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

Let's Get Talking! Conversation Skills for Learning (K–12)

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

Rundle

Conversation is a powerful part of the learning process. However, it can be frustrating when students are reluctant to participate in discussions or when small group conversations go off-the-rails. Join this interactive workshop to explore strategies that help support student discussion skills (and learning) in any subject! Through discussions and activities, we will explore strategies that build a safe community for conversation, specific conversation skills to teach students of any age and stage, and activities that involve students in learning-focused conversations.

Speakers

John Williamson

Association Instructor, Alberta Teachers' Association

John Williamson, PhD, is a K – 12 Coordinating Teacher of Diverse Learning Services, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Education, spoken word and “page” poet, and ATA Association Instructor. His award-winning PhD Dissertation, The Case of the Appearing / Disappearing Slow Learner... Read More →

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

Curriculum Pedagogy, Division I, II, III and IV

12:30pm MDT

Blank Space to Brilliance—Navigating Alberta's CTF Curriculum (4–9)

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

Rundle

Are you assigned to teach a CTF or options class and don't know where to start? Do you want to integrate CTF into your core subjects? Do you feel stuck in the old "home ec" or "shop" class you took when you were in junior high? Join to follow one teacher's adventure in stepping into a new role and reinventing a course to meet their students' passions and interests. You will participate in some hands-on activities and gain ideas and resources you can hopefully implement into your class with ease.

Speakers

Courtney Albrecht

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

CTS/CTF, Division II and III

2:00pm MDT

Trauma-Informed Practice—Safe, Supportive and Self-Regulated Classrooms (K–12)

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

Rundle

Participants in this interactive workshop will receive information and tools to help provide safe, supportive and self-regulated environments for students who have experienced trauma. Teachers will be provided with background information on trauma and its effects on the child and adolescent brain, how to create trauma-informed environments and how to help build resiliency and self-regulation skills in students.

Speakers

Sinead Dullaghan

Association Instructor, Alberta Teachers' Association

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

Inclusive Education, Division I, II, III and IV

9:00am MDT

A Year in the Life of a Music Teacher—Let's Talk Plans (K–9)

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

Rundle

Welcome to a workshop on year plans, unit plans and making them work together to make your year go smoothly. We will talk tips and tricks and look at a few examples. Along the way we will hit topics like assessment and technology. Let’s make those long-range plans and unit plans workable documents that you refer to all year long. Bring a device if possible.

Speakers

Amanda Clark

music representative, Fine Arts Council

Amanda Clark has been an elementary music teacher in Leduc for more than 10 years where she teaches in both French and English. She also teaches private lessons including the Music for Young Children program. She completed a Bachelor of Music at University of Alberta Augustana Campus... Read More →

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

Fine Arts, Division I, II and III

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