on how to ignite student curiosity and the innate human desire to learn. Fun, engaging and proven classroom examples will be shared throughout the session. Participants will receive multiple lesson examples, assessment rubrics and online (AI) resources ready to use in the classroom.

Speakers

Paul Bohnert

Saturday October 5, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Garden Court 1

CTS/CTF, Division II and III | Science, Division II and III | Social Studies, Division II and III

10:30am MDT

Elementary Science—Computer Science and Computational Thinking in the Elementary Curriculum (K–6)

Saturday October 5, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Plaza 4

Are you an elementary teacher wondering how to teach those new computer science outcomes? There are so many fun ways to incorporate coding and robotics into your science classes, as well as ways to make computational thinking an everyday habit for your students. Let's make computer science something to look forward to! We'll look at the big picture ideas behind computer science in an easy to digest progression, then we'll play with robots and Micro:bits and look at a few tools like Scratch Jr, Code.org, and CS First that will make your computer science class awesome!

Speakers

Darren Maltais

Educational Technology Council

Saturday October 5, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Plaza 4

Ed Tech, Division I and II | Science, Division I and II

10:30am MDT

Teaching on a Hutterite Colony in Alberta (K–12)

Saturday October 5, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Rundle

Are you looking for a unique and rewarding teaching career, right here in Alberta? Have you ever wanted to teach in a one-room school. Come and learn about the opportunity to teach in one of Alberta's growing number of Hutterite Colonies. Learn about the Hutterites, who they are, about their culture, and some history. How to organize and operate a multi-multi-grade classroom. Get some resources to help navigate getting through the curriculum.

Speakers

Laura-Lee Toews

Saturday October 5, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Rundle

Inclusive Education, Division I, II, III and IV | Language Arts, Division I, II, III and IV | Math, Division I, II, III and IV | Science, Division I, II, III and IV | Social Studies, Division I, II, III and IV

10:30am MDT

How I Teach Physics (10–12)

Saturday October 5, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Whitehorn

If you've been tasked with teaching Physics 20-30 or Science 10-30 and are feeling a little bit lost, this is the session for you. In this session, Brad will break down his strategy and philosophy for physics education, refined over 20 years of teaching. Brad will also provide you with access to his teaching resources, detailed notes, formative assessments and lab work.

Speakers

Brad Langdale

Saturday October 5, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Whitehorn

Science, Division IV