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

Aligning Mathematics Teaching with the Science of Learning (K–6)

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

Plaza 5

Ready to revolutionize your teaching? Join our workshop on AI tools that go beyond traditional lesson planning. Explore how generative AI can create personalized content, assessments, and more. We’ll guide you through a process that balances efficiency with creativity, ensuring you remain the architect of exceptional learning experiences. Plus, let’s delve into professional considerations—because AI is not just about algorithms; it’s about impact.

Speakers

Carla French

Learning Learning, Grade 5 FI Teacher, CBE

Friday October 4, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am MDT
Plaza 5

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I and II | Technology, Division I and II

12:30pm MDT

Oreo Cookies and the Scientific Method (4–9)

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

Plaza 5

With the advent of a new science curriculum, there are new units. There are various ways to teach the organizing ideas and incorporate higher levels of thinking in Bloom’s taxonomy. One could teach them each as separate units or a teacher could incorporate the scientific method into any of the other organizing ideas. How? Science Inquiry. Can you let go of sage on the stage and help guide your students through an engaging investigation? How can one incorporate the knowledge from the unit with the organizing idea of “Scientific Method”? Let me show you how with this highly engaging investigation. We will then explore ways that scientific inquiry can be incorporated into other organizing ideas for various grade levels.

Speakers

Michelle Savoie

Secretary, ATA Science Council

Michelle is a passionate science teacher of grade 6-9 students at Eleanor Hall School in Clyde for the last 18 years. She is also in her second term as secretary on the ATA Science Council.

Friday October 4, 2024 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT
Plaza 5

Ed Tech, Division II and III | Curriculum Pedagogy, Division II and III

2:00pm MDT

Cost of Caring—How to Nurture Your Mental Emotional Health as a Beginning Teacher (K–12)

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

Plaza 5

This session will delve into the unique challenges faced by beginning teachers when they provide emotional labour to children and their school communities. Join this session to learn about and reflect on how the emotional investment required to support students can sometimes lead to mental and emotional distress, such as burnout or compassion fatigue. You will also be guided to reimagine wellness, not just as an individual pursuit but as a shared responsibility within the school community. Be prepared to chart a path toward sustainable well-being that benefits you, your colleagues, and your students.

Speakers

Lisa Everitt

Friday October 4, 2024 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Plaza 5

Hot Topics for Professionals, Division I, II, III and IV | Techer Wellness, Division I, II, III and IV

9:00am MDT

Enhance Student Writing Starting on Monday: Practical Strategies for Increasing Student Engagement and Improving Their Skills in Creative Writing (K–12)

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

Plaza 5

Writing is the last mode of communication that humans develop. It is challenging. It is nebulous. It can feel overwhelming, even for the most experienced educators. Come join us and learn how to not only increase student engagement - the biggest hurdle in any ELA classroom - but improve the overall quality of their written work. Whether you are a novice teacher or a more seasoned educator looking to reframe how you could be teaching creative writing in your classroom, walk away from this session with a wide array of strategies that will help transform your students' writing beginning Monday!

Speakers

Darrin Wilson

Teacher, MidSun School

Darrin Wilson has worked within the CBE since 2008, focusing mostly on teaching English language arts, visual arts, and a smattering of CTF to middle school students. He was the Art Representative and is currently President-elect for the ATA’s Fine Arts Council. He has a Diplôme... Read More →

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

Language Arts, Division I, II, III and IV | Fine Arts, Division I, II, III and IV

10:30am MDT

Books for Belonging—Inclusive Texts for All Subjects (K–6)

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

Plaza 5

Looking for fresh resources for your K–6 students? In this workshop, you will explore a bin of incredible books curated by Alberta teacher-librarians. These books are applicable to a variety of subject-areas and K–6 grade levels. Through activities and discussions, you will work with these resources to explore best practices for choosing and using resources for your classroom, including factors related to social, community, and academic fit.

Speakers

Yvonne Toney

Association Instructor, Alberta Teachers' Association

Yvonne Toney is an elementary generalist currently working with Rocky View. Her education degree is from the University of Regina. Her Masters degree in Educational technology is from the University of Calgary. She recently finished a course in planning adult professional learning... Read More →

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

Language Arts, Division I and II | Social Studis, Division I and II